Motard vs road bike?

**lenyboi4** · 10th December 2013, 10:00

Lately my interest has been growing and i really want a motard . i own a cbr400rr at the momentand wondering how fun are they really? and any good on the Open road? They seem like a blast but my other half is not so keen on me getn one of these bad boys but i am thinking really seroiusly about flogging the che cbr and pickig up a motard

anyways

**BigAl** · 10th December 2013, 10:58

Take one for a ride,

won't be as comfortable as the CBR on the open rd but all depends on how far you go and at what speed.

**haydes55** · 10th December 2013, 11:17

The negatives:
Luggage is a challenge
Seats are usually on the harder side
No wind protection

The positives:
Lighter and easy to throw around town or twisties
Sit upright comfier and higher, better for commuting
They can go over kurbs and through median bushes without worry
Just more fun.

You won't regret going motard. Even a motard with less power than your CBR would be more fun.

Look at a drz400 or yammy wr450. If you can find a KTM 525/520/690/640 and can handle the short service intervals go that way.

Motards make speed bumps into speed jumps.

**Devil** · 10th December 2013, 13:32

Originally Posted by haydes55

The negatives:
Luggage is a challenge
Seats are usually on the harder side
No wind protection

You won't regret going motard. Even a motard with less power than your CBR would be more fun.

Look at a drz400 or yammy wr450. If you can find a KTM 525/520/690/640 and can handle the short service intervals go that way.

Service intervals on a 690 are 10,000km.
Luggage isn't a major speaking from teh KTM perspective. Touratech is your friend. Throwover panniers are the easiest. Some bikes have the option of a Ventura pack rack.
Screens as well available for a few models.

**oneblackflag** · 10th December 2013, 15:11

Originally Posted by haydes55

Look at a drz400 or yammy wr450. If you can find a KTM 525/520/690/640 and can handle the short service intervals go that way.

Motards make speed bumps into speed jumps.

Gotta agree with Haydes there

.

Maybe if its going to be your sole bike go for something bigger like the 690. Great thing is with the motard you can always chuck some knobs on and go for an adventure.

I have the WR250r which is surprisingly quick up to the limit and keeps up with the bigger bikes I ride with... until the long hills or heavy head wind. I plan on keeping that as my motard/adventure bike but will upgrade to a bigger road bike as well at some stage.

**Akzle** · 10th December 2013, 17:47

i have an opinion and some very strong feelings about things.

my choice for you,
is give me the cbr. then go and buy a motard. and give me that. after that i don't think you'll be any use to me.

**lenyboi4** · 10th December 2013, 18:36

I tell u what i buy me a nice motard and ill hand over the cbr

seriously if any1 knows sum1 with a nice tard who wants a very nice cbr let me know

**SVboy** · 10th December 2013, 18:52

Originally Posted by cassina

Another bike you might like to consider is an adventure bike eg Suzuki V Strom, Honda Transalp which look more roadlike but will
handle on the road similar to a Motard except heavier. They will still handle better than a road bike around town and tight bends. The
only negative I have found is the high seat but that is offset by the lighter handling.

You are not being serious I hope!

**haydes55** · 10th December 2013, 20:25

Originally Posted by SVboy

You are not being serious I hope!

there is a bit of overlap between motards and dual purpose sometimes WR250 for example. Then there is a bit of an overlap between dual purpose and adventure bikes. V-strom is more dual purpose adventure than motard. Never the less would be a great all rounder. But I think the point of a motard is no frills urban fun.

**george formby** · 10th December 2013, 20:25

I considered buying a CBR 400 RR a few years ago, briefly. The test ride was on a twisty road I knew well. By about the 5th corner I knew it would give me really bad habits & road manners, the bike just had to be ridden the way it was designed.
Motards are even worse at causing this. If you have no self restraint or sense of personal responsibility a decent motard will turn you into a cackling twat in 5km's or less.
Get a Munch Mammoth instead.

**haydes55** · 10th December 2013, 20:42

Originally Posted by george formby

I considered buying a CBR 400 RR a few years ago, briefly. The test ride was on a twisty road I knew well. By about the 5th corner I knew it would give me really bad habits & road manners, the bike just had to be ridden the way it was designed.

Motards are even worse at causing this. If you have no self restraint or sense of personal responsibility a decent motard will turn you into a cackling twat in 5km's or less.

Get a Munch Mammoth instead.

It's like Gremlins sig... Something like "if you haven't turned into a hooligan after swinging your leg over a KTM990SM, I'll eat my helmet"

**Gremlin** · 10th December 2013, 22:38

Originally Posted by haydes55

It's like Gremlins sig... Something like "if you haven't turned into a hooligan after swinging your leg over a KTM990SM, I'll eat my helmet"

Something like that

and it wasn't even strictly a motard. Then again, if you thought a motard was fun, trying 100hp and a little more weight.

For a crazy motard, SXV550, I demo'd one with a race pipe fitted. Comfort was obviously horrible and non-existent, and you needed gas after 100km, but what a wicked 100km!

**lenyboi4** · 12th December 2013, 10:54

Any opinion's on gas gas pampera 450?

**george formby** · 12th December 2013, 17:30

Originally Posted by lenyboi4

Any opinion's on gas gas pampera 450?

Always hankered after the 250 2t but that's based on a trials bike. As wid any 4 fiddly 4t I would be looking at servicing frequency, parts availability & cost, ease of maintenance etc.
Met a guy a while back with a 4t Husaberg SM and he virtually had to change the oil after a weekends use, servicing was equally frequent. Mind you, he said it was hilarious to ride but kept him very poor.