Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

Controversial question here. Anyone have a naked middleweight matching my criteria that they’d let me try out in London? Just 10 minutes round the block.
Willing to try other engine orientations, twins etc

(My insurance would cover it)

Pal of mine has a hornet 600 and absolutely loves it, easy to service, super reliable and he can get from Brighton to Bodmin in under 4 hours

Seems a bit salty...that's a bloody long way and at least one fuel stop. Must have a neck like a tree trunk.

I've been thinking a bit more about what I want from a bike and potentially shuffling some finances around. Pretty sure this won't happen, well anytime soon at least but if money was no object and you wanted a silly Sunday best V-Twin sports bike what would you choose and why?

Honda SP-1 that you probably wouldn't loose too much money on

or

2nd Gen Aprilia RSV Factory with Ohlins as standard and some Akrapovič cans?

VFR800 naked conversion 😍

The Aprilia Factory is hands down the better bike to ride. I've never ridden one with the Ohlins but the vanilla version is a fantastic bike.

Probably won't lose money on the Honda. In my lengthy five minute blat around the block experience, they feel a bit long and heavy. Cool but RC30/45 it ain't and will never be coveted like one.

Got to be a 916, 996, 999, 1098 in that list too, surely?

@PhilDAS that naked VFR is niiiiice. Honda would clear up if they made something like that. I love VFRs.

Triumph Speed Four? Loved my TT600 (RIP :[ )

Chassis, suspension and brakes are absurdly good. Engine's not the best at low revs but one you're past 4000 it's all good, and the noise at 11k is fantastic. Pretty comfy, too.

Also it won't rust like a cheap Japanese 4

Well the smaller one is around 600 depending on the era. Despite the Hornet Cup racing giving it a following I think the Bandit was a better street bike. I'm pretty sure it was a more upright R6, perhaps a little de-tuned and slightly heavier, basically designed to last a bit longer.

I think these look pretty tidy...in budget too. I'd have one.

I feel guilty saying this but there's something about the RSV Factory that makes me want to ride it more. Also potentially more comfy should I do any 44teeth style lads trips down to Spain for example. Obviously comfort is my main concern with these kind of bikes.

Good point about Ducati, although the belt service intervals (every 2k miles?) is something that put me off when looking at 748's.

If it were Sunday best V twin I’d hunt down a guzzi le mans. I think they are a beautiful bike but it would be a very Very silly choice

Yeah I think I like it a lot too.

If only there was a video comparing the two. Granted that's a very very pretty bike.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe217kwQYzQ

FZ's had de-tuned R6 engines out of the box, and with the right pipe, they can be pretty bleeding shouty.

@PhilDAS You can wrap anything around a lamp post mate. CC's don't mean a thing if the person behind the bars is a pillock. Higher CC's do tend to make for smoother bikes as well.

VFR800 I had was outright brilliant and I'd get another one in a heart beat, but the servicing requirements scared me a bit.
What's your budget anyway if you don't mind me asking?

Oi, bindit 6 is better than the sum of it's parts.

Liked mine lots.

Oh you tease, guzzi.

Hornet 9 is a great bike. Builds up your neck muscles ;)

Agree, fz had detuned engine with different cams so re programing doesn't do much.

VFR cam chains and valve clearances needing a special vtec tool to do the vtec clearances.

Sub 2.5k if possible. Getting 1.7 back from my write off plus whatever I can somehow get for the scrap bike so I’ll have to put a bit towards it.
I’d stretch for something really awesome but I do think I’m setting on the FZ6. Like the look of them a lot and with a couple of subtle mods I think I’d be quite happy with it as a replacement for the GSR.
Basically a naked R6 instead of a naked GSXR

Noiiice. I always like the FZ's. Engine just has some differences in camshaft size and less insane injection. On straight pipes they sound fucking mental. Also can apparently do 160.

*edit. @lynx knows his shit!

Shit, needed special tool for cam chains as well?! How dense the whole block was scared me from working on it, but aside from that, that bike was quicker than it made out to be.

Shame we never did the summer coast ride we all talked about on here

A good friend of mine is looking to buy his first bike and I went along with him to several local dealers. I promise this will be the last time I'll mention it... but saw an SP-1 in the metal which was helpful to eliminate it from my inquiries. Looked mega but smaller than I expected and possibly not surprising, fairly dated. What did surprised me though was how pretty Honda CB1100's are, which has given me some food for thought.

No special tool for the cam chain, the vfr800 has the vtec system (separate) valve that need the honda tool so that you can check the clearances on them. The bike has to be quite stripped apart, oil and water rads need to be moved hence possible issues with things breaking.

Had the usual honda cam tensioner issue I think.

Which one? I was surprised by how nice the RS model was at the dealers. Really stood out from all the hyperbike stuff.