New Bike Required?

[Paul in NZ]

Right....

Lets just assume I've totally lost my mind.... I want to keep the Mk2 as I bloody love it... It's a REAL good bike......

But... 2 up touring?? Weeeell... We have done it but....... It needs abetter seat, pillion pegs are 2 high and...

So, if a penniless moron was to decide on a bike for two up work that would have to...

COMFORTABLE
Be easy to service
Stone Reliable
Cheap to run
Carry Luggage
Not be a Gold Wing or a Virago / Suzuki V twin cruiser thing

What would we buy? It should not be new 'cos I don't do new. I value reliable easy handling over power and could not give a rats arse about fashion.

My list is so far.

BMW

K100
K75
GS80
GS100

Suzuki

VS800
Bandit 1200
RF900

Yamaha

FJ1200

Paul N

[Krayy]

How about a Kwaka Vulcan?

Live long and prosper. Shazbat!

[James Deuce]

Bandit 1200 definitely.

[StoneChucker]

What about a Yamaha FZ1, possibly '03? They have a really comfortable and long seat, and they have plenty of power if you ever need any. They seem to handle quite well, however I've only ever ridden one once.

[James Deuce]

What about a Yamaha FZ1, possibly '03? They have a really comfortable and long seat, and they have plenty of power if you ever need any. They seem to handle quite well, however I've only ever ridden one once.
He said, and I quote, "penniless moron", so an 03 FZ1 is probably a bit too dear.

[kerryg]

Right....

Lets just assume I've totally lost my mind.... I want to keep the Mk2 as I bloody love it... It's a REAL good bike......

But... 2 up touring?? Weeeell... We have done it but....... It needs abetter seat, pillion pegs are 2 high and...

So, if a penniless moron was to decide on a bike for two up work that would have to...

COMFORTABLE
Be easy to service
Stone Reliable
Cheap to run
Carry Luggage
Not be a Gold Wing or a Virago / Suzuki V twin cruiser thing

What would we buy? It should not be new 'cos I don't do new. I value reliable easy handling over power and could not give a rats arse about fashion.

My list is so far.

BMW

K100
K75
GS80
GS100

Suzuki

VS800
Bandit 1200
RF900

Yamaha

FJ1200

Paul N

If you wanted to consider going nekkid there's a few worth a look (can always bung a little Givi flyscreen on) like the XJR1200/1300, GSX1200, ZXR1200, etc all of which have got good ergonomics for touring....

Wot about a GSX1100F (the one with the fairing and the electric screen) which are a lot of bike for little money and got the gorgeous big oil and air cooled donk....


Or a ST2 (great tourer)...or a VFR750/800...or...then there's the...

[Cajun]

How about a Kwaka Vulcan?

Live long and prosper. Shazbat!

as long as you don't get a kawaka vulcan 1500d1-3 there motors have problems

bandit 1200 are awsome bike you can pick up an older model dirt cheap, have plenty of power, you can fit hard bags to them(we have givi hard bags fitted to our bandit 600) parts are time a dozen.

Rf900 good bikes but far over priced, since you could buy them brand new in 98 for like $9000 people still want $9000 even more of them, which is silly since its a suzuki slap together from parts bin(shut up you honda rides thats not what all suzukis are like, just some dc:< )

bmw i donno know shit about and don't want to

fj1200 are good bikes, starting to get a little long in the teeth i would believe, but if ya can pick one up for good price be great but i would go something along bandit/rf lines for that bit more sporty feel

[Paul in NZ]

Guys guys...

This is going to be a third bike that get rolled out on rare occasions when Vicki and I want to go for a bimble for a couple of weeks. It's got to be CHEAP!!!!!!

Otherwise i'd buy a Moto Guzzi Cali or some such...

CHEAP as in sub 8K

Sub 5 is better

[Cajun]

If you wanted to consider going nekkid there's a few worth a look (can always bung a little Givi flyscreen on) like the XJR1200/1300, GSX1200, ZXR1200, etc all of which have got good ergonomics for touring....

