Why is choosing a bike so tricky?

You don't want a flat torque curve - you want a flat, fat, torque
curve.

 

The local Triumph dealer pointed at the 800 and told me it was exactly what
I needed, so I wandered over and discovered that the lowest point of the
saddle was above my hip bone.

I didn't bother trying to get on

 

Good point - butI'm not sure I'd want the potential hassle of arguing the
case and possibly delaying warranty repairs in the process.

 

Really? To much information . . . .

 

Have you ever tried one, the "big moped" comment suggests some common
misconceptions.
My YP250 just eats up the miles in armchair comfort behing a nice windshield,
a tad underpowered for motorways but the 400cc and 600cc models will sit there
all day just fine at any sane motorway speeds.

Give one a try, you might be pleasantly surprised.

 

I wouldn't rule it out entirely based on that. I don't know the 800's
specs, but most other Tigers have adjustable seat heights. And all
Tigers are much happier with the forks slid 20-25mm up through the
clamps.

 

It impressed me. Bit of a Tour de Force

 

What about one of the newer BMW K's that have adjustable riding positions
then?

 

On Sun, 16 Jan 2011 11:15:23 +0000, Gyp wrote:

Because Honda no longer make the ST1100, which was nearly perfect?

Try the 1300 version?

 

One can find a K1200GT for 4 grand or a little less.
For 5 1/2 you get:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...postcode/yo244hw/radius/1500/page/1?logcode=p

Or go retro:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...page/1/radius/1500/postcode/yo244hw?logcode=p
wasn't Tog selling his?

I'd stretch to the newer GT myself

Without trying to be funny or narrow minded, if you can find a newish Ducati
ST4S you will find it plush and SO will find it incredibly comfortable. You
get great handling and it's fast and fun to ride. Hen's Teeth though and you
want to find the OE luggage version. Ideally you want the later 2005 on but
since getting mine I've never seen another for sale. People who bagged them
keep them. A lot of folk like the late ST3 which is more common, a little
slower, which isn't for me.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...page/1/radius/1500/postcode/yo244hw?logcode=p

 

That's the same as the one Judge (formerly of this parish) had, isn't it?
The one that had its own ramp in the Cooper Reading workshop.

2 retro beemers is enough

Ah, the very rare in-line 4 Ducati ;-)

 

Bugger
You can work Autotrader I'm sure

 

Didn't he have a ZZR1200?
I'm not aware the 1200GT was unreliable
Nige certainly rated his S version

 

I went to look at the ZZR, but was put off by the slipping clutch. I'm sure
it was a K12 that was dodgy...

 

Ah, RS not GT but I suspect it's a similar story...

<quote>
I'm now left with the BMW which, in true sack-of-shit style has found a new
way to fail on me. The clutch is going. Well, it's pretty much gone.

This is a bike that has spent most of its first year off the road and has
only done 5700 miles.

Is this some sort of new disposable clutch I've not heard about? How the
**** can a clutch wear out so quickly on a bike that spends most of its
life on the motorway? I don't do wheelies or stunts so what's going on?

I'm going to get the clutch fixed and flog the heap of crap. It's been a
disaster from the start.

Corroded gear selector, incapable dealer (Cooper BMW, Reading), seized
brakes and now worn-out clutch. That's on top of a long list of design
faults like crap suspension, badly positioned wing mirrors, useless
fairing, no storage and awkward switchgear.

</Q>

 

Ask a BMW dealer about them?
Most owners seem to be enthusiastic.

and this was Judge after all......

 

Shame the UKRMer that did work at a BM dealer no longer does.

I'm afraid the quality of the R1150 spoiled it for me. It was shit. I
was looking over the 30-year-old R65RS last night and that was in much
better condition than the 5 year old R

Troo

 

A few years ago (2007/08?) I had the task of analysing a mountain of
Excel data for RiDE's surveys.

Thousands of bikes.

Interestingly, the reliability rating for modern BMWs was absolutely
identical to that of 25 year-old and more ShiteOldBoxers and ShiteOldKs
with mega-miles on their clocks.

Which suggests that as they reach that sort of age, they'll be utterly
dreadful.

 

Not many have, it seems.

 

There are two models, the Tiger 800XC which is a more off-road based
bike, and its road based twin which is simply called the Tiger 800. The
road based one is a lot lower in height, and I mean lower than my
Versys was as stock and just a touch taller than it is now it's been
lowered.

Sounds like he pointed you at the XC cos I can sit on a road based one
fine

--
Lozzo
Versys 650 Inter-Continental Hyperbolistic Missile , CBR600F-W racebike
in the making, TS250C, RD400F (somewhere)
BMW E46 318iSE (it's a car, not one of those 2-wheeled pieces of shite
they churn out)