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Re: Theoretical perfect bike

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2026 12:42 pm
by Le_Fromage_Grande
The only thing wrong with my Honda is that it's a bit odd looking, actually that's not true, the seat could be comfort as well.

Re: Theoretical perfect bike

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2026 2:36 pm
by A_morti
Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Thu Feb 05, 2026 12:42 pm The only thing wrong with my Honda is that it's a bit odd looking, actually that's not true, the seat could be comfort as well.
Remind me which one you have?

Re: Theoretical perfect bike

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2026 2:41 pm
by Trinity765
I really like Street Triple 765s - I may have mentioned that and I'm missing not having one already. They are the perfect size, power and weight for me and they do everything quickly, go, stop, turn. The suspension on the last one I had was like riding on a cloud regardless of what kind of riding I was doing. So, the perfect bike for me would be a Street Triple without any engine or drive issues.

Re: Theoretical perfect bike

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2026 3:19 pm
by mangocrazy
150kg wet weight and 120 bhp.
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Well, all right then. 100bhp if you must...

Re: Theoretical perfect bike

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2026 4:35 pm
by Skub
A_morti wrote: Thu Feb 05, 2026 2:36 pm
Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Thu Feb 05, 2026 12:42 pm The only thing wrong with my Honda is that it's a bit odd looking, actually that's not true, the seat could be comfort as well.
Remind me which one you have?
viewtopic.php?t=8118

Re: Theoretical perfect bike

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2026 6:49 pm
by Le_Fromage_Grande
A_morti wrote: Thu Feb 05, 2026 2:36 pm
Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Thu Feb 05, 2026 12:42 pm The only thing wrong with my Honda is that it's a bit odd looking, actually that's not true, the seat could be comfort as well.
Remind me which one you have?
CB1000R, I doubt if it would be your perfect bike

Re: Theoretical perfect bike

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2026 7:13 pm
by Dickyboy
And keep the analogue dash please, add more info if you like but keep the speedo and tacho as they are.
Alleluia to that, just need dials to see roughly where we're at with a glance, nothing more thank you.

Re: Theoretical perfect bike

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2026 10:04 pm
by KungFooBob
Do you have an RE franchised dealer on the island?

If so, go have a look at the 450 Himalayan.

Re: Theoretical perfect bike

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2026 10:13 pm
by Dodgy69
I don't understand myself... I test rode a Guerrilla 450 and thought it lacked a bit of power, 40 hp i think.
I buy a monkey with 9.2 hp and absolutely love riding it, how's that work. 🤷‍♂️

Re: Theoretical perfect bike

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2026 10:15 pm
by KungFooBob
Dodgy69 wrote: Thu Feb 05, 2026 10:13 pm I don't understand myself... I test rode a Guerrilla 450 and thought it lacked a bit of power, 40 hp i think.
I buy a monkey with 9.2 hp and absolutely love riding it, how's that work. 🤷‍♂️
Your cot was painted in lead paint.

Re: Theoretical perfect bike

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2026 10:16 pm
by Dodgy69
Yes that'll be it. 🙂

Re: Theoretical perfect bike

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2026 10:52 pm
by A_morti
KungFooBob wrote: Thu Feb 05, 2026 10:04 pm Do you have an RE franchised dealer on the island?

If so, go have a look at the 450 Himalayan.
I'm aware they're built on a whole new platform, but...
I test rode the scram 411. It looked nice but was bloody awful in terms of engine, suspension, and brakes.
My mate's Himalayan 411 is at the dealership after the starter clutch bearing and starter motor reduction gears shit the bed. It's been there since November waiting for parts.

Re: Theoretical perfect bike

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2026 10:56 pm
by A_morti
Dodgy69 wrote: Thu Feb 05, 2026 10:13 pm I don't understand myself... I test rode a Guerrilla 450 and thought it lacked a bit of power, 40 hp i think.
I buy a monkey with 9.2 hp and absolutely love riding it, how's that work. 🤷‍♂️
If I had a use case for one, I'd have another Grom in a minute. They're so much fun it's ridiculous.

But being honest with myself it'd probably just sit there depreciating as I need a fair size topbox for the work laptop and even I couldn't do that to a Grom. And if I could it'd encroach on the tiny rear seat I use to collect kiddo from school.

Re: Theoretical perfect bike

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 3:35 am
by matt
Sounds like the new Kawasaki kle 500 could be right up your street?

Re: Theoretical perfect bike

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 6:19 am
by A_morti
matt wrote: Fri Feb 06, 2026 3:35 am Sounds like the new Kawasaki kle 500 could be right up your street?
That is actually a great shout.

While the real adv boys are unhappy about lacking ground clearance, it wouldn't bother me a jot and it has a revvy street bike engine (under stressed and well proven) together with big long legs. They're offering it with a top box with a really useful looking rack, too.

It's basically a more grown up versys 300.

Nice shot!

Re: Theoretical perfect bike

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 8:57 am
by Taipan
How much more is road tax for a 500? A guy I used to work with always had sportsbikes and anything else was shite and not worth having. He had a CB500X as a courtesy bike for a week and actually bought one after having it. Said it was an absolute hoot around town and the best commuter ever. He's not the first i've hear rave about what a cracking little bike they are!

Re: Theoretical perfect bike

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 10:15 am
by A_morti
Taipan wrote: Fri Feb 06, 2026 8:57 am A guy I used to work with always had sportsbikes and anything else was shite and not worth having. He had a CB500X as a courtesy bike for a week and actually bought one after having it. Said it was an absolute hoot around town and the best commuter ever. He's not the first i've hear rave about what a cracking little bike they are!
I do like them, but especially since they started fitting USD forks to them, they seemed to get a bit stiffer in the suspension.
Not that I've actually ridden one, tbf.
Taipan wrote: Fri Feb 06, 2026 8:57 am How much more is road tax for a 500?
<125cc €10 per year
<350cc €25 per year
350cc - 500cc ramps up as the bike ages: 70, 70 70, 70, 70, 77, 85, 93, 102, 113, 124, 136, 150, 165, 182.
It's slightly more for 501cc-800cc, then again for >800cc which is the top bracket.
It' not the end of the world either way, but it's a few quid and the cheap license bikes can be easier to sell on.

If you're interested:
https://www.transport.gov.mt/Land/Downl ... -FEES-6087

Re: Theoretical perfect bike

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 10:27 am
by Nobby
Post number 7 is the correct answer.

Re: Theoretical perfect bike

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2026 1:07 pm
by A_morti
matt wrote: Fri Feb 06, 2026 3:35 am Sounds like the new Kawasaki kle 500 could be right up your street?
I've been thinking more about this and it just might be my next bike. They're starting deliveries March/April, I'll go down to the dealership for a sit and see if I can reach the floor - but I already saw they're offering a -30mm lower seat as an accessory.

Seems Big Green doesn't allow hot linking images, but the product page is here:
https://www.kawasaki.eu/en/Motorcycles/ ... E500DTFATC

Also - HTF are they offering a 500 twin for the same money as a CRF300? The base KLE500 with LCD speedo is £5,999 while the CRF300L is £5,899 and the KLE500SE with fancy speedo and LED indicators is £6,599 - the exact same money as a CRF300 Rally.

Re: Theoretical perfect bike

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2026 4:57 pm
by Le_Fromage_Grande
Because the KLE 500 is a 30 year old design, it probably costs less to make the EX500 engine than it does the CRF, there's at least 4 current Kawasakis with engines based on it