New Method of Making Oily Patches

Well as some have worked out I have taken custody of a new machine.

Dr Will's old GPZ 750 Turbo.

Rather jolly nice it is too. It's also the most modern bike I've ever
had barring an 'F' reg MZ ETZ - which probably doesn't count.

A couple of pictures (not the fastest of servers).
http://www.sweller.dynalias.org/turbo1/

Given that my experience of modernish machines is fairly limited and I've
not had chance to pile on the miles in the last week (or next week
either) this is a very much first impressions review:

There are a couple of consumable items to be replaced (tyres are fucked;
mucho points if I got pulled). It's a bit scruffy but nothing that can't
be dealt with. TBH it's mostly grime and age.

The ride back from Will's (Cambridge) was interesting for a number of
reasons. Mainly it's the first time I've ridden a faired bike on a
motorway. The sensation of speed isn't there in the same way on an older
bike. Fortunately there aren't any cameras on the M11 (apparently).

It performed well on the local A+B roads from Croydon to Brighton via the
scenic route. It only got out of shape the once whilst cornering, very
mild mannered takes rough roads and a bit provocation to get hairy. The
handling is neutral, actually it all seems a bit divorced from the road.

That maybe product of me having had an "on rails" handling but very
involving classic framed bike for the last 10 years. The Turbo's
handling, I'm pretty sure, is on a par with the Guzzi. The Guzzi was an
exceptionally good handling bike in the 70's and early 80's jap bikes
hadn't quite got it together in that department so that's a compliment.

The turbo doesn't come in the way I'd imagined but it's definitely there
and things do get to about 110-120 pretty quickly. Not so much two
stroke power band but a real sense of surging effort. It's been
described as like being attached to an elastic band, pretty accurate
really.

I did seem to keep finding myself in too high a gear when hustling but
that's just the transition from Mr. "I've got a flywheel and I'm gonna
use it" Moto Guzzi to a higher spec Jap four. It seemed to run out of
gears on occasion...

Brakes are shit. Bear in mind this is one of the most modern bikes I've
hustled round back roads so I was surprised at the woodenness. I'll have
to have a look at them. Anti dive seem OK though.

What I would like to know is how does the Turbo compare to a modern
sports bike?

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, sweller

Oh *very* nice.

CIHAGM?
--
Nigel - Manufacturer of the "Champion-105" range of rearsets

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
ZZR1100, Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"

 

When I rode Champ's (he sold it but I can't remember who to, so it
could be that one, or not) it went nicely, bounced along quite well but
the brakes were interesting. I'd never experienced something with that
much go and so little stop.

Compared to the daytona[1] I'd say the turbo had less go, far less stop
and the handling is bouncy/soft as opposed to hard/juddery.

[1] ok, not bleeding edge, but in your scheme of things...

 

Champ sold it to Will who's now sold it to Sweller.

 

And by the same token it's still far slower and less agile than a
*retro* Kawasaki.

...although the rider may make up for that.

 

SteveH said...

I think Chris rode the Turbo that Champ still owns today. He sold the
previous one to Will when he found this one. It's hard keeping up with
Champ and his Turbos, I think he's had 4 or 5 of them now over the
years, including one in a Harris frame.

 

Lozzo says...

"and in next weeks episode"

 

http://www.sweller.dynalias.org/turbo1/photos/DSCF0539.html

So - what does that oily patch actually *taste* like?

 

They don't handle. They don't go. They don't stop. When compared to a
modern sports bike, that is....

Feel free to book a go on the 955/R6[1], to find out what I mean, next time
you are near Derby....

Dave

[1] So you can compare the Turbo against an 'old-modern' bike and a less
'old-modern' bike......

 

Can I have a go on the R6 please Mr Davey? I'm off Friday and Monday,
and I need to remind myself what an R6 was like.. maybe for only 10
mins.

 

<avid>
It tastes like fucking sex-wee....
</avid>

 

But they feel good, and they *sound* glorious - that whistle from the
turbo unit....

 

heh. Even I've lost count - it is four or five, but I'm not sure.

 

We'll have to meet up somewhere with the two of them sometime. Maybe
next BoSM?

Different world, I'm afraid. A modern sports bike will make the turbo
feel the way the turbo makes an MZ feel. You're welcome to a go on
the Gixxer anytime.

 

That's because your retro is exactly that - a modern engine (ZZR11
based) done up to look like an old bike.

 

In message

Shut up, Shut up, Shut up, Shut up, Shut up, Shut up, Shut up!

Actually it's probably too late, I've pretty much decided a turbo is
going to fill the space in my garage for next year.

 

CIHAGM?

 

Ooh - we can have a little club!

 

Champ said...

I always liked riding the Turbos my mates owned, but I never wanted to
own one. I decided the potential for major mechanical disaster was too
great, so I bought a VF750F

 

*snort*