Changing the bike - a real dilemma

[SPman]

There are few things more frustrating than opening the throttle......and waiting. A foot flapper you will be (Yoda).

Those of us, of an older persuasion and having started off on 100's and 125's and 250's and things, learnt, early on, how to overcome that wee problem......(as best you can).....

[Del Fuego]

Personally I don't think you would have an regrets with either of the triumphs you have mentioned.

The Bonnie... is it slow? yes but turn the throttle and you will fall in love, it sounds and feels great. It also handles much better than I was expecting... I was throwing it around corners and having an absolute ball within minutes.

The Street... different machine again but super nimble decent speed (especially round town) and plenty of fun in the twisties.

I could happily live with either of them... if I was mainly riding in town I don't think i could say no to the Bonnie... it just sucks you (and I don't hate being the slow guy) in but if the diet is going to include large helpings of twisty open road shennanigans it would probably have to be the Street...

Either way I would say you would be happy to own either... Oh and take a Buell for a ride, I know they arn't neccesarily the most attractive machine on the block but throttle on out of a corner and the smile may not be removable

[Blackbird]

Think were you are now Geoff is a great place for a lite nimble bike.... Ducati Monster's, Buells, Aprilia shiver, a nice V-twin on the roads around you would be bliss.
But also maybe a dual purpose bike that you can explore the coast with?.. nah get two bikes and you covered both on and off the road

I spoke to Heath at Hamilton Motorcycles today and will not only look at his Triumphs next week , but the Monster and Beemer too.

2 bikes? Hmmmm.... just bought a 4x4 and a boat for a bit of snapper fishing at the back of our place. It would be more than my life's worth to beg for yet another toy

[jafar]

I spoke to Heath at Hamilton Motorcycles today and will not only look at his Triumphs next week , but the Monster and Beemer too.

2 bikes? Hmmmm.... just bought a 4x4 and a boat for a bit of snapper fishing at the back of our place. It would be more than my life's worth to beg for yet another toy

BMW F800G/S

[Highlander]

I talked and thought about changing from the CB750 I had. I had it 4 years and realy enjoyed it.
Part of my dilema was that there was no real need to change.
I established what I wanted to be different about the new bike from the old one and made a short list of bikes that fit that criteria.

Started test riding a few with the view that there was no hurry to change. Every one I rode, I got back on the CB and thought, "Nah, not worth parting with the money to make the change".

Then I found one that is not one of the ones I had listed as an option before I started testing. I only took it for a ride because it fitted all the criteria I had stipulated and wanted to rule it out. It lit my candle and the decision basically made itself.


Good luck & enjoy.

[Gareth51]

I spoke to Heath at Hamilton Motorcycles today and will not only look at his Triumphs next week , but the Monster and Beemer too.

2 bikes? Hmmm.... just bought a 4x4 and a boat for a bit of snapper fishing at the back of our place. It would be more than my life's worth to beg for yet another toy

He who dies with the most toys wins
It had been 40 yrs since I last owned a bike so the Bonnie was a good choice for me ,easy bike to ride,still quite quick around the corners if you don't mind dragging the pegs on the ground.Will probably trade it in a the SE and keep it for my retirement
Just picked up my Street Triple tonight and took it for a run over the Paekakariki hill down to BEARS meet and back.What a great! little bike,light and easy to handle with plenty of get up and go,just need a bit more pratice to keep the front wheel on the ground.

[mossy1200]

Go for bonny.
I had cbr1100xx also and zx12r.now i have the trumpet and loving it.
Very easy to add some personal touches .
Not large power but they are fun to ride and getting it to perform is half that fun.

[shafty]

Hi BB, I was going to say "Try out the F800's"
also - I saw the world stunt champ rev the snot outta his, so they can boogie as and when......

The 675 is the other bike I reckon you'll like, as you've already said.

Have fun.

Report back.

[Zapf]

I will sell the 'bird because it's a bit too heavy for my future needs and my wife doesn't pillion much any more.

Ever thought of replacing the factory exhaust system with a Titanium system with a single can and getting rid of the main stand? I did exactly that and saved a good few kg's.

I am not sure if I will ever get rid of my bird. Out of all the bikes I have had I have kept the CB900 Hornet and the Bird. So that says a few things

[Blackbird]

BMW F800G/S

A cruiser by any other name. Nice try, but no chocolate fish!

Ever thought of replacing the factory exhaust system with a Titanium system with a single can and getting rid of the main stand? I did exactly that and saved a good few kg's.

