What used naked bike?
Discussion
Off it’s not going to be ridden for a while you are better off with fuel injection rather than carbs. And if you can use E5fuel the last time you fill it up that’s a good idea as well.
My xjr13 is on carbs and I drain the float bowls on that before I lay it up. The 1400 is on injection and is no issue.
One of the reasons I have those two bikes is they are very easy to home service, and are pretty much bullet proof. The 14 will turbo to 200bhp with no internal engine mods at all which shows how strong it is. If you do look at a 14 check the frame for corrosion round the top shock mounts , Suzuki paint wasn’t brilliant back then, and check that the rear shock preload adjustment moves freely, they can seize. Handling, it’s worth setting it up right. Loads of guidance on that on gsx1400 owners forum which is excellent.
My xjr13 is on carbs and I drain the float bowls on that before I lay it up. The 1400 is on injection and is no issue.
One of the reasons I have those two bikes is they are very easy to home service, and are pretty much bullet proof. The 14 will turbo to 200bhp with no internal engine mods at all which shows how strong it is. If you do look at a 14 check the frame for corrosion round the top shock mounts , Suzuki paint wasn’t brilliant back then, and check that the rear shock preload adjustment moves freely, they can seize. Handling, it’s worth setting it up right. Loads of guidance on that on gsx1400 owners forum which is excellent.
I'm putting my plan into action about a year later than I thought. My VFR is back to running well and all MOTed. It just needs a fresh set of tyres as the ones on it are 14 years old. The fuel pressure dropping and clogged injectors was a complete fabrication by the bike repair specialist. They failed to replace little cable retainers under the tank and there are now a couple of screws missing from the airbox. I won't be using them again. I took off the airbox, cleaned the throttle bodies, bought an injector testing kid, made a fuel line adfaptor to test fuel pressure, took the fuel pump out of the tank. Tested all the sensors that I could. In the end, the only thing needed was a couple of spark plugs. They seemed to test okay when cold but stopped sparking as soon as they got warm. I've now replaced all four plugs, the VFR is back to running perfectly.
But I still have a naked bike on my shopping list. On the one hand I'm sorely tempted by a shiny but high mileage Bandit 1200 on sale at a bike dealer not particularly close to me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QwARvmV1uI
However, I test-rode two Triumph demonstrators today at West London Triumph (West Byfleet).
First, the Speed Twin 1200 RS with orange paint scheme. I really liked the low down grunt and the thumping soundtrack while on the throttle, and it was very confidence-inspiring both at very low speeds when slipping the clutch and at higher speeds. Only I think I would need to rewire my brain because it ran out of revs long before I felt ready to change gear when pressing on. I guess I would need to get used to surfing the wave or torque and not expecting things to happen higher up in the rev range. It's very much like the r-nineT that I test rode a decade ago but didn't buy. I regret that with hindsight.
The riding position felt very relaxed and upright which I liked, but the narrow seat (especially with the tank in my crotch) made for a sore bum pretty quickly. But I felt the same way with the BMW. I'm sure that's just because I haven't been riding much lately, and because my VFR has a wide, comfy seat and puts much more of my weight onto the bars.
The second bike I rode was the Speed Triple 1200 RS. What a difference to the Speed Twin! I hadn't looked up too much about either bike beforehand because I didn't want knowledge of the specs to cloud my judgment. What a bike. Certainly the fastest thing on two wheels that I've ever ridden. I even popped an accidental wheelie when reaching for the "Home" button with my right thumb. I tweaked the throttle accidentally and the front wheel just popped up. Not something I was expecting or am equipped to deal with. Luckily it came back to earth without any drama, but it set me on edge for the rest of the ride. I found the clutch quite difficult to judge when moving off from a standstill, so I stalled it embarrassingly in the middle of exiting a junction. Dammit. When on song the sound of that triple was quite addictive, but I didn't have the opportunity to really open it up since Surrey CC seem to have installed average speed cameras on lots of the roads around Weybridge and I didn't have enough time to get to some really open roads. But It's certainly too much bike for me, now that I know what kind of power it makes. I think I would be better suited with a less powerful one, but I wanted to see what the best triple had to offer.
