Theoretical perfect bike

[Bustaspoke]

The GSX8R Suzuki could tempt me,especially with that new graphics kit Suzuki launched last week,but
A) It's not a V-Twin
B) I think it's only a 14 litre tank
C) It suffers from that 'we've not got enough steel/ aluminium to make a proper length subframe'' styling.
D) From the reviews I've watched it's a bit of a porker
E) It's Ride by wire.
That said,I plan on taking one for a demo ride when my SV650 goes in for the annual service' .
The new SV7 ticks a few box's for me ( bigger tank & I like the look of the bodywork),I'll have a closer look when they arrive in the dealers.I'd be a lot more interested if they made a 800/850 V-Twin

[A_morti]

These days, most P-Twins over 500cc are actually V-Twins on the inside, just with fewer moving parts so more efficient, and without the trouble of having one cylinder run hotter than the other.

The local Kawasaki dealer replied that 1) the difference versus the Italian price comes down to higher taxes and registration charges on Malta which they're including and which they say the Italian dealer would still add on and 2) they can offer discounts for full payment.

I'll go give one a good sitting on, next next weekend.

[Taipan]

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17zNtz3QwM/

The local Kawasaki dealer just announced they're expecting stock of the KLE 500SE in 15 days! Starting from 6,350€ including subsidies. That's €750 back from the government for buying an A2 bike, and €1,000 for scrapping a ten year old car (scrapyards sell suitable logbooks for €300).

So, that's €8,100 cash price on the day. In context, that's €1,100 more than the same bike costs in Italy.

In Italy, the Kawasaki KLE 500SE is €400 cheaper than a Honda nx500, while here it's €500 dearer.

Well, that's my chips pissed on. I can still afford one, but I can't quite stomach that deal

Meanwhile the CFmoto 450mt is €6,950 here and it comes with a 270° crank, even more suspension, an exhaust you wouldn't look at with disappointment every day, and a rack... all as standard equipment.

That looks a lovely little bike!

[IccyV2]

The perfect bike for me at Three Sisters race track is a 250cc four stroke motocross bike turned into a GP45 type thing.
For a long time I think the record was held by a bloke on an RS125.

That bloke on a 125 was probably Casey Stoner,he held the lap record for a few years.

It was before him, I can't remember his name but it was a nerdy looking bloke with glasses on an RS125, this would have been 1991/92.
He won every race there even in the open classes and usually second was a bloke on what I think was a KX500 SM, the rest of us were fighting for the 'also ran' places but it was rare for either one of those not to finish 1st and 2nd.

[A_morti]

This question has been burning slowly in the back of my brain.
I reckon the optimal bike for my use case is an A2 adventure bike (how original).
The local dealer has the KLE500SE in stock now, and they will have one ready to sit on and make vroom vroom noises in the next couple of days.
There's also a CF Moto dealer locally, and the 450MT is a chunk cheaper plus has a 50mm lower seat.
Then there's the nx500. It's way down on suspension travel, but the seat is low and maybe it's enough for rough roads - I won't be going far off road nor often.
Then there's the potential for admitting I don't even need that many horses, in a CRF 300.

Saturday morning is pencilled in for a trip to each dealership, and a bounce of each bike.

[A_morti]

Today was the day for touring the bike dealerships of Malta.

First Kawasaki, because I really wanted to be tall enough for the KLE500SE.

I could get the ball of my foot down on both sides. If I were doing longer journeys I'd deal with it, but for Stop-Start urban traffic it's not going to work for me.

Onwards to CFmoto!

This one was a decent fit. But I'm not really over it being Chinese. Also the front suspension feels surprisingly stiff for having 8" of travel. It's adjustable, but you can't adjust spring rate with a clicker.

Yamaha then?

Who did they build this bike for? Shaq, and nobody else who doesn't play basketball?

Ok, so Honda.

Who doesn't want to ride a Tranny? Nice place to be, but it's more bike than I can use here in Malta. Plus I don't really feel like spending €12k on a bike.


