Streetmoto Choices

[poldark]

<!--quoteo(post=146998:date=Thu 14th Jan 2010, 05:53 PM:name=SelinaXT)-->QUOTE(SelinaXT @ Thu 14th Jan 2010, 05:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->That'll be me then [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif[/img]

Best of luck with whatever you get, if you want more info on the XT range check the forum at www.xt660.com.

SelinaXT<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Many thanks for the info.

My biggest problem is deciding what I really want, it started out as a small nimble plaything for weekend days out to act as a foil to the TDM & Burger. But I'm staggeringly good at buying bikes that don't suit what I end up using them for, not always my fault sometimes changes in circumstances.

So now I'm trying to plan ahead and although I don't want to admit (especially not here), I do wonder about the long term prospects of the TDM, given I use the Burger for so much of my riding now.

I think I'll wait to see how blown away I am by the DRZ and if it tickles me I'll plump for that for the time being, as I sure want to make RTT11 so the TDMs going nowhere quite yet.

But if the DRZ underwhelms me and feels short on puff, then the XT seems an ideal choice.

Right I'll get off the couch now and thanks for listening!

[mcbodge]

Or, not a streetmoto, but somethign small and nimble with some poke:

[poldark]

<!--quoteo(post=147017:date=Thu 14th Jan 2010, 07:35 PM:name=MCBodge)-->QUOTE(MCBodge @ Thu 14th Jan 2010, 07:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Or, not a streetmoto, but somethign small and nimble with some poke:
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm sorry but there's no way that is "small and nimble", though I agree the Hornet is a decent bike and handles well, the DRZ is 134kg the Hornet 176kg.

Nice try!

[SelinaXT]

<!--quoteo(post=147012:date=Thu 14th Jan 2010, 07:14 PM:name=poldark)-->QUOTE(poldark @ Thu 14th Jan 2010, 07:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Many thanks for the info.

But if the DRZ underwhelms me and feels short on puff, then the XT seems an ideal choice.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Very welcome to my opinion poldark [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img] How has the test ride on the DRZ gone? (presuming weather allowed play).

Your comment 'short on puff' reminded me of something I should have put in my earlier comments. I loved my CCM, which had the air-cooled 650 Suzuki engine in it, and you could squeeze over 90mph out of it. And it's acceleration from 0 was excellent due to weighing as much as a bag of sugar. However acceleration from around 55mph was dismal, this equated to being unable to overtake cars on B roads, because there wasn't enough oomph to get round before the next corner. Very frustrating. Not as bad on wider roads as there's enough room to sit on the white line. The XTX still only has a top speed of around 100mph, but plenty of acceleration throughout.

Just a problem I found on the Derbyshire B roads i frequent, may not be relevant to you.

So come on lets have a review of the DRZ cos as I've said it's on my shortlist against a WR!

Cheers,

SelinaXT

[JONNYBRAYY2K]

what about a yamaha SZR660

http://members.fortunecity.com/roadrash2/1...ha-szr660-2.jpg

I nearly bought one as my first bike.

[poldark]

<!--quoteo(post=147174:date=Sat 16th Jan 2010, 03:47 PM:name=SelinaXT)-->QUOTE(SelinaXT @ Sat 16th Jan 2010, 03:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->So come on lets have a review of the DRZ cos as I've said it's on my shortlist against a WR!

Cheers,

SelinaXT<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Well hear goes.

It had been raining on and off all morning and was drizzling when I had the ride, the bike had a brand new rear tyre and I'm not the most confident rider in the wet anyway, so I was somewhat careful from the off.

The immediate impression was how strange it felt, but you have to consider that 90% of my riding is now done on a Burgman 650 maxiscoot, which is actually quite a surprise in that it handles well for a bit of a barge. With all the weight low down and benefiting from engine in frame (not normal for scoots) and fair suspension.

But given it, like the TDM, is a smooth parallel twin with auto-trans to make power delivery consistent and the TDM has a PCIII so is also well controlled, the DRZ is firmly at the other end of the scale. I've no supermoto experience, so I know this is usual and for many a desired aspect of the DRZ but I struggled at the start to get used to the quite raucous delivery and how the small single cylinder engine burbled at low revs and then switched to a throaty squell when pushed.

However in many ways it is quite intoxicating and I can well see the appeal, but buzzy engines with vibes and tingles have never appealed to me. But as you delve down little roads and build confidence in the handling and control the suspension provides, allied to light weight and decent rubber, I suppose the negatives are forgotten as the enjoyment grows.

I kept looking at the speedo thinking I was pottering at 25, only to find I was doing 40, and the seriously crappy roads with detritus and new ice-made potholes were taken without any concern. I'm sure I'd change my style a bit to get more from the bike, but the handling capabilities for any but largest roads are clear.

I did run along the A41 dual carriageway and was again surprised that 70+ was fairly doable, I wasn't blown about half as much as I expected, though I wouldn't want to endure it for more than maybe half and hour, but that's not what this bike is about anyway.

The rear brake was very strong and the front suffered a little dive given the suspension travel, but no real worries. The seat was quite acceptable and the layout and ergonomics were utilitarian and functional with no anomalies. Perhaps for some the seat height would be an issue, I'm 6' with 32" leg and it was just OK, any shorter and you may have concerns.