I've now got to go on a business trip for a week, so there will be no riding at all (apart from a Parisian electric Yego scooter perhaps) so I'll be mulling it over. I wish the Speed Twin didn't have a single digital clock. I see that the older model has twin traditional clocks so I'm more likely to go for a second hand bike if I choose the Speed Twin. I don't really care about quickshifters and I'm probably not experienced enough to know the difference between the posh suspension on the RS or the standard stuff on the unenhanced bike...
But I still have a naked bike on my shopping list. On the one hand I'm sorely tempted by a shiny but high mileage Bandit 1200 on sale at a bike dealer not particularly close to me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QwARvmV1uI
However, I test-rode two Triumph demonstrators today at West London Triumph (West Byfleet).
First, the Speed Twin 1200 RS with orange paint scheme. I really liked the low down grunt and the thumping soundtrack while on the throttle, and it was very confidence-inspiring both at very low speeds when slipping the clutch and at higher speeds. Only I think I would need to rewire my brain because it ran out of revs long before I felt ready to change gear when pressing on. I guess I would need to get used to surfing the wave or torque and not expecting things to happen higher up in the rev range. It's very much like the r-nineT that I test rode a decade ago but didn't buy. I regret that with hindsight.
The riding position felt very relaxed and upright which I liked, but the narrow seat (especially with the tank in my crotch) made for a sore bum pretty quickly. But I felt the same way with the BMW. I'm sure that's just because I haven't been riding much lately, and because my VFR has a wide, comfy seat and puts much more of my weight onto the bars.
The second bike I rode was the Speed Triple 1200 RS. What a difference to the Speed Twin! I hadn't looked up too much about either bike beforehand because I didn't want knowledge of the specs to cloud my judgment. What a bike. Certainly the fastest thing on two wheels that I've ever ridden. I even popped an accidental wheelie when reaching for the "Home" button with my right thumb. I tweaked the throttle accidentally and the front wheel just popped up. Not something I was expecting or am equipped to deal with. Luckily it came back to earth without any drama, but it set me on edge for the rest of the ride. I found the clutch quite difficult to judge when moving off from a standstill, so I stalled it embarrassingly in the middle of exiting a junction. Dammit. When on song the sound of that triple was quite addictive, but I didn't have the opportunity to really open it up since Surrey CC seem to have installed average speed cameras on lots of the roads around Weybridge and I didn't have enough time to get to some really open roads. But It's certainly too much bike for me, now that I know what kind of power it makes. I think I would be better suited with a less powerful one, but I wanted to see what the best triple had to offer.
I've now got to go on a business trip for a week, so there will be no riding at all (apart from a Parisian electric Yego scooter perhaps) so I'll be mulling it over. I wish the Speed Twin didn't have a single digital clock. I see that the older model has twin traditional clocks so I'm more likely to go for a second hand bike if I choose the Speed Twin. I don't really care about quickshifters and I'm probably not experienced enough to know the difference between the posh suspension on the RS or the standard stuff on the unenhanced bike...
LunarOne said:
I wish the Speed Twin didn't have a single digital clock. I see that the older model has twin traditional clocks so I'm more likely to go for a second hand bike if I choose the Speed Twin. I don't really care about quickshifters and I'm probably not experienced enough to know the difference between the posh suspension on the RS or the standard stuff on the unenhanced bike...
I chose a Moto Guzzi V7 Special last year in France as it had twin analogue clocks. This year’s model has the single ugly offset LCD monstrosity of all the other variants 
I have a quickshifter on my Tiger 1200 in Geneva, but clutchless up (and down) shifts are possible on most bikes when you get the knack of matching revs, quickly cutting the throttle, etc.
Last weekend I went for a ride here in France with a chap on an Aprilia Tuono, with a fancy suspension but obviously set up for smooth fast roads/track. He suffered a lot on the twisty (but not very smooth) roads through the hills towards Cluny, and again when we got to the mountain roads in the Parc du Morvan.
