OI Shortarses

The bindit doesn't really inspire. Nice bike and all that but no
personality to endear it to me. I mean ffs, it has been reliable!!!!

So, I am looking for a change/addition to the fleet and as long as it is
old, (mostly) nekkid, cheap and the seat close to the ground I am really
not bothered what I look at. Other than, ideally, it needs only two
cylinders of at least 300cc capacity each. A couple of 500's bolted
together would be nice but I would settle for a pair of 375s.

Suggestions?

 

how about a couple of 425s? TRX850.

Actually, if you fancied a single instead, I could easily picture you
on an SRX600.

 

darsy wrote

That would do. 795mm seat height is on the edge but if it is narrowish
then it would do. None on ebay though.

I would *love* a big single[1] but like the litrebikes they do tend to
come in sizes more suitable for the genetically imperfect than us more
properly formed mortals.



[1] Onebus was just such good fun.

 

I'd second that. Never really got on with mine, though, it it did feel
cheap and nasty compared with TOG's 750SS.

However, they're small enough for a shortarse to get on with, if a
little uncomfortable for longer distance use.

 

the later ones (like what I had) are a lot less "cheap and nasty" - the
paint jobs are a lot better than the earlier flat-colour ones, and even
the standard gold-coloured end cans looked fairly classy compared to
the older steel ones.

 

darsy wrote

I'm going for a little lie down,

then I am going shopping.

 

It was the quality of the suspension that I found was the biggest
difference. Mainly the front forks. However, that can be relatively
easily and cheaply sorted.

 

I didn't notice any problems with them, but I'd come from a Bandit
1200, which is hardly "ideal" in the suspension department.

 

darsy emerged from their own little world to say

Yamaha seemed to get their act together on quality in the mid-1990s. The
finish on the Mk2 TDM850 was a big improvement on the original. My 1996
model looked very tidy when I sold it in 1999.

 

darsy wrote

don't forget the other three:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4564458549
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4562841109
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4564094397

Looks quite a nice machine for a supersports. Why they did'nt make a
more upright version, detuned, with a proper duplex frame, flat seat,
spoked wheels and a chromed headlamp is beyond me.

 

They did, it's called a TDM...

JL
(but you don't need to detune 85Hp very much

 

Street fightered ducati super mono.

 

Well if you don't mind my 2 bobs worth, I went from a TRX to an R1 to a
Bandit12, and I'm a shortarse (5'4 with short legs for height).

TRX is an excellent bike for those lacking in the leg dept. There's 3
must do mods to make it a lot better bike -

1. Slide the forks up through the triple clamps 20mm, improves the turn
in no end, and improves the overly rearward weight bias.

2. Put a set of R1 bluespots on it - the stock Tokico's are wooden and
it's a bolt up swap

3. cartridge emulators the front end is stiff and horrid with stock
settings at my weight (70Kg) but the springs are fairly soft - so if
you're a lightweight you can just back off the preload and it's OK,
cartridge emulators (gold valves) make a noticeable improvement however.

There's plenty of doco on the internet/ trx mailing list about how to
set them up well.

They sound great with a set of pipes (the staintune ones sound
absolutely horn).

Older models burn a little oil, don't worry about it, it's not a sign of
impending doom. They're quite reliable even when thrashed regularly
(constantly).

Despite a seat like a plank, I found it OK for doing reasonable
distances (1000km days) provided you put a Bagster tank bag on it and
set it up so you could pretty much lie on it (make sure you get the
triangular bag or pack it low at the front).

Very different bike to the Bandit in just about every way...they're a
definite cult bike, tends to have a love or hate effect on people IME.
I'd buy another one. I wouldn't buy another Bandit...

Other shortarse friendly, cheap twins options - ermm GS500, ER5, GPX250,
SZR660 (pretend it's got two cylinders , plenty of cruisers fit the
bill otherwise not much really, early SV650 ? Raptor is shortarse
friendly (775mm) but ain't cheap, VTR1000 is OK but again unlikely to be
real cheap.

JL

 

as you can fit a B6, try a B12.

--
Adie
(replace spam with nickname to reply)

UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.net/faq/

Triumph 955iSS / GSF1200 bandit / CG125
MRO#11 BOTAFOF#7 BOTAFOT#130 DIAABTCOD#17 MIB#24 YTC#16 BOB#15 ex-UKRMMA#22 BOMB#11

 

Subject changed as per your request.

 

flash wrote

I have been out for a ride and done the first 13 of the 77 dealers in
Essex that yell.com threw at me. An interesting afternoon, much
opportunity I think for the smaller retail outlets to fucking say
fucking hello in a fucking civilised fucking manner I think.

Two bikes caught my eye, a severely overpriced V45 Magna and an
extremely low mileage Divi900 import with luggage and an all white honda
sprots type bike thing that just looked really fucking cool.

 

heh. But they're bikes for gurls and newbies.

 

Rope wrote

I got me leg over one earlier today, yes it does fit, yes the bike does
seem balanced, yes it is narrow. I am tempted to take one for a ride.

 

Adrienne M Bonwick wrote

I fit a W650 as well but I ain't buying one of those at 4 and a half
grand and "we can sell all we get so we ain't dickering," a pop.

There is *loads* in the shops. They are either hardly turned a wheel or
shagged to buggery by the looks of them. Undoubtedly there is a bargain
or two to be had there.

 

Rope says...

ZZR11s are just as low to the ground, and cheaper to buy and run.
You'll also get a much newer one for the same money.

For some weird reason, the fact that there's an FJ owners club[1] has
pushed the prices of a mediocre bike through the roof.

They have a weird rear wheel size which limits tyre choice and most of
those for sale are past their sell by date now. Add in typical Yamaha
late 80s/early 90s build quality and you're buying future bills.

ZZR1100, YKIMS.

[1] Much needed technical advice is available from them, other than
that I can't see the point of it.