No idea on running costs, but the engine is tried and tested and consumables seem at the lower end of the scale as I'm sure insurance would be too.

Ultimately the problem is me, as I'm not sure exactly what I want, so can't say whether it'll suit. I think there's a danger that as I don't have any desire to green-lane or off-road and most of my riding pals are either maxiscoots or sportsbikes/sport tourers, that I may struggle to use it that much. Beyond solo rideouts for the odd hour or two at the weekend, and I reckon I'd likely end up having covered the nearby areas after a few months given I'm on the edge of London.

So I think that it might be a daft purchase at this stage, in fact I even had a sudden realisation that I could get an old R6 and maybe use that for "Sunday-fun" but I'm sure that's partly motivated by wanting to refuse that I'm getting past-it for a sportsbike. But in some ways that could be a more usable bike and I could do a few trackdays before retiring gracefully.

Anyway there's a lot of stuff going on family-wise and house moves and such, so perhaps the prudent thing is to bank the money (assuming my would-be buyer comes through tomorrow) and have a rethink when stuff has settled down. But in the meantime continue to keep an eye out and do some more test rides, I'm certainly going to try out an XT very soon to make the comparison to the DRZ.

Cheers all

[dapleb]

Hope ya don't mind me borrowin yer thread poldark. Its kinda on topic!

Daves boike and me'sen have been tootling around the likkle lanes ear for a week now. Its made for these roads. Single track with high banks and hedges and a generous dollop of shengus running down the middle of most of em. This thing is bloody perfect. Plenty of poke as you ain't going to be over 50 for 90% of the time. Most between 20 and 45mph. Plenty of grunt for the hills.

Went for a tiny tootle today ended up tootling a bit further ....and further and then decided to only turn off a road when I found a smaller road. Within 5 minutes I were down a track to a farm. "OLE BOY.......any chance I can rag along yer track, pulease?". "alroight badger......go doon this wan and ewe'l come ooot on the ole (mumble mumble) road." "If ya want ta do a loop go doon thur arooond thur then ooop thur then come back rooond thur"......."cheers mucker"......

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Can't think of anything that could be so well matched to these ear roads.

I kow its probably not what you want it for poldark but I really cant think of anything that could do the job betterer for rooond ear.

BADGERS.

[Studley Ramrod]

You jammy badger ! What a hoot ! Your gonna need a bigger fuel tank [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/img]

[chrislarkin]

<!--quoteo(post=147886:date=Sat 23rd Jan 2010, 04:35 PM:name=dapleb)-->QUOTE(dapleb @ Sat 23rd Jan 2010, 04:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I really cant think of anything that could do the job betterer for rooond ear.

BADGERS.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

A Serow maybe! Biased, moi?

[dapleb]

<!--quoteo(post=147899:date=Sat 23rd Jan 2010, 06:22 PM:name=TeDeum)-->QUOTE(TeDeum @ Sat 23rd Jan 2010, 06:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->A Serow maybe!<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I ave a push boike already. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/img]

[davida]

<!--quoteo(post=147901:date=Sat 23rd Jan 2010, 06:54 PM:name=dapleb)-->QUOTE(dapleb @ Sat 23rd Jan 2010, 06:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I ave a push boike already. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/img]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Tee Hee! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/img]

[wicklamulla]

<!--quoteo(post=147899:date=Sat 23rd Jan 2010, 06:22 PM:name=TeDeum)-->QUOTE(TeDeum @ Sat 23rd Jan 2010, 06:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->A Serow maybe! Biased, moi?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
they are really sweet as i tried one off road but they are quite limited on the power front and have a small chassis making it cramped fer my not so small chassis. Overall MY DRZ400 suits me better. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]

This post was last modified: 23-01-2010, 10:22 PM by wicklamulla.

[poldark]

<!--quoteo(post=147886:date=Sat 23rd Jan 2010, 04:35 PM:name=dapleb)-->QUOTE(dapleb @ Sat 23rd Jan 2010, 04:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Hope ya don't mind me borrowin yer thread poldark. Its kinda on topic!
Can't think of anything that could be so well matched to these ear roads.
I kow its probably not what you want it for poldark but I really cant think of anything that could do the job betterer for rooond ear.
BADGERS.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
No worries, happy for any contributions and advice, you're lucky to have such great trails, sure don't see too many like that in North London!

Supermoto, or maybe more accurately Streetmoto, sure seems to be topical and a growth business. Lots of posts on London Bikers about sportbikers swapping to SM for commute and weekend jollies, maybe influenced by MCN going bananas for the KTM 990SMT.

If I had trails like that anywhere near me I would jump at the DRZ, but my use'll be 99.9% road and I'm still trying to plan ahead and likely want something capable of longer rides.

Latest thought (dream) is KTM 690 SMC, but it'll take about £1-1.5k more than the original budget, so although I may have a test ride at local dealer I can't move until our house sale goes through, latest revised exchange date is 15th Feb.

Given some mates just laughed when I suggested an R6 I think I've parked that option!

Haven't ruled out the XT, certainly good value option, but KTM has way more ponies and lighter and I'm thinking I may treat myself, also a bit worried by big ECU/fuelling issues on recent XTs, in fact a Tenere would be better idea maybe.

Mr Uncertain [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh.gif[/img]