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/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> The Cafe >> New bike? or Not ! /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1674329743 Message started by zipidachimp on 01/21/23 at 11:35:43 |
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Title: New bike? or Not ! Post by zipidachimp on 01/21/23 at 11:35:43 I've seen almost every U-tube vid regarding the RE Meteor 350, but I haven't yet loosened my wallet. As attractive as this bike may be, on a comparative basis, a used, low-mileage S40 is lighter, faster, cheaper and belt drive! The two advantages the Meteor has are Tubeless Tires and cheaper insurance! I am tempted, but cannot overcome the 'logic' of the S40. Am I wrong? Cheers! 8-) |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by justin_o_guy2 on 01/21/23 at 11:56:17 I've suffered from the same temptation. I'm just not comfortable believing it would have the performance I want, and I know what to expect from the Suzuki, and where to go for expert advice for anything. If I had never had a Savage, then the RE would be out in front. |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by Dave on 01/21/23 at 15:41:22 I don't know what kind of roads you ride in Surrey, BC....and how suitable the RE350 would be for you and your roads. Last fall MMRanch and I rode around in the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina.......a place we have been going 2-3 times every summer for the last 10 years (more for MM). I rode my Savage Cafe' and MM rode his Meteor 350. We traded bikes for a little while - there is a considerable difference in the bikes (especially since my Savage is no longer set up as a cruiser). The Meteor is incredibly comfortable and quiet to ride. The handlebar position is very relaxing and feels higher than any stock bike I have ever ridden. It feels like I am reaching nearly straight out from my shoulders to reach the bars - the very low seat is likely part of this (it could be that I am tainted by the fact that all my other bikes have the handlebars set pretty low). The footpegs are forward - but not as far as the Savage. The little engine has a noticeable lack of power - when you twist the throttle you don't really feel any kind of surge forward.....it is more of a calm suggestion. MM did a great job of keeping up with my Savage on the mountain roads - we did not attack the roads in any aggressive manner on that trip. Only after I rode the bike did I realize what a HP handicap MM was working with. When we rode up the Cherohala Skyway there is a very long climb up the mountain and MM was ahead of me - we were behind a long/slow line of about 10 Harleys having a slow parade up the mountain. The big line pulled over at a scenic area and only two Harleys stayed on the road ahead of us. The lead rider was a bit quicker than the second rider - they would ride at a good pace on the straights and the back rider would slow down for the corners - and we would catch up to the back rider at most corners. The rider behind waved us around - but MM signaled that we were going to stay behind as he knew we would not get past the front rider with his lack of passing power.....he really was working to keep 60mph and he didn't have enough power to attempt a pass of the front rider (we didn't want to get between them and ruin their fun). So - for the US roads I am convinced that you need minimum of 30 HP to be able to ride comfortably and keep pace with traffic. You can get this HP from the 650cc Savage - or a good 250/300 twin like the Ninja. A 250 or 350 or even a 400cc single just doesn't have enough power to keep up with traffic on major roads.....I feel the Yamaha SR400 would be just as handicapped as the Meteor 350. If you only ride country roads or city streets where speeds are 60mph or less (100kmh) - the little Meteor does just fine. It is a very nice looking and comfortable bike - it does have a noticeable lack of power compared to a Savage. I am glad that MM let me ride his - it is a nice bike if your riding style can get by with a small dose of HP. |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by zipidachimp on 01/21/23 at 22:57:53 My bike hasn't been a cruiser for a long time, except for the pegs. Seat height now is about 31-32". My favorite road is "hill n' dale' curvy for about 30 miles or more. But to get there, it's 30 minutes on the superslab. From what I can see from here, I'm going for a newer (2014-2019) S40 and repeat what I've done on my '08. RE is still tempting! Cheers! 