My Guzzi (although with about half the horsepower but buckets of torque) was in its element, as well as eating up the fast A/B roads in between. He remarked on this at the coffee stop, and I told him this is why I had sold my 748R and got a V7 instead for the roads around Southern Burgundy.
I am seriously considering a Speed Twin as a second bike at my Swiss place, and much as I like the bling of the Öhlins (like on my old Ducati), the standard bike/suspension would probably be fine if not better for real world roads. I am also considering a 900 instead of the full fat 1200, as it really would be for the odd afternoon ride around the vineyards and the Jura, so no need for any more power than I currently enjoy on the Guzzi.
PS. I lived in Weybridge before leaving the UK in 1999, and still have family there and in West Byfleet, Chertsey and Guildford.
LunarOne said:
I have the urge to buy another bike.
<snip>
On the one hand, I'm tempted to buy an old Blackbird. I'm about 179cm (5'11") but a fatty at about 125Kg so I'm sure that could handle my weight. But on the other hand, I'm much more drawn to naked bikes - the kind with round chrome headlights rather than the super-modern-looking ones. If it weren't for that I'd have gone straight for a Tuono V4.
In 2015 I test-rode a BMW RnineT and really liked it, apart from the lack of a top end that a four cylinder bike tends to have, and the feeble exhaust note. I remember being loaned a CB900 by Honda Chiswick once when my VFR went in for a service, and finding it nowhere near as powerful as I thought a bike with a Fireblade engine (albeit detuned) would be but it felt very easy to ride and I thought I might like one. I also test rode a new GSX1400 at one point and found it totally listless.
<snip>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhhWyUEuQik<snip>
On the one hand, I'm tempted to buy an old Blackbird. I'm about 179cm (5'11") but a fatty at about 125Kg so I'm sure that could handle my weight. But on the other hand, I'm much more drawn to naked bikes - the kind with round chrome headlights rather than the super-modern-looking ones. If it weren't for that I'd have gone straight for a Tuono V4.
In 2015 I test-rode a BMW RnineT and really liked it, apart from the lack of a top end that a four cylinder bike tends to have, and the feeble exhaust note. I remember being loaned a CB900 by Honda Chiswick once when my VFR went in for a service, and finding it nowhere near as powerful as I thought a bike with a Fireblade engine (albeit detuned) would be but it felt very easy to ride and I thought I might like one. I also test rode a new GSX1400 at one point and found it totally listless.
<snip>
Dials and twin exhausts. Looks like a motorbike. Wide comfy seat too?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-search?advertisi...
Edited by carinaman on Saturday 14th June 23:20
LunarOne said:
I have the urge to buy another bike.
I'm 50 later this year and got my licence 25 years ago. In that time, I've only had two bikes - a Bandit 600 naked (which I loved) and a VFR800 5th gen - the one before VTEC which I still own but never really gelled with. I love the sound of the V-four on song, but I don't love the weight on my wrists. Due to limited use, the VFR needs some work - it won't idle reliably when warm and I'm told the fuel pressure drops off at idle, and the injectors are likely blocked.
But I no longer commute and no longer have any family to look after, so I barely drive anywhere these days - I just do a 2-3 week road trip in my Boxster around nicer bits of Europe once a year on my own. When I do drive in the UK, I'm immensely frustrated by the glacial pace of traffic in my part of north west Surrey. All the NSLs have become 40s, and all the drivers seem to have become brain-dead as a result and some barely manage 30 on these roads. So once again, I'm drawn to biking, where I can blat past all the automatons doing their thing in slow motion. On the one hand, I'm tempted to buy an old Blackbird. I'm about 179cm (5'11") but a fatty at about 125Kg so I'm sure that could handle my weight. But on the other hand, I'm much more drawn to naked bikes - the kind with round chrome headlights rather than the super-modern-looking ones. If it weren't for that I'd have gone straight for a Tuono V4.
