Old and new, which is better?

[Edbear]

Had a nice visit this arvo from Phil Reid of Freeway Homestay's. He rides a 2000 Kawasaki W650 and it's even the colour I like. He's owned it for about 4 years and rides all weathers and all roads; says it a great bike for gravel and hence the reason it's so grubby and worn looking!

My back neighbour, owns a '69 Tiger 650 and came back from a ride just after Phil turned up, so naturally I'd invited him and his lovely wife over for a coffee with Phil. Now Gary's Triumph is a minter, he's owned it for about 19 years and along with his R100R BMW and a Vespa, he's a biker from way back. So it was great to have a chinwag with us all about the same age and experience in bikes and some funny reminiscing was had by all!

Of course I had to take a pic of the two bikes together, one old and immaculate and the other newer and travel-worn. We discussed the merits of both, but Gary won when he mentioned that his rego is so cheap as the Tiger is over 40 years old!

Horsepower is close with the Trumpy about 47 as against 50 for the W650. Styling is nice on both and handling about on par as well. Sound, though is a win for the Triumph as the Kwaka is too quiet by far. Reliability is a no-brainer, with the Kwaka typical Jap and Gary does spend a bit of time to keep the Triumph up to par. Having said that, it starts on the first or second kick even when cold.

Not sure which one I'd take, I love them both for the reasons they are what they are...

[baptist]

Uummmm, not sure I need a daily rider so the Kwaka but a mint old Trumpie ...

[jaffaonajappa]

A coupla very nice bikes.
Surprised to hear they may Handle the same...
But doubt the Trumpy would stop as quickly.

Its a no brainer for me - the bike wouldnt be a daily commuter, so....

[Edbear]

Yeah, I guess that would be the final decider, what you bought it for. They've both had some interesting bikes, Phil had an RG500 Gamma and Gary had an NSR400 among some great classics.

[JimO]

if it was going to be your only bike i would have the kawasaki

[Edbear]

if it was going to be your only bike i would have the kawasaki

That's why I bought the C50T. Fabulous for everything I want to do, or did until my little problem came about... I'd love a few old classics in my dream garage!

[maggot]

Knew I should have gone out with Phil today! Having been on the back of that bike often enough, I can say it's great for a pillion too. We clocked up 2000ks on the clock one week some years ago, and it was great to be on. Phil was the guy who taught me to ride a few years ago. Small world innit?

[Paul in NZ]

Um - hate to be a train spotter but... your neighbours 69 is actually a 70......

[Edbear]

Knew I should have gone out with Phil today! Having been on the back of that bike often enough, I can say it's great for a pillion too. We clocked up 2000ks on the clock one week some years ago, and it was great to be on. Phil was the guy who taught me to ride a few years ago. Small world innit?

You'll have to come over with him next time!

Um - hate to be a train spotter but... your neighbours 69 is actually a 70......

It could well be the '70 model. It's not quite all original, but Gary's kept it as period as he can. Was it '71 the oil-in-frame model came out? I think his is the last of what he calls the genuine original models.

[Spearfish]

Come on!
Both!
White trashes latest find too..
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...400-Four-value


Unfortunately there is plenty of room in my shed.

[Edbear]

Come on!
Both!
White trashes latest find too..
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...400-Four-value


Unfortunately there is plenty of room in my shed.

Yup! Unfortunately we just spent all our spare on a new car. My dream garage would have a lot of nice stuff in it. I guess having friends and neighbours with nice bikes helps though.

[shrub]

I think the secret is to own both. While my BMW is still being dismantled I am really enjoying the pleasure of a simple, easy to work on and easy to understand machine. There is almost an organic aspect to the old boxer engine, and I remember back to my old Guzzi, the feeling of those pistons moving up and down made the engine seem as though it was alive. I can't imagine Robert Pirsig writing Zen and the Art if he had been riding a VFR1200.

But I also love my Trumpy for the silky smoothness of that triple (and the note) and the excellent braking and suspension. I like that everything is only 7 years old and I am the 2nd owner and all the little creature comforts of a modern bike like switchgear that works and adjustable everything. I like that if I felt the urge to set off to ride to Kaitaia and back all I'd need to do is check the fluids and tyre pressures, and when I got back all I'd need to do is clean it.

I also love working on a bike and fettling with it - getting back from a ride and sorting a niggle out, or making a minor mod that removes an irritation or subtly improves things. I like doing shit like tappet clearances when all i need is a couple of spanners and a feeler guage and being able to set the timing with a cigarette paper and knowing I have all the tools and skill I need to completely strip and rebuild the whole bike.

That's one of the reasons I hate the rego fees - it will cost me over $100 a month to register both bikes, and I have to have 2 bikes because one just won't do everything I need.

[Spearfish]

Yup! Unfortunately we just spent all our spare on a new car. My dream garage would have a lot of nice stuff in it. I guess having friends and neighbours with nice bikes helps though.

Yeah your right, its how I've been lucky enough to try a few different bikes.

[shrub]

Yup! Unfortunately we just spent all our spare on a new car.

I did the same thing 5 years ago when I bought my 1992 Bluebird - fortunately all I had spare was $560.00. The car is still going flawlessly and is about to cost me the first money in that time for 2 second hand tyres, a new battery and an oil change, so I'm guessing it will cost me about $350.00 all up and that's just over $5.00 a month in maintenance costs. I've turned down $1000 for it so depreciation isn't an issue.

My partner can't understand why I insist it's the best car i've ever owned and refuse to sell it.

[Edbear]

I did the same thing 5 years ago when I bought my 1992 Bluebird - fortunately all I had spare was $560.00. The car is still going flawlessly and is about to cost me the first money in that time for 2 second hand tyres, a new battery and an oil change, so I'm guessing it will cost me about $350.00 all up and that's just over $5.00 a month in maintenance costs. I've turned down $1000 for it so depreciation isn't an issue.

My partner can't understand why I insist it's the best car i've ever owned and refuse to sell it.

That's why we kept our Pulsar SLX for 12 years, it was just so cheap to own and run we couldn't justify "upgrading" it. It still had most of what the new cars have anyway! We had to upgrade though due to my accident and requiring a more upright driving position and we couldn't alter the Pulsar enough.

Have to say, the Suzuki Kizashi is a limo and we absolutely love it! So we look forward to at least another 10 years out of it!