8-) ps: https://www.straight.com/files/v3/styles/gs_feature/public/2014/09/MusicTherapyRide.jpg?itok=KBnlrd-v https://images.dailyhive.com/20181106094611/shutterstock_128574104.jpg https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9-SMSAPJhjg/TDvf8IHWf8I/AAAAAAAADNE/btnfU38ckcc/s1600/sea+to+sky_edited-1.jpg |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by MMRanch on 01/23/23 at 12:06:44 Hay zipidachimp Where I live it's 40 miles to the interstate and our "Hills" are not over 300 yards long. The Meteor's fly-wheel carries enough energy to run up those short hills holding 60+ mph , our speed limit is 55 so "All is Well" ;) Going west from NC. the skyway goes uphill for miles before ya get to level out and "Run-the-Hills" ... So The Meteor max power is at 4100 rpm and running along in 5th gear at 4100 is about 60mph. Going up the west end of the Skyway I had to hold it open to maintain 60mph , but life isn't always UPHILL . ;) I replaced the 15 tooth F-sprocket with a 16 tooth , but even before replacing it the - Meteor would run the interstate at 70mph at about the same rpm as the Savage/S40 does. It's only got 2/3 the power of the Savage. Saying all that , I should also say that riding any roads the Meteor always get over 70mpg and sometimes in the summer a nice easy Sunday afternoon on backroads - can return near 100 mpg and it feels good to ride it. I'm thinking the Super Meteor comes to North America this summer. The RE-650 twin gets about 70mpg. I like the looks of the Touring Super Meteor (Red / White) and my Guzzi V7-II on it's best day only gets 55mpg and 47-48 mpg if I ride like "I don't care" --- it handles great BUT !!!. |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by Ruttly on 01/23/23 at 19:02:26 That BSA Goldstar would be a great choice if it ever makes it to the USA , save your $$ Zipi , I think this might be the year we see it. RE does have some cool bikes , even the Super Meteor 650. A exciting lineup for sure with competitive prices. I’m waiting to buy. I at least want the BSA as an option before buying anything. |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by zipidachimp on 01/23/23 at 20:41:38 As a previous owner of a '68 BSA Thunderbolt, I really had high expectations, only to be disappointed again. I really believe I'm the embodiment of Joe Btfsplk, the guy who walks around with a cloud over his head. I really had high expectations for the Rebel 500, it turned out to be the ugliest bike ever! The new BSA is overweight blablabla etc.! My next expectation and a possible buy is the yet unannounced Kawi Z400rs. My hope is it will be a twin, but rumour says it's 4cyl. here: https://young-machine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/013.jpg https://www.motoo.com.br/fotos/2022/1/960_720/kawasaki-z400-rs-ym_02012022_48224_960_720.jpg https://www.echo.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/joe-btfsplk-768x1361.jpg Cheers! 8-) ps: imagine if Honda brought out a bike like the z400rs, but with the Rebel500/CB500f engine? The withdrawal from my chequing account would be smokin' !!! |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by MMRanch on 01/23/23 at 20:44:35 The RE Hunter may not have the speed limiter that the Meteor does ? I'm not sure ? But the Hunter is a "Standard" version of the Meteor w/tubeless wheels and a lower price and weight. Yes , the Meteor has a speed limiter that cuts it off at 120kmph. Something about gradulated license in different parts of the world. With the extra front tooth its got gearing for about 90mph , but power for 80mph on flat ground. I understand the SCRAM and HIMALAYAN (411cc) have big bore kits , super cam kit , and near 25Hp to begin with ... so yes the 30HP would be within reach. But they both have spoke wheels . :P Same thing is wrong with the Yamaha SR400 ! :( There are two different Super Meteors , the Touring Model catches my eye. Gosh ! I sound like a RE sales person ... I've got no excuse except that its WINTER outside and I can't go out to play ! :-/ |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by zipidachimp on 01/23/23 at 21:05:17 This guy has a reputation for reflashing ECUs and defeating speed limiters (CB1100) etc. https://guhlmotors.com/ Whether he'd work on RE is yet to be known. Hunter 350 is attractive! Cheers! 