bike types/decisions [longish]

cool - where?

 

SV1000S is quite pretty and everyone who rides them seems to rate them
http://www.rideamotorcycle.com/news/imagedump/sv1000sa.jpg

but for a V-twin the final 998 is pretty unbeatable despite prejudice? the
reliability and build quality is excellent and they are holding value.

Benelli Tornado looks pretty fantastic and they do it in red.

Wildcard - MZ1000S is a stunning bike.

 

Stupid boy.

I've had a couple of Yamahas. The R1 motors seem a bit fragile in the
gearbox department, or have they fixed that now?

I really think you'd regret it. If you are seriously considering this,
I'd suggest a medium-long test ride. Seriously.

Well, I do have a garage, and an optimate, and I wouldn't jet-wash a
1/2-faired bike. The alarm thing would be dictated by the insurance
company - the only reason I have an alarmed 'blade is that my then
insurers (Carole Nash) insisted upon it for that bike. I'm with
Motorcycles Direct now, I'm not sure what their alarm policy is.

I think my big problem is deciding on Italian -v- Greenness.

 

what, as in it's a bit of a ****'s bike?

 

heh, no it's individual, uncompromising and loud.

 

The faffing with the rear panel having to come off was me having to
reconnect the fuel pump connector, which I'd been having problems with (I
think it got a drop or 2 of water on it when I washed the bike a few weeks
previously ...) Thinking back, while I was low on fuel and had the reserve
light on, I'd only done about 70 miles on that tank - the bike cutting out
and apparently running out of fuel could well have been down to the
connector being dicky.

They are fuckers to start in winter though, and the battery's tiny. You
really do need an optimate if you're going to leave the bike unattended for
more than 3 or 4 days in the winter - particularly if you have an alarm.

I also get the odd electrical spaz-out when starting - the battery seems
fully charged but for some reason the starter relay just buzzes without the
engine turning over. Subsequent starting attempts work fine, but the
dashboard's reset itself. Cue hold button A for 5 seconds, press button B,
hold button A for 5 seconds, hold button C for 5 seconds, press C 6 times,
press button D twice, flash headlights once for each hour past midnight (no
more than 1 flash per half-second), press button D again, flash headlights
once for each minute past the hour ...

It's just little electrical gripes, to be honest - once rolling the bike
totally rocks, although with the open ART end-can it's a bit like riding a
road drill sometimes
Trouble is I only really get to ride it at weekends, so if I'm not
absolutely religious with the Optimate I return every Saturday morning to a
dead bike.

The electrical reliablity isn't going to get any better, so come spring I
think I'm going to chop it in for something a bit more Japanese while it's
still under manufacturer's warranty.

Oh, and there was the front brake incident, but I'm not completely sure that
that wasn't my imagination ...

 

It is *not* "quite pretty" - it is ultra-bland. Looks like it's been
"styled" by the same person who did the Nissan Primera.

Too expensive. Too much plastic. Too Italian. Pretty, though.

Now this one looks to have been styled by a 1/2-blind
Pininfarina-wannabe. No, no, no.

Boxhead-chariot. No, ta.

 

FP1?

 

what was that, then?

 

don't forget ugly.

 

Only one I've heard of going wrong was Bear's. Anyway, with me riding, it's
hardly going to be taxed ...

I'll probably get one from Chiswick Honda (a test ride, that is). And while
I'm at it, a go on a blade too. And an SP2, and a Blackbird.

They've always insisted on an alarm or immobiliser with me, but then I'm
within the London postal area, and was until recently without a garage.

Hmm. You've mentioned your no-Triumph policy, but I reckon a Speed Triple
would be cool - wasn't Wik's OK for reliablity?

 

It appears that it hides under some kind of cover:
http://194.20.142.71/www.aprilia.com/models03/road/eng/modello.phtml?id=
22#

 

now you're just being silly.

 

I've not had any problems running mine in the rain, and I don't jet wash
it either. Neither have I ran out of petrol; what was the problem with
that in the end? I saw some of his posts on rsvr.net when he was having
problems starting it, but can't remember that one.

The only problems have been a dead starter solenoid, and the datatool
shutting the ECU down under hard acceleration because the POS didn't
like the vibes coming up though the sub frame.

You get two sets of body work with the racing, and a set of race cans
IIRC. All the Aprilia press shots show the Tuono Racing with the race
body work on, i.e. no mirrors, indicators etc.

 

See other post - the starting probs were due to a dodgy fuel pump connector,
which had a couple of loose pins in it, probably exacerbated by the
jetwashing. I should point out that, like a good boy, I only jetwash my
bikes with the lance about 4-6 feet from the bike.

 

Am I? Apparently they've sold a 100 road going versions.

If I was being silly I would have said Bimota Mantris or Moto Guzzi Centuar.

 

Didn't Mike Chegwin go through about 3 or 4 Fazer-Thou gearboxen?

See, if you can afford to buy and ensure it, I don't see why *anyone*
would prefer a CBR6 to a 'blade. And don't give me any of this
"enjoying getting the most out of a less powerful peakier engine and
overtaking people on bigger bikes" bollocks. You might find the SP2 a
bit similar to the Mille, though obviously it'd be more reliable, if
heavier. For some reason, I can't see a Blackbird being "you".

The Speed Triple is the only one I would consider. I think they're
desperately overpriced, though. I've read too many complaints about
Triumphs in general, though.

 

Yeah but it probably grows on you.

 

LOL
I wouldn't buy any of the above bar the 998 but it sounded you out. You come
out of it very well.
The 998 could be had affordably used mind, I labour it as my 996 was the
best quality of cycleparts I've ever owned. Never a spot of rust and the
Datatool never fucked it up (optimate). When I wasn't using it I used to
roll it into my bedroom because it was so pretty.

On a serious note the new Blade looked quite interesting at the show as did
the ZX-10, the latter being extra compact but the new R1 looked the fucking
dogs' bollocks. Shirly they must be reliable by now.

 

I *like* Bimota Mantras.