Wot about a GSX1100F (the one with the fairing and the electric screen) which are a lot of bike for little money and got the gorgeous big oil and air cooled donk....


Or a ST2 (great tourer)...or a VFR750/800...or...then there's the...

you missed out gsxr1100 there kerry, i sure you got another one spare there somewhere

[Blakamin]

are BM's reliable?
if so, i reckon one would not look out of place in the 'NZ Garage!

[Cajun]

Guys guys...

This is going to be a third bike that get rolled out on rare occasions when Vicki and I want to go for a bimble for a couple of weeks. It's got to be CHEAP!!!!!!

Otherwise i'd buy a Moto Guzzi Cali or some such...

CHEAP as in sub 8K

Sub 5 is better

Paul a bandit 1200 should be fine then be able to find of those under that price,

[kerryg]

you missed out gsxr1100 there kerry, i sure you got another one spare there somewhere


Hmmmm, as a matter of fact, now that you mention it........ :msn-wink:

[Cajun]

Hmmmm, as a matter of fact, now that you mention it........ :msn-wink:

hahahahha

:msn-wink:

[kerryg]

Guys guys...

This is going to be a third bike that get rolled out on rare occasions when Vicki and I want to go for a bimble for a couple of weeks. It's got to be CHEAP!!!!!!

Otherwise i'd buy a Moto Guzzi Cali or some such...

CHEAP as in sub 8K

Sub 5 is better


You should seriously look at a GSX1100F I reckon. I've seen them selling at under $5k on TradeMe. An earlier FJ1200 should be within that range as well if you shop around privately.

[toads]

How about a Kwaka Vulcan?

Live long and prosper. Shazbat!

yeah I want one of them,,,

[Hooks]

You should seriously look at a GSX1100F I reckon. I've seen them selling at under $5k on TradeMe. An earlier FJ1200 should be within that range as well if you shop around privately.

i agree ... my old girl is probably older than you want ...... but as a bike for all around fun and 2 up comfy touring it can't be beat !! She fires first time every time and apart from the tendancy to shed mirrors every now & then is reliable and easy to work. Parts too aren't too much of a prob ... so I reckon you could worse than one like that !!

[toads]

this is a bloody nice bike, identical to mine in all respects except the engine is a 750, mine is a 400, if I had a spare couple of grand I'd be buying this beasty, it would be an ideal bike for vicki if she wanted to have her own bike

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Road-bikes/Cruiser/auction-16401712.htm

[cycosis]

Buy a Honda and you'll be sorted.. :laugh:

[White trash]

Not be a Gold Wing or a Virago / Suzuki V twin cruiser thing


Suzuki

VS800


Ummmmm. What's this then?

[toads]

Ummmmm. What's this then?

hehehe, you're sharp today WT LOL

[F5 Dave]

Got to vote for the RF. So much bike for the money. 9k, you’re pullin my leg! They got down to $10999 & some people are still smarting from buying them at $17k when they were new -ouch.

I bought mine for $5k. It wasn’t a junker. It had been repainted to a pretty average job & the discs needed skimming but otherwise sound. Bargain I thought & I was specifically looking for a bike for 2 up touring. I'm not proud of it (note no listed in bikes list) but does it's job v.nicely. OK you might pay a little more than I did but sub $7k once modded is too easy.

There are a few mods to be done to make them a bit more apt at this but they run into a couple of hundred so no big deal (like putting a couple of plates to lower the pillion pegs & moving the indicators back).

[mangell6]

What about a Kawasaki GPZ900, its a " Classic japanese muscle bike, very tidy NZ new machine", Yamaha XJ600, or a new "Royal Enfield". Could have a 1953 one for $6k.
Need to choose what is more comfortable, leaning forward or upright.

[MacD]

Got to vote for the RF.

<snip>

There are a few mods to be done to make them a bit more apt at this but they run into a couple of hundred so no big deal (like putting a couple of plates to lower the pillion pegs & moving the indicators back).

I bought my RF after looking around at options for a reasonable sports/tourer bike that would take a pillion. It rides well with a pillion onboard, but the pillion finds the pegs a bit high. Lowering the pillion pegs a bit would be a good idea. The Bandit would be probably be easier on the arms/wrists too, but I really like the RF and would get another one.

