2015 MT-07 - ??

[Noggin]

What about going full gallic and getting a Tmax, comfort and fast enough from what I've seen. Not been to France in a little while but seen some total head cases on big scooters in the mountains in the SOF! Like Marquez on a qualifying lap, only in flip flops, shorts and a piss pot lid.

I want a motorbike!!


*plonk*

[Supermofo]

MT07 fun and great for wheelies, MT09 lovely engine wallowy shit crap handling bag of shit hth

Phew, I was thinking I was the only one thinking it was challenged

Is it the difference between the standard MT09 and the SP ?? I've seen some that loved the 09 so much and others like you guys that hated it!

Although TBF, I've often fallen in love with marmite bikes

My understanding was pre current generation so sort of 2021 I think the geometry isn't the best and even suspension mods can't cure a fundamentally flawed base with a high front end leading to a vague front end. I seem to recall MCN mentioning the newer ones have lower front ends to cure this when they redesigned the whole thing. I think the XSR was a bit different too.

On the other hand it was great for wheelies and I'm sure some people can hustle them. But the difference was chalk and cheese for me getting on something where the front end had some feel. I felt much more plugged into what the bike was doing in corners, the MT was more Supermoto like without much feel. IMO.

The current generation SP has better suspension but same frame geometry as the base but it's a better base package EDIT- on the newer ones

It's also worth remembering that the MT09 was a budget bike, especially when launched. It was very good value. The MT10 for example was and is much more expensive, so corners get cut.

I could be talking out my arse though.

[mboy]

Is it the difference between the standard MT09 and the SP ?? I've seen some that loved the 09 so much and others like you guys that hated it!

Although TBF, I've often fallen in love with marmite bikes

Stock suspension on most bikes is effing terrible these days, but Yamaha do seem to be the worst of the bunch in this respect by some distance!

09 SP adds Kayaba forks and an Ohlins shock which both add a level of adjustability and control, but there is an inherent "overly upright, rearward weight bias" on the 09 and all its derivatives that I have ridden, that is hard to get away from... It makes them properly flight, like NEEEEEED a steering damper AND a careful right wrist flighty when pushing on...

Having owned a lot of the bikes suggested so far in this thread, and ridden most of them... I'm going to now suggest my leftfield choice, which of course is one I currently own myself...



OK so the tank range isn't great (but not as bad as it could be, I get 120-130 miles typically), but otherwise it's a stunner... Very comfy riding position, superb chassis, very confident handling, the engine is a stunner and the gearbox is an absolute peach (yes, I really am saying that about an American bike!). They're not a light bike, sure, but then the standover isn't particularly tall for a naked bike anyway so it's easy to flat foot and the only time you notice the weight is if you have to move it around on your driveway for instance... As soon as you're going, the weight disappears. They make a glorious sound with an aftermarket can on, and you're highly unlikely to see another on your travels! I absolutely adore mine... It's the best "feel good" bike I've ever owned, and I've owned some pretty exotic bikes and some serious high performance machines in my time too.

Oh, and the seat to bar reach is pretty short for a relatively big bike. There's quite a few ladies on them in the facebook owners groups. It's not as short seat to bars as an MT-07/09/10 but it's not far off, and is shorter than just about anything else suggested so far in this thread. Also pretty easy to fit a taller rise bar to if you want to (my mate did), the brake and clutch lines and all wiring from the bars is long enough to accommodate a taller rise bar easily.

It's also one bike I'd suggest that the 100hp French limit wouldn't actually ruin the fun on too, as whilst you can rev it to 9k, there's absolutely no need to, with a wall of torque all the way from 1500rpm to the redline, I rarely take mine above 6k even when I'm making real progress, and just pottering about I'm usually shifting up around 4k...

Even Henry Cole seems to agree with me apparently!

[mboy]

My understanding was pre current generation so sort of 2021 I think the geometry isn't the best and even suspension mods can't cure a fundamentally flawed base with a high front end leading to a vague front end. I seem to recall MCN mentioning the newer ones have lower front ends to cure this when they redesigned the whole thing. I think the XSR was a bit different too.

On the other hand it was great for wheelies and I'm sure some people can hustle them. But the difference was chalk and cheese for me getting on something where the front end had some feel. I felt much more plugged into what the bike was doing in corners, the MT was more Supermoto like without much feel. IMO.

The current generation SP has better suspension but same frame geometry as the base but it's a better base package EDIT- on the newer ones

It's also worth remembering that the MT09 was a budget bike, especially when launched. It was very good value. The MT10 for example was and is much more expensive, so corners get cut.

I could be talking out my arse though.

