Motorcycles
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I took a look at the Yamaha XSR900 today.
It's a nice looking machine. I like the fact that it's retro without being a pastiche, something I feel that the Bonneville tries too hard at. The finish looks good, though there are a few bits of plastic here and there.
@Giles should try to convince Yamaha to donate one for another IH Yard Built project. I reckon it'd be possible to do a really cool scrambler…
I also dropped by the local Ducati dealer. I wanted to take a peek at the Hypermotard, which has just arrived in. It's got a tall seat, which is great for a gangly mutant like myself, and the SP model is even taller.
@Black Orchid the Bonneville looks a good machine, though DH might prefer the Thruxton R if he's a reformed sportsbike rider. I've got a deposit down on one, but I'm not 100% decided yet. There is a Bobber version coming soon.
The Ducati XDiavel looks interesting, and I was hoping to see that at the dealership today, but it's been delayed. I'm not sure how comfortable the pillion perch is.
Harley are now producing the S Series, which is their go faster range. The Low Rider S, and it had a good review at Lanesplitter. There's also the Fat Boy S and Soft Tail Slim S.
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Thanks for all that info @Graeme loads of food for thought… Going to do our research. I fell in love with the Ducati Diavel Stealth when it first made its appearance at the bike show NEC Birmingham.. However pillion could again be tricky..
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[emoji38][emoji38]
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Just got me this
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I'm very close to having it!!! I've put a deposit on it … Have either of you @harley dave @4c ever had one?
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ok sam ,what model is it v50 ? ,how much do they want , i assume it runs ok having had a few italian bikes they have there own character .
a guzzi normally has a very heavy throttle a seat as hard as a cricket bat and terrible electrics , having said that i love guzzis nothing sounds like a guzzi and that looks like it has a nice pipe .before you buyit not stateing the obvious but just check the frame and engine numbers match as it is a custom build and they tend to use bits from this and bits from that .
not sure if the forks look origanal. -
ok allso forgot if you have ever ridden a bike with shaft drive its completely different form a chain drive bike and just takes a bit of getting used to .
good luck
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Thanks for the info @harley dave
I have ridden a shaft driven bike. It was a V7 racer and i got on just fine with it. I actually loved that bike but there's something about this one that i like. It's being sold by a dealer so i feel like that should give me some comfort. I think it started life as a Nevada and according to them it's a pro build. I'm hoping this could be a nice show bike and something i can learn more about maintenance but i don't want to end up with it on blocks… so to speak.
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That's a nice looking Guzzi @Sam.
My last bike was a BMW, and so I'm used to a shaft drive. The nice thing is that they don't require maintenance like a chain.
My brother runs a Moto Guzzi Griso. He likes it a lot, but it's given him a lot of trouble with the electrics. He says that he uses more batteries than petrol, and it's quite a thirsty bike. I'll see if I can get him to drop by and comment in this thread.
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@Sam:
Thanks for the info @harley dave
I have ridden a shaft driven bike. It was a V7 racer and i got on just fine with it. I actually loved that bike but there's something about this one that i like. It's being sold by a dealer so i feel like that should give me some comfort. I think it started life as a Nevada and according to them it's a pro build. I'm hoping this could be a nice show bike and something i can learn more about maintenance but i don't want to end up with it on blocks… so to speak.
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its a lovely looking bike if you get it (and dont be offended) i would change the tyres as they look like firestones which are very of the moment and retro but are not the greatest tyres ,other than that is a cracking looking bike and there is nothing like the sound of a guzzi and with that exhaust on there i bet that sounds fantastic
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Cheers for the advice @harley dave @Graeme
I wonder why the electrics are so bad on them? I'd hope that the guys who put this together would have looked at that maybe? I'll ask. Apparently it does sound amazing so i'm sure my neighbours will appreciate it
I am still torn, it kept me up last night thinking about it. I would like a cafe racer before i'm too old to handle one but they're not easy to find in the UK. If anyone has any suggestions on where to look i'd be grateful.
I had the same feeling about the tyres @harley dave I like the look but i've always thought of them as car tyres and English whether the way it is i'd be afraid to take it out on anything but a bone dry day. So yeah, I'd definitely want to change them.
hmmm Appreciate the your thoughts on the subject guys.
SP
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@Sam the issue that my brother had is that his Griso kills batteries, and so frequently won't start. He's never found the cause, but with two small children he hasn't had much of a chance to ride it regularly, and it was stored in a cold garage.
He's just moved house, and his new place has power to the garage, so the bike is now plugged into an optimate. It's also been fitted with a fancy lithium battery, which has a three year guarantee, so should save him on replacement costs. Or bankrupt the supplier.
If you PM me your email then I'll ask him to get in touch.
I've currently got a deposit on a new Triumph Thruxton R. That offers a lot of the Café Racer styling, but with modern components, though you'd probably have to raid the options list to get what you're after. But that's likely to cost money.
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Since Graeme uttered the word "Griso" like a strange archangel of doom I have been summonsed.
The V7 is lovely - and that is a stunning example. The motors are just superb, the shaft drive is probably second to none and they ride… oh man... they ride.
However.
The electrics are a bit shonky. The Griso eats batteries - I spend more on them last year and the year before than petrol! I think this was down to a mix of the bike being kept in a remote and deeply cold garage (in the grim north) with no power and hence no optimate. There is also limited time to ride due to munchkins.
Since moving I now have it in a garage, with power and an optimate... and also a shiny new LiFePo4 battery.
Despite my issues with batteries, fuses (I used to carry around a pocket full of assorted fuses when riding - most the gremlins have been found and remedied now) it is probably the sexiest bike on earth.
That said, I am hankering after a Victory Gunner at the moment… for those times that the Guzzi doesn't start
