RE: PH 2016 - Our favourite cars and bikes

[ZX10R NIN]

Ho Lee Kau said:

ZX10R NIN said:

I was lucky enough to have a 1299 Ducati Superleggera for a long weekend & I have to say despite having an MV F4 the difference was huge as was the grin on my face so that's my bike of the year.

Rode 1299S a few times. That bike has character for sure. Doesn`l like to go slow(ish) at all and pain in the ass (literally) in any type of traffic. For test ride - super, owning - forgetit. Getting stuck in traffic on an alpine road in the summer (actually, everything above 10C) on a Panigale is hell.

Don`t know about MV F4, never tried one, the only thing I know is they are pretty heavy at 220+kg wet. Rode F3 800, great piece of machinery, again, like Duc, charismatic and beautiful,... except for juddering clutch, totally useless mirrors (with built-in turn signals to boot) and cramped and ugly dash.

My favourite is RSV4, really sweet, turns as sharp as Daytona 675 I have...except unsure about build quality, reading forums it seems to be 50/50, you may get a gem or you may get a lemon whose engine will leak right from the start or whose electronics will acquire its own life, and it will take months to fix the issues, if they ever get fixed.

Italians, know how to grab your heart, but always put a fly in the honey.

My mate had his RSV4 for two years with no issues, he commutes with it three time a week so no garage queen he reckons the hardest thing to find isn't a good bike it's actually finding a good dealer who can look after it.

It's a similar story with the MV being tall the mirrors is less of an issue also an arm movement normally makes it a non issue for me, yes it's a heavy bike but it's planted & handles you just have to fling it in. The dash I don't worry about it tells me my speed so for me it's doing it job

[Ho Lee Kau]

Biker's Nemesis said:

Ho Lee Kau said:

ZX10R NIN said:

I was lucky enough to have a 1299 Ducati Superleggera for a long weekend & I have to say despite having an MV F4 the difference was huge as was the grin on my face so that's my bike of the year.

Rode 1299S a few times. That bike has character for sure. Doesn`l like to go slow(ish) at all and pain in the ass (literally) in any type of traffic. For test ride - super, owning - forgetit. Getting stuck in traffic on an alpine road in the summer (actually, everything above 10C) on a Panigale is hell.

Don`t know about MV F4, never tried one, the only thing I know is they are pretty heavy at 220+kg wet. Rode F3 800, great piece of machinery, again, like Duc, charismatic and beautiful,... except for juddering clutch, totally useless mirrors (with built-in turn signals to boot) and cramped and ugly dash.

My favourite is RSV4, really sweet, turns as sharp as Daytona 675 I have...except unsure about build quality, reading forums it seems to be 50/50, you may get a gem or you may get a lemon whose engine will leak right from the start or whose electronics will acquire its own life, and it will take months to fix the issues, if they ever get fixed.

Italians, know how to grab your heart, but always put a fly in the honey.

My favourite bike of this year is (the one I own) Yamaha R1-M, it had a great engine, the sound is different from everything else out there and it has so far handled everything I have asked of it.

I've also ridden a 1299s, great bikes also.

Haven`t riden the M, but the standard R1 I did ride a bit.
That one feels like a 600 for sure! One sits on this bike and it almost compels one to "race", I like that. Handling is really great.
Sound is somehow Ducatish.
What I didn`t like is the lousy on/off gas response, disgustingly jerky.
Also, the looks, that ugly collector underneath that will go ugly after a few rides, why Yamaha could not cover it with some plastic I just cannot understand.
BMW had the same problem with their first and second iterations of S1000RR, but managed to cover the ugliness (actually - get rid of it altogether) for 2015 model, now they went back to the ugly open exhaust collector.
That naked collector is also one of the reasons I never liked the looks of the big Ninja.

So I tried R1, I really looked forward to this test...but in the end I would not buy that bike.

For now I stick to Daytona (buttery-smooth gas, excellent handling and special triple sound) and to the good ole K6 GSXR1000 (massive torque and again buttery-smooth gas response), and my lovely CBR954RR, which does have jerky throttle response around 3000rpm and is quiet, but feels extremely light and handles like the best 600s.