[F5 Dave]

OK wrist problem
Find F1 engineering (Steve somebody (Bridge?), Rapidart or something he has a website named as) & give him whatever he asks for his bar risers. They are well made & take the bad angle out of the std bars if you rotate them forward a bit. + a bit higher. Worth every cent. I’m 5”9 & not too high for me.

Pillion pegs
Make 2 plates out of 8-10mm ally about the size of your fist. Drill 4 holes, 2 mount to where the pegs used to be, & the other 2 ~ 50mm down & ~30mm forward. The pipe will need to be strategically cut & sectioned so it takes on less of an angle (attaches to the peg mount) but it won’t scrape & this helps the panniers not get burnt bottoms.

Move the indicators back so you can fit luggage.

Oh & the thermostat needs to be replaced with a car one, but do a search for my thread on this.

[Posh Tourer :P]

Right....

Lets just assume I've totally lost my mind.... I want to keep the Mk2 as I bloody love it... It's a REAL good bike......

But... 2 up touring?? Weeeell... We have done it but....... It needs abetter seat, pillion pegs are 2 high and...

So, if a penniless moron was to decide on a bike for two up work that would have to...

COMFORTABLE
Be easy to service
Stone Reliable
Cheap to run
Carry Luggage
Not be a Gold Wing or a Virago / Suzuki V twin cruiser thing

What would we buy? It should not be new 'cos I don't do new. I value reliable easy handling over power and could not give a rats arse about fashion.

My list is so far.

BMW

K100
K75
GS80
GS100

OK,I have been asked to advise you. Mainly on the basis I guess that I am well acquainted with the BMW twins of some years ago. For NZ conditions I would pick the K75 over the K100. The latter is too damn big. The 80 GS is not really on,youd find it a bit underpowered 2 up. The 100 GS fine but avoid the para lever if you can. They are a bit tender in that section.

But dont overlook the more common R 90 - bit dated now - or the R 100 in various guises. RT yes,but my pick would be the RS as long as you can find a nice one. Will take a while. Price dunno-too few are sold commonly. DONT make the mistake of looking for a bargain as you will be aware with the cost of spares,that bargain turns out very badly. If you find a nice low mileage one swallow hard and pay up. It is almost certain to be better than a cheapy. If you are into long-distance stuff the RS fairing is great. If you not fussed about comfort consider a plain R100. Should be some around with panniers etc but as I said they are in good homes and tend to stay there. Not often up for sale.



And there you go - the voice of wisdom on beemer twins - from 30 years riding them, fixing them, etc

Just quietly, there is a R100RS up here that might go for a good offer...

The twins are all easy to service - I guess you dont mind old considering what you are already riding. The K-Series have more CDI/computer units in them - not so easy to service yourself. The R65 we built, and I converted it from single coil electronic ignition to twin coil points ignition - cheaper to repair - thats just an example of how workable-on they are - I dont really know *that* much about electrics....

I've been a pillion on the R100RS and the R75/6 quite a lot until I got my own bike, and ask TS about the seating position on the R65 - similar to any other beemer twin. Seems to be very comfy, with a nice big pillion seat, and capacity for luggage...

[Mooch]

Paul ,
New a guy with a K100 , We used to joke about the K100 costing more in maintance than the BMW cage I drove a the time. Not sure how well the K100 runs on unleaded.I'd make sure that they don't "pink" on the unleaded like the car used too.
However , From Vicky's POV , people used to comment on how comfy the pillion seat was. The fairing was the other good point for both wind and rain.
What about an earlier VFR 750 ?.

Mooch

[Paul in NZ]

OK....

K75 / K100 is OUT. (too expensive to run)

FJ1200 is OUT. (Too little ground clearance)

Jap Cruisers... Nah... No quite me... XS2 is as far as I'll go.

BMW Airheads are IN

GSXR1100 with normal bars? Hmmmmm? Tyres / chains????

Bandit is winning.

