Thinning the herd for a new breed in the stable

"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
09/12/2020 at 02:15 • Filed to: None

When it comes to my bike stable, I have a decent variety - Z125 is a single cylinder city/hoon bike. KLR is a single cylinder, low power easy rider. TDM 850 is a good mid range tourer and vintage project. But my last bike - the triumph trophy 1200 “streetfighter” project is at a standstill. It’s such a stiff bike to ride. Nothing on it wants to work too well. It rides very solidly, like a train, but I feel like I’m not the right rider for it. I feel like I love the idea of turning it into a streetfighter stye naked but the bike needs more work than I’m willing to do and it still has the luggage and whatnot like it’s a touring bike.

So......I think I’m selling my triumph. And I might be willing to part with the KLR too. I feel like the Z125 is my current favorite bike. It is even more stupidly easy to ride than the KLR. The TDM is such a nerd pick, I love it too. The KLR is amazing, but I want a good streetbike right now. Something modern and fun and a bit naughty. But also a bit retro. Soooooo.....I’m considering getting a katana since my local dealership has one for under 10 grand. EIther that or a kawasaki Z900rs.

But first - I need to sell the triumph and a bunch of laptops and other shit and clean out my closet a bit to make room for a potential new steed. I’ll keep y’all posted.

DISCUSSION (16)

Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
09/12/2020 at 02:56

The new Katana is a decent bike but it has a small 3.2gal for that 999cc. The range is poor, TMF said he would fill up around every 95 miles during his time with it . In multiple long term reviews this is mentioned as it’s most a glaring issue.

I really haven’t come across issues with the Z900RS, most reviews and owners praise it.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com
09/12/2020 at 03:01

.....That seriously annoys me if the non-Katana’d GSX-1000S has a bigger tank by a significant margin.

That said, I do love the idea of kawasaki for kawasaki so I don’t see the Z900RS as settling by any means. I just want a big, naked japanese 4 banger for a fun daily/weekend burner.

Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
09/12/2020 at 03:05

:( It’s bigger at 4.5gal. 40% more capacity, I’d call that significant.

But hey, if it’s just for quick burns or you don’t mind fill ups!

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com
09/12/2020 at 03:17

It’s not that I’d ever really be stranded, but I love my KLR’s 6+ gallon tank since it combines with 50-60mpg economy to give an effective range of over 300 miles. I don’t expect every bike to have that, but 150-200 miles of range would be nice. My Z125 has a 200 mile range despite only having a 2 gallon tank......

Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
09/12/2020 at 03:45

Agreed.

I usually do about 160mi between fills which actually only draws me down to 1/3 tank (I also have a 4.5gal tank like the GSX-S) . Below that t he sole fuel bar starts blinking at me and counting up milage like I’m in some race against time to find a gas station . I hate blinking things on the dash, even though realistically I have another 60-70 safe miles of range, it drives me nuts .

It’s just a shame the tank size it was reduced that much for styling purposes.

krustywantout > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
09/12/2020 at 07:20

I really like the Ninja 1000. I have been impressed with the quality of Kawasaki bikes. I’ve had one Suzuki, a V Strom 1000, and it felt very cheap. The brakes on the Suzuki felt terrible. The other hoon bike I’ve been looking at is the Indian FTR 1200. Not Japanese but seems like a good bike to have fun with.

AdverseMartyr > Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com
09/12/2020 at 09:25

I think it’s because the main market and concern is Japan. My guess is the majority of (true) target buyers will be using it for commutes of 20km or so with their speeds getting to about 70kph before being so much faster than traffic that they’d get a visit from the police officers at their home. And style is probably a little more important than anything else here.

kleeBRZ > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
09/12/2020 at 09:55

did someone say naughty retro tourer?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/v9vrUqQtP2QxM5vu9">

https://photos.app.goo.gl/mvbCHazpEwSdcBJ56

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > krustywantout
09/12/2020 at 13:10

Completely forgot about the ftr and that is also on the list now

Dead_Elvis, Inc. > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
09/12/2020 at 15:50

You should sell the TDM.

To me.

That was one of the weirdos I fell in love with when it came out, but I was still too new a rider to feel like I should be ponying up for a brand new machine. I’ve only ever seen a handful in the wild, but it’s been years & years. What’s it like to live with?

I wish it had been sold here longer, and sold well enough that we would have received the TRX850 & TDM900.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Dead_Elvis, Inc.
09/12/2020 at 17:49

Mine’s down with electrical problems but it rides so smoothly and comfortably. Really easy bike to ride, since I ride a KLR for a daily and commuter. I think if I put on a decent seat, I would definitely go on longer trips on it. WOuldn’t take it off road too much, unless I replaced the suspension, but it has the legs for weekend trips no problem.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Dead_Elvis, Inc.
09/12/2020 at 23:41

That being said, if you want to name a price..... It *is* still a really good bike to ride and it is immediately obvious that it basically helped develop the adventure-sport-touring class of bike. Comfy, reasonable power, and my preferred riding height as you can easily see above/into nearby cars so they cant be all “Whaaaaaaaaaa? I didn’t see you?” when shit goes a bit south.

Dead_Elvis, Inc. > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
09/12/2020 at 23:58

I wasn’t being terribly serious (two cars & one motorcycle currently, with no garage) , although if you’re somewhere relatively close to Seattle, that may change things. I do miss having a twin - as much as I love my ZRX, sometimes the buzz of an inline 4 just gets old. It’s also a bit of a pig for a city bike, and the height of the TDM (or KLR! ) is appealing on a city commuter.

What sort of electrical issues is it having?

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Dead_Elvis, Inc.
09/13/2020 at 01:32

Battery doesn’t charge and it dies if the battery loses charge. I havea few of the parts needed to fix it but the pandemic slowed the search and arrival of a few more. It’s a great bike to ride....for 20ish miles. Battery works great though! Pretty sure the alternator/generator/dynamo/whatever that coil thingy is called is the culprit.

Even if it isn’t mine, they are CHEAP to buy around the country. I paid 1200$ for mine with some ex tra bits and service manuals. Rough condition ones are well under a grand and ridable ones are 2-3 grand.

Dead_Elvis, Inc. > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
09/13/2020 at 17:04

That sounds like more of a project than I’m looking for. I wonder if they’re cheap due to certain parts being scarce or non-existent?

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Dead_Elvis, Inc.
09/13/2020 at 17:52

Mostly it's due to people not knowing anything about them. Parts aren't bad, and there's a healthy supply from overseas. But there is some.odd design choices, like having to basically take apart the rear end to replace the battery....