In 2015 I test-rode a BMW RnineT and really liked it, apart from the lack of a top end that a four cylinder bike tends to have, and the feeble exhaust note. I remember being loaned a CB900 by Honda Chiswick once when my VFR went in for a service, and finding it nowhere near as powerful as I thought a bike with a Fireblade engine (albeit detuned) would be but it felt very easy to ride and I thought I might like one. I also test rode a new GSX1400 at one point and found it totally listless.
I don't have much of a clue about bikes from Yamaha, Kawasaki, Triumph or Ducati.
I'm not a speed demon in that I don't care about triple figure speeds. I don't do track days, get my knee down, do wheelies or ride like a twit. But I do love twisties and I love a good exhaust note.
I don't care too much about ULEZ although compliance would be a bonus as I'm only a few miles from the outer edge of the London zone, and I don't care too much about age or gizmos like ABS. I will only ever ride on dry days.
I've found researching this to be tricky - I haven't kept up on what bikes are out there for about 20 years, and everything about naked bikes seems to focus on the middleweights an I think I want more power. Can anyone suggest a naked bike on the more traditional-looking side of things, which is nimble enough not to feel crap in the twisties, and has a bit of power? Something in the 110-160bhp range would probably suit. Thanks!
Left-field suggestion: given the VFR is back to full health, why not streetfighter it? Other than the look and riding position the bike seems to tick all your boxes. Honda reliability, abundant power & torque, good brakes & suspension plus decent fuel economy to boot. You could put whatever headlight you wanted on and polish the frame and other bare aluminium parts for that chrome look. A tail tidy & custom leather seat would finish it off beautifully. I'm 50 later this year and got my licence 25 years ago. In that time, I've only had two bikes - a Bandit 600 naked (which I loved) and a VFR800 5th gen - the one before VTEC which I still own but never really gelled with. I love the sound of the V-four on song, but I don't love the weight on my wrists. Due to limited use, the VFR needs some work - it won't idle reliably when warm and I'm told the fuel pressure drops off at idle, and the injectors are likely blocked.
But I no longer commute and no longer have any family to look after, so I barely drive anywhere these days - I just do a 2-3 week road trip in my Boxster around nicer bits of Europe once a year on my own. When I do drive in the UK, I'm immensely frustrated by the glacial pace of traffic in my part of north west Surrey. All the NSLs have become 40s, and all the drivers seem to have become brain-dead as a result and some barely manage 30 on these roads. So once again, I'm drawn to biking, where I can blat past all the automatons doing their thing in slow motion. On the one hand, I'm tempted to buy an old Blackbird. I'm about 179cm (5'11") but a fatty at about 125Kg so I'm sure that could handle my weight. But on the other hand, I'm much more drawn to naked bikes - the kind with round chrome headlights rather than the super-modern-looking ones. If it weren't for that I'd have gone straight for a Tuono V4.
In 2015 I test-rode a BMW RnineT and really liked it, apart from the lack of a top end that a four cylinder bike tends to have, and the feeble exhaust note. I remember being loaned a CB900 by Honda Chiswick once when my VFR went in for a service, and finding it nowhere near as powerful as I thought a bike with a Fireblade engine (albeit detuned) would be but it felt very easy to ride and I thought I might like one. I also test rode a new GSX1400 at one point and found it totally listless.
I don't have much of a clue about bikes from Yamaha, Kawasaki, Triumph or Ducati.
I'm not a speed demon in that I don't care about triple figure speeds. I don't do track days, get my knee down, do wheelies or ride like a twit. But I do love twisties and I love a good exhaust note.
I don't care too much about ULEZ although compliance would be a bonus as I'm only a few miles from the outer edge of the London zone, and I don't care too much about age or gizmos like ABS. I will only ever ride on dry days.
