[tsloan]

Re: Does your Bandit burn oil?

Don't need a sidecar. I've been lucky and only missed riding one month out of the last 25 due to weather. But I am looking for a trashed off-road bike to use as a winter/supermotard bike. I hate running the Bandit on all the salt and crap they use on the roads around here.

 

[longride]

The advice is for phillybill. I already know what bikes I like.

 

[KJL]

Hey, tell me more on the beetle bags, I have always liked the way they looked,( especialy on the bandit), and have thought about getting them for my rex. I have often wondered why MO never does a product review on them. They look like they fit much closer to the bike than any givi. One question I have is, does the side with the pipe right under it get hot? Thanks for any info.

P.S. have you seen the ZZR-1200 with beetle bags, makes a man almost like the looks of those tail lights..

 

[justaspeedfreak]

I rode a Vulcan 750 as my first bike in 20 years. It was pretty fast for about 4 months, but then it was too slow. Fast cars could beat it off of a light. The front end is not confidence inspiring above 70mph, it feels as though it is floating and loose. I put 4500 miles on the Vulcan before I traded it in on an Aprilia Falco. I got a ZRX after 5 months with the Vulcan as a second bike and am extremely glad I did. I now have over 15,000 miles on it. You control the speed with the throttle. It doesn't go any faster than you make it go and there are upgrades / modifications for the ZRX all over the place. I have a rack and bags for the bike that allow me to carry a few things or a weeks worth of traveling gear. I can't say the same for the Vulcan 750, it really only has some aftermarket slipons and various bags available. Buy the ZRX, but check out www.zrxoa.org if you still have questions!

 

[justaspeedfreak]

how can it be a superior american motorcycle when there is no other american motorcycle it goes head to head with?



Buell has come a long way but I don't believe I would be using the word "superior" when describing it...

 

[tsloan]

I like the Corbin beetle bags after the intial hassles I had with Corbin. The devlivry was 10 weeks and then the left bag came without one of the attachment holes drilled. After sending the bag back and waiting another month I finally got both bags mounted. The fit very close to the bike and the styling is great. They are not easily removable. The Holeshot pipe fits closer than the stock pipe and only leaves about .25" of clearance. I haven't ridden in really high temperatures like we had last summer but so far there is no problem with heat affecting the bag. I took one 3 day trip in steady rain and the bag stayed dry. They open from the top hinged at the front so you don't dump stuff out or get things wet when you open them. I haven't really loaded them heavily yet so I dont know how hard they will be to load and unload every day when touring. The openings are not overly generous and they wont hold a helment.

 

[3655]

Phuck MO! Why is it you guys will print a question from someone when there is a plethora of information available to them, but when I asked you to help me out by posting a question to get the readers' opinions on the shadowy topic of electronic motorcycle security systems I don't get anything. I'll tell you what, my subscription runs out in a little less than a year and if I don't see some inprovement in content I won't be renewing. Seriously, you guys can probably get nearly any product for free to try out and we're lucky if we see a product review once a month.

Also, if you guys are too lazy to post all serious reader's questions then you could create some sort of forum where we could post our own 'news' items. This article is NOT news, it is a question that this guy and a few others who know little about bikes might benefit from. What's with the preference for a crappy question like this?

 

[PistolPete]

I have limited riding experience (20k miles in 3 years) but I must say I am very pleased with my harley softail. I use my bike a lot like you describe, commuting and the occasional short trip, and have been very happy with it. It is comfortable and looks fine with large saddlebags. I haven't had any problems with it, and maintenance is easy.



I had a sportster before, and that was a good commuter bike. Not so great for two up riding, though. Overall I am a very happy harley owner. Whether you are looking for a bike like that, I don't know.



Of course, the second bike I would like to pick up is a sportbike, but I don't know if that would fit what you are looking for. No matter where you look, it's hard to find a poorly built bike these days.

 

[seruzawa]

I was wondering how long it would take.

 

[adaleb]

I was refering to the "New" Lightning. I should have said XB9S. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[intruderman]

Re: One more thing....

Yes, I agree, even a short demo ride may not be enough to determine that a bike is not for you. I thought I really liked the intruder 800 after a demo ride, but after I rode it for a few hundred miles I changed my mind. Before I test rode one, I thought i would really like the Suzuki Marauder, but the demo ride soured me on it.

 

[intruderman]

Re: Not the Magna...

Ergonomic fit/comfort can vary from individual to individual. Mine happens to fit me very well. But you make a good point.

 

[intruderman]

My wife grew unhappy with her Shadow 600, took a ride on my Vulcan 750, and told me, "Find yourself a new bike. I'm taking this one."



I wish my wife would say that to me. I'd say, "Fine honey, I'm going shopping."

 

[jaycar]

I'll give another vote for a Beemer, especially if you're a year-round commuter.



Doing the year-round thing in Seattle, I've ridden a Gold Wing, a Harley Dyna, and now a BMW K75 (soon to be traded on a new GS (if I can get it past the SO)).



The availability of ABS on anything, accessories, and competent dealer network get my vote.

 

[daparks]

I can't believe no-one's suggested THE reigning do-it-all sport/tour/whatever bike thats been tops on most lists for a decade or better.



I switched from a V-STAR 1100C to a 2002 VFR800 last year and I haven't regretted it for a second.



The VFR won't get you in trouble like a liter class mega-bike, is all-day comfortable, and is pretty much the best sounding bike I've ever heard run. (Particularly through an aftermarket exhaust)



While I love my 02, good deals can be had on the 98-01 5th generation bikes, gear driven cams and all!

 

[longride]

So what you said in a nutshell is that a question from this guy isn't news, but a question from you is? Makes sense to me. A news item was posted on the 19th and you must have missed it, because it was about a GPS recovery/tracking system installed on motorcycles. That would be the EXACT THING you were looking for. Maybe go back to the 19th in the news section, which was only 5 days ago and check out that thread.

 

[3655]

Thanks for the help. What I mean is that if this is news, then so is that.

 

[sarnali]

The choices you mentioned are pretty much what I'd recommend , I have an '01 1200s Bandit that I ride pretty much as you described, specifically 80 mile commute and pass-thrashes, Mine so far @ 23kmi's hasn't had any problems, The Z-Rex is pretty cool too, for the money you can't go wrong with either one. After getting off a Vulcan and riding the 1200 Bandit or ZRX, you'll be happy your wife swiped the Vulcan, Nekkid sport standards are what bikes are supposed to look like, good performance, good handling and comfy ergo's make a bike you can do it all on, You might try a 1200 S Sportster, or Dyna Superglide, too, you'll pay more, and loose some performance, but if thats not the issue for you they are both great bikes, that in the long run are going to hold up well and not lose value as a Japanese bike will. Just get what works best for you, and ride the crap out of it.

 

[camfarm]

My wife grew unhappy... and told me, "Find yourself a new wife."



Man I'll trade you problems. But to add a devalued 2 cents: spend a long time visting bike shops and looking, sitting, asking questions, reading literature, thinking, dreaming, and wondering about a new bike. Then, when you buy one, ride the hell out of whatever it is you choose. You will enjoy it.



I think the Ural is the only bike manufactured today across the global economy that is probably not worth your consideration.

 

[john]

maybe your bandit had some issues, the 02 bandit and ZRX have identical brakes.



Perhaps suspension or even a fluid change woud have created that difference? or pad wear?