NBT: The quest is over, the MT-07 is here!

[KungFooBob]

I do miss an auto when in heavy traffic, which is most days!

VFR1200X Crosstourer DCT FTW!

[MrLongbeard]

Harley with a Rekluse clutch pack.
One of the new liquid cooled (shudder) Harley's with a quick shifter.

[Taipan]

It is a cracking bike, but it does have limitations for me. Like I say its not up for sale yet, because I honestly don't know what i'd replace it with? Maybe the original idea of a scoot to use alongside it is a good idea? I do miss an auto when in heavy traffic, which is most days!

What's the limitations then/though ?

With the amount you ride outside of commuting, i don't see any point having 2...

Sure get a scoot, but for me, i'd get a proper/decent one, not the scrapper SH300i's you seem to go for.

Get one of those fangled transformer Honda things or something.

The SH300 is a bit boring, which is why when I had one for many years, I also had quite a few bikes alongside it at various times. But it excels at commuting. Turns like a shopping trolley, fits through gaps it shouldn't, and will exceed the speed limit whilst returning you around 80mpg! I took the last one up to 85k with it only needing a starter relay! Super easy and cheap to service and change the drive belt on too. For what I actually use a bike for, it ticks just about every box, except the exciting one. It's fun, but it's not exciting. Also, I never gave a crap about it and probably washed it twice a year whether it needed it or not.

It feels criminal to be treating the MT that way. It's such a lovely bike and was as good a condition as a brand new one when I got it, and now I'm riding it in all weathers and basically ruining it. The MT is exciting though. The engine round town with its mid-range punch is an absolute joy. I blatted it through the surprisingly empty limehouse link tunnel yesterday and the sound of the exhaust was just excellent and I was grinning like the proverbial cat when I exited the tunnel!

Only downside to the bike is cos I'm a lump I can get the suspension bouncing about more than I'd like. The bike does feel slightly let down by the suspension really, but being honest, I'll never really push any bike to anywhere near its limits, I just wish it was a bit firmer and more compliant?

It's slightly annoying that the power tails off the way it does, but that only happened a few times to me as most of my riding is around town,or a couple of back roads I sometimes take the long way home on. The more I write about it the more I realise how much I do like it, so not really sure why I feel is going soon? Maybe its because its just too nice to ruin like I am, but I can't change that as its primary function is a commuting hack!

[Skub]

Just ride the MT,as you enjoy it.

When it falls apart,buy another one.

Sometimes trying to keep a bike pristine works against the enjoyment of the thing.

[Taipan]

Limitations as a year-round London commuter?

No weather protection, no storage, pig to clean, not particularly economical on fuel, not auto, stealable etc. Sounds like TP thinks it runs out of steam on fast A roads too, which is a bit of a surprise.

So, a decent scoot probably is the answer.

Having said that, the young chap at the local Screwfix comes in on his MT07 every day but it's a rural commute and the bike was completely white recently...with salt.

You raise a good point about weather protection, well, the screens. I've tried 3 and everyone point the wind right at my visor, so with it slightly open they all blast me and make my eyes water! Its actually going to be better with no screen!

I kinda wished I hadn't mentioned the speed thing! The bike has such a good mid range that's its just a bit of a surprise that it tails off quickly. I actually went the fastest I've been on a bike in 30 years on it the other day, but I very, very rarely hit 3 figures. Things happen to quick up there for me.

Deep down he knows he wants a GSXR1000 but daren't admit it

Honestly Mate, sportbikes aren't and have never been on my radar. You could take me into dealers blindfolded and say pick out an R1 or GSXR within 5 seconds to win 10k and i'd lose!

I do miss an auto when in heavy traffic, which is most days!

VFR1200X Crosstourer DCT FTW!

Way too heavy! Big heavy bikes are useless on my commute.

[Dodgy69]

Too much choice these days..

[KungFooBob]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265563064423 ... SwZYZiFdUx

Automatic innit.

[Taipan]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265563064423 ... SwZYZiFdUx

Automatic innit.

Interesting, but not for me .

[Yorick]

Deep down he knows he wants a GSXR1000 but daren't admit it

Honestly Mate, sportbikes aren't and have never been on my radar. You could take me into dealers blindfolded and say pick out an R1 or GSXR within 5 seconds to win 10k and i'd lose!

You bite too quickly

[DefTrap]

If I enjoyed the MT I wouldn't give a shit about 'ruining it". But folk who like changing their bikes always have an excuse don't they?

[weeksy]

If I enjoyed the MT I wouldn't give a shit about 'ruining it". But folk who like changing their bikes always have an excuse don't they?

Reason? Doesn't need to be an excuse, just a reason.

[Taipan]

If I enjoyed the MT I wouldn't give a shit about 'ruining it". But folk who like changing their bikes always have an excuse don't they?

The one thing I have learned is a bike isn't a commitment or an obligation. If it ain't flying for you, move it on. If what you replace it with isn't what you thought it would be either, sell that and buy something else or what you started with again.

TBH I don't think anything I buy will ever be a keeper. As a former motor trader, I think I just like changing stock. After all, the MT is certainly going to be in my top 10, or, actually, top 5 bikes I've ever owned! But, if you like motorbikes, why limit yourself to only owning a few, when you could have owned loads? Lifes rich tapestry and all that...

[Taipan]

Had a somewhat spirited ride in to work today. Road sparring with a Triumph adventure-style bike and a SV650 and some other Yamaha (tracer?) . Really good fun and it must be said, the MT is an absolute demon through the traffic and was lifting its front wheel under acceleration at times!

[Taipan]

Mines due its 8k service now. Does anyone know what this service costs?

[weeksy]

Mines due its 8k service now. Does anyone know what this service costs?

£250 roughly would be about right.

[KungFooBob]

There's some fraudster called Dave selling a bike looks just like yours on The Bike Bay on Friendface.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Taipan is Dave from Basildon, I'm shocked, I thought he lived in Tilbury, he might also want to change the privacy settings on his Facebook page.

[Taipan]

2 dealer offers of £4300 and two offers from punters for £5k which I'll accept on the proviso they'll sort the service out. Not exactly sure this was how I wanted it to go, as i'd planned to hold onto the MT in case I didn't get on with the X-ADV and also to cash in on the higher prices around May time. But the insurance problem forced my hand really. So the MT will go and if I don't get on with the X-ADV then I'll buy something completely different, again!

[Taipan]

Todays job is to thoroughly clean it and return it to standard. Might have had a result too as my colleague wanted the bike but in the end he’s going for the practical Tracer. He wants fibs on the bits I’m just taking off which should negate the £200 loss on buying and selling price!

Right, I’ve got to crack on and fit thus lot!


upload images

[Taipan]

What lies beneath!!