I really look forward to 2017, I want to test ride GSXR1000R (though I like the looks of my K6 more) and, of course, the new Fireblade SP, imho it looks great already on photos.

[Ho Lee Kau]

ZX10R NIN said:

Ho Lee Kau said:

ZX10R NIN said:

I was lucky enough to have a 1299 Ducati Superleggera for a long weekend & I have to say despite having an MV F4 the difference was huge as was the grin on my face so that's my bike of the year.

Rode 1299S a few times. That bike has character for sure. Doesn`l like to go slow(ish) at all and pain in the ass (literally) in any type of traffic. For test ride - super, owning - forgetit. Getting stuck in traffic on an alpine road in the summer (actually, everything above 10C) on a Panigale is hell.

Don`t know about MV F4, never tried one, the only thing I know is they are pretty heavy at 220+kg wet. Rode F3 800, great piece of machinery, again, like Duc, charismatic and beautiful,... except for juddering clutch, totally useless mirrors (with built-in turn signals to boot) and cramped and ugly dash.

My favourite is RSV4, really sweet, turns as sharp as Daytona 675 I have...except unsure about build quality, reading forums it seems to be 50/50, you may get a gem or you may get a lemon whose engine will leak right from the start or whose electronics will acquire its own life, and it will take months to fix the issues, if they ever get fixed.

Italians, know how to grab your heart, but always put a fly in the honey.

My mate had his RSV4 for two years with no issues, he commutes with it three time a week so no garage queen he reckons the hardest thing to find isn't a good bike it's actually finding a good dealer who can look after it.

It's a similar story with the MV being tall the mirrors is less of an issue also an arm movement normally makes it a non issue for me, yes it's a heavy bike but it's planted & handles you just have to fling it in. The dash I don't worry about it tells me my speed so for me it's doing it job

Agree on all points.

I am really tempted to part-ex Daytona (and maybe throw K6 in as well) for last year`s RSV4RF....but somehow cannot make myself do it. We have Aprilia services pretty conveniently placed and a tall friend of mine has the RSV4RF and is very excited about it. I did not ride the RSV4RF, but I rode the previous RSV4 APRC Factory with Akra can and liked it. But I rode it back-to-back with my 954RR and I liked my 954RR even more after that. :-) 954RR stays with me as long as I can keep it, it`s my "collectable" bike. :-) I am just so apprehensive about getting a lemon of RSV4, engine starts leaking, electronics play up, gas tank will "change shape" because of plastic etc. All can be fixed, there is warranty, but do I need this hassle, go to service, wait, thereafter not trust the bike fully etc...I guess I am not an Aprilia Believer yet.

On the local mountain hairpins there is a guy on MV F4. He rides well, knee down and all. I admire the bike as well, these things are work of art in terms of looks. Gotta try F4 somewhere somehow, at least "for the records".

As far as dash is concerned, I agree, speed is really the only thing necessary to see, well, maybe revs sometimes (I prefer the old school round tachos with a needle) and ridden distance (in order to fuel up in time, important in the mountains). Aesthetically though the dash on F3 looked so subpar, weird shape, small screen, cramped letters/numbers black-on-yellow, ewww, ugly, and for me this is also important. I like the most the mix of analogue tacho and digital rest, like on 954RR/S1000RR/RSV4Factory.

Edited by Ho Lee Kau on Sunday 25th December 12:40

Edited by Ho Lee Kau on Sunday 25th December 12:41

[ZX10R NIN]

He has the APRC & I enjoy ridding it when we swap it's an easier bike to ride fast & is very enjoyable but I prefer the MV it doesn't give up it's sweet spot as easy, I have to say it's surprised me by how much I actually enjoy this bike especially as it followed the S1000R but I really wouldn't swap back & then we get to the engine along with the exhaust & some mapping the noise & throttle response is superb (you do have to map it) my 2005 ZX10R is my collectible.

Anyway have a good christmas

[Loyly]

My bike of the year for 2016 is the humble Street Triple. I had one from Triumph as a courtesy bike from Triumph in August for a couple of days and what a joy it was.

