What bike are you thinking of buying next ? What's the shortlist ?

[Hot_Air]

I´d probably look at grabbing the XV1900 raider…

I think the Yamaha XV1900 looks terrific in the metal, and I'm not normally a fan of cruisers!

Are they expensive? Better handling than a Harley, I imagine

[Taff]

Owners I've spoke to love them AT...Who else makes big bike auto boxes.?

It's pretty much limited to Honda's DCT bikes really, so it's AT, Crosstourer, VFR1200, NC750 and its derivatives.

Aprilia did the Mana 850(?) but as far as I'm aware stopped production quite a while back.

the alternative is fitting a Rekluse clutch, they've been rated for many years by enduro bike riders (I remember debating about fitting one to my KTM back in 2005ish). I believe that there is a kit available for the tiger 800 now but it's a bit pricey for me to consider fitting it to mine.

[erizo]

I´d probably look at grabbing the XV1900 raider…

I think the Yamaha XV1900 looks terrific in the metal, and I'm not normally a fan of cruisers!

Are they expensive? Better handling than a Harley, I imagine

They put a lot of thought into having the appearance they wanted and actually getting it to work.

They went with a 210 rear tyre instead of the fashionable 240 (which sucks for handling) and the front
Is a 120 - 21 instead of the traditional skinny 21 front.

There’s also an offset on the yokes which brings the trail back to a normal figure.

So yeah, for a bike with that wheelbase and weight, they handle pretty good.

Price? Not sure, but nowhere near Harley money.

[Hot_Air]

I agree that a 210 rear tyre is much better than a 240. As well as the 210 handling better, how many choices of tyre are there for a 240?

[Gimlet]

No cash and an uncertain future now with this corona shit. Same boat as millions of others..
But if it wasn't for that I'd have an 1199 Panigale on the list. Prefer a 1299 but 1199s can be had at good money now and I'd like to see for myself how brutal it really is.

Also fancy a big cruiser just for fucking about on the occasional sunny Sunday. And I like the idea of going touring on a comfy cruiser once in a while so I can actually see and remember the place I've been rather than just attack the tarmac which is what usually happens.
It would be a Triumph Thunderbird Storm.

More pipe dream territory, a 690 SMR would be nice and a 300 stroker green laner.
Also have a bit of a hankering for a Guzzi of some sort. A late model Griso would be nice.
Oh and a 1930's Ariel Red Hunter. Red and chrome, rigid frame, sprung saddle and high level pipes. Oh yes..

[erizo]

I agree that a 210 rear tyre is much better than a 240. As well as the 210 handling better, how many choices of tyre are there for a 240?

there´s quite a few manufacturers make 240´s. dunlop, metzeler, etc.

when clients came in for a 240, i´d normally recommend a 250 or 260 on the standard rim. there would be no extra width when mounted on the 240 rim, but it gave the tread a rounder profile and didn´t feel so much like the rear tyre was dominant over the steering.

it was mostly on v-rods, and they don´t handle too bad as standard, but with a rounder profile on the rear it´s a noticeable improvement.

i´m not a fan of fat back tyres, hence the larmobile still has the standard 150 on the rear.

[rusty]

XSR900.

Got a demo ride booked for tomorrow

What did you think of it? Loved the MT09 I had a shot on.

Loved it.
So much so that I bought one the following day

[rusty]

my tiger 800xc is approaching 60k miles, so it's time to start thinking about another bike to take on the duties when there's no salt on the roads leaving the tiger to take on the really shitty winter months.
I've got problems with my left hand so an Auto gearbox is really attractive. This lead me to this Africa Twin DCT that I took out a couple of weeks ago and was completely smitten.

Timing isn't quite right just yet but if we land up locked down for long enough I might be able to afford one when we're allowed out again.

I just got rid of my Africa Twin.
It wasn't a bad bike by any means but the build quality was dire, the frame was corroding pretty heavily in a few places and it was only two years old. I always thought Honda were still well built but clearly not.
It'll be the last Honda I buy.

[Gimlet]

I've heard that a lot about Africa Twins. It's an anomaly for Honda and a shame because it's otherwise a good looking bike and as a genuine dual-purpose machine it needs to handle a hard life without dissolving. I wonder if it's an outsourced model..?

People who haven't owned one often question the finish quality of KTMs but both of mine have proved extremely robust. Both scrub up like new. The 1190 is on 31,000 miles and has no corrosion at all. The brake discs obviously go a bit orange if it left stood but the disc carriers have no rust and the calipres are perfect. No rusty fasteners, just the brake line ends that have gone a bit dull.

I do look after it and use ACF50 all the time but even so I'm impressed by the build quality.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Rode my 63,000 mile, 30 year old FZ750 to work today, it's still fun and does what I want a bike to do, do I really want to spend £12K+ on a Honda that's just a CB1000R in a fancy suit?

[weeksy]

I must look at the V85TT at least 2-3 times a week, I like the yellow one but the new 'Travel' version in a sand colour also looks good.
It's a good job there are no Guzzi shops here because I'd already have one.