They're ALL budget bikes... Just some of them being sold at rather premium prices these days! Corners been cut right the way through the MT range... The bikes sell based on image, and the fantastic range of engines they have fitted to them (that's one area you can't really criticise the MT range)... But poor chassis', poor spec, poor value and definite quality control corners cut mean they are hard to recommend IMO... But they are an easy bike for most people to get on and ride, with friendly riding positions and steady residuals, hence remain popular bikes to buy...

[Noggin]

My understanding was pre current generation so sort of 2021 I think the geometry isn't the best and even suspension mods can't cure a fundamentally flawed base with a high front end leading to a vague front end. I seem to recall MCN mentioning the newer ones have lower front ends to cure this when they redesigned the whole thing. I think the XSR was a bit different too.

On the other hand it was great for wheelies and I'm sure some people can hustle them. But the difference was chalk and cheese for me getting on something where the front end had some feel. I felt much more plugged into what the bike was doing in corners, the MT was more Supermoto like without much feel. IMO.

The current generation SP has better suspension but same frame geometry as the base but it's a better base package EDIT- on the newer ones

It's also worth remembering that the MT09 was a budget bike, especially when launched. It was very good value. The MT10 for example was and is much more expensive, so corners get cut.

I could be talking out my arse though.

They're ALL budget bikes... Just some of them being sold at rather premium prices these days! Corners been cut right the way through the MT range... The bikes sell based on image, and the fantastic range of engines they have fitted to them (that's one area you can't really criticise the MT range)... But poor chassis', poor spec, poor value and definite quality control corners cut mean they are hard to recommend IMO... But they are an easy bike for most people to get on and ride, with friendly riding positions and steady residuals, hence remain popular bikes to buy...

that's just ruined MTs for me

[weeksy]

My understanding was pre current generation so sort of 2021 I think the geometry isn't the best and even suspension mods can't cure a fundamentally flawed base with a high front end leading to a vague front end. I seem to recall MCN mentioning the newer ones have lower front ends to cure this when they redesigned the whole thing. I think the XSR was a bit different too.

On the other hand it was great for wheelies and I'm sure some people can hustle them. But the difference was chalk and cheese for me getting on something where the front end had some feel. I felt much more plugged into what the bike was doing in corners, the MT was more Supermoto like without much feel. IMO.

The current generation SP has better suspension but same frame geometry as the base but it's a better base package EDIT- on the newer ones

It's also worth remembering that the MT09 was a budget bike, especially when launched. It was very good value. The MT10 for example was and is much more expensive, so corners get cut.

I could be talking out my arse though.

They're ALL budget bikes... Just some of them being sold at rather premium prices these days! Corners been cut right the way through the MT range... The bikes sell based on image, and the fantastic range of engines they have fitted to them (that's one area you can't really criticise the MT range)... But poor chassis', poor spec, poor value and definite quality control corners cut mean they are hard to recommend IMO... But they are an easy bike for most people to get on and ride, with friendly riding positions and steady residuals, hence remain popular bikes to buy...

that's just ruined MTs for me

Why ? Your car is a budget car, the 390 was a budget bike, that doesn't mean everything budget is rubbish.

My MT-07 wasn't as nice as a Superduke in terms of some things, but the MT-07 was a perfectly good bike... the KTM 790 was a budget KTM as well but was fucking brilliant.

[Noggin]

They're ALL budget bikes... Just some of them being sold at rather premium prices these days! Corners been cut right the way through the MT range... The bikes sell based on image, and the fantastic range of engines they have fitted to them (that's one area you can't really criticise the MT range)... But poor chassis', poor spec, poor value and definite quality control corners cut mean they are hard to recommend IMO... But they are an easy bike for most people to get on and ride, with friendly riding positions and steady residuals, hence remain popular bikes to buy...

that's just ruined MTs for me

Why ? Your car is a budget car, the 390 was a budget bike, that doesn't mean everything budget is rubbish.

My MT-07 wasn't as nice as a Superduke in terms of some things, but the MT-07 was a perfectly good bike... the KTM 790 was a budget KTM as well but was fucking brilliant.

TBF, it was a tongue in cheek comment - we all know I have very little obvious taste in bikes (according to some friends!), I am not overly picky and I'm gonna have to try a few I think to see what I like, what I can afford, what I could manage etc etc etc

I have also been scanning the local (not) autotrader to see if there's a half decent sports bike - ok, a half decent TLs - so nothing is off the table unless it's too expensive!!

[Noggin]

Comment on another thread made me go looking!!!

Always wanted a Thundercat, I do prefer it in silver/yellow, but the orange is rather lovely too




It's a dealer selling but although it says overhauled, I'm not convinced the fairing fits together well, but that might have always been like that!!

It's about 3.5 hours away, so wayyyyyy closer than the TLS' that I found the other week!!!

[Taipan]

Happened across a pic of my old MT07 today!

