new or used: a question of economy

LOL, thanks Burnie - nice try - but I need to rack up a few thousand more
k's on the 650 - can't let it go until I've done at least 40000 on it. (Give
me a year...)

Besides, the SV1000 is HEAVY! - well, comparatively... One of the things I
love about the 650 is that it's actually a bit lighter than my GS500 was...
i reckon I might even be able to pick it up one day (although I have no
intentions of dropping it ever again, of course!) Oh, and something I
noticed on Bamfy's 1000 - twin exhausts... bit of a risk for a serial
bike-dropper like me (not that I will ever drop my bike again! This is a
recording...... this is a......)

betty

 

That's enough to put me off..... Thanks Big - this is the nitty-gritty stuff
I need to hear, coz unfortunately a lot of it comes down to dollars. It's
useful to be able to rein in my fantasies so that when the time comes to
look for my next ride, I can be realistic (of course, if the Lotto Fairies
visit, all bets are off!)

ta
betty

 

Have a good stack !! That taught me a bit about how they work when I had
to put bits back on ..

Probably not the most cost effective option but it's definitely sink or
swim At least now I'm not 'scared' about taking bits off / adjusting
the chain, that sort of thing.

 

While this is true, why would she want a bike with less grunt than her
GPX250 ? Yes I rode them both back to back once and an 8yr old GPX with
nigh on 100K on the clock is definitely the quicker bike

Not as "cruiser like" as what ? They have no ground clearance, squidgy
suspension,crap tyre sizes on a 19" or 21" front, you sit right on your
tail bone with your hands in the air and your bum near the ground behind
a peanut shaped tank and a circular headlight atop a V twin - exactly
which bit ISN'T cruiser like ?

Most occasions ???????? What to the coffee shop and back ? If you're not
touching the thing down on every corner you're riding slower than my
grandpa (quite literally - although that was quite a few years ago now -
he gave that uncle a hard time about buying it).

Or a GPX 250, or a VTR250 or just about any learner legal bike that
isn't a cruiser I can think (and quite possibly one or two that are).
I'd suspect the VT750 would run away from an 883 Sportster

Mmm so you can spend 13,000 to buy a bike slower than a $2000 LAMS bike,
what a top idea.

Bad at stopping, bad at handling and bad at going. Yup, definitely
plenty of bad with the 883 sporty to go round


JL
(and the XVS650 is more comfortable and with better ground clearance
when I did the test rides - bikes came from Northside Motorcycles at
Artarmon, year was umm 2001 IIRC - but it's documented in ausmoto if
you'd like to check)

 

I must get around to giving one of those a blat. The Nevada and Cali get
consistently good reviews as cruisers that handle and stop and go rather
well.

....snip

<waves to Doug>

JL

 

I rang him and asked him what his last service cost.

He said $600.

Maybe big city prices are more expensive?


G-S

 

C'mon Boxer, girls deserve real bikes too.

JL

 

Mmm that's not double my service costs but it's a good way towards it.

IIRC (without getting out the logbook) I paid $1100 for the 12000Km
service including a dyno tune(~$400), new chain and sprockets($150 ?)
(they ship with ones made of cheese from the factory - apparently I was
lucky to get that far) and a set of K&N filters(errm NFI - $100?) in
addition to the standard service cost. The only difference between that
service and the 24K is checking the timing chain tension and tappet
clearance.

JL

 

Hmm, maybe you should buy a GSXR600 and get it lowered - it's lighter
than both SV and GS (and it's still a Suzuki - you could of course
branch out and get an R6 or ZX6

JL

 

OK you got me there, although whilst at my local BMW/Harley dealer on
Saturday morning I sat on a new Fat Bob, I liked the look and the fact it
has brakes, might take one out for a test run soon..

http://www.morganandwacker.com.au/harley-davidson/new-models/dyna/fxdf-dyna-fat-bob.aspx


By the way did I mention that I had a BMW R100RS for sale?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=140277858148

21 bids in 40 minutes from $1 to $2,550, not bad for a start.

Boxer

 

Are you sure about putting K & N filters on it, I have seen a number of BMW
engines distroyed using these, they let in lost of fine dust particles and
can really stuff your engine.

Boxer

 

Real brakes ? Go on, you're funnin' me !! Can't tell from the pics -
although they do seem to be the 4 pots.

On the other hand - I think you're the person BTH should be directing
his "you have too much money" jibes at With seventy-eleven bikes in
the shed I guess it's fair to add a Hogly for amusement purposes and
coffee shop trips - you can always jump on the GS if you want to go
somewhere.

Is that the same model as the Superboike ?

JL

 

Twin front disks running 4 piston calipers on both sides seem to be large
300 mm disks too ?

I just sold the GPz900R and have the R100RS (1981 model for sale) so the
shed will only have 5 BMW's left, got to fill the space with something.

Yep that is the famous Superbike, not for the feint hearted, I have another
a 1978 model that I have owned for the past year, finally got the
restoration finished on Friday, registered it and took it for a brisk 400
kilometre jog yesterday, what a bloody beauty.

Boxer

 

(b) and (c) haven't stopped a lot us in the past...

 

I am, I admit, an unforturnate fashion desperate. With motorcycles from
Spain Italy Germany Japan and America in my garage, one prerequisite is they
must all look good, to me anyway Nevadas just look silly as do Viragos
while the classic looks of a standard Sportster must rank alongside the
Trimuph Bonniville as two of the most attractive motorcycles ever made Ok
include a Bevel 900 Super Sport. I got one in the lounge room Subjective I
know. Another rule is they must feel good to ride and I always have a smile
whilst on my Sportie. Many real Harley riders wouldn't piss on a skirtster
rider but who wants to be urinated upon by a 175kg gorilla with an IQ of 13
anyway?
Many or maybe most will knock em but I still like mine and thats what biking
is all about. It's the experiance that counts, the way it makes you feel.
I love my 748 on a track day, my Cappra racing old fellas in the dirt and my
old sportie on a day trip anytime. 100 years and still producing HD cant be
all that bad. Everyone else is still shitting yella in comparison.
Oh lastly all gear levers on the left please or else when panic time comes
I'm lifting brake pedals and changing up, not good!!!

Capt A. L.

 

That's a question not a statement. I've not owned a Duc (except the one

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!! GOLD!

 

then why are you getting rid of it?

 

And this is a MAJOR point!
This is the difference between "It was very reliable; in the whole time I
had it it only needed starter-motor brushes, forkseals and the occasional
clean of the switch-contacts..." and "what an unreliable piece of shit; it
spent half its time in the workshop with electrical problems and suspension
problems and the number of times I had to pay towing fees.....!")
Makes for a very different "experience"!

 

Sheesh Betty; do you think we all learnt "men-mechanics" in highschool?
('specially that Zebee bloke)!
Look at the mechanics you know; are they a half as smart as you?!!?
Find yourself a mate who's willing to be your "fullback" and then just try
it yourself.
Your fullback doesn't need to watch your every move; they just need to be
available to answer the stupid questions, advise you about what tools to use
and where to get them and, in the event of a ****-up, come over and rescue
your arse.
Get a set of metric ring-spanners (10, 12, 13, 14, 17 and 19mm) and just use
logic you can't **** anything!
It's not that hard when you know you've got backup!

 

Is that right? I see 180kg for the latest GS500 and GSXR600 and 168 for the
SV650.