Pretty bikes

[A_morti]

I can't really help with suggestions, but I like the buying criteria and the thread title.

Ta I'm old enough now where idgas about the bhp top trumps game, but I'd like to have something that I like to own and look at

So, a €6k shortlist, maybe?

The Benchmark: honda cb300r.
€6,000. 286cc, 28hp, 145kg.
Pros: I think it looks great. It's a honda, so it'll have the best resale value and the widest market.
Cons: mag wheels and low profile tyres may be a liability round here. You'd need to put an exhaust (it's painted steel not stainless) and a tail tidy on it so that's another few hundred already - that's normal for most bikes but the others here don't have that concern. Is it 'pretty'? Hmm...


The current leader? Fantic caballero 250.
€6,000. 250cc, 25hp, 140kg.
Pros: look at it. Just look at it. Reviews highlight top kit like exhaust designed by Arrow which makes nice popping noises, CNC billet yokes and frame/engine mount, pirelli tyres. Bybre brakes are supposedly decent and suspension good enough for real off-roading (or in my case any potholes it may find).
Cons: is it smart to pay the same for this as a honda?


The outsider: SWM ace of spades 500.
€6,000. 445cc, 28hp, 145kg.
Pros: Nice looking thing. Pirelli tyres. Brembo brakes. Exhaust looks wicked.
Cons: never heard of 'em. Is it 'pretty', or something else?


The 'hmm, probably not': mash 500
€5, a00. 397cc, 28hp, 151kg.
Pros: it's cheaper.
Cons: It's not much cheaper. It's just not as cool as the others and there's nothing premium about it.


Decisions, decisions, eh?

[KungFooBob]

You need to see the Fantic in the flesh.

It's a parts bin special, lots of bits just stuck together. I don't know how they make it look so good in pictures.

I'd deffo look at the SWM.

[A_morti]

You need to see the Fantic in the flesh.

It's a parts bin special, lots of bits just stuck together. I don't know how they make it look so good in pictures.

I'd deffo look at the SWM.

I see where you're going with that as I did see a pic of where they've put the coolant bottle, just above the radiator. Can't see that on the side-on press pictures, looked pretty shit in that pic and it's right there in the wind for all to see.

The SWM is a harder sell, at the same price as the honda. Yes it's got 160cc more, but same power and no radiator nullify that argument of why it's relatively expensive. it looks like the same sleeved down XBR 500 motor as the Mash.

[Supermofo]

Pretty sure SWM is the Italian Husqvana from when BMW owned it. The SM's had a Husky engine pretty much. I think the air cooled bikes were Honda copies and started with the Gran Milano I think.

[A_morti]

The Malta importer is a helpful guy, but doesn't keep stock of the SWM or Fantic.

Considering there's a pretty strong feeling round here that Japanese bikes are superior (even if they're made in Thailand) and everything else is junk, I'd basically be marrying either non-Honda. Based only on seeing pictures of them.

The Honda's back in the lead.

[Supermofo]

The Honda's back in the lead.

That's the head answer to almost every biking question.

[KungFooBob]

I'm sure you've already rejected the 390 Duke (back on the old place), but I can't remember why?

[A_morti]

I'm sure you've already rejected the 390 Duke (back on the old place), but I can't remember why?

You are correct.

I like the looks, well sometimes and from some angles. But they're not pretty.
The engines have a reputation for going pop.
But the biggest problem I have with them is I don't think they're compatible with Maltese roads.
The suspension is very sporty, and the wheels have a habit of doing this:

[KungFooBob]

What about a Supermoto, with proper spoked wheels?

Whenever I go on holibobs to somewhere warm everyone rides SM's... or old KLE500s and Transalps.

[A_morti]

What about a Supermoto, with proper spoked wheels?

Whenever I go on holibobs to somewhere warm everyone rides SM's... or old KLE500s and Transalps.

Nearest thing I've had or ridden was a 2004 F650GS. It was very comfortable, economical, rode rough roads exceptionally well. But it never appealed to me, I just bought because it was the done thing in the South of Spain.

This time I'd like to own something I'd like to own, and supermotos / motocross bike don't fit that bill.

[Supermofo]

That's a shame, the XT660 Yamaha's in X (supermoto), R(off roadie sort of) and Z Tenere would be idea for crappy roads and good fun whilst being super reliable.

[A_morti]

This one's available locally at 3,800€ for a 2009.
While I am certain it'd be very competent, I can't see me going down to the garage just to look at it

[Supermofo]

No they aren't lookers.

[G.P]

KTM have now bought out a 390 ADV

[Bigjawa]

What about a Supermoto, with proper spoked wheels?

Whenever I go on holibobs to somewhere warm everyone rides SM's... or old KLE500s and Transalps.

Decent old Transalps are getting rare now, people are hanging onto them as they are a genuine 100k bike.

KLE was good but for some reason they were all thrashed until they blew up.

Those wee Mash cafe racer things are cute.

[A_morti]

KTM have now bought out a 390 ADV

I never knew that.
I wouldn't call it pretty, but it has something about it.
Got me wondering how much it'll cost, now.

Edit: Oh...

[KungFooBob]

I've just been looking at your primary choice, the CB300R.

It's actually quite a smart looking machine, looks a lot more premium than the price suggests.

It does REALLY need a nicer looking pipe and probably a tail tidy.

The Z250SL looks neat too, bit more stripped back than the CB, the trellis frame reminds me of the SDR200.

Stock pipe doesn't look terrible either...



You loose the USD forks of the CB tho'

[KungFooBob]

https://www.maltapark.com/item/details/8637402

https://www.maltapark.com/item/details/8308806

[A_morti]

The Z250 doesn't look bad actually.

I'll have a look into them. Never had a Kawasaki though, and never really been that fussed on the marque.

https://www.maltapark.com/item/details/8637402

https://www.maltapark.com/item/details/8308806

You see right through me, eh?

Tempting, but these are all over 20 years old now, and I think I'm over that for the time being. I never ride the cb-1 in Gibraltar. I wanted to, but I parked it up with a failed fork seal and CBA to fix it.

I'll take a fresh shiny one, please Bob

[KungFooBob]

The SL in Z250SL means 'Super Light'.

Oddly the tinternet says the CB is actually lighter than the Z250, I can't see how, there's nothing to it!