Topic: The Motorcycling Thread

[johngenx]

Yeah, while I’m a fan of rowdy bikes I also appreciate refined and precise bikes.

[Arthur Dent]

https://www.kawasaki.ca/product/w800-street

New for Canada W800 looks cool. I wonder if it will have any success against the similar Triumph.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I really liked the look of the W650 when that came out. Even had a kick starter. I had something else on the go then, and then they pulled it from the Canadian market due to slow sales.

[DriverJeff]

Yeah, while I’m a fan of rowdy bikes I also appreciate refined and precise bikes.

But that's what's so good about the Yammer is that it's rowdy, but exceptionally well-built.  Last I checked Yamaha was top of the heap for quality ratings, no?

[dkaz]

Except my old Vino 125’s engins grenaded at 33,000km. Why did I buy another Yamaha?

[rrocket]

Yeah, while I’m a fan of rowdy bikes I also appreciate refined and precise bikes.

But that's what's so good about the Yammer is that it's rowdy, but exceptionally well-built.  Last I checked Yamaha was top of the heap for quality ratings, no?

Honda fit and finish is the best IMO.

I always went back between Honda and Yamaha. Honda always seemed better built.

I do love KTM for the last several years though...

[johngenx]

I haven't ridden the Homda, bu have seat time on the FZ-09 and while I love the engine, the chassis is just a small step behind the triple. Easily solved thanks to the plethora of parts for that bike, but it's not quite there. That would not keep me from buying one, oh hell yes I'd still get one!

The various Hondas I've ridden have all had chassis that match or exceed the engine, and yeah, fit and finish is amazing.

I'm not saying the 650 is better than the Yamaha. I'd just have a hell of a time deciding between the two.

[Guy]

Yeah, while I’m a fan of rowdy bikes I also appreciate refined and precise bikes.

But that's what's so good about the Yammer is that it's rowdy, but exceptionally well-built.  Last I checked Yamaha was top of the heap for quality ratings, no?

Honda fit and finish is the best IMO.

I always went back between Honda and Yamaha. Honda always seemed better built.

I do love KTM for the last several years though...

I was a Yamaha slappy back in the days.

[rrocket]

Yeah, while I’m a fan of rowdy bikes I also appreciate refined and precise bikes.

But that's what's so good about the Yammer is that it's rowdy, but exceptionally well-built.  Last I checked Yamaha was top of the heap for quality ratings, no?

Honda fit and finish is the best IMO.

I always went back between Honda and Yamaha. Honda always seemed better built.

I do love KTM for the last several years though...

I was a Yamaha slappy back in the days.

I went back and forth...because both always had great bikes that I wanted to own...

[johngenx]

In the early-mid 80s I was a Honda and Suzuki fan. The GS1000, then 1100 and Katana were stellar bikes with amazing engines.  Honda had a huge variety of bikes during that era, from the inline fours to the V-4 engines in the Interceptor/Magna/Sabre bikes. While the V engine had some engineering issues, once fixed, they were real beasts. Honda sold a turbo bike then!  I also had a love the aspro CX-650 twin, what a nice bike to ride. The Gold Wing was the king of touring bikes, Honda completely reinventing the segment. Anyone that's ridden the H-4 instantly fell in love with the engine. The older naked GW1000 was one of my all time fave machines.

Yamaha wasn't really on my radar back then save for the Ringy-Dingy bikes, which is something I'd still love to have.

[mlin32]

As a sport bike rider, I just can never take Honda seriously. Yamaha puts more effort into their YZF lineup and even the MT lineup to me has better motors and suspension than the Honda Equivalents. Kawi has some good sport bikes too but the fit and finish are a bit off.

I'd easily have an Italian (Duc or Aprilia) as my next sportster, as I didn't love the older YZF-R6 I tried (perhaps the new one is better). But the R1 I would consider when I get there.

[rrocket]

As a sport bike rider, I just can never take Honda seriously. Yamaha puts more effort into their YZF lineup and even the MT lineup to me has better motors and suspension than the Honda Equivalents. Kawi has some good sport bikes too but the fit and finish are a bit off.

I'd easily have an Italian (Duc or Aprilia) as my next sportster, as I didn't love the older YZF-R6 I tried (perhaps the new one is better). But the R1 I would consider when I get there.

And yet, the shootout for the last couple of years the Honda almost always finishes ahead of Yamaha in the Open class. The Honda was like 10 pounds lighter! And the chassis more agile than the R1.

And in the entry level class (R3) several publications didn't even bother including it in the latest comparison because it hasn't been updated.

Really not sure where you get your info from....am guessing your time on Honda's is limited...if at all.

[dirtyjeffer]

i've had 3 Hondas in my time...Elite 250 Scooter, Interceptor 1000 and Shadow 750...the only bike that failed me was the Interceptor (threw a crank bearing on the highway)..that said, the shop i bought from always seemed a bit shady, and had recently done a bit of work on the bike so i'm not going to fault the bike 100%, as it seemed fishy when it failed...i also owned one Yamaha FZ750 and one Suzuki (Marauder 800)...the Yamaha was a great bike too (lots of power), but the Suzuki was my least favourite...felt really underpowered (my old Shadow 750 felt much more powerful, despite it being about a decade older)...i'd have no problem buying another Honda or Yamaha...i've found both to make excellent bikes.