It may seem a little ubiquitous and prosaic, but it was an absolute joy once I was used to the upright, knees forward seating position. As I rode it home from work, I flew past a new Octavia VRS which was trying to make an effort not to be passed as we rode up a two lane hill onto the A1. It looked about as quick as an oil tanker when I passed it. That little 675cc engine just begs to used hard. Silky smooth fuelling from low speeds and a lovely slick, positive shifter means firing gears at it feels great.

The greatest 'triumph' is the handling though. What an exploitable chassis. It feels like a bloody stunt bike. The sensation of weightlessness and the ease with which it'll lean over is just amazing. The Street Triple is absolutely the bike that sold me on nakeds.

It also made my T595 feel absolutely brutal when I got on it. Hunched over, head down and extremely loud and really, really fast!

[Ahbefive]

Yipper said:

A Focus RS that is slower than most of its main rivals and looks uglier than the previous model..

What rivals is the RS slower than? Also looks are subjective and I find it miles better looking than a mk2.

[200Plus Club]

My bike of the year is my new Triumph Thruxton R. It's just beautiful and rides lovely. Can't wait for spring and some nice days out, I'd just broken it in and had a first service when the crap weather came.

[ZX10R NIN]

Biker's Nemesis said:

My favourite bike of this year is (the one I own) Yamaha R1-M, it had a great engine, the sound is different from everything else out there and it has so far handled everything I have asked of it.

I've also ridden a 1299s, great bikes also.

I really struggled to get on with the R1-M for some reason, it wasn't just anyone thing it was everytime I got off one I just felt a little fustrated, it might be a delivery vs my riding style but I just didn't click with it, they're a good bike but for the roads that is one stiff chassis.

Have you done anything to yours Nemesis?

I will say for 2017 I'm trying to get my hands on a Fireblade SP-2 as early as possible so I can see if I need to give Clive a call.

[Ho Lee Kau]

ZX10R NIN said:

He has the APRC & I enjoy ridding it when we swap it's an easier bike to ride fast & is very enjoyable but I prefer the MV it doesn't give up it's sweet spot as easy, I have to say it's surprised me by how much I actually enjoy this bike especially as it followed the S1000R but I really wouldn't swap back & then we get to the engine along with the exhaust & some mapping the noise & throttle response is superb (you do have to map it) my 2005 ZX10R is my collectible.

Anyway have a good christmas

I've read a lot about 2004-2005 big Ninja, it's one of those, let's say, "cult" superbikes. I thought long and hard about getting myself one of these, but my desire for the GSXR1000 K5 (a cult bike in its own right) had to be satiated first and foremost. :-) Since I already have too many sportsbikes I decided not to get ALSO a Ninja.

My CBR954RR makes me happy all the time. In fact, at one point I owned, at the same time, two CBR954RR that looked exactly the same! :-) Sold one to a friend of mine, he is now as excited about the old girl as I am.

I gotta get myself a ride on F4. Where I am at the problem is that MV salespoints/service are not close, unfortunately.
2017 promises to be an interesting year in terms of superbikes. :-)

Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year!

[Ho Lee Kau]

200Plus Club said:

My bike of the year is my new Triumph Thruxton R. It's just beautiful and rides lovely. Can't wait for spring and some nice days out, I'd just broken it in and had a first service when the crap weather came.

Tried that one this summer. Very nice! Beautifully made! Felt a bit narrow, too narrow, nothing to grab on with the legs, but in the end, it is not a race bike. As a feel-good bike it's perfect. One nice feature of Thruxston - one can stretch fully almost every gear as cut-off is only 7000. Really nice bike, congrats! :-)

[Ho Lee Kau]

Loyly said:

My bike of the year for 2016 is the humble Street Triple. I had one from Triumph as a courtesy bike from Triumph in August for a couple of days and what a joy it was.