I don't get that one at all. The littler cafe race, i'm all over it.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MOTO-GUZZI-V ... SwZI1eqDUI

[weeksy]

I don't get that one at all. The littler cafe race, i'm all over it.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MOTO-GUZZI-V ... SwZI1eqDUI

There were some of them here all in a row before the dealer stopped doing Moto Guzzi and they felt really cheap and nasty IMO. The finish wasn't great and the chrome/red just came across as a bit cheesy.
The bars and the clocks reminded me of a TZR125, it's like they just threw clip-on style bars on the front and tried to make it something it's not, the whole thing just comes across as plastic, with some chrome over the top. I don't like that 1970's flat bench look and the riding position feels the same.

I liked the look in the magazines but the reality was disappointing. I think the other versions are better, with decent handlebars and a more matt finish.
The chrome racer looks like a tarted up budget bike and close up it's a let down.

The Grizos they had were lovely though, nice finish and real presence about them, the two bikes looked they were made by two different manufacturers.

That's a damn shame

[Gimlet]

They are marketed as entry-level A2 license bikes. A good alternative to Enfield 650's.

Grisos are lovely things. Wouldn't mind one myself. Also fancy Cali 1400 custom. The plain black naked one they've stopped making, not the full dresser. Always liked Guzzis.

[JimboTheJetSet]

I have a Monster 821 which ticks a lot of boxes for me ( hence why I bought it obviously!) but I must admit I do find myself perusing RE Interceptors quite a bit these days. I think I’d quite like one of those for more sedate bimbles.

[Tricky]

My personal circumstances have changed a bit recently which means alongside everything else bikey that I've always done and will continue to do, I am also going to be doing a bit of two-up riding now, and some of that will be long trips/ tours, so I need a fun bike with a decent bit of shove that is comfy for two and can carry a bit of luggage too.

I've currently got my brother's K1300S in my garage on loan- it sort of ticks all the boxes on paper, and he's made me a very decent offer to try and make sure it stays in mine rather than his but good bike as it is, it's an IL4, porkier feeling than I would like, and just doesn't really do it for me.
I am fortunate enough to be in a position where I am able to choose and get exactly what I want, so I came up with a shortlist of three- namely the KTM SD1290GT, Triumph Tiger Sport, and Ducati 1200/1260 Multistrada.

I've ruled out two of my top contenders, namely the KTM - a brilliant bike but such a big old bird and ultimately just too too fugly ( I thought this wouldn't matter but when it came down to it, it does to me ) and the Triumph Tiger Sport;- ticks all the boxes, lovely engine, but for this bike, I would like a few more hp, so for me, that leaves the Multistrada.

Pretty much decided it has to be an "S" for the electronically adjustable suspension and ease of changing between one-up and two-up (although a nice barely used Pikes Peak one has thrown a spanner in the works and stands a good chance of over-ruling that as I'm a tart and love blingy things )- and that one aside, the current main debate I'm having with myself is whether the DVT motor is a must-have, mainly as there is a low mileage one owner and well priced pre-DVT S very local to me with full luggage and just about every other extra I would want, aside from Cruise control, which of course you only get on DVTs

I think what I really need to do is ride a DVT one back to back with non-DVT really then decide, unfortunately, that really isn't that easy to at the moment though, but I'm itching to go, so all experiences tips and opinions of 1200 (and 1260) MTSs to hopefully help me are welcomed!

[weeksy]

DVT ? elaborate ?

[Tricky]

Ducati's variable valve timing, supposedly makes them smoother low down, no more power though really as far as I can make out - 2016(ish) onwards bikes have it , before that they don't

[Dodgy69]

https://www.yamaha-motor.eu/gb/en/produ ... r-edition/

[Gimlet]

Great bike the MT10.
I'm not sure it's worth spending an extra grand for the touring addition though. You only get a bit of toury flim-flam and you can probably do better with aftermarket accessories on a standard bike.
You only get the comfort seat, a taller screen, some hand guards, a sat-nav holder and the option of some not very waterproof luggage with the Touring.
IMO opinion any MT10 needs the comfort seat but when I rode one I didn't really feel it needed a tall screen. Perfectly alright as it is unless you're barreling down autobahns all day at three figure speeds, in which case it's not really the right bike anyway, not least because of fuel range. Handguards are a bit irrelevant, and there's masses of after market luggage and nav holder options.

I'd get a standard bike, spend the change on the Akra can and getting it mapped to improve the fueling and adapt for touring using aftermarket bits customised to my needs.

But that's just me.. Fab bikes either way. It's the naked I'd have if I didn't have a Superduke.

[weeksy]

Great bike the MT10.
I'm not sure it's worth spending an extra grand for the touring addition though. You only get a bit of toury flim-flam and you can probably do better with aftermarket accessories on a standard bike.
You only get the comfort seat, a taller screen, some hand guards, a sat-nav holder and the option of some not very waterproof luggage with the Touring.
IMO opinion any MT10 needs the comfort seat but when I rode one I didn't really feel it needed a tall screen. Perfectly alright as it is unless you're barreling down autobahns all day at three figure speeds, in which case it's not really the right bike anyway, not least because of fuel range. Handguards are a bit irrelevant, and there's masses of after market luggage and nav holder options.

I'd get a standard bike, spend the change on the Akra can and getting it mapped to improve the fueling and adapt for touring using aftermarket bits customised to my needs.

But that's just me.. Fab bikes either way. It's the naked I'd have if I didn't have a Superduke.

Considering he's owned 2 before, it would arguably make a LOT of sense assuming they're really pillion friendly.