[mlin32]

As a sport bike rider, I just can never take Honda seriously. Yamaha puts more effort into their YZF lineup and even the MT lineup to me has better motors and suspension than the Honda Equivalents. Kawi has some good sport bikes too but the fit and finish are a bit off.

I'd easily have an Italian (Duc or Aprilia) as my next sportster, as I didn't love the older YZF-R6 I tried (perhaps the new one is better). But the R1 I would consider when I get there.

And yet, the shootout for the last couple of years the Honda almost always finishes ahead of Yamaha in the Open class. The Honda was like 10 pounds lighter! And the chassis more agile than the R1.

And in the entry level class (R3) several publications didn't even bother including it in the latest comparison because it hasn't been updated.

Really not sure where you get your info from....am guessing your time on Honda's is limited...if at all.

Most of the shootouts I read are based in France and for sure I have yet to see the CBR 1000RR win anything. I usually pick up Moto et Motard and Moto Journal on a monthly or bi monthly basis.

When I get home I think I still have a recent shootout issue of the magazine.

I know the YZF-R3 has been unchanged since its inception but I'd have that over a CBR 300R anyday. The R3 has better styling and notably more power. Yamaha's just come out with a refreshed YZF-125 but too bad that's not sold in North America (I think). Most of the 300-class sporters I see on the roads here are either the R3 or the KTM 390. I gave a serious consideration to the latter at the time of purchase, but it cost more and I didn't want to deal with the higher repair costs.

But to each his/her own. Despite Honda's successes in MotoGP I can't see myself ever buying one of their bikes.

[DriverJeff]

I haven't ridden the Homda, bu have seat time on the FZ-09 and while I love the engine, the chassis is just a small step behind the triple. Easily solved thanks to the plethora of parts for that bike, but it's not quite there. That would not keep me from buying one, oh hell yes I'd still get one!

The various Hondas I've ridden have all had chassis that match or exceed the engine, and yeah, fit and finish is amazing.

I'm not saying the 650 is better than the Yamaha. I'd just have a hell of a time deciding between the two.

Which generation FZ09 did you try?  The current one has had enough subtle updates / upgrades that as a whole, feels sufficiently different (and improved) over the first gen.  Sure it's still not a Tuono, S1000R or even an FZ10 in terms of suspension, but it also costs thousands less too.

[rrocket]

But to each his/her own. Despite Honda's successes in MotoGP I can't see myself ever buying one of their bikes.

I'm not chastising you for owning what you like.

It was for saying they Honda didn't put effort into their some of their offerings...which is a silly thing to say.

[mlin32]

Ok, so it is time to winterise my bike. Haven't previously needed to do this, but now that I live in northern Europe, it's kind of necessary since year-round riding isn't possible. Asking you guys......

Fuel level - full or empty ? I read also to add fuel stabiliser.
Take the battery out and store it inside.

Anything else ?

[ktm525]

Ok, so it is time to winterise my bike. Haven't previously needed to do this, but now that I live in northern Europe, it's kind of necessary since year-round riding isn't possible. Asking you guys......

Fuel level - full or empty ? I read also to add fuel stabiliser.
Take the battery out and store it inside.

Anything else ?

1) Steel tank? Leave full with fuel stabilizer. Run bike for 5 mins to pull stabilizer through system.
2) What type of battery? If lead acid then try to leave with trickle charger with float capability. You can bring inside with the same set up. If Li Ion then leave on bike. Careful not to use a standard battery tender with Li Ion. You shouldn't have to do anything with the Li Ion as long as bike has no parasitic draws.
3) If possible put bike on stand to get tires off ground.

[dkaz]

I'd go full tank regardless, with fuel stabilizer.

I need stands as that would also help with chain maintenance, where do I get one?

[mlin32]

I'd go full tank regardless, with fuel stabilizer.

I need stands as that would also help with chain maintenance, where do I get one?

I have a Pitbull, which is American though so I don't know if that is available in Canada. It's pricey but of good quality.

Ok, so it is time to winterise my bike. Haven't previously needed to do this, but now that I live in northern Europe, it's kind of necessary since year-round riding isn't possible. Asking you guys......

Fuel level - full or empty ? I read also to add fuel stabiliser.
Take the battery out and store it inside.

Anything else ?

1) Steel tank? Leave full with fuel stabilizer. Run bike for 5 mins to pull stabilizer through system.
2) What type of battery? If lead acid then try to leave with trickle charger with float capability. You can bring inside with the same set up. If Li Ion then leave on bike. Careful not to use a standard battery tender with Li Ion. You shouldn't have to do anything with the Li Ion as long as bike has no parasitic draws.
3) If possible put bike on stand to get tires off ground.

Ok I'll leave it with a nearly full tank and some stabiliser. It's got a plain acid battery so I will just take it out. I don't have a trickle charger  but I can procure one *checks credit limit on cards* . I have a rear stand (not front) so I guess I could do that. Hope the handle doesn't end up being a trip hazard for unknowing passer-bys. Merci.