Which pretend classic is best? Kawasaki W650 or Triumph Bonne?

**eelracing** · 17th March 2011, 11:44

Originally Posted by davebullet

Ooops - the new Norton's chief designer came from Triumph!

So he's seen the light then.

**eelracing** · 17th March 2011, 11:49

Originally Posted by Voltaire

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But I have a confession to make...

Read the Norton Owners Club Notes 10 times...
and all the part numbers starting with 60-
also go and sort your vernier isos..

Forgive me Voltaire for i have sinned,it has been 6 days since my last clutch releasing kick...

**Voltaire** · 17th March 2011, 11:50

new designer...Pierre Terreblanche.....designed some of the less popular Ducatis....

**pete376403** · 17th March 2011, 12:23

Originally Posted by Voltaire

... I gotta say stalling at the lights with a kick start is a pita as you have to find neutral to start....easier said than done.

Thats why you should have bought Royal Enfield - they have a lever that automatically selects neutral (the real one, not one of the false neutrals the box is full of)

**Voltaire** · 17th March 2011, 13:18

Originally Posted by pete376403

Thats why you should have bought Royal Enfield - they have a lever that automatically selects neutral (the real one, not one of the false neutrals the box is full of)

My work around is finding neutral before I stop..... see you don't get to do shit like that on a modern
also a bit of a blip on the throttle on the downshift works wonders...
I had a Chaing Jaiing with a neutral finder...the kicker had a mean kickback.....limping around mean

**Paul in NZ** · 17th March 2011, 17:02

The problem, particularly on the hinternet, of taking a strong stand is that anyone and everyone will then fire back 20,000 points of where you went wrong...

I agree 95% with uncle dodgy. I don’t for a minute think a modern retro machine dilutes the classic scene (although god knows why people put em on trade me in the classic section) but rather I see them as an affirmation that the people who originally designed those bike knew a thing or two about producing a satisfying ride for a certain group of people.

There will come a time when I cant quite manage my classic's as easily as I could a modern. That’s a wee way off yet but I see it happening so some of the guys and frankly if the answer for them is a W800 or new bonnie and that means we can still enjoy a ride, so be it. The older bikes are harder on the body, no doubt about it but if you put in some gym time and lay off the pies you seem to do OK.

I suspect that mostly people stop riding them because they loose faith in their ability or the bikes ability to provide reliable transport. The doubt generated about doing things for yourself not quite being good enough by modern living (buy a new bike every year or so) is utterly crippling. That said - 2 up on a 4 speed triumph 650 on the open road is hard yakka these days, you sure isn’t the king of the highway any more!

Maintaining and using a classic regularly is a different thing to going modern. If you do put in the effort though I'm convinced it provides a much more satisfying experience. Knowing that every nut and bolt has at some stage had my spanner on it simply adds to the enjoyment. The discipline, dedication and effort required to do it is a personal journey and you need to find your own way because no one starts it or finishes it in the same place. It can be painful and frustrating for sure.

Of course its not the only way - and outsiders will have no idea, its just an old bike to them and they will never understand - a case of he who hears not the music thinks the dancers mad?

**tri boy** · 17th March 2011, 19:21

All the tossers wanking on about pre ride checks, wank wank wank, etc etc...........
are holding themselves in too fine a light, on a pedestool miles to high.
Yes, you have/had to do it. Thats cos the engineering was basic at it's best.
That don't make you some hero, or above any other rider.
Hell, I challenge any Trumpy, Maico, Laverda "classic" owner to PULL Start a Wiscosin petrol 25hp stationary engine that was fitted with a "state of the art" magneto.

Old bikes are old bikes, new/newer bikes are just that.
Stop the wanking and take it out for an adventure.

(I'm really getting over the whole bike scene, think Paul has medication for that).

**Dodgyiti** · 17th March 2011, 19:53

Originally Posted by eelracing

Excellent rant there Dodgy but how are they different from the enthusiast that turns up with bike on trailer, whats the point if your not going to ride it.Surely this is what bikes are all about?

.

Nah, not fond of that crap either, ride them.

