test non-ride, the sequel

In aus.motorcycles on 29 Nov 2006 17:34:55 -0800

On the other hand, if you'd tried riding it, maybe it wouldn't have
been the slug you thought it was.

Zebee

 

Worked in 1976 for my 850T3, but yes, why build an 1100 with an 850 engine.
If it's sleeved down, it probably weighs more, not less.

Theo

 

Aye, but that was what I was getting at.

If there is a choice of 750 or 1100 Brevias, as there is now, who will
buy the wee one?

That the wee one goes bloody quick has nothing to do with it. :-(

regards,
CrazyCam

 

It probably doesn't matter much for a 'Nevada' cruiser as that market
wouldn't be caring much about power anyway.

I suspect that the 'Griso naked street bike' 850 will have more
difficulty living up to the image than the Nevada will.

I don't know about you, but most people I know don't expect cruisers to
go or handle anyway (ok... so most people don't know about the Cali, but
that's irrelevant [1]


G-S

[1] Would I buy a Nevada 850? Dunno... not yet probably... maybe in
another 10 years.

 

I haven't ridden one, but was on a "spirited" ride with a lady on one.

It seemed to go pretty nicely thank you very much.

People who buy Guzzis don't judge by the specs. ;-)

regards,
CrazyCam

 

G-S wrote:

Hi Geoff, are you another: "when I get old enough, I'm gonna buy a
Guzzi" person?

regards,
CrazyCam

 

In aus.motorcycles on Thu, 30 Nov 2006 17:52:36 +1100

Me.

It's a lot lighter and a lot lower. It is also much better looking.

The 1100 Breva is an ugly fat pig. VEry broad in the seat like the
Griso is, so it splays your legs and makes the "seat height" too tall.

The broad tank and fake air scoops that work with the Norge fairing
are silly on the Breva, ditto the weird bar risers. The Breva is a naked
Norge, and you know how some people look much much better with clothes on!

(And it isn't just visually slimmed down, the Norge is narrower at the
saddle, and feels more nimble when you sit on it. Perhaps say the 1100
Breva is a fat middle aged naked Norge....)

The 750 on the other hand is neat and sweet. Shortarses and people
who prefer their bikes light and lean won't look at the 1100 if
there's a 750 on offer. Especially given the 5-7k cost difference!

OK, some people have to have the bigger bike, perhaps they carry a
pillion and scads of luggage. But for most solo riders wanting an all
rounder that is happy with the occasional pillion the 750 is the bike.

Better ask who'll buy the same pig ugly bike as an 850 when they could
have an 1100....

Zebee

 

In aus.motorcycles on Thu, 30 Nov 2006 17:01:24 +1000

For some reason I said "nevada" when I meant "breva".

The bigblock Breva and the Griso are getting sleeved down versions for
reasons that escape me.


Zebee

 

<wave> It's me....Cam.... I know that.

Yes, but let's keep this conversation to motorcycles. ;-)

While there probably are some who carry pillion or loads of luggage,
many bike buyers seem to have to get bigger engine capacity bikes to
haul their egos about.

regards,
CrazyCam

 

In aus.motorcycles on Thu, 30 Nov 2006 18:33:24 +1100

Well... I suspect that given the current lineup those will go for the
Griso (which is similar in seating and feel at a standstill to a Breva,
but slightly different riding position due to the bars) or a Norge.
And of course some might actually like the looks of the Breva

There might be some who think "I would rather pay 19 for the Breva
than 26 for the Norge" and who are OK with the high seat.

With luck more people will find the 750 is fine

Zebee

 

Me too! The 750 Breva I test-rode a year ago was almost[1] the only new
bike I've ridden and liked anywhere near as much as my venerable R65 (still
kicking on, thanks for asking), although, someone I met recently had lost
his pillion due to the Breva's lack of creature comforts :-(

Great idea

Gary

[1] apart from a 1200 Skirtster, quite a different bike and probably quite
a bit more exy

 

I'd go the big one, but mate in the club went for the 750. Very light;
very nimble and, apparently, imminently stackable. $4000 and a broken
collarbone later, he's looking at getting a Heritage Softail.

---
Cheers

PeterC [aka MildThing]
Most scientific discoveries are heralded by a tentative "Hmmm. That's funny..." instead of a jubilant "Eureka!"

'81 Yamaha Virago (XV) 750H (work in progress)
'01 Yamaha FJR1300

www.dmcsc.org.au
http://eladesom.com.au/ulysses/
# 37181

 

I've ridden the 750 for about half an hour. Didn't get around to the
1100. I reckon the 750 would be beautiful for the twisties. The tighter
the corners the better.

---
Cheers

PeterC [aka MildThing]
Most scientific discoveries are heralded by a tentative "Hmmm. That's funny..." instead of a jubilant "Eureka!"

'81 Yamaha Virago (XV) 750H (work in progress)
'01 Yamaha FJR1300

www.dmcsc.org.au
http://eladesom.com.au/ulysses/
# 37181

 

He didn't just lose his pillion - he's temporarily lost mobility, and
about to give up the Breva in favour of a Soft-tail.

Pillion is probably very glad she wasn't on the back when he stacked it.


---
Cheers

PeterC [aka MildThing]
Most scientific discoveries are heralded by a tentative "Hmmm. That's funny..." instead of a jubilant "Eureka!"

'81 Yamaha Virago (XV) 750H (work in progress)
'01 Yamaha FJR1300

www.dmcsc.org.au
http://eladesom.com.au/ulysses/
# 37181

 

Nah, I'm a "When I'm old enough I'm gunna buy a cruiser" person ;-)

G-S

 

Ahhh ok... I thought I'd missed another of what seems to be a gradually
increasing number of new model variations.

There is that new Cali 950 derivative, so a Nevada with the 850 didn't
seem unreasonable.

I suspect that in those cases the reason is more to do with marketing
and cost of developing new models than it is to do with the inherant
'worthiness' of a particular model.

In Australia the BMW R850 sold very poorly despite pricing a fair bit
less than the R1100 and I suspect the Breva 850 and the Griso 850 will
have the same problem (at least at the price points they are supposed to
sell at).

If they were another couple of thousand dollars cheaper (under $15k)
then they'd probably sell on price alone...


G-S

 

Also to be honest, whilst I suffer from moderate ducks disease there are
some deformed stick insects around with long legs and long arms.

These poor individuals would likely find themselves more comfortable on
a Breva 850 than they would on a Breva 750.

I have heard a few comments to the effect that the Breva 750 is a bit
'close coupled' for some.


G-S

 

I did!

I can't see bugger all without me spec on...


G-S

 

Marie quite likes the idea of the 1100 Breva, Norge is out of the question
as it has too much fairing The 750 is too low for her. Now by the time
she gets around to thinking about buying one, they might have finally run
out of those horrible Aprilia Futura panniers. She didn't find the seat too
wide, its narrower than the 1150R anyway.

Al

 

BMW have done the same with some of theirs, not all are available in
Australia though: R850R and R1150R, R850GS, R850RT. All of them simply have
smaller pistons, so the bike is the same weight/size. In the case of the
850R they stripped some of the equipment to improve the price here(cause
they cant cost less to manufacture). Some people buy them. I can only
think it's for a market segment driven by legislation in some
country(licencing and/or insurance).

Al