Yamaha Bulldog - anyone got any thoughts?

I was looking at new bikes at the weekend [1] and I came across a Yamaha
Bulldog 1100.

It's a Yamaha 1100 twin in a trailie-like frame, a bit like a Monster.

Anyone tried one? I had a sit and it felt like a good position although
I didn't get a ride due to my lack of helmet/leathers/boots/gloves at
the time.

It looked good for my sort of riding, not sure about it lasting through
the winter though.

[1] Actually the wifey was trying on various customs for fit to see if
she can manage a bigger bike than her XV535 ("do my legs look short on
this?" type of thing)

 

Mike says...

I like the look of them, it reminds me of the 80's XV1000? but the press
slagged it of as a slow, ill handling dog.

 

looks nice but slow.

 

I think you mean trellis-like frame - there's nothing trailie-like about
a Monster!

 

It's the same engine as the 1100 Virago and the later DragStar, which
tells you all you need to know, really. i.e. it's dog-slow and heavy.

 

No - I meant trailie, I'm just hopelessly wrong about the Monster.

I have got the general impression that it may be a bit slow though.
This does back up what I got from the Yamaha website.

 

I had a go on one for an hour and I really quite liked it. Not my thing
at all, but it was really quite nice.

 

I understand that the first thing to touch down (early) on righthanders is
front downpipe...

 

platypus says...

I have discovered that the CeeBee has a cornering limit. It is when the
silencer touches down and lifts the rear wheel off the floor. This is
possible with Cheng Shin Hi-Max rear tyre and a Maxxis Barracuda front,
as demonstrated by me to a few car drivers yesterday, on the A6 Clophill
roundabout. The usual scenario is that the peg touches down, then folds
up and by that time I've run out of corner.

 

You want to rebuild that bike as a cafe racer in a sort of CB50 style -
rearsets, clipons, red frame, silver tank etc. Then you'll need a piss-pot
helmet and goggles...

http://www60.tok2.com/home/yasunaga/D-TOC/20030923/20030923_09.jpg

 

platypus says...

Lovely idea. I have 2 spare frames, and a shedload of wheels, forks etc.
I'll give that some serious thought because the old thing is due a total
rebuild very soon.

Engine-wise it's perfect, but the chassis parts are way beyond their
best. All the forks I have could do with rechroming, the frame that I'm
using at the moment needs a bracket welding back on to stop the footrest
hanger swivelling, swing arm bushes are on their way out again and both
wheels are in dire need of respoking. It still pulls about 85 mph, but
the handling is terrible, it wobbles and weaves itsway down the road and
every imperfection in the road is magnified by the fucked suspension.
I'd like to keep it, but if I do then I'll need to spend alot of time
and effort rebuilding it.

 

Heh. Sounds like a plan.