[10706]

Re: I think you did a fair and honest job with your eval but

Your apples and oranges comment seems right on. I'm looking at a new bike myself and would appreciate a street 650/750 class review. Nighthawk 750, ZR7S, Skorpion Tour, SV650, W650, Bonneville and whatever else fits the street standard budget classification. Apples to apples. It would also be nice to hear some reliability and maintainability predictions/costs on the bikes. Now the flip side, I've been giving serious thoughts about KLR just because of the availability of parts, accessories and some youthful idea that an occasional run down a jeep trail might be a blast, somewhat like the Hodaka Wombat of my youth.

 

[longjohn]

This was an overall good article. Though how bout this for an idea, a first bike test. You can include some bikes that hardly ever get any attention though in their own respects offer a great ride. I'm talking about bikes like the GS500E or the EX500. Some of my most memorable rides and experiences have happened while on these type of bikes, not the "canyon-carver-racer-turned-everyday ride bikes.

 

[bigjack]

You guys really botched one up this time. I mean comparing all of thos ebikes with a enduro???? Why didn't you choose the Kawasaki ZR7 instead of the KLR????



The reviews on the ZR7 have been excellent and would have blown any of those other bikes out of the water. Yes I'm a suporter of the ZR7 and own one. Compared to any of these bikes the ZR7 would top them all.



Maybe this year you'll try it again, and get it right this time.



Sorry for sounding upset, but when you admire a web site so much not only for the great web page but the info it provides, I guess it's upsetting to find out you guys are human also.



BigJack

 

[jakeway]

What year Sportster are you referring to? I admit it's not fast compared to today's super bikes, but the new ones are very reliable, decent brakes, and plenty fast enough to get you into trouble. With the 1200 Sport version, even without after market mods, you're looking at roughly 70 HP in a 500 pound motorcycle. Modest mods can get you close to 90 HP.

 

[Tee]

If you are using msrp as the qualifying factor to use in this test, then I guess they all qualify. But, in the real world, the Harley 883 would certainly not qualify. You would be extremely lucky indeed to find ANY HD dealer in this country that would be willing to sell an 883 for under $6000.

 

[PostMortemElvis]

Re: Why then does my S1 gather crowds???

Crowds are wonderful, especially when the they can help to point out the things that have rattled off. Don't get me wrong, I loved the look of my '98 S1WL but every time I was fortunate enough to get off the pencil thin seat I had to do a walk around to inspect it. Build quality was shoddy at best, in the first five thousand miles the clutch cable snapped, rear wheel bearings gave up, and the throttle return cable broke (which left me full throttle in third gear on a twisty backroad). Yes, they look cool... in my opinion the S1 was the greatest bike made so far as aethetics are concerned. I cut my losses and traded up for a '01 R1. By the way, 4500 miles without even the slightest glitch on the yamaha.

 

[Lateshow321]

Ducati Monster 600 Cooler???

How could it be cooler when it would get trounced so thoroughly??? Would it be cool to have the SV blowing by you out of every turn? No. You are one of those who think if its from Italy it must be cool.

Here's something else that's not cool: the SV kicks butt on the Monster 750 too. HaHaHa...looks like if you want to be faster than the SV you'll have to get the 900.

Now before you get your panties all in a bunch, I do like the style of the Monsters, but for you to say that the lil 600 is cooler than the SV is just not right.

 

[Lateshow321]

no redundancy in Bandit 6 and SV650

no redundancy in Bandit 6 and SV650, it could have been in there...

I was a GSM at a multi-franchise dealership and got to do many side by side rides between the two and they couldn't be more different. The Bandit (2000 Bnadit S) is smooth and feels bigger, with the fairing its much better at high speeds. I found the whole experience of riding the Bandit much more suitable for a beginning rider who values a smooth but less powerful "power delivery". The Bandit just never comes on with a "hit" of power.

The SV feels like it has twice the torque. From 3000 rpms it just comes alive! True enough is the fact that its buzy compared to the Bandit, but I'd gladly trade the one for the other. The SV feels "flickable" nimble and is just so much more fun to ride.

Different bikes for different tastes. The SV always finds itself outclassing the bikes in the comparos it finds itself in. To find suitable competition it needs to compete with bikes like: the Monster 750, the Nighthawk 750, the Kwaker ZR-7. By the way it wins that comparo too.

So if you want an affordable do-it-all "streetbike" the SV is the one, and sales figures for the SV supports this thesis.

Happy riding to everyone!!

 

[Lateshow321]

Re: SV996 TL1000S etc.

The TL 1000 S is a cool bike...the reason it was never a great seller was that the riding position was too close to the TL1000R (which had better brakes, handling). The SV 650 is a very comfortable bike to spend hours on. So while I think the TLS is cool...Suzuki is missing the boat by not making the SV1000. The more comfy ergos would bring many more riders to the SV1000 than the TLS.

 

[BigGit]

HEAR HEAR!!!



I would love to read a review of the GS500E vs the EX500! Throw in the MuZ Skorpion Tour and the Buell Blast, too! Those are the bikes I'd want to trade up to!

 

[36948]

I read your shootout, then sold my Heritage Softtail and with the money bought a V-Star Silverado for my wife and a 99 loaded Excelsior Henderson for myself. I find myself riding the V-Star more and more. It is overall the most enjoyable bike I've had in 48 years of riding. It is the only bike that I have enjoyed as much as my first bike - a !950 Whizzer Pacemaker. It does everything well, smoothly, and comfortably. It has at least as much style as the Heritage Softtail, performs as well, rides much more comfortably, and handles twice as well. It reminds me a lot of my 1969 BMW R60US. I almost wish I had bought a V-Star for myself too, but the E-H is a lot of fun too. It's just not nearly as refined as the Yamaha.