749. Disappointing because I bought a duffer and I so wanted it to be special. Didn't get to ride it enough to really find out if it was good or not. My main memories are firing on one cylinder, being hot as hell in leathers on a beautiful day trying to get the damn thing to start and stalling at low revs at junctions and round abouts. Looked nice though.
Oh yes, the 749. I did find that rather disappointing. Had a test ride and bought a new one. After all, it was cheaper than the 999 and had as many bhp as my ex-916. As many bhp perhaps, but nowhere near the stomp. I found it heavier on fuel, not a great tank range and the front always felt it wanted to tuck (which was very odd on a new bike). It hit a false neutral in my first year of ownership, dropped in its gear all by itself at about 9'000 rpm, spat me off and wrote itself off. So ended my 749 experience.
As said its easy and doesn't seem big at all on the move, except filtering, but its easy as big as the beemer but more oomph and better road manners I know coz I had one, and it spent most of its life on the edge of a thrashing it to keep up with sportsbikes mates. And I can assure anyone, up to 130 or on very fast bends, like three figures, it didnt disappoint
Worst bike I ever had was an early VFR800. What a sack of shite! Changed from a VFR750FM which was a great bike and expected it to be an upgrade. It wasn't. Despite being 4 years old and 10,000miles it was already corroding, 2 reg/recs in a year, uncomfortable, etc. Fell off it at low speed when I locked the front brake.....with linked brakes.... Falling off is expensive as Honda designed it so that the indicator punches through the top fairing, so even a small spill needs the biggest bit of plastic replaced. The fuelling was awful low down, but you had to thrash it anyway as Honda had removed all the low down power (probably to hide the fact the fuelling was so snatchy). Always horrifies me when I see VFR800 articles that say to buy an early one as they're better than the VTECs - how shocking must they be!! I used to think it was just me but the prices of late 750s are much higher than early 800s, so obviously significant amounts of people feel the same. The most disappointing bike I didn't own was a '96 'blade. Gave me cramp in my hips within 2 miles, guess I'm just not designed to sit like a frog.
Guzzis don't break down. Ever. I can only assume you bought a shitter. People make a big deal about Honda reliability, but a big block Guzzi will easily knock out 200k on home servicing - try that on yer Duke...
My friend has bought a new one, met with him last Sunday and I can tell he's not in love with it, terrible riding position, like most Triumphs, seat is far too high and clip ons too low.
Monster S4RS. Too highly strung a motor in a mediocre chassis for a naked. Awkward ergos, somehow I never got on with it. Don't miss it and sometimes forget I even had it, although it looked great parked up.
mine did, quite often just a shocking total lack of any quality control friend bought a new one, he had multiple warranty claims on it, its now abandoned in his driveway as a ferrous oxide garden ornament
He11cat, I reckon you'd absolutely adore a small block Guzzi. The V35, V50, V65 and V75 models all go well and handle well, although they're all knocking on a bit now. The only thing to watch for is that they don't smoke (the cylinders are chromed, and the plating can wear). They are officially the easiest bikes in the world to service, and are nice and compact for the vertically challenged...
The 750 Breva is also a cracking bike, low seat height, lovely and agile to ride, prices are becoming a bit more sensible on the money now
Yes, and of course there are the gorgeous new V7 models if you've got enough cash. But they're a bit too breathless for a hunter-gatherer like myself...
After coming from a T509 I bought a year old 900SS in 1999 and hated it, lumpy engine, uncomfortable, killed my wrists, horrible dry stiff rattly clutch, paint was peeling on the frame, odd looks in certain angles !! a right bitch of a bike. Sold it after 3 months. I've owned 15 Ducati's since then .....