WT. You KNOW what I'm talking about you dag! VS800 at least looks normal but that 1400 cruiser thing.... Shudder... Look, I might ride a Guzzi but I have standards OK... (just kidding, i have none)

Nope. A standard bike is kinda where I'm headed.....

Paul N

[MacD]

OK wrist problem
....
Pillion pegs
....
Oh & the thermostat needs to be replaced with a car one, but do a search for my thread on this.

I'd followed your thermostat thread and it's on my to-do list for the bike! I'm OK with the bars at present, but I'll definitely look at the pillion peg changes. Thanks for all the ideas! :)

[pipeman]

Hey Paul how about a VX 800 have one sitting in my gauage if interested

[Motu]

Had a guy in a couple of weeks ago with an FJ1200,he paid $1400 for,fitted a set of rear brake pads and took it to the South Island the next day - this is the kind of deal you are looking for correct? I rode it,fantastic bike,solid,powerful,comfortable,and just stone reliable.

VX800 was what I was going to say,best use of a cruiser motor I've ever seen,comforable,not mainstream,I'd like one.

[White trash]

WT. You KNOW what I'm talking about you dag! VS800 at least looks normal but that 1400 cruiser thing.... Shudder... Look, I might ride a Guzzi but I have standards OK... (just kidding, i have none)



Paul. What drugs are you on?

Maybe I'm a little fugged up, but the 1400 and the 800 look pretty sinilar to me.

You're not thinking of the 1500LC Intruder (Behemoth!) are you?

Heres a 1400.

[James Deuce]

He means VX - stop being a meany.

[FROSTY]

Paul. What drugs are you on?

Maybe I'm a little fugged up, but the 1400 and the 800 look pretty sinilar to me.

You're not thinking of the 1500LC Intruder (Behemoth!) are you?

Heres a 1400.
Your brains all fogged WT--The VX is the cafe racer styled one
It looks like a GSX1100g
Which is one bike I'd suggest to ya dude.

[F5 Dave]

Both the RF & the Bandit have soft rear springs though some models may differ. On my RF with the girl on the back (~60kg) the back drooped so much the sidestand was hard to retract & it steered like a chopper.

I pulled the rear spring off (compress spring with 4 hose clips until you can pull out the retainer C pieces) & measured it by length & sat it on some bathroom scales then compressed it with a press (though you could use a lever, but be careful with springs.

Either way I ended up with a GSX600 spring that was 87kg/cm compared with the RF that was 65. Early model GSXR750 looked good too. I needed to make up some adaptors to get the centre to fit & retain the stock level of preload but this was easy as the springs were shorter than the RF. I used some old Shock preload adjusters with the threads ground off that just happened to fit. Might need to find a friendly wrecker or pay an engineering firm to make some bits.

[kerryg]

This seems a very closely related subject so thought I shouldn't start a new thread.


I have a few bikes but all them added together wouldn't add up to much more in value than a decent new road bike. That is because they are reasonably old (1988/1989/1990/1991...hey I've just realised that..4 consecutive years...fancy that). My opportunities for riding are a bit restricted for a number of reasons, so riding several bikes regularly is difficult. And lately I have had some annoying problems ....comes with being old....things seize up, fluids leak, strange noises are emitted...and then there's been the problems with the bikes as well... :mellow: . And with all the costs associated with maintenance and rego and so on I'm thinking I might sell my bikes (well perhaps not the 851 :disapint: ...) and buy one bike.

So here's the question: if you had say $10k to spend on a road bike, looking at 2nd hand only, for a biggish rider (6'1'', 100 odd kgs), that would be fun at a track day and on a blat in the country-side but also could take a pillion happily enough for a day trip, for a middle aged rider who is not into wheelies or stoppies or burn outs but still likes to go hard :eek: ...excuse me, I'll rephrase that...who still likes to go fast occasionally, what would you choose?

[F5 Dave]

Easy! Road going KX500.

In fact you are in luck, I have a friend with one in his garage. Just needs a few things to finish it off. . .

[kerryg]

Easy! Road going KX500.