It may seem a little ubiquitous and prosaic, but it was an absolute joy once I was used to the upright, knees forward seating position. As I rode it home from work, I flew past a new Octavia VRS which was trying to make an effort not to be passed as we rode up a two lane hill onto the A1. It looked about as quick as an oil tanker when I passed it. That little 675cc engine just begs to used hard. Silky smooth fuelling from low speeds and a lovely slick, positive shifter means firing gears at it feels great.

The greatest 'triumph' is the handling though. What an exploitable chassis. It feels like a bloody stunt bike. The sensation of weightlessness and the ease with which it'll lean over is just amazing. The Street Triple is absolutely the bike that sold me on nakeds.

It also made my T595 feel absolutely brutal when I got on it. Hunched over, head down and extremely loud and really, really fast!

Streety R is marvelous. Light, agile, sounds quirky, well-motorized for everyday use. After I've ridden Street R a few times I ordered my Daytona. :-)
Absolutely true, the fueling on Triumphs is first-rate, every minute throttle movement produces a response, and no on/off jerkiness whatsoever at any rpm!

Edited by Ho Lee Kau on Monday 26th December 19:20

[nofuse22]

drmark said:

Well I am with Dan on the RS6 - Daytona grey and caked in salt and road grime (and mud in my case) is when they look best

Edited by drmark on Saturday 24th December 12:00

I completely agree: caked in mud WITH roof rack...

[ZX10R NIN]

Ho Lee Kau said:

I've read a lot about 2004-2005 big Ninja, it's one of those, let's say, "cult" superbikes. I thought long and hard about getting myself one of these, but my desire for the GSXR1000 K5 (a cult bike in its own right) had to be satiated first and foremost. :-) Since I already have too many sportsbikes I decided not to get ALSO a Ninja.

My CBR954RR makes me happy all the time. In fact, at one point I owned, at the same time, two CBR954RR that looked exactly the same! :-) Sold one to a friend of mine, he is now as excited about the old girl as I am.

I gotta get myself a ride on F4. Where I am at the problem is that MV salespoints/service are not close, unfortunately.
2017 promises to be an interesting year in terms of superbikes. :-)

Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year!

I can understand the K5 getting preference it's a sweeter package out off the crate whereas the ZX10R just wanted to spit you off at the earliest opportunity. Mines had a bit of work all over so is now around 180bhp at the wheel & is less incined to tank slap as you go from 3rd to 4th

If you don't have good dealer support then I'd skip buying one but definitely ride one before there bought out by AMG & will never quite be the same again.

My mate with the RSV4 has a 954RR & that's his keeper alongside his RSV R

[Loyly]

ZX10R NIN said:

I can understand the K5 getting preference it's a sweeter package out off the crate whereas the ZX10R just wanted to spit you off at the earliest opportunity. Mines had a bit of work all over so is now around 180bhp at the wheel & is less incined to tank slap as you go from 3rd to 4th

I've always wanted to try a ZX10R, especially the earlier ones with the most white knuckle reputation. However, all the reviews suggest it's a bit of a beast and requires a steady hand. Not sure I'm ready to own one, or to push one! High speeds I can deal with, tank slappers and slides over crests are another thing entirely!

[ZX10R NIN]

The suspension set up & STEERING DAMPER (why oh why it came without one is a mystery to me) makes a big difference as does the mapping which has smoothed out the delivery, but it still has a bit of fight in it, I remember when I first had one of these & to say the ride back from Stafford was interesting is an understatement.

I'd just part ex'd my red seat R1 & then jumped on this thing & decided I was going to ride it like my R1!! Well that plan was out of the window after 20 minutes as it went into it's third & final big tank slapper I decided making it home with my wrists & nuts intact was a much better idea & once home the only place I was riding it to was Setup Engineering to try & get the thing under some kind of control, it had truly scared the crap out of me there were a couple of points when I considered turning back & taking the K6 they had instead but I'm glad I didn't a steering damper & good set up made it more friendly.

[Ho Lee Kau]

ZX10R NIN said:

He has the APRC & I enjoy ridding it when we swap it's an easier bike to ride fast & is very enjoyable but I prefer the MV it doesn't give up it's sweet spot as easy, I have to say it's surprised me by how much I actually enjoy this bike especially as it followed the S1000R but I really wouldn't swap back & then we get to the engine along with the exhaust & some mapping the noise & throttle response is superb (you do have to map it) my 2005 ZX10R is my collectible.

