New Buell, or what?

**jrandom** · 14th January 2009, 05:53

Originally Posted by Ocean1

Listen, dude, I might be an engineer, and therefore somewhat blind of the finer nauances of aesthetics, but no. I'm prepared to accept that they're probably a good fit for the role... But just no.

*claps head in hands*

Please just go for a ride on one. Pretty please with cherries on top. G'wan g'wan g'wan g'wan.

Originally Posted by Ocean1

I'm working on something WAY more agile...

**Ocean1** · 14th January 2009, 16:27

Originally Posted by jrandom

*claps head in hands*

Please just go for a ride on one. Pretty please with cherries on top. G'wan g'wan g'wan g'wan.

I notice that shot was from the rear, dude. But just mebe I will.

P'raps.

But this:

Originally Posted by Ocean1

for use as a sort of mobile excercycle.

Is a separate issue...

**James Deuce** · 14th January 2009, 17:59

The Multistrada is the Napoleon Dynamite of the bike world. Sure, it's tall and can go around corners, just like the aforementioned socially retarded orange afro wearer (it has a side parting!), but is Mr Dynamite the sort of person you'd want to spend any quality time with? I think not.

There's this Aprilia Shiver on Trademe for $13,800. In the classy white colour scheme. That's a bike with engineering in.

**jrandom** · 14th January 2009, 18:36

Originally Posted by Ocean1

I notice that shot was from the rear, dude.

I'm an arse man.

And if you're riding a Multistrada 1100, on tarmac or gravel, it's the only angle the Shiver pilots will ever see.

**jrandom** · 14th January 2009, 18:38

Originally Posted by James Deuce

... it's tall and can go around corners

Actually, the ground clearance is hardly any better than my GSX1400's.

The tradeoff for that, of course, is that the Mouldy Strudel offers nothing less than the most perfect riding ergonomics I've ever sampled.

(Yes, I know you think that Ducatis have bad build quality. I just haven't seen it.)

**James Deuce** · 14th January 2009, 18:57

The Shiver's ergos are the best I've ever tried. But Ergos are almost entirely subjective, and are only of worth as a sales tool to someone who knows that their victim already fits a particular bike well.

I've always shied away from writing about Multistradas because the two I've looked at were just terrible, and to talk at length would have been a disservice to the kind gentlemen who let me ride them. Lets just say that Ducati had a period of financial crisis around the time they launched the MS thanks to their flagship 999 being a bit of a surprise to most of the Ducatisti. I reckon time will be kinder to the 999 than the 1098. The 1098 is undoubtedly beautiful, but derivative.

The Shiver OTOH reeks of quality and understated engineering expertise. There's a white one on Trademe for $13,800. FIrst service is done so that's out of the way.

**Ocean1** · 14th January 2009, 21:41

Originally Posted by jrandom

I'm an arse man.

And if you're riding a Multistrada 1100, on tarmac or gravel, it's the only angle the Shiver pilots will ever see.

Better spec'd, yup. Bigger too. But how those top shelf components are arranged is another matter. It's close enough to the scope that I may try one. Reservations about how restrainable it might be on slightly more open roads.

Originally Posted by James Deuce

There's this Aprilia Shiver on Trademe for $13,800. In the classy white colour scheme. That's a bike with engineering in.

Yes, spotted that.

Originally Posted by James Deuce

The Shiver's ergos are the best I've ever tried. But Ergos are almost entirely subjective, and are only of worth as a sales tool to someone who knows that their victim already fits a particular bike well.

The Shiver OTOH reeks of quality and understated engineering expertise. There's a white one on Trademe for $13,800. FIrst service is done so that's out of the way.

So you figure I orta buy that one on Trademe eh?

Not yet. Refine shopping list to 2 or 3 models, sell the 12R and then go looking.

I've got good reason to suspect a lot of Aprilia's engineering is, in fact, marketing. Same as most of the rest. The lower frame elements on the SXVs are one example, they look good, but there's better structural solutions to put it mildly. I didn't get that impression so much when checking out H's Shiver at the shop. The suspension is simpler than some of the alternatives, including the Buells, but that ain't nescessarily a negative. Much of what makes any machine isn't quantifiable in those terms. Intangibles.

Can't wait for the 1200 Shiver, unfortunately. So in spite of the lack of capacity induced stonk I'll try a 750.

**Forest** · 15th January 2009, 04:06

Originally Posted by James Deuce

The Multistrada is the Napoleon Dynamite of the bike world. Sure, it's tall and can go around corners, just like the aforementioned socially retarded orange afro wearer (it has a side parting!), but is Mr Dynamite the sort of person you'd want to spend any quality time with? I think not.

There's this Aprilia Shiver on Trademe for $13,800. In the classy white colour scheme. That's a bike with engineering in.

The Multristrada is the motorcycling equivalent of the Fiat Multipla.

**nallac** · 15th January 2009, 07:20

God i don't know what fronts uglier the Fiat or Multistroodle.

But least the Duc has a nice looking ass...

**Crisis management** · 15th January 2009, 07:51

You need to look at a KTM, the engineering will get your heart all fluttery and they haul arse with the best of them. Probably a 990 adventure (handles like a sprotsbike too) but I reckon the RC8 would be worth a look , it's apparently quite comfortable and rideable given it's sprotsbike pretensions.

I have to agree with JR about the Multi strudel (shall I reactivate my campaign to get someone to actually buy one?) but you need to tidy up the front with different fairings or become seriously myopic. They're a great bike and do fast and medium pace well.

Buells...why not go the bar riser way and adapt what you have, it's a bike after all, two wheels and a frame, the rest is ancillaries, customise, it'll be a great project!

**jrandom** · 15th January 2009, 07:54

Originally Posted by Crisis management

(shall I reactivate my campaign to get someone to actually buy one?)

I'd have bought one myself last year if it weren't for the fact that the GSX1400 was totally awesome and $8,000 cheaper.

**SPman** · 15th January 2009, 13:36

Originally Posted by James Deuce

. There's a white one on Trademe for $13,800. FIrst service is done so that's out of the way.

What!
Is Brett selling his already?

**Hitcher** · 15th January 2009, 14:55

Moto Guzzi 1200 Sport?

**Hitcher** · 15th January 2009, 14:59

Originally Posted by SPman

Is Brett selling his already?

No no no no no no no. But some dude in Auckland who is moving to Australia and who can't afford to take his bikes is. Nice colour, that white.

**Ocean1** · 15th January 2009, 16:12

Originally Posted by Crisis management

You need to look at a KTM, the engineering will get your heart all fluttery and they haul arse with the best of them. Probably a 990 adventure (handles like a sprotsbike too) but I reckon the RC8 would be worth a look , it's apparently quite comfortable and rideable given it's sprotsbike pretensions.

Nix on the 990 Adv. No doubt more than capable on the road but there's better out there and I don't need a dualsport. The RC8 is bloody well done, I might consider one, if it fits. But then, y'know, "lead us not into temptation", and stuff.

Originally Posted by Crisis management

Buells...why not go the bar riser way and adapt what you have, it's a bike after all, two wheels and a frame, the rest is ancillaries, customise, it'll be a great project!

Not quite that easy on the 12R. You can get clipons, but they don't fit well with the existing top triple clamp. You can get raised top clamps too, but either option fouls the fairing, which would be fookin' difficult to remount.

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Moto Guzzi 1200 Sport?

Yes, had a wee google last night on exactly that topic. Would like to know more, including a good local (ish) agent.