In fact you are in luck, I have a friend with one in his garage. Just needs a few things to finish it off. . .


Well that was obvious. Silly me.................. :wacko:

[Paul in NZ]

Opps OK :confused2

VS / VX 800 - Not the chopper thing - The one with the chopper thing engine but a normalish running gear. No one really liked them when they were new but by all accounts they go quite well.

I'd like something thats of little value so I won't feel bad about hammering it down gravel roads, not washing it and using it like I stole it. I can forgive sloppy handling and pathetic brakes because i can usually ride around that shit but I won't like un reliability and uncomfortableness will NOT be tolerated by her indoors...

I'd like an old Guzzi Tourer but they are a little thin on the ground... A big trailie like and Africa twin is also in the frame...

NOW Before anyone gets their tits in a tangle - We are thinking... Looking OK. Buying is another matter and lets face it, this time of the year sucks for buying bikes...

Paul N

[ManDownUnder]

Mine's a '94, quicker than I need, pulls like a schoolboy and cheap as chips ($6,500 for mine 2 years ago, 30,000 kms on the clock)

2 up no problems at all. Reliable as hell just doesn't like sitting in the rain

[Blakamin]

I still reckon the Beemer, Paul. that way you can have more weird, sideways engines... (and it'll scrape more than the Guzzi so I might be able to catch ya over the hill) :eek:

[Posh Tourer :P]

I'd like something thats of little value so I won't feel bad about hammering it down gravel roads, not washing it and using it like I stole it. I can forgive sloppy handling and pathetic brakes because i can usually ride around that shit but I won't like un reliability and uncomfortableness will NOT be tolerated by her indoors...

I'd like an old Guzzi Tourer but they are a little thin on the ground... A big trailie like and Africa twin is also in the frame...


Thrashing a beemer down gravel roads is fun - I havent done enough of it though, and while I think I'm thrashing, I'm probably nowhere near it...:P
A beemer motor doesnt take to revving, but then it doesnt need to....

The thing with beemers is they dont feel exciting - they go fast (relatively), but feel slow.... Certainly comfortable for all that though.... Handling isnt sloppy, its just different. It isnt a machine that is responsive to every nuance of the road, infact when you first get on it feels like you are riding a hovercraft... Learn to ride with the bike, and ask it to do what you want it to do, rather than making it go places, and it is very comfy and perfectly flickable and reasonable handling. Its a dialogue rather than a master/slave relationship....
Reliability - shaft drive, 300,000kms out of a motor.... gearboxes, well I guess you know that - Motu's review of the XLV reminded me - there is no such thing as a quick shift on the beemer either - infact I now cant make myself shift properly on the kwaka either :wacko: ah well, such is life.
I've found mine to be reliable, but then I've only had it 7 months.

[Posh Tourer :P]

(and it'll scrape more than the Guzzi so I might be able to catch ya over the hill) :eek:

I dunno about that. Get rid of the sidestand and you shouldnt have too many worries...

[Blakamin]

I dunno about that. Get rid of the sidestand and you shouldnt have too many worries...
you seen that guzzi in corners? :gob:

[Fryin Finn]

I went from a TRX 850 to the XJR 1300. The XJR might be a little slower in the corners but makes up for it in sheer speed out of them so I don't reckon on having lost any speed and its a terrificaly comfortable bike with a reliability record second to none. Worth a look if you can stumo up the redies. :shit:

[Yarg]

I'd go with the Xjr1200 / 1300 over the bandit.
The RF would be up there but for most fun the XJR wins.
The FZ1 is the better bet but not for the $$ available. :msn-wink:

[riffer]

I'd go with the Xjr1200 / 1300 over the bandit How about this one (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Road-bikes/Sports-tourer/auction-16086897.htm)?

Belongs to Brian Rusty, the bloke with the diesel bike.

I bought the old rotors off this bike to go on my fizzer.

[mccool]

Another candidate - GSX750f. As a reviewer once wrote, "Looks like a teapot, goes like stink". Like an RF900 only smaller. Cheap new, but people tend to like them + hang on to them.