I am not sure if I will ever get rid of my bird. Out of all the bikes I have had I have kept the CB900 Hornet and the Bird. So that says a few things

Nope, doesn't shift the C of G sufficiently. Seat height is also an issue, partially of my own making. I have 8mm of ride height increase on the shock to quicken the steering. I know it sounds daft but I simply couldn't bear to put it back to stock and have it go all heavy on me again. Something lighter with quick steering already is a compelling factor.

[pritch]

Blackbird, I'm looking at similar issues to you. Not quite retired yet but definitely gettin older... Currently the long term planning involves comfortable bikes without undue weight or excessive seat height.

When it's time for the Duc to go it'll possibly be a Deauville or a Bonneville (or preferably both?).

Then again somebody might bring out a "must have" new model...

[Gremlin]

Ever thought of replacing the factory exhaust system with a Titanium system with a single can and getting rid of the main stand?

One tip tho... the akra headers protrude from the fairing a little bit... they can scrape the ground (and not look quite as new as a result) if you try to corner a little too enthusiastically...

sorry zapf

[zeocen]

hornet

Hey, it'll save you money

[modboy]

The thruxton does have a sport style riding position, rear set pegs and dropped handle bars, although the 09 model bars are a little better. I'm (a-hem) mid 40s but I've cycled for years too so used to the forward riding position. As for fun, it's a helluva bike. Triumph are re-releasing a new t-bird next year, might be worth checking out. Or what about the Tiger? I think it's exciting thinking about a new bike, but I do understand the difficulty making the change, what if you get that new bike and (like a new bed) you don't like it.

I rode a vespa for many years - px200 and I can't let it go, they are classics, so it sits in the garage, looking a bit forlorn - but I do ride it to the diary occasionally.

Good luck - and enjoy

[Blackbird]

Well, I rode down to Hamilton Motorcycles today to look at potential replacements for the ‘bird. Firstly, I must say that I was really impressed with Heath, HM’s owner. He basically let the bikes speak for themselves rather than trying to overwhelm me which was just the right approach. This trip was simply a “look and feel” to be followed by actual riding at a later date after the height and weight criteria plus other miscellaneous filters had been applied!

First up, the Thruxton Bonnie. Gorgeous-looking bike although red wasn’t to my taste. Feedback from owners had clearly been listened to about the crouched riding position as the 2009 model has had the clip-ons replaced with gently down-curving bars above the top yoke. Ergonomics were ok for me, and I could get my feet down flat.
BUT…
I sat ON it, feeling more like an accessory than being intimately involved with the bike. The traditional seat design undoubtedly contributed to this. Also niggling worries about the quoted 69 bhp being a bridge too far after the 150 or so of the ‘birdie. Soooo….. nice bike, but not for me; at least at this stage.


Next, the Ducati Monster 696. Looked a bit effeminate in white but trying to see past that, ergonomics were pretty darned good, easy to get feet down flat although it felt like I had to look down sharply to view the instrument cluster. Nice bike, maybe a tad bland and still not sure about V twins (just a personal thing) but still a real contender.

Triumph Speed Triple. Looked great and its 189 kg weight seemed to be carried quite low. However, the 815 mm seat height is only marginally less than how I have the ‘bird currently configured. Simply too tall for me.

Finally, the Street Triple! Sling a leg over the seat and woooohoooo – I can get my feet flat on both sides at once! It’s not only the 800 mm seat height that does it, but a very nicely cut shape that doesn’t splay my legs out like John Wayne! Furthermore, the seat shape and relative positions of the pegs and bars are PERFECT for my height and reach – I feel fully part of the bike whereas the others all had some aspects I didn’t like. Also, moving its 169 kg weight about the showroom after the weight of the ‘bird was so easy. And that horny black paint – almost like she was waiting for me, the tart!!

So what next? Well, I had a spectacularly good ride back to Coro on the ‘bird. Turbine smoothness coupled with shattering performance that you almost don’t notice as it’s still delivered so effortlessly. Almost enough to convince me to stop the search but that height and weight sadly ain’t gonna go away! Anyway, I can’t let her go until I’ve completed the full life tyre test I’ve committed to for the tyre importer. Maybe that’s a good thing as I can look around a bit more without any immediate time pressure and also do the all important road testing of potential replacements now that I’ve eliminated some of the “paper” choices.

Speights reckons it's hard to find the perfect woman. Reckon I've got that sorted but it's a bloody sight harder to find the perfect bike!

Also great to catch up with Warren (Warr) over lunch - well overdue. Good to see your enthusiasm is undiminished after recovering from your “off”.

Watch this space…