[Felix]

Comment on another thread made me go looking!!!

Always wanted a Thundercat, I do prefer it in silver/yellow, but the orange is rather lovely too




It's a dealer selling but although it says overhauled, I'm not convinced the fairing fits together well, but that might have always been like that!!

It's about 3.5 hours away, so wayyyyyy closer than the TLS' that I found the other week!!!

That must be a good £6 or 700 cheaper than a UK dealer but just under 50k miles i doubt i would.

[Noggin]

Comment on another thread made me go looking!!!

Always wanted a Thundercat, I do prefer it in silver/yellow, but the orange is rather lovely too




It's a dealer selling but although it says overhauled, I'm not convinced the fairing fits together well, but that might have always been like that!!

It's about 3.5 hours away, so wayyyyyy closer than the TLS' that I found the other week!!!

That must be a good £6 or 700 cheaper than a UK dealer but just under 50k miles i doubt i would.

I'm always interested in the mileage thinking. This is 30 years old so it's done a bit under 1700 miles a year (on average) - I don't think that's high mileage??

TBF, I doubt that will be available when I start properly looking (with money ready!) and isn't my ideal but I do like them And pretty sure that whatever I buy for this summer won't be 'the one' - unless I find a nice TLs

Interesting that it's cheaper than the uk, most things I look are are way more expensive, so I guess this is one to look vaguely at, from a distance !! LOL

[Felix]

You will get cheaper obviously buying private. Your cat is Ace prices. https://www.facebook.com/share/1Auswm2ySz/

[weeksy]

Thundercats are bloody good things. Lovely engine, great handling, can't fault them.

Only had mine for a year, but it was cool

[weeksy]

You will get cheaper obviously buying private. Your cat is Ace prices. https://www.facebook.com/share/1Auswm2ySz/

France vs UK though isn't it. All bikes are crazy money over there it seems

[Felix]

You will get cheaper obviously buying private. Your cat is Ace prices. https://www.facebook.com/share/1Auswm2ySz/

France vs UK though isn't it. All bikes are crazy money over there it seems

True. Wonder if its worth buying here and taking it over. When i bought one in Germany it was something daft like £60 to get it registered in the UK. Obviously + MOT, Tax and number pate costs. OK that was late 90's and probably dearer now

Ill be selling my Fazer come spring @Noggin

[weeksy]

You will get cheaper obviously buying private. Your cat is Ace prices. https://www.facebook.com/share/1Auswm2ySz/

France vs UK though isn't it. All bikes are crazy money over there it seems

True. Wonder if its worth buying here and taking it over. When i bought one in Germany it was something daft like £60 to get it registered in the UK. Obviously + MOT, Tax and number pate costs. OK that was late 90's and probably dearer now

Ill be selling my Fazer come spring @Noggin

It's something I've thought about so just assume it's not as easy as we'd like. I know Jody was looking at about £1500 mote for his than UK prices for something or other

[Noggin]

Thundercats are bloody good things. Lovely engine, great handling, can't fault them.

Only had mine for a year, but it was cool

A mate lent me his for a couple of months soon after I took my test (he went travelling!) - I did really like it but was heavier and less flexible then and very inexperienced about bikes, so probably didn't appreciate it as I would now.

If I can find a decent one that isn't mad priced, I'm very tempted - have a mate here that would come and look at it with me (he's mechanically minded so would stop me buying with my heart and not my head!!!)

You will get cheaper obviously buying private. Your cat is Ace prices. https://www.facebook.com/share/1Auswm2ySz/

France vs UK though isn't it. All bikes are crazy money over there it seems

True. Wonder if its worth buying here and taking it over. When i bought one in Germany it was something daft like £60 to get it registered in the UK. Obviously + MOT, Tax and number pate costs. OK that was late 90's and probably dearer now

Ill be selling my Fazer come spring @Noggin

Absolutely no point buying and importing nowadays. Used to be simple of course, but the reason the Monster is in the shed is because it will cost me a minimum of 2500€ to do the stuff to it that's needed to import it before I start the expensive paperwork and assessments I have to keep it until 30 years after the last production of that model and can import it relatively simply as a classic. But a standard bike is just too much money and paperwork

Mind you, if I can find an 'first edition' TLs in the UK next year, I'd be tempted - I think the 1997 model was only produced like that the first year then it changed slightly so it might be possible to import one of those as a classic in 2027, maybe!!

But yeah, it does suck a bit as a few here have mentioned bikes I'd be interested in at a slightly more sensible price (depending on the exchange rate!) but it's just too difficult now (most bikers I know here that brought bikes over with them then took all the extras off and made the bike standard, took it back to the uk to sell, then bought a French version and added all the aftermarket stuff - cheaper than trying to register the UK bike )