Non Jap Bikes - pros and cons

[Big Dave]

Well been for a ride on my techno wizzy jappa and realised i dont realy care..... keept me entertained for the day tho, cheers...

My attitude too.
I'm interested in opinions and if someone has valid reasons to influence mine - great, lets hear 'em.
But fark taking it seriously like some have been lately.
Turn the computer off, leave the room and there is a whole, real world out there - nobody needs to 'log on' for angst.

[Biff]

..So I say screw the high tech dinosaur... .

Loads of logic in there BD - but I disagree somewhat with the wider generalisation both yourself and a few other peeps ('real world riders') have made. A common one IMO:

Advancement in technofrology isn't just about increses in BHP, acceleration etc, although it does play a significant part thanks to MOTO GP, and is prevalent in some modern 'stupid fast' (ZX10 being a perfect example) road bikes.

I for one never want to own a true sports bike again. I'm fed up with forfeiting comfort for power. But technology also improves safety (DCBS, Airbags (!!), electronic steering dampers etc), fuel consumption, ergonomics etc etc. And as such - I'll vote for a more technically advanced machine over an old machine as a primary motormacycle.

But I really do want an old skool machine to play with.

[sels1]

As above, most Triumphs dont fit in the super-sport category, they sit back a bit, and they do what they do very well. Speed with comfort, power with control.

And heritage and tradition...(and some would say class)

For me its the comfort and the ability to do the job I want it to do.

Triumphs marketing phrase is "go your own way" and I think that is quite appropriate in this thread.....

[warewolf]

Loads of logic in there BD - but I disagree somewhat with the wider generalisation both yourself and a few other peeps ('real world riders') have made. A common one IMO:

Advancement in technofrology isn't just about increses in BHP, acceleration etc, although it does play a significant part thanks to MOTO GP, and is prevalent in some modern 'stupid fast' (ZX10 being a perfect example) road bikes.

I for one never want to own a true sports bike again. I'm fed up with forfeiting comfort for power. But technology also improves safety (DCBS, Airbags (!!), electronic steering dampers etc), fuel consumption, ergonomics etc etc. And as such - I'll vote for a more technically advanced machine over an old machine as a primary motormacycle.

What you say is quite right; technology improves bikes over time. But that doesn't mean that we all must have today's trendy new-fangled gizmo, and that yesterday's is useless.

I think you're confusing us with luddites, which we're not: witness Big Dave's new beastie which although not a Japper is bristling with technological innovation the likes of which the Japs simply don't do.

Bikes are very much about compromises (more easily observed outside the pure sports arena) and foregoing uber-tech for other priorities is a common decision. Harley has to be the obvious case in point here, at the extreme end of the scale.

Personally I have one of those "old tech" Triumphs. It is still in the stable because replacing it with something more modern would mean foregoing one of the other bikes. And the new version would only do the same thing a little better. The other bikes allow me to do completely different types of riding.

Would I refuse to buy one of the new bikes? Hell no. Do I feel compelled to rush out and buy the new model every year because it has newer technology? Equally, hell no.

I just luv riding...don't really care what, I just want to be ridin'.

[Big Dave]

I just luv riding...don't really care what, I just want to be ridin'.

Very fucking brown rice.
I trust you enjoyed taking on said theory online as much as in a drafty back corner of a cheeky little remuera friday night eatery?
feels like we went.
virtual red?

[tracyprier]

I'd say I had the mind set - I've had a hell of a lot of experiance with British singles,I had one bedroom in our house completely full of BSA single parts....because they wouldn't fit in the double garage,it was chokka full of bikes and other parts.My wife loves singles and when Her Speedtwin broke down I gave her my newly rebuilt BSA M20 to ride and run in for me...a new Enfield would be the ultimate bike for her.

Then have a squizz here: www.royalenfieldnz.co.nz and give Trevor a bell to org a test ride. The wife will love you for it They even come with electric start now.

[warewolf]

Very fucking brown rice.
I trust you enjoyed taking on said theory online as much as in a drafty back corner of a cheeky little remuera friday night eatery?

Your memory is better than mine. Actually I'm just trying get off my L-plates!?

feels like we went.

Nah, I'm sitting too far from the dunny and people at the next table aren't looking at us.

Feck it still makes me laugh remembering the waiter's reaction at that Newmarket place when you commented his dish of the day would be dogfood back home! Tasted good, but, yeah, eh!

virtual red?

Ooh, yes please. They tell me 202.27.158.40 is a good vintage.

[warewolf]

PS Consider this thread officially hijacked!

PPS And that's 30...woo hoo!!!

[Big Dave]

The Kangaroo Steaks? He had to be kidding. Or the 'Mussels?, Mussels are Bait' line.

[warewolf]

The Kangaroo Steaks? He had to be kidding. Or the 'Mussels?, Mussels are Bait' line.

The former. I reckon Skippy is good tucker... as long as it wasn't scraped off the road. MacDonald's can have that lot.

[Motu]

They even come with electric start now.

She'd kill me if I brought her home a bike with electric start - the best thing about a big single is the starting ritual,it's a skill to master....and as someone who has mastered it she will be insulted.

I've found that people who are mechanicaly competant and like to learn about their own bike will be more inclined to something old tech.Those mechanicaly incompetant who take the bike into the shop for every little thing will be inclined to buy the latest model every year.

[2much]

was at the lights at the top of nelson st today, there was a chap on a nice looking new yellow triumph daytona. at first i was really impressed about how the bike looked , until i looked down to see a tiny set of non USD forks , and only 4 pot calipers, WTF is up with that

didnt conventional forks go out a while back??, (my dad is english) but personally i dont like english machinery, to raw and behind the times IMHO

I accidently pulled a wheelie down nelson beside him (whoops)

Another example is a mate used to have a triumph daytona super 3 (came with CF pipes etc) but i remember it was a 1999 or close and only had 110hp at the back wheel - thats pus if you ask me

Now im not bashing triumphs , but just confused why anyone would buy a bike with old technology ??

I have an 04 Daytona 600, it's got the conventional forks and four pots.

The forks perform extremely well and prove that USD's aren't all that nessasary. The Daytona 600/650 is one of the best handling production bikes out there. I'm no rossi and far from it, but that bike is so easy to ride fast that it makes me look good. I have been able to keep up with and even pass many of the latest and greatest Jap 1000's thru the corners. Was even held up by an MV Augusta 750 on a recent ride across the Kopu-Hik.

As for the brakes, they are a matter of taste. they have alot more lever travel than Japs, but this also means there is alot of feel and no initial grabbing. It took me a while to get used to them, but I learnt to love them. And they still had enough power to lift the rear tyre in the air with little effort.

The other thing I love about the bike is it's looks, imho it's one of the sexiest looking bikes out there, and I've had many approving comments. Also, the recognition the triumph badge carries always amazed me.... everyone loves it. I've had comments and thumbs up from teenagers while sitting at the lights, to old people coming up to me to tell me stories about their old trumpys when they were young and how far triumph have come. May be just me, but I love that shit.

Only two complaints, abit underpowered and the chassis could handle so much more... tho still managed to pull 230k with a pillion so can't really complain, the only time it really erked me was riding with 1000's when the road straightened up. Admittedly any 600 (except perhaps a 636 to some extent) is gonna suffer that.

My main bitch would be the price of spares (eg:$104 for an indicator). Hence the repairs from my off on sunday come to $15500 for cosmetic damage and a front subframe!!!?

And yes, Bruce Anstey on the Daytona 600 cleaned up the 2003 IOM Junior (supersport) TT in it's first year of competition...... A true measure of the bike.