criteria for replacement bike

[Maturecheese]

I am looking for a bike that isn't too heavy (my CB1100RS is a bit cumbersome), is fairly easy to do maintenance on (valve clearences for instance), has the same or perferably more power than my CB1100, is farly comfortable, is retro classic style, and is reliable, has a motor that is likely to do high mileages and isn't very expensive

So far all that seems to meet that criteria is a 1200 Speedtwin..( Doesn't really meet the not expensive bit)
 

Any ideas

[Fiddlesticks]

It sounds like you need a classic muscle bike. One that is fast, sounds awesome, has twelve months MOT, two new tyres, fresh oil, new chain and sprockets, a new K&N air filter, braided hoses, and a recently greased swing arm.

Something like an XJR1300.

 

[S-Westerly]

Not too fussy or anything! Good luck in your search and hope you find what you are looking for. 

[Maturecheese]

Actually Fiddlesticks, that was the bike I wanted before I bought the CB1100RS  The fuel economy put me off.  Also weight.   The CB1100RS costs an arm and a leg to have the valve clearances checked never mind replaced.

S Westerly    True

Edited February 21, 2024 by Maturecheese

[skyrider]

40 minutes ago, Fiddlesticks said:

It sounds like you need a classic muscle bike. One that is fast, sounds awesome, has twelve months MOT, two new tyres, fresh oil, new chain and sprockets, a new K&N air filter, braided hoses, and a recently greased swing arm.

Something like an XJR1300.

 

if i was a bigger person that is the bike  i would have 

[RideWithStyles]

53 minutes ago, Maturecheese said:

I am looking for a bike that isn't too heavy (my CB1100RS is a bit cumbersome), is fairly easy to do maintenance on (valve clearences for instance), has the same or perferably more power than my CB1100, is farly comfortable, is retro classic style, and is reliable, has a motor that is likely to do high mileages and isn't very expensive

So far all that seems to meet that criteria is a 1200 Speedtwin..( Doesn't really meet the not expensive bit)
 

Any ideas

Westy is correct.

 

i think you REALLY need to think it through what you actually want in priority!!! cos literally every thing conflicts itself..

if you want lighter weight then do you really need the same capacity as more or the same power...no...

are you just guessing/comparing to a bike of a lazy air cooled inline 4?

a good fit twin in a slightly smaller capacity (water cooled too?) will be just as powerful on the roads as it will be accessible more of the time without having to wind it up to 12000 rpm.

 

speed twin 900 for example, just a few ps lower and Nm but 40+kg lighter 10k service intervals.

you could go to a smaller triple for example and get greater benefits in performance if your really about thinking of the prevardo of i need the biggest thing just because......

Edited February 21, 2024 by RideWithStyles

[S-Westerly]

Sometimes the weight of a bike can be a bit misleading. My last bike was a Multistrada 950 which weighed 220 kg but because its centre of gravity was quite high it was a bit of a pig to manhandle. My new bike has a wet weight of 232 kg but because the CoG is relatively low is much easier to wheel around. Still wouldn't like to pick it up though. 

[keith1200rs]

58 minutes ago, S-Westerly said:

Still wouldn't like to pick it up though

I've picked up 280kg with no problem. Fortunately I had looked at videos of the techniques beforehand. 

[RideWithStyles]

i don't want to move metal drums around when im paid to, let alone in my own time with something i paid for with my own money...

paying for metal you don't need is not bright either.

[Maturecheese]

Actually Fiddlesticks, that was the bike I wanted before I bought the CB1100RS  The fuel economy put me off.

S Westerly    True

[Maturecheese]

Ridewithstyles   I used to have an XSR700 before my CB1100 and that was a lot of fun on the a and b roads although liable to have a negative effect on my license.  The faults with it were it was too light for high speed so felt a bit sketchy over say 80 mph and at a ton it was pretty hair raising.  It was also a bugger to work on, just getting to the spark plugs was a major operation.  You also needed a rear end of concrete to travel more than 1 1/2 hours on it.  If they had stuck that engine or a slightly bigger one in a more retro classic design it would have been great.  The XSR 900 could have been a great bike but again they didn't go retro enough.

My big inline 4 doesn't need 'winding up' as it redlines at 8500.  There is a good amount of torque low down and it starts to take off at around 5000.  Apart from the weight ,252 KG, it's the £750 service involving valve clearances that gets my goat, and that's just to check them.
The attraction of the Speedtwin is, similar power, lots of torque, lighter (but not too light), a narrower motorcycle, good on fuel economy and importantly, easier to work on.  I assume it should be as much fun as the XSR 700 was but with a more stable platform at higher speeds.  Comfort is a bit of a worry with the thin seat it has but nearer the decision time I will have to try to get a test ride on one. Downside is the price   Also I'm not sure if it will be as reliable as a jap, especially a Honda.

Edited February 25, 2024 by Maturecheese

[S-Westerly]

Thin seats can be customised or otherwise improved. Otherwise go with your heart as you will be the one riding it. Assuming you are not using it as a daily work horse get the one you are going to enjoy the most.

[Nick the wanderer]

I have the XSR great bike like you say, first thing I did was recover the seat! Spark plugs are a pain at 12k intervals but I have seen bikes doing over 100,000 miles, reliability is not really an issue on those. I put a screen on mine, anything over 70 is a pain. One of the reasons I went with it was the weight, easy to get in and out and well balanced. You can customise them to suit your own taste. Sometimes I wish for more power but I stay clear of motorways as much as possible. 

Good luck with your search, let us know if you find anything!

[RideWithStyles]

the yama o7 engine and chassis are flighty by nature, hence why it got abit of a hooligan reputation.

 

i know your is a low reving by nature, just that most other and smaller inline 4 are not, so require more revs for the same effect.

 

the speed is not like the yam 7, its behaviour is more gentle and closer to your cb.

 

you can even just get a new seat or refit with different foam...options are available.

 

reliability is very good for triumph, even honda and yama fook it up even to this very day. i mean they still cant paint a swing arm or a sump correctly even now.

 

really i think you just need to get the right bike for you and live with the price of something. cos if everything is just about price , either learn to service it yourself or get a smaller bike.