Motors Motorcycle Mayhem

Mmmh, an interesting day for me today. Rode/demoed Aprilia Shiver 750 again, I really like it. Like, really like it. Gobs and gobs of torque, rides very well and sounds amazing. The only downside I can see to this bike is italian reliability and it's quite heavy for what it is. Oh and it's naked. Damn!

Then headed down to a BMW Motorrad garage and demoed a F650GS. Nice bike, very civilised. Good motor and a very very smooth gear box. I enjoyed my time aboard (was out for a good 2 hours ). Bits on the bike are good - a lovely exhaust system (so very well crafted for a stock system), brembo brakes, awesome computer, seriously comfy beyond belief.... but it just wasn't much... fun? I know it isn't really designed to be a grin inducer... it just felt like a A->B machine. A very good one though.

Next Saturday demoing a Triumph Street Triple and a BMW F800R.

I'm **** at deciding what to buy

 

Let me know how the test goes, I'm pretty torn between the shiver and the triumph triple...

I have heard the triumph eats driver licenses for breakfast

 

The Triple is more nekked tham Adam & Eve at a swingers party I reckon buy it, you could just pay a super obese man to ride in front of you.

 

I don't think you'll find a BMW that's as grin inducing as something like a street triple, they're designed for reliability and dependability which makes them heavier than their counterparts. Having said that the F650GS is not the most exciting BMW, Ill be interested to hear your views on the F800R as it's pretty much the current equivalent of my R850R.

Moriquendi

 

Anyone know how much I should expect to pay for a used 250 Ninja? (USA)

I'm really thinking of buying one in the winter. It's a damn sight cheaper than a decent car, and if financial aid goes through, I can even ask dear old dad for some monetary help

 

Have you ridden the Shiver at all? I've done a good 100+ miles on the demonstrator bike at my local Aprilia dealer so I can tell you quite a bit about it.

I've sat on the Triumph and ridden it around the car park (couldn't take it on the roads as the dealer was about to shut for the day). It's 25kg lighter than the Shiver which makes a huge difference when you're climbing on and moving it around with your feet. The Shiver is surprisingly top heavy and very wide, when the Triumph is neither of those (hardly surprising given it's a naked Daytona!). The suspension is much soggier on the Triumph (not adjustable either) and the seat is a lot more spongy. I'll be able to tell you more when I've actually ridden the Triumph properly

No, absolutely, I wasn't expecting it to be as fun as some of the other bikes I've ridden, but I was also left feeling a bit detached from it, if that makes sense. I wonder if the F650GS is a bit of a wet towel, and the F800GS is the better one of the two - same engine, just a bit more punch and a higher spec in terms of suspension and brakes etc. Can't wait to ride the F800R though

 

Bah! Speedo cable broke today, how ironic that it did that the day after I said BMWs were designed for reliability...

New cable is only £15 so not awful but it just had to happen on a bank holiday weekend.

Moriquendi

 

CBT all done and dusted! Lovely weather today and whilst I was cooking in the waterproofs during the first practical session when we went out on the road I really enjoyed it Even just doing 45mph on a dual carriageway I had a big grin on my face Did my CBT on a pretty new Suzuki VanVan 125, not too shabby but it didn't like going into neutral much

Research time now

 

Haha. I love naked bikes and the vast majority of the bikes I like are therefore naked ones. I just hate the wind blast on them above 50 ish. Maybe I just need to man up

Good stuff, glad you found it fun! I'm well aware of that big grin, it's a good feeling isn't it?!

Sometimes with those bikes if the gears are playing silly buggers you just have to let the clutch out until it bites just enough to nudge the bike forward a few millimetres and it sorts the box right out. Shouldn't be a problem on a nice spanky new CBR125 though, if that ends up the bike of choice

 

We should think about a date for a bit-tech bikers meet!

I'm going to look at some more bikes tomorrow and have insurance reference numbers at the ready should I decide to relieve someone of a bike

 

Sounds like that would be a blast!, but.... I think I'll have to be there only in spirit...

But good luck on your relieving a person of their bike

 

I finally did it. Proud owner of:



Which is a KTM 950 Supermoto.

Got a stonking deal (private seller) - comes with an official tank bag, an Akrapovic exhaust set (£750 new) as well as the original exhausts. Needs its 9,000 mile service and a new front tyre, otherwise good to go. Picking it up in a week!



Edit:

The decision basically came down to liking the KTM motor so damn much. The punch that thing kicks out is just sublime, and the noise out of the back is pants-wetting. The spec you get from KTM is top notch - WP suspension (fully adjustable), Brembo radial monoblock brakes, braided cables everywhere, the list goes on. Nothing feels cheap and tacky. High up riding position so you can see over traffic when commuting, plus it's naked (duh!) which helps keep the speed down. My only advice is to go and demo one. Now. Go! Why are you still reading this?

 

Congratulations RTT!

 

RTT what have you done, what a hideous machine, you've been robbed. Bring it round my house, I should be able to get £ 1000 for it.

Spoiler

Only joking superb bike, as it's Austrian Moriquendi should be 50% happy

 

Congrats RTT, looks like you've found yourself a bike you like, which is more important that what others think of it, it's probably more important even than what I think of it I'm surprised you can wait a week to pick it up.

I'm definitely up for a Bit-Tech Bikers meet, anybody got ideas for places/dates?

Moriquendi

 

nice bike RTT, i love supermoto's. when i change my suzuki drz 400 sm im gonna buy a ktm.
im all for a meet, just place/date might b a problem. im in lincolnshire and can only do a saturday

 

Superb is a pretty apt description

Totally. Couldn't care less what anyone else thinks of it. It's awesome and I get to ride it They certainly are an acquired taste, as are supermotos in general. It's funny - I vividly remember seeing supermoto bikes at the NEC bike show many years ago (we're talking 10 years ago or more) and thinking "those things look awesome!". i guess those thoughts have stuck with me

Oooh, DRZs are fun Which KTM? Have you done any mods to your DRZ? I know someone with a Yoshimura can on his, i'm pretty sure you can hear him coming from 3 miles away! I think he's changed the carb too for more power (60HP or so, up from 45ish standard?)

I'm in Berkshire and would be willing to ride to anywhere in the South West, South East, Midlands or South Wales.

 

The Wye valley is a very nice ride (A466), as is the Ex valley (A396), the A4 between Hungerford and Chippenham is quite good but its more a very fast ride rather than being twisty and fun. Those are the best roads I know in my area for riding, anybody else got some suggestions?

Moriquendi

 

RTT the new version of your cheesecake mobile, has a small screen, you may be able to have one retro fitted. Even a small screen can be surprisingly effect at reducing wind blast.

 

Well this is the first time I've ever had any motorized transport of my own, so I literally have zero knowledge of any roads anywhere. That's a slight lie, as I used to go pillion on my dads bike a lot up in North Wales, so I know some routes up there (although that said, it's very difficult to find roads that aren't enjoyable in North Wales )

Indeed. I'm looking into my options for a screen for longer journeys. I've seen custom made screens, and people also sometimes retro fit a touring screen from the 690 series bikes I'm going to fit hand guards too for the full on supermoto look