8-) |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by jcstokes on 01/23/23 at 22:55:30 Don't have you guys knowlege, but there was a Hyosung 650 that was limited by a throttle stop held in place by two bolts. Removing these bolts and the plate they held raised hp from 57 to 80 plus. |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by zipidachimp on 01/24/23 at 00:38:08 That Hyo 650 was on sale up here, but no one knew anything about Hyosung, like early Hyundai Pony crap. No one wanted to take a chance. Cheers! 8-) ps: MM: give you BC winter for TN winter! pps: Suz GR650 https://i1.wp.com/www.bike-urious.com/wp-content/uploads/Suzuki-Tempter-Left-Side.jpg?fit=994%2C651&ssl=1 |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by Dave on 01/24/23 at 04:18:53 140614060B18171A11590 wrote:
524052404D5E515C571F0 wrote:
So far everything I have read about the Super Meteor says that it is the same engine as the Continental GT and the Intercepter models: Soul of a Royal Enfield Super Meteor The Super Meteor 650 is the third model built on Royal Enfield’s 650 Twin platform. The first two were the Continental GT and INT650, both of which debuted for 2019. All three share an air/oil-cooled 648cc parallel-Twin with large cooling fins, SOHC with four valves per cylinder, and a single-piece forged, counterbalanced crankshaft with a 270-degree firing interval. The engine has a 9.5:1 compression ratio and runs on regular fuel, with injection and engine management supplied by Bosch. For the Super Meteor, the Twin gets new engine covers and darker finishes. The Super Meteor is a premium cruiser model of the Continental GT.....it is more properly a replacement for your Moto Guzzi than your little Meteor 350. The Super Meteor weighs 536 pounds........100 pounds more than your Moto Guzzi! Here is a link to the "Fuely" mileage for the Interceptor 650 - this is the same engine they are putting in the Super Meteor. Most folks get mileage in the high 50's to low 60's with that engine. (One fellow shows 79mpg average - but there must be a math error when they totaled his average - when you look at each tank the mileage average is down in the 60's.). https://www.fuelly.com/motorcycle/royal_enfield/interceptor/2019 It is a great looking and nice motorcycle and I fully support you buying one - just don't get your hear set on every tank bringing you 70mpg at highway speeds. It is my guess that you might get close to 70mpg while you are breaking the engine in and riding gentle - but normal riding will put you right in the 60mpg average that most folks are getting. The only way to get that kind of mpg on a big bike is to slow down.......I once got 67mpg on my Savage Cafe' on the day I went riding with a group of guys on V-Twins. (They never passed anyone and slowed down for every corner.......I likely averaged 30mph on the ride). |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by Dave on 01/24/23 at 04:55:46 7F6C756C6164666D6C6875050 wrote:
Zippy....I am with you - The Honda Rebel500 is a huge waste of that wonderful engine. If Honda where to put the 500 twin in an updated version of that resembled their original Honda CB450 - I think they would have a winner with us old guys (kids seem to like the transformer looking naked bikes). The Honda CB500F is likely a really nice bike to ride - I just don't like the looks. One listing seems to show the Kawasaki may be a twin - but more are reporting it to be a 4 cylinder. https://www.rushlane.com/kawasaki-z400rs-likely-to-debut-at-eicma-india-launch-12417021.html |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by MMRanch on 01/24/23 at 08:30:45 Hay Zip The two pictures : https://images.dailyhive.com/20181106094611/shutterstock_128574104.jpg https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9-SMSAPJhjg/TDvf8IHWf8I/AAAAAAAADNE/btnfU38ckcc/s1600 Are for sure 4th gear 100kmh hills with the RE-350 engine . ;) ............................................ Yes Dave :) That 400cc Kawasaki looks close to an old Honda CB450 that I remember . :) If I could curl-up to a liquid cooled bike it would be something like the Kawasaki 400. The Kawasaki 300 Versey looks good too , BUT THOSE DERN TUBE-TYPE WHEELS ! :( IMHO. https://www.kawasaki.com/en-us/motorcycle/versys/adventure-touring/versys-x-300?cm_re=GLOBALNAV-_-PRODUCTGROUPLIST-_-MPP .............................. Ridding with the V-Twins ::) I had a simular experence with the CMA group ... The Guzzi got 63 mpg for that trip . It was really hard not to "just leave them - for DEAD" ;D ................... I had missed the weight of the Super Meteor , that's a boarder-line deal killer. I can just keep the Guzzi if the RE feels heavy. The Guzzi already has a lot of "Extra" stuff , I took a ride to brothers house near BELL MOUNTAIN this week and the interstate traffic was running 85 mph --- so I did too. That ride returned 48 mpg. In all fairness , I should add that I'm pushing a Memphis shield windshield and dragging a pair of HB30L bags and a 30L trunk also. |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by ohiomoto on 01/24/23 at 17:53:23 What's that old saying?? "If you have to ask... " Yeah, that one. ;) |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by Ruttly on 01/25/23 at 07:29:05 I think it’s not what I want. It’s strictly having space , I will not leave any of my bikes outdoors. I got to sell some and then fix some and sell those too. Tracker , BSA and maybe the sportster will stay. But I guess if I sell one I could buy one , I sound like MM. ;D |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by MMRanch on 01/25/23 at 09:34:43 I sound like MM. Hay THANKS Ruttly ................................. There are so many Bikes I'd love to "TRY-OUT" for a year . :P Of late ... the one that I don't have that I really liked was the W650 Kawasaki. The rear fender was cracking (side to side) and to fix it would have evolved patching the weak spot on the back side then re-chroming ... or ... using a aftermarket fender that would have destroyed the "restoring" of the bike. but Between the W650 and the Guzzi V7 ... I kept the Guzzi , its one of the best thought-out machines I've ever seen. So they should be , mine (2016) was the 49th year anniversary of their "V" design . I'm trying hard to keep the bikes down to two ! |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by LANCER on 01/25/23 at 10:11:43 Keeping the number down can be difficult. It’s taken me 13 years to get back down to just one, but even so I find myself looking at more bikes every day…it’s just hard to not look at all those I would LIKE to have. Yep. My list of desired bikes: An original BSA Goldstar is just out of my price range; but a Yamaha XS/TX 650 twin; Kawasaki 750 twin; BSA B50; BSA/Triumph 750 triple; 1967 BSA Lightning/Hornet 650; Suzuki Titan 500 twin 2-stroke; and LS650’s of course. |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by zipidachimp on 01/25/23 at 12:06:47 When you bring price into the mix, a lightly used S40 moves up near the top of the list. A few mods and it moves up more. I curse the day I sold my second one ! Cheers! 8-) ps: my best mod? 18" front wheel ! |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by Dave on 01/25/23 at 12:41:11 If I didn't have my current bikes and needed to go buy something new - what would I buy? If the description includes the words "Hypermotard, Naked, Street Fighter, or Urban Assault"....it isn't something I am going to want to own (I likely would eagerly take a ride on yours). My Savage Cafe' solves my sunny day local ride on the backroads, my Sport Touring bikes fill my need for longer rides where I would like a windshield and some luggage....and a place for Deb to sit when she wants to ride along. I just went and looked at the offerings from Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki......about the only thing that looked like something I would own is the W800. So I looked at BMW...nothing in their current lineup I would buy. I looked at Ducati - nothing. I looked at Royal Enfield. Maybe the Scram411 would do for the local and off road adventures. The Interceptor is nice....but it has a chain. I looked at Moto Guzzi.....they have the most potential to entice me to buy something with their new v100 Sport Touring bike. It appears that if I want a "new" motorcycle I am going to have to buy an older one. Some of the old BMW bikes are appealing to me. I like the looks of the older BMW R1100RS. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_R1100RS The older Moto Guzzi Norge is a nice sport touring bike. https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-reviews/moto-guzzi/norge/2006/ A Moto Guzzi Quota might be nice. https://cadrecycle.com/2000-moto-guzzi-quota-1100es-w-9500-miles-7500/ As you can see.....my current interest is for mid-size sport touring bikes that have 2 cylinders sticking out the sides....and a drive shaft! Currently my F800GT is the bike that fills that need, and it does it very nicely. I bought it used and got a pretty good price, and the belt drive is carefree and lasts 50,000 miles or so. I currently have 27,000 miles on the bike and I wear out a set of tires every year! It is staying in my garage for a long time. https://www.rideapart.com/reviews/255278/rideapart-review-2013-bmw-f800gt/ |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by Ruttly on 01/25/23 at 15:00:36 A very very personal decision. Some years back I was shopping , found nothing that even came close. Tracker was built from that frustration. Still lookin ! Cookie cutter bikes are hard to buy it’s a compromise , something close but not what you really want. Someone on your block has one too ! Clearly the tracker makes me feel like an individual not like you or the guy down the block. I’ve been that way since I was young , I was thrown out of cub scouts cause I wouldn’t wear the uniform. |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by zipidachimp on 01/25/23 at 16:29:43 OK guys, lets bring this to a close by throwing 400lbs into the mix: the Oscar goes to "lightly used S40". Cheers! 8-) |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by MMRanch on 01/25/23 at 19:23:42 Hay Lancer I had one of the early Yamaha SX650 twin's . It's brush type alt. fried its self at the first sign of a weak battery. It did have more power than the W650 did ... but the fuel millage sucked. The Kawasaki 750 twin would be one I'd like to ride if ya get one ! :) I had a chance to buy one in the early 80's but I got a Honda 500 four instead . I might still have the Kawasaki if I'd got it ? https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/kawasaki/kawasaki_z750%2077.htm |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by TheSneeze on 01/25/23 at 21:20:10 This one will be leaving the stable when it's broken in and ready. |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by zipidachimp on 01/25/23 at 22:33:07 ELR: one of my all-time favourites! Now let's see it in Z400RS form ! Cheers! 8-) |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by Ruttly on 01/26/23 at 10:44:09 The BIG Gun , The MEAN Green , Very Nice |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by LANCER on 01/26/23 at 11:19:37 5C4E5C4E43505F5259110 wrote:
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by zipidachimp on 01/26/23 at 15:16:49 OK guys, here we go (to the dealer!): HD X350: and it's a twin! https://www.motorcycle.com/new-model-preview/what-we-know-about-the-2023-harley-davidson-x350-and-x350ra.html Cheers! 8-) |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by justin_o_guy2 on 01/26/23 at 15:40:45 First good, dependable bike I had was Kawasaki 750 LTD? vertical twin. It was comfortable and light enough for me to take out on the dirt roads of West Texas. If you've ever been stuck waiting for cattle to get out of the road in a car, you know how long it can take. If you're on a bike, it's kinda unnerving, alone, nobody knows where you are and cell phones don't exist yet. If I could find another one, I'd like that. |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by Ruttly on 01/27/23 at 09:42:02 And Harley is about to jump on the parallel twin band wagon with a 350 with a couple of models. Not sure if the pic were pic or artist rendering. Trying to keep it afloat. Foreign made IDK , more than likely. |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by Ruttly on 02/01/23 at 10:55:02 I hear BSA has a Goldstar Scrambler in the works. Might be a heavy scrambler. New models means it’s selling well wherever it is that they sell them. Zipi , Are they selling them in the great white north ? I’ll have to research where it’s sold. |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by LANCER on 02/01/23 at 17:40:41 I tried finding a dealer for the new BSA a few weeks back but only England came up as having any. Bummer. |
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Title: Re: New bike? or Not ! Post by zipidachimp on 02/02/23 at 00:30:57 The BSA has only been available for a month or two in UK. North America distribution will be awhile. Since the makers are independent, finding dealers will take awhile. Patience....... Cheers! 8-) ps: appears to be somewhat overweight! Buy a newer S40, stick an 18" wheel at each end! |
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