Yer basic bike - does such a thing exist?

[Pixie]

not picking a fight, just not so sanguine about computers - the datalogging on my bike shows that though the mapping might be the same day by day, the air fuel ratio wanders a bit depending on on slope and humidity amongst other things. ECUs don't seem to self-adjust much at all really despite service manual claims to the contrary and they can be on the fragile side too

Yeah,and the carbs on yer "basic bike" varied the mixture with altitude,temperature,whether there was a cow within 500 meters etc.
The bandit is THE basic bike.

I suspect your datalogging is actually showing the ECU doing the on-the-fly adjustments it is meant to do.

[Conquiztador]

One day my NZ250 will be going. That's pretty simple.

We had a few of them as my oldest boys first road bikes. Agree that they are simple. The only thing we had a hassle with were the intermittent CDI's. But once I realised that it was where the problem was I even managed to fix them!

I am one day gonna get another one and do what I was planning: make it a John Player replica for my next boy when he gets to 15!

[breakaway]

So this is a thread about how peoples' unreliable bikes often forced them into becoming a roadside mechanic? And now we have gadgetry that rarely fails and takes care of most of the variables, and this is bad?

Can't say I agree with you there

[Renegade]

my little GB400tt is a gem to work on, even i cant stuff it up....much

[Brian d marge]

So this is a thread about how peoples' unreliable bikes often forced them into becoming a roadside mechanic? And now we have gadgetry that rarely fails and takes care of most of the variables, and this is bad?

Can't say I agree with you there

Designing for reliability
sucks if you are that 0.001% whose bike the taguchi method failed

my old enfield is just as reliable esp the 350 but is easy to repair if it does crap out

Give me Enfield any day

mind you if you are in a city , just call AA and wait for new part to be delivered ( or trade bike in every 2 years )

Stephen

[will650]

I have had a w650 for a year - seems like a good basic bike to me - i commute on it daily, use it for fun at weekends. it is easy to maintain- chain, valves, oil and filter all dead straight forward and modern enough not to break down. Never owned a brit twin but used to have an xs 650 back in the mid 80's and this is much like that with less shaking and electronic ignition so no timing to adjust.
Suits me in my middle aged pottering sort of way and does a creditable 65+mpg. Looks good too.
Would def get my vote as a good basic bike and it is easy to customise it to cafe racer/scrambler/bobber etc with the goodies that are out ther to buy.

Is it boring as suggested above? Depends on what you are looking for. It is not a snap your neck racer, nor is it a "real" classic. It IS a usable fun basic bike though and still brings a grin to my face out west on a sunny sunday morning.

[SMOKEU]

KLR650. Its basic AND gutless.
20 year old design. The sort of bike you could ride around the world on, or even Auckland to Wellington

I think the US army have a diesel version of that.

[pete376403]

I think the US army have a diesel version of that.

they do - hayes diversified build a complete diesel engine, remove the plastic, add some bits.
One day they are going to release a consumer version. Currently you have to be in the US military to get one. M1030-M2 670cc JP8. Will run on petrol, diesel, kerosene, probably cooking oil too
http://www.hdtusa.com/vehicle-m1030-m2.php you can still see the basic KLR under there.

[SMOKEU]

they do - hayes diversified build a complete diesel engine, remove the plastic, add some bits.
One day they are going to release a consumer version. Currently you have to be in the US military to get one. M1030-M2 670cc JP8. Will run on petrol, diesel, kerosene, probably cooking oil too
http://www.hdtusa.com/vehicle-m1030-m2.php you can still see the basic KLR under there.

That will be a really interesting ride.

[JATZ]

Honda CT125 ?
The one parked in my shed is a prime example, it's got some wheels and a motor, something to steer with and something to sit on, what more do you need. :

[NordieBoy]

Honda CT125 ?
The one parked in my shed is a prime example, it's got some wheels and a motor, something to steer with and something to sit on, what more do you need. :

Something reliable?