These are incredibly practical bikes. Ridiculously comfortable. But not the one for right now.


So here we are - the nx500.
The 2026 now has an optional e-clutch, and that sounds amazing for Stop-Start traffic. The suspension is shorter compared to the others (5.9" front/ 5.3" rear) but it's well-weighted and I reckon it'll be enough.

So, I'll order one of those, with e clutch, in what the salesman described as the lady's colour scheme.


That might be because he has an unsold one in black, but he might have a point too. I don't care, I like those 90s colours

[KungFooBob]

Nice.

Someone should have suggested one earlier

https://www.rallyraidproducts.co.uk/col ... onda-nx500

How are you going to mount your briefcase, Will?

[A_morti]

So far for accessories I'm thinking OEM centre stand, handguards just for the look, and a cheapo rack:
https://a.aliexpress.com/_Eyp7E8G

I'll try to modify that plate to accept a Givi box but maybe I just get an adapter plate.
https://giviusa.com/products/e115f-hard ... l92pLJVWvR

Changing exhausts seem to be a problem with Euro 5+. Seems that so far anything you fit has a fair chance of setting the check engine light. Ah well... Time will tell, maybe I just have to leave it well enough alone.

Suspension mods? Wire wheels? I mean, really... If you're spending over €3,000 for wire wheels and a shock you should've bought a Transalp, KTM or whatever.

[Skub]

Just saying....

dm.jpg (228.54 KiB) Viewed 449 times

[A_morti]

Just saying....

I prefer safety sandals

[Rockburner]

You're a damn sight younger than I thought, I had you down as an old giffer!

Those 80s colours actually don't look bad, enjoy!

[A_morti]

You're a damn sight younger than I thought, I had you down as an old giffer!

Those 80s colours actually don't look bad, enjoy!

Cheers. I'd be on an A prefix.
I'm just low mileage.

[Taipan]

Good choice and i hear you about the Chinese thing, but man that CF Moto is good looking bike!

[matt]

I saw a picture of a 1 year old cfmoto mt450 earlier with half the paint flaked off the swinging arm ,I can't find it again now.
I can't imagine the honda will give you such problems

[A_morti]

I saw a picture of a 1 year old cfmoto mt450 earlier with half the paint flaked off the swinging arm ,I can't find it again now.
I can't imagine the honda will give you such problems

I've seen the same picture. He certainly used the bike in that year, but even so.

I can't imagine they're worried about making the paint more environmentally friendly or less toxic for the workers, so must just be cheap paint or poor prep.

Either way I agree, you wouldn't expect/accept that on a Honda.

[A_morti]

Of course, now BMW joins the chat with a bike that seemingly blows everything else in the category out of the water.



https://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/en/model ... 450gs.html

The engine sounds really good, and it's unique with a 135° crankshaft.

Shame about the badge on the tank even if, or possibly especially because it's actually made by TVS in India

That g650gs caused me some serious emotional damage.

[Taipan]

I saw a picture of a 1 year old cfmoto mt450 earlier with half the paint flaked off the swinging arm ,I can't find it again now.
I can't imagine the honda will give you such problems

I've seen the same picture. He certainly used the bike in that year, but even so.

I can't imagine they're worried about making the paint more environmentally friendly or less toxic for the workers, so must just be cheap paint or poor prep.

Either way I agree, you wouldn't expect/accept that on a Honda.

I think you'll be surprised with Hondas then. Plenty of gripes on Africa Twin and nc750 forums and Facebook pages about the low quality finish on these bikes. So i'd expect other models in the same range suffer the same?

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Honda quality (and other "Japanese" manufacturers) depends very much on price and where the bike was made, expensive and made in Japan equals good quality, cheap and made outside Japan equals poor quality, Hornet 1000s compared to the older CB1000Rs are a good example.

[KungFooBob]

I've found the best way to keep a bike in good condition is to never take it out the garage.

[Yorick]

I've found the best way to keep a bike in good condition is to never take it out the garage.

Or live somewhere with no crud on the roads.