I remember last year at the HB classic club, old dude with Vincent. Only rides it on classic runs- the reason being so that one of the guys can kick it in the guts for him- but at least he is doing his best to ride it. That sort of thing I admire. The trailer queens..oh don't get me started

Paul
Maintaining and using a classic regularly is a different thing to going modern. If you do put in the effort though I'm convinced it provides a much more satisfying experience. Knowing that every nut and bolt has at some stage had my spanner on it simply adds to the enjoyment. The discipline, dedication and effort required to do it is a personal journey and you need to find your own way because no one starts it or finishes it in the same place. It can be painful and frustrating for sure.

True. Being master of your stuff instead of it mastering you

Honestly I hope they sell truckloads of W800's. They take a 19 front and an 18 rear so it will keep tyre companies making those sizes- bonus for the rest of us

Voltaire
I can't find netural on me Norty

I can't find netural on my Norton either, I thought you borrowed it

**Motu** · 17th March 2011, 19:57

I guess I haven't got a leg to stand on really,I've only ever owned 2 brand new state of the art motorcycles....and that was in 1971 and 1972.Every other bike I've owned has been a has been...I have no right to comment on modern retros.Apart from lack of funds,why on earth would anyone spend 41 years on bikes that were considered old fashioned at the time of ownership? I'm too set in my ways to change now.

**Kickaha** · 17th March 2011, 20:08

Originally Posted by Voltaire

new designer...Pierre Terreblanche.....designed some of the less popular Ducatis....

You mean all the ugly ones

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

but if you put in some gym time and lay off the pies you seem to do OK.

That's just crazy talk

Originally Posted by tri boy

All the tossers wanking on about pre ride checks, wank wank wank, etc etc...........

The only thing I check is that it starts

**Voltaire** · 17th March 2011, 21:41

All the tossers wanking on about pre ride checks, wank wank wank, etc etc...........

you owe me a beer Dodgy.

**Paul in NZ** · 18th March 2011, 06:14

Originally Posted by tri boy

All the tossers wanking on about pre ride checks, wank wank wank, etc etc...........
are holding themselves in too fine a light, on a pedestool miles to high.
Yes, you have/had to do it. Thats cos the engineering was basic at it's best.
That don't make you some hero, or above any other rider.
Hell, I challenge any Trumpy, Maico, Laverda "classic" owner to PULL Start a Wiscosin petrol 25hp stationary engine that was fitted with a "state of the art" magneto.

Old bikes are old bikes, new/newer bikes are just that.
Stop the wanking and take it out for an adventure.

(I'm really getting over the whole bike scene, think Paul has medication for that).

Nope - not at all. But just like I look at some dude dressed like an extra from The Sons of Anarchy or another dripping with knee slidery and team colours from spain and dont understand you dont see the thrill in what we do.

Rebuilding something from the ground up and taking that first ride or solving some problem is a genuine buzz as much as winning a F3 race at manfield on club day... Its just different but no ones pretending anyones better or worse...

**Voltaire** · 18th March 2011, 06:49

had a taste of adventure....not a modern one with a full support crew, GPS, mobile phone, email sort ...a real one with no support...just the tools you have, parts you have and nous.

In 1987 I rebuilt my then 17 year old BMW in a lounge in Sydney, shipped it to the UK, spent a whole summer riding around Europe as far east as Turkeys border with Syria, rode it to East Germany to a Rally in the middle of winter and there was snow with a sidecar, took it up to the top of Sweden to the Arctic Circle. Did a gearbox swap on an English High street....
Still have it btw...its in the restore queue.
Did a similar trip in a Kombi van I restored here in the early 00's.....restored that and shipped it too....30 000kms of Euro touring....only had to pull the motor out twice...once in a campground in Wales and once in Berlin....bloody clutchs...
Spent a whole morning once cycling around engineering shops in Monte Casino looking for rocker shaft shims....was given them in the end for free.

If I was doing it again I'd take either the BMW or the Kombi.

I have had a Commando for about 6 weeks....riding it work every day

My modern bike is on Trade Me.....
....Must get on to the BMW rebuild....