Anyway have a good christmas

I started looking at RSV4RF again...then I went on Aprilia forum, a guy (with lots of experience, even trophies in Superbike 1000 races) just got his new 2016 RSV4RF and the clutch went within the first 150 miles. Then I watch MCN 2016 superbike comparison and RSV4RF did not finish because the clutch gave up the ghost already on the street part of comparision...
Buying an RSV4, even the newest one, is like playing a lottery, 50/50. Pity. I so want this machine, but I am not a masochist...

[Ho Lee Kau]

Loyly said:

ZX10R NIN said:

I can understand the K5 getting preference it's a sweeter package out off the crate whereas the ZX10R just wanted to spit you off at the earliest opportunity. Mines had a bit of work all over so is now around 180bhp at the wheel & is less incined to tank slap as you go from 3rd to 4th

I've always wanted to try a ZX10R, especially the earlier ones with the most white knuckle reputation. However, all the reviews suggest it's a bit of a beast and requires a steady hand. Not sure I'm ready to own one, or to push one! High speeds I can deal with, tank slappers and slides over crests are another thing entirely!

954RR was famous for tank slappers! There were even articles about that in German newspapers (tank slappers happened on these bikes at high speed = German Autobahn).

I haven't experienced a tank slapper on mine, but mine is equipped with steering damper. The other one that I sold to my friend has no steering damper but he did not experience any slappers either, maybe the suspension "calmed down" over the years. On the other hand, we did not take them to the german autobahn so far.

I can imagine 954RR can be a wild beast, it is so very agile, drops fast and willingly into corners and is so easy to ride, very confidence inspiring. I feel much more relaxed pushing on 954RR compared to my Daytona 675 (which is also a handling marvel). 954RR also feels very very light (I also replaced the battery with lith-ion one, saved over 2kg). At the same time K6 GSXR feels very top heavy but has much more low-rev push compared to 954RR. 954RR has stronger brakes than K6 (despite the fact that my K6 has Brembo RCS19 master cylinder installed) but the rear brake on 954RR has no feel and locks up very quickly, totally useless.

I rode K6 back-to-back with 2015 S1000RR and they felt so similar that I wouldn't be surprised if the rumours were true.

[Ho Lee Kau]

ZX10R NIN said:

The suspension set up & STEERING DAMPER (why oh why it came without one is a mystery to me) makes a big difference as does the mapping which has smoothed out the delivery, but it still has a bit of fight in it, I remember when I first had one of these & to say the ride back from Stafford was interesting is an understatement.

I'd just part ex'd my red seat R1 & then jumped on this thing & decided I was going to ride it like my R1!! Well that plan was out of the window after 20 minutes as it went into it's third & final big tank slapper I decided making it home with my wrists & nuts intact was a much better idea & once home the only place I was riding it to was Setup Engineering to try & get the thing under some kind of control, it had truly scared the crap out of me there were a couple of points when I considered turning back & taking the K6 they had instead but I'm glad I didn't a steering damper & good set up made it more friendly.

Big Kawis always had the reputation of being somehow wild, with the prime candidate being the 2004-2005 Ninja. I also read reviews and was intrigued by its unruly character but in the end went with K6 which promised to be friendlier bike. K6 has damper from factory. I like the Gixxer, it's kind of raw and smooth at the same time: it looks mean (all black), it sounds like a tractor and makes weird noises at lower revs (these noises for some reason remind me of Velociraptor chatter from Jurassic Park), but the fueling is superb (on par with Daytona) and it pulls so strongly from low revs. Lovely analogue machine. I am sometimes tempted to part-ex it for something more modern, but then I ride it and cannot see why I would do that, it's my strictly dry warm summer bike and it's more bike that I can manage on the public roads, what more can I really get? (OK, maybe ABS would be nice.)

But, now that Fireblade SP is coming, I may actually tear myself away from the K6. We'll see.