Hypothetical thread; New bike time, but what should I buy?

[Taipan]

But for now, the Tmax definitely stays.

You do know we've met you before yeah ?

That's almost as good as me saying "i'll buy a Firestorm and just use it whenever"

True, and I'll have to scratch that Ducati itch at some point, but now is not that time...

[Scootabout]

Re: The vibes, if its correct and they are all like that, its a bit awkward, as when I'm riding in the 50mph zone its right where its at its worse and can literally numb my fingers after a few miles of it. On a manual bike, you can ride around this easily by changing up and down, but on an auto you're stuck there.

As I remember it, my mark one TMax was very smooth. I wonder how Yamaha have managed to introduce vibes in a later version? The Mk 1 had, iirc, a third dummy piston that acted as a balancer shaft. Maybe with the fashion for 270 degree cranks they've tried to introduce a throb and got it wrong?

[Taipan]

Re: The vibes, if its correct and they are all like that, its a bit awkward, as when I'm riding in the 50mph zone its right where its at its worse and can literally numb my fingers after a few miles of it. On a manual bike, you can ride around this easily by changing up and down, but on an auto you're stuck there.

As I remember it, my mark one TMax was very smooth. I wonder how Yamaha have managed to introduce vibes in a later version? The Mk 1 had, iirc, a third dummy piston that acted as a balancer shaft. Maybe with the fashion for 270 degree cranks they've tried to introduce a throb and got it wrong?

I'm not sure, but the dealer said you feel it around town at 30mph and onwards. I said mine was higher than that, but checking it today and he is right, you do feel it from 30-50mph or 3-4.5k ish. So maybe they are all like that Sir! However, like you, I dont remember any of my previous ones being like it and I had the Mk1, 2 and 3!?

I am very susceptible to vibes and have suffered with numb fingers on a lot of bikes. As I said though, with a manual bike you just change the gear and the revs to ride around it. On an auto, you're kinda stuck with it!

As the bike sort of aligned itself with what the dealer said, I don't feel so worried, or bothered, about it now. I am still convinced its getting worse, but that may well just be me. It's under manufacturers warranty though, so I don't care as such, it'll just be a bit of ball ache getting it fixed if it did go wrong? But I actually really enjoyed riding it today! Still want that bastard Ducati though!

[Supermofo]

My brother got some of those big foam over grips for his Z750 as they vibe a lot at Mway cruising speed and he said that helped a fair bit. Do look a bit special though and guessing that would cut effectiveness of already not great heated grips.

[Mr Moofo]

Has anyone mentioned a Diavel yet?

[Taipan]

Has anyone mentioned a Diavel yet?

Me. Multiple times! I'd love a XDiavel!. Like really love one! But even I realise that it would not be a good commuter, having been stuck behind a few in traffic before, and it would just become frustrating!

I had been reading up on the 821 Hypermotard and am now completely put off by what I've read. Coils breaking down and sending leccy laser bombs to the ecu and dash and frying them. Grabby clutches. Poor low speed fuelling. My basic bike nightmare TBH...

[weeksy]

Has anyone mentioned a Diavel yet?

Me. Multiple times! I'd love a XDiavel!. Like really love one! But even I realise that it would not be a good commuter, having been stuck behind a few in traffic before, and it would just become frustrating!

I had been reading up on the 821 Hypermotard and am now completely put off by what I've read. Coils breaking down and sending leccy laser bombs to the ecu and dash and frying them. Grabby clutches. Poor low speed fuelling. My basic bike nightmare TBH...

I'm not sure you'll find anything outside of a generic japanese IL4 that will not have some of these things. You do seem exceptionally sensitive to fuelling and i'm not sure i recall any bike you've been happy with in terms of that.
All bikes have issues though, all bikes... it's just a question of accepting them .... or not.

[Bustaspoke]

If you fancy a V Twin for commuting how about a SV650? They're pretty small,narrow & easy to manouvre,should be able to filter through traffic with ease.

[Taipan]

Has anyone mentioned a Diavel yet?

Me. Multiple times! I'd love a XDiavel!. Like really love one! But even I realise that it would not be a good commuter, having been stuck behind a few in traffic before, and it would just become frustrating!

I had been reading up on the 821 Hypermotard and am now completely put off by what I've read. Coils breaking down and sending leccy laser bombs to the ecu and dash and frying them. Grabby clutches. Poor low speed fuelling. My basic bike nightmare TBH...

I'm not sure you'll find anything outside of a generic japanese IL4 that will not have some of these things. You do seem exceptionally sensitive to fuelling and i'm not sure i recall any bike you've been happy with in terms of that.
All bikes have issues though, all bikes... it's just a question of accepting them .... or not.

I'm always sitting right at the revs and throttle openings where modern Fi bikes play up! Out on the open road most become fine, but when at least half of your hours journey is in town using just the first 3 gears, you notice it and yes, it can get real old, real quick! I had the F800R's ECU remapped by motoune in Dublin and that was spot on afterwards! So I know things can be fixed.

[Taipan]

If you fancy a V Twin for commuting how about a SV650? They're pretty small,narrow & easy to manouvre,should be able to filter through traffic with ease.

Fantastic bikes and fantastic commuters. I've had several!

[weeksy]

I'm always sitting right at the revs and throttle openings where modern Fi bikes play up! Out on the open road most become fine, but when at least half of your hours journey is in town using just the first 3 gears, you notice it and yes, it can get real old, real quick! I had the F800R's ECU remapped by motoune in Dublin and that was spot on afterwards! So I know things can be fixed.

