What would you buy?

This is for a bloke I know

Features I am looking for are-
Prefer tourer or cruiser,
cruiser the pick,
over 750-800cc capacity,
shaft/belt drive hate having to keep chain driven bikes clean,
alloys not spoked wheels- again its a cleaning thing,
at least saddle bags-prefer hard panniers,
rear rack or top box- because I am going to be shifting gear in my
commutes,
screen- for my own comfort when country commuting,
spotlights- some of those commutes will be at night in the country,
and wide arse pillion seat- for the missus to have some comfort.
Big list, I know.
If I go 1500cc+ then I will also look at towbar and get a bike
trailer.


He is thinking VTX1800 at moment, but to me they look like a fuckin
land barge!

 

XB12X !

 

surely spokes, with a much smaller surface area than alloys, would
accumulate less dirt and therefore stay cleaner

Nev..
'07 XB12X

 

Rocket III Touring.

Nah, DL650 unless he's got duck's disease then possibly a VZ800.

 

Sounds like a recipe for an Electra Glide
picture perfect

Capt. A. L.

 

In aus.motorcycles on Sat, 26 Jan 2008 17:15:22 +1100

OK, I have to say it, but dammit...

Norge!

Moto Guzzi Norge 1200

- shaft drive with CARC (hasn't karked it yet) to stop the shaft
reaction.
- 3 spoke alloy wheels with 90deg valve cap
- the GT and GTL versions have hard panniers that clip on neatly and
don't leave a rack behind when off, you wouldn't know they'd been
there.
- The GTL comes with a rear rack and box, but I don't like the top
box, not as much room as the Breva one. Get a GT and Breva rack
and box.
- Full fairing with adjustable screen. Drop the height in town, raise
it on the open road. Larger screens available for tall people.
- doesn't have spotties, has 6 lights in total: 2 parker/running, 2
low, 2 high. The high are as good as any spotties I've used. Possum killers.
- comfortable seat for both pillion and rider. wide, well padded,
decent footrests.
- mine has a towbar and tows a loaded trailer quite happily.

Also, heated grips stock on GT and GTL, satnav on GTL, comprehensive
computer including current fuel consumption, 24l tank with 19l main
tank meaning 400km to reserve on the highway, I get 320-330 main tank
in town. My Z6 tyres have done 11,000km and still have a fair bit left
in the rear, the front's got heaps left.

Like all Guzzi twins, it is happy to pootle about at 2-3000 revs in
town, power is nicely linear till 5500 when it says "oh, time to play
eh?" and gets on the cam noticeably.


The bad - dealer network is sparse. However each state has at least one good
dealer and they are plenty easy to work on.
- the oil dipstick is ridiculous. Buy a Teo Lamers extension, or get
some polypipe and make an unscrewer tool.
- you will have to spend time talking about it when people come up to
you and tell you it is a very good looking bike.

Zebee

 

In aus.motorcycles on Sat, 26 Jan 2008 17:43:13 +1100

there speaks a man who has never had spoked wheels.

(Or has his tongue so far in his cheek it's poking out his 'earole)

Zebee

 

Tell him to buy a car.

 

I was thinking it's that it's more of a bastard to clean spokes than
alloys .. they don't get any less dirty.. just that cleaning spokes is
harder (well .. more intricate) work

 

Gold Wing, dealer will throw in a set of spotlights if you really think you
need them.
Shaft drive, luggage, armchair for pillion, plenty of power for trailer and
best of all its a Honda, you'll meet the nicest people
Dain. CB 750 (Honda)

 

ballpark price Zeebs??

 

$42,000

Nev..
'07 XB12X

 

sign me up for 2 of them.

 

I have spoked wheels on my Malvern Star and I have never cleaned them
and they invariably appear cleaner than the alloys on the motorbike.

Nev..
'07 XB12X

 

In aus.motorcycles on Sat, 26 Jan 2008 21:50:18 +1100

low 20s.

Zebee

 

He said no chain drive Al, DL is a chain. Is the VZ chain or shaft ?

 

They are bloody huge. If he's going that big I'd go a Rocket 3 touring
or a Goldwing but I'd have thought there were better options.

Most any cruiser can have an accessories screen, the wide arse pillion
seat is pretty much non existent without going aftermarket /
accessories other than the two above, but there's shitloads of
aftermarket seat options - Moorhouse gets lots of good raps on here.

Guzzi California would be my pick on those parameters.

JL

 

Nobody has mentioned a BMW K1200LT. Got all you need.

SteveB

 

They are bloody huge. If he's going that big I'd go a Rocket 3 touring or a Goldwing but I'd have thought there were better options.
I agree totally with you.. thus the reason I posted up. I said a
leadwing, didnt think of the only bike ZB knows of (Gorge) ..

I would hafve thought cruisers would haev had a good 2up setup on
em... weird.

I know less about Guzzi than harleys.. Most people are in the same
boat I think.

 

The answer is spokes, polish, a seven year old child and retained pocket
money.

For that matter you could substitute any dirty item and cleaning
material for the spokes and polish

Nigel.