Topic: What Motorcycle Have You Been Obsessing About Today?

[ktm525]

The motorcycle megashop was chock a block  with bikes. Full full full. Market must have dies this summer.

Still the KTM models even after inflated delivery and transport fees are clocking in at about $2k less than their US counterparts (in US dollars) already. It will be interesting on how this plays out.

[ktm525]

It's on the floor. Pick it up tomorrow. Spend day bolting on baubles and Thursday is ride time.

[ktm525]

Well it's in the garage. Need to spend the day bolting on do-dads. I didn't think I would be buying a model 2024 two stroke.

[PJungnitsch]

Have fun farkling! Best Lego set ever

[rrocket]

. I didn't think I would be buying a model 2024 two stroke.

The world needs heroes!

[HeliDriver]

Yeah, bolting on all the extra stuff is almost the best part of buying a bike. So nice to wrench on it while everything is sparkly clean.

So, just curious, what’s the deal with buying a bike these days? Still MSRP plus freight/PDI plus doc fee, take it or leave it, no room for negotiating?

[No H2O]

The same one I obsessed about in 1990 and that I happen to buy new in 1991.

I still have it, not for sale as I have been asked, even though I have newer motorcycles.

I wish I still had two bikes that I sold: my 1975 Honda CB400 Four Super Sport and my 1986 Suzuki RG500 Gamma.

[ktm525]

Yeah, bolting on all the extra stuff is almost the best part of buying a bike. So nice to wrench on it while everything is sparkly clean.

So, just curious, what’s the deal with buying a bike these days? Still MSRP plus freight/PDI plus doc fee, take it or leave it, no room for negotiating?

Tried to keep extras to a minimum (rad guards, hand guards, full skid plate, rear disc guard). The rest will get added as things break or as required.

I paid MSRP + $1100 freight/setup/pdi fee. Still ends up as $1500 cheaper than what they roll out the door in the states. (MSRP with no extra fees)

I have the 2nd TE they delivered. Shop thinks they may get 8-10 total for 2024 and they are the largest Husqvarna dealer (volume) in the country. I believe all have been spoken for.

The best news is that it is registered for the road so I am a simple dual sport kit away from having a 2 stroke street bike!

[Jaeger]

My wife is eyeing this with interest.  Hopefully they have one on display at the bike show in January. 400cc single.  Seat height only a bit more than the Monkey.  But she says she's never getting rid of the Monkey, so there would be storage issues.    Seriously good looking bike, IMO.  They will sell a crapton of them.

[ktm525]

Looks good. How many shekels?

[Jaeger]

Looks good. How many shekels?

Canadian retail not yet announced. Rumored to be VERY attractively priced for a Triumph, but we shall see.

[rrocket]

Wow! Just wow!

So much want!

https://www.motorcycle.com/bikes/manufacturer/2023-langen-two-stroke-250-road-test-44595496

[rrocket]

Wow!

Another great release by Honda!

https://www.thedrive.com/car-reviews/2024-honda-transalp-xl750-review-specs-price-options-impressions

[ktm525]

Doesn't really turn the dial for me and it is mostly due to the pudge.. She is heavy like the Yamaha Tenere 700. This latest model has packed on nearly 100lbs over the 80s 600V. At 460lbs she would be well over 540 lbs with luggage. That's a lot of bike to handle in any adventure. Probably perfect for cruising around for crumpets in shiny new Klim gear though.

A DR650 hits the scales nearly 100 lbs lighter. Throw 4-5g at upgrades and you have a performance bush pig that is closer to 130 lbs lighter. Can be fixed with some pliers and wire.

Anyhow good to have choices and this should be on the list for anyone eyeing up Tenere T7s. Heavy bikes though.

[rrocket]

Doesn't really turn the dial for me and it is mostly due to the pudge.. She is heavy like the Yamaha Tenere 700. This latest model has packed on nearly 100lbs over the 80s 600V. At 460lbs she would be well over 540 lbs with luggage. That's a lot of bike to handle in any adventure. Probably perfect for cruising around for crumpets in shiny new Klim gear though.

A DR650 hits the scales nearly 100 lbs lighter. Throw 4-5g at upgrades and you have a performance bush pig that is closer to 130 lbs lighter. Can be fixed with some pliers and wire.

Anyhow good to have choices and this should be on the list for anyone eyeing up Tenere T7s. Heavy bikes though.

Perfectly acceptable weight for their intended use..which is not your intended use.


But you care about weight...then start talking about DR650s?

Ummm....OK. LOL [emoji38]

(And I've owned a DR650).

I see no point in building a DR650 unless you are A) Riding around the world. The hard way. B) You will literally always be hundreds of KMs from civilisation. C) You're just doing it for fun because you like builds!

[Jaeger]

Transalp has been out for a while now - multiple in-depth reviews on YouTube.  There have also been a number of head-to-head comparisons with similarly new Suzuki VStrom 800.  Suzuki may have taken the better approach by offering two version of the bike - one more road focussed and the other more off-road focussed - each seams to have an advantage over the Transalp in those respective environments. Not my kind of bike anyway and I think both manufacturers won't be struggling to sell their offerings.

[ktm525]

The DR is 100 lbs lighter and that can be dropped another 20-30 lbs easily. A completely different world when it's lying on it's side.

The problem with all l these adventure bikes is how they are marketed. Check the advertising or the even the story piece that was linked. They show pros in the dirt having a great adventure, talking about sliding it around in the gravel... In reality these bikes are fine off road if you are Chris Birch but middle age Joe cannot lift a 550 lb machine lying in a muddy puddle.  Drop it once off road and it is up on facebook marketplace while the owner tries to source a DRZ400. I will say the price is nice for what it is, but it should never venture too far off road and manufacturers are not being honest. Then again they have to sell them and there is a big market right now.


I would never take this setup far from civilization in the rough:

[ktm525]

Transalp has been out for a while now - multiple in-depth reviews on YouTube.  There have also been a number of head-to-head comparisons with similarly new Suzuki VStrom 800.  Suzuki may have taken the better approach by offering two version of the bike - one more road focussed and the other more off-road focussed - each seams to have an advantage over the Transalp in those respective environments. Not my kind of bike anyway and I think both manufacturers won't be struggling to sell their offerings.

Yeah I am just a jaded old guy. Honda throws some off road plastic on it and the masses buy it! Like I said a fine community cruiser and for that there are better choices/styles of bike. Like yours for instance lol.

[Jaeger]

Transalp has been out for a while now - multiple in-depth reviews on YouTube.  There have also been a number of head-to-head comparisons with similarly new Suzuki VStrom 800.  Suzuki may have taken the better approach by offering two version of the bike - one more road focussed and the other more off-road focussed - each seams to have an advantage over the Transalp in those respective environments. Not my kind of bike anyway and I think both manufacturers won't be struggling to sell their offerings.

Yeah I am just a jaded old guy. Honda throws some off road plastic on it and the masses buy it! Like I said a fine community cruiser and for that there are better choices/styles of bike. Like yours for instance lol.

Transalp would be better for touring though - which is ultimately what 90% of these dadventure bikes are really built for.  I seem to have come to the market at a time when the sport-touring category just about doesn't exist anymore - and I think a bike like that would tick most of the boxes for me that one bike can.  But today, adventure-touring is where the money is.  Look at what BMW has done with the new GS - pretty much a category-defining adventure bike that they have just shifted noticeably toward being more road friendly.

[ktm525]

This would be my word wide touring bike..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gIvyHUyibU