I've found researching this to be tricky - I haven't kept up on what bikes are out there for about 20 years, and everything about naked bikes seems to focus on the middleweights an I think I want more power. Can anyone suggest a naked bike on the more traditional-looking side of things, which is nimble enough not to feel crap in the twisties, and has a bit of power? Something in the 110-160bhp range would probably suit. Thanks!
https://images.app.goo.gl/g3cZotsjqwCEJgnW6
https://images.app.goo.gl/FghTMah7yNAGPoMB9
MurderousCrow said:
Left-field suggestion: given the VFR is back to full health, why not streetfighter it? Other than the look and riding position the bike seems to tick all your boxes. Honda reliability, abundant power & torque, good brakes & suspension plus decent fuel economy to boot. You could put whatever headlight you wanted on and polish the frame and other bare aluminium parts for that chrome look. A tail tidy & custom leather seat would finish it off beautifully.
https://images.app.goo.gl/g3cZotsjqwCEJgnW6
https://images.app.goo.gl/FghTMah7yNAGPoMB9
From subsequent posts it seems the VFR has been mended having been taken to another motorcycle mechanic. https://images.app.goo.gl/g3cZotsjqwCEJgnW6
https://images.app.goo.gl/FghTMah7yNAGPoMB9
hiccy18 said:
I think the R12 nineT is quite overpriced compared to the R1250R/RS, not sure what you're paying for but it's not substance and the styling isn't pretty enough to jerk £3/4k change. Also quite a lot of budget creep as stated.
I'm over 6 feet tall, and find the R nine Ts too small, and the R1250R is much more comfortable, and has another 30bhp. MurderousCrow said:
carinaman said:
From subsequent posts it seems the VFR has been mended having been taken to another motorcycle mechanic.
Yeah I saw that, am I missing something? It's been known to happen lol. The only issue remaining is a slightly high idle that remains even though I've wound the idle screw all the way out. But I'd been fiddling with the throttle body balancing screws and I found a random superbike surgery video that tells me that this is likely the cause, so I'll fix that as soon as I can get some carb synchronisation gauges. The VFR now has just over 7050 miles on the clock and is in mint condition so I have no intention of streetfightering it. I'd like to keep it all original.
But for the naked bike I want something with more torque and possible faster steering. The Speed Twin certainly fits the bill, but I still have the hankering for an inline-four musclebike. The Kwak 900 that has been mentioned a few times sounds interesting and it seems I misjudged the GSX1400 although I wouldn't call that nimble. And yes, the Honda X11 (naked Blackbird) is also of interest although I doubt that will be more nimble than the VFR.
A few photos of the VFR in bits and then being MOTed the other Sunday.
I guess I was sort of hoping that a big inline four might feel torquey at the bottom end without sacrificing the top end. Back in the day I heard lots of stories of the Bandit 1200 having gobs of torque. Never tried one. But the GSX1400 had decent torque but I felt it didn't have much top-end go.
Let me rephrase my ask then. What naked bike has a decent amount of bottom-end torque (not necessarily as much as a twin) but also goes well at the top end? Maybe the X11 is what I want but never ridden it (or a Blackbird).
I predict a chorus of "get an old Speed triple"!
Let me rephrase my ask then. What naked bike has a decent amount of bottom-end torque (not necessarily as much as a twin) but also goes well at the top end? Maybe the X11 is what I want but never ridden it (or a Blackbird).
I predict a chorus of "get an old Speed triple"!
LunarOne said:
I guess I was sort of hoping that a big inline four might feel torquey at the bottom end without sacrificing the top end. Back in the day I heard lots of stories of the Bandit 1200 having gobs of torque. Never tried one. But the GSX1400 had decent torque but I felt it didn't have much top-end go.
Let me rephrase my ask then. What naked bike has a decent amount of bottom-end torque (not necessarily as much as a twin) but also goes well at the top end? Maybe the X11 is what I want but never ridden it (or a Blackbird).
I predict a chorus of "get an old Speed triple"!
MT-09Let me rephrase my ask then. What naked bike has a decent amount of bottom-end torque (not necessarily as much as a twin) but also goes well at the top end? Maybe the X11 is what I want but never ridden it (or a Blackbird).
I predict a chorus of "get an old Speed triple"!
KTMsm said:
LunarOne said:
I predict a chorus of "get an old Speed triple"!
Essentially the question you're asking is "what fits between a twin and a four-cylinder"
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