So many engines

Discussion in 'UK Motorcycles' started by David Thomas, Jun 22, 2004.

  1. David Thomas

    David Thomas Guest

    So much knowledge from one so...........errr knowledgeable

    D
     
    David Thomas, Jun 22, 2004
    #21
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  2. David Thomas

    David Thomas Guest

    Yes I will do just that, but the dealers are soooo pushy round here it puts
    you off the whole idea.

    D
     
    David Thomas, Jun 22, 2004
    #22
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  3. David Thomas

    darsy Guest

    that's true. However, an F650GS seat is quite a bit narrower than a
    Bandit seat.
     
    darsy, Jun 23, 2004
    #23
  4. David Thomas

    David Thomas Guest

    Think the height would be ok, but people keep saying I will be disappointed
    with the lower power of a GS650 compared with the Bandit 600.

    D
     
    David Thomas, Jun 23, 2004
    #24
  5. David Thomas

    darsy Guest

    the BMW is lighter than the Bandit too, surely.

    Anyway the point of trailie/supermoto bikes is not all about power.
     
    darsy, Jun 23, 2004
    #25
  6. David Thomas

    David Thomas Guest

    Nah true, I sat on the V-Strom 650 at the Ally Pally show and fell in love
    with it, but they retail at about £5200, which is way out of my league, had
    one non main dealer saying he could get me one for £4500 but still way too
    much, and because they only came out in 2004 there are no older ones about
    yet.

    Could be patient and wait to see if I can get a used one in the winter,
    prolly still be the best part of £4000 though :-(

    D
     
    David Thomas, Jun 23, 2004
    #26
  7. David Thomas

    wessie Guest

    David Thomas wrote in
    It'll be interesting to see if Suzuki have got their market research
    right. That category of bike has never sold in big numbers in this
    country. Honda & BMW keep their prices up on the Transalp & F650 by
    limiting supply. If Suzuki do the same as Aprilia did with the Caponord,
    make too many, then expect heavy discounting in 6 months when the
    dealers' stock finance repayments kick in.

    You didn't have the Transalp on your original list. Been around for
    years in 600 and latterly 650cc sizes. A much underrated bike that you
    should be able to find in your price range. Capable tourer in a plodding
    sort of way.
     
    wessie, Jun 23, 2004
    #27
  8. David Thomas

    flash@work Guest

    What about a super moto? Wasn't Cane trying to sell his.

    Actually how about a road converted CR500? Nice little runabout. Just have
    remember to keep the throttle wide open at all times, or the plug will
    whisker up.
     
    flash@work, Jun 23, 2004
    #28
  9. David Thomas

    Howard Guest

    The 850-1150 bikes will quite happily pull from
    Apropos that last bit.. should my '82 BM be able to do the same?

    Anything less than 2300 or so revs and the bike shakes like ****.
     
    Howard, Jun 23, 2004
    #29
  10. David Thomas

    Ace Guest

    This 'category' really consists of two types of bike, those with
    absolutely no pretentions to off-road use and those that pretend to be
    giant trailies. Most of the latter are nothing but crap off-road, and
    many of the former would be just as good. For example, the tdm850
    (arguably the original bike of this class) is actually pretty good
    through forest tracks (sand/grass/leaves) whereas I'd be reluctant to
    take a Varadero on similar terrain.

    But for some reason the pseuod-trailie class has always been more
    successful in the UK than those that just share the benefits of
    upright riding position and long travel suspension. Quite wierd,
    really, and it certainly seems to defy logic.

    So, what will be interesting with the V-Strom, which is purely a road
    bike, is to see whether it can break this mould and compete against
    the GS and the varadero, or tha transalp and F650 at the lower end, or
    whether its lack of trail-bike preteitions will count against it.
     
    Ace, Jun 23, 2004
    #30
  11. David Thomas

    wessie Guest

    Howard wrote in
    No idea. My BM has fuel injection and performs fine as long as the 2 sides
    are balanced. A fairly simple job to adjust the throttle position sensors
    if you have a digital multimeter.

    In a high gear it is fairly smooth. In 1st gear it is often better to keep
    the revs up a bit and slip the clutch if negotiating something like a
    traffic cone masquerading as a mini roundabout.
     
    wessie, Jun 23, 2004
    #31
  12. David Thomas

    wessie Guest

    Ace wrote in
    I've ridden a TDM on gravel forestry tracks using BT020 tyres. Can't
    comment about the Varedero off road but I'd certainly prefer the GS, with
    Metzeler Tourances, on a gravel track to the TDM.
     
    wessie, Jun 23, 2004
    #32
  13. David Thomas

    Ace Guest

    Oh aye, but the GS is pretty much a 'proper' trail bike. The Varadero
    ain't. Anyway, such a preference would be obvious, even if it were
    just the tyres. Would be interesting to pit the TDM against some of
    the pseudo-trailies if they had similar tyres on...
     
    Ace, Jun 23, 2004
    #33
  14. David Thomas

    OH- Guest

    AFAIK, and I've been looking, the only tyres with any sort of
    gravel (not to even mention trail/off road) thread that will fit on
    the TDM front rim (18") are designed for use on small
    (125 cc) trail bike rear wheels. It is a possibility, I've seen it
    done, but I'm not really sure it's a good idea.

    Why did Yamaha choose this rim size ? Quite simple, they
    never intended or marketed the TDM as trailie or even
    pseudo-trailie. The only connection with the trail bike
    segment is the engine heritage (the super tenere) and that
    the design process was a spin off from an aborted
    supermotard idea.
     
    OH-, Jun 23, 2004
    #34
  15. David Thomas

    OH- Guest

    <snip>

    Your TDM must have been quite different from mine. At 1500 rpm
    in top gear mine will not give decent acceleration and will certainly not
    be happy at all if asked to do honest work. I'm not complaining, I
    never expected it to behave like a big 4 cylinder or cruiser tuned V
    engine.
     
    OH-, Jun 23, 2004
    #35
  16. David Thomas

    Preston Kemp Guest

    Would the 120/90 - 18 Conti TKC 80 fit? It's still a rear, but designed
    for 'big' bikes.
     
    Preston Kemp, Jun 23, 2004
    #36
  17. David Thomas

    wessie Guest

    Preston Kemp wrote in
    The TKC-80 is THE off road tyre for large capacity off road bikes. Quite
    good on road, just wears like ****.
     
    wessie, Jun 23, 2004
    #37
  18. David Thomas

    OH- Guest

    Well, it's 10 mm too wide and something like 25 mm too large in
    diameter. There could be a problem clearing the mud guard.

    As long as you know the potential problems with handling and
    watch out for any nasty behaviour, there is nothing wrong in
    trying. Law and insurance will not be impressed, wrong speed
    rating and all that. (Or it might possibly be OK if it's marked
    M&S and your British rules make exceptions because of that.)

    OTOH, why ? I've done loose gravel, stones, grass and mud
    (long legs help a lot, not really a good idea) on road tires.
    And if most of your riding is going to be greenlaning/
    "adventures", getting another bike is IMHO a much better plan.
     
    OH-, Jun 25, 2004
    #38
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