But then you sold it

However, i'm still not convinced 'play up' is a correct terminology and maybe it's you not the bikes... Or maybe we've just not found you the right bike.

But people talk about the 690 Duke for example being shit at 30mph... Which it is... but you just ride around it and different gear/rpm resolves it.

So is it just you... rather than all of the bikes ?

Maybe you need to accept the limitations... or go back to Carbs

[v8-powered]

Maybe you need to accept the limitations... or go back to Carbs

The boss has a good point - I went back to a carb'd CBR600 several years ago, it was a delight to ride for that very reason - no glitchy EFi emissions strangled fuelling to contend with.

[Bustaspoke]

Maybe you need to accept the limitations... or go back to Carbs

The boss has a good point - I went back to a carb'd CBR600 several years ago, it was a delight to ride for that very reason - no glitchy EFi emissions strangled fuelling to contend with.

Will a carb bike get through the Ulez?

[Taipan]

I'm always sitting right at the revs and throttle openings where modern Fi bikes play up! Out on the open road most become fine, but when at least half of your hours journey is in town using just the first 3 gears, you notice it and yes, it can get real old, real quick! I had the F800R's ECU remapped by motoune in Dublin and that was spot on afterwards! So I know things can be fixed.

But then you sold it

However, i'm still not convinced 'play up' is a correct terminology and maybe it's you not the bikes... Or maybe we've just not found you the right bike.

But people talk about the 690 Duke for example being shit at 30mph... Which it is... but you just ride around it and different gear/rpm resolves it.

So is it just you... rather than all of the bikes ?

Maybe you need to accept the limitations... or go back to Carbs

No, it's not just me as this conversation proves. Most people recognise the poor fuelling, including journos, which is mainly due to leaning the bikes right out to meet emission requirements. If I just got out on the bikes onto open roads, I doubt I'd notice, but riding round town is where you really feel this, which, as I mentioned, is most of my commute!

I wish we could have carbs on modern bikes. Lovely smooth, progressive fuelling!

[Taipan]

Maybe you need to accept the limitations... or go back to Carbs

The boss has a good point - I went back to a carb'd CBR600 several years ago, it was a delight to ride for that very reason - no glitchy EFi emissions strangled fuelling to contend with.

Will a carb bike get through the Ulez?

You can pay to have them tested and provided the bike is set up correctly, it will normally pass.

[Mr Moofo]

Has anyone mentioned a Diavel yet?

Me. Multiple times! I'd love a XDiavel!. Like really love one! But even I realise that it would not be a good commuter, having been stuck behind a few in traffic before, and it would just become frustrating!

I had been reading up on the 821 Hypermotard and am now completely put off by what I've read. Coils breaking down and sending leccy laser bombs to the ecu and dash and frying them. Grabby clutches. Poor low speed fuelling. My basic bike nightmare TBH...

Poor low speed fuelling is a Ducati thing - the answer isn't low speed, it is low revs. Just drive them in a gear below the one you think you should be in

[Tricky]

If you are seriously re-considering non-scoot bikes without all the nice ease of use and storage/ weather protection stuff they have, then if you haven't already tried one, I'd say get yourself a go on a 790 or 890 Duke

If it's roomy/ comfy enough seating position for you (they are very comfy for me, and although my knees are a bit fecked these days I'm guessing they won't be as bad as yours ), I never noticed significant vibes on any of mine , and I reckon you would like how it rides- so light and flickable feeling (much more than an MT09), but same sort of "fun" character engine, and possibly best of all, cruise control is a simple £200-odd retrofit option on all but the very earliest ones, assuming if it doesn't already have it

Anyway- just my five bob's worth FWIW - I guess you'll easily know whether it's worth having a go on one from just sitting on it...

[Taipan]

If you are seriously re-considering non-scoot bikes without all the nice ease of use and storage/ weather protection stuff they have, then if you haven't already tried one, I'd say get yourself a go on a 790 or 890 Duke

If it's roomy/ comfy enough seating position for you (they are very comfy for me, and although my knees are a bit fecked these days I'm guessing they won't be as bad as yours ), I never noticed significant vibes on any of mine , and I reckon you would like how it rides- so light and flickable feeling (much more than an MT09), but same sort of "fun" character engine, and possibly best of all, cruise control is a simple £200-odd retrofit option on all but the very earliest ones, assuming if it doesn't already have it

Anyway- just my five bob's worth FWIW - I guess you'll easily know whether it's worth having a go on one from just sitting on it...

Appreciate the input mate, but as much as I love the 7/890s I just don't think I can go the KTM route again. I seem to have nothing but bad luck with them. I had been looking wistfully at 690s recently but talked myself out of them. Once bitten, twice shy, or multiples thereof!

[Scootabout]

Another thought on the TMax's vibes. Does this model use rollers, or does it vary its gearing electronically? If rollers, could you try changing the weights, to make it rev either higher (lighter weights) or lower? If electronic, it probably has modes, so could you select a mode that is less vibey? Sorry if this is all basic to you, as it probably is, but if you've tried it I'm wondering why it didn't work.

[Taipan]

Another thought on the TMax's vibes. Does this model use rollers, or does it vary its gearing electronically? If rollers, could you try changing the weights, to make it rev either higher (lighter weights) or lower? If electronic, it probably has modes, so could you select a mode that is less vibey? Sorry if this is all basic to you, as it probably is, but if you've tried it I'm wondering why it didn't work.

As far as I know its still a mechanical variator. But I wont be touching it as its brand new bike and under Yamaha warranty. So it'lll be down to them to sort out anything it needs, if at all.