Could I justify a new Sports Bike in Scotland?
Discussion
I did the Highlands on my RF600 & have been back on a Pan, GSX14 & my Bonnie. I'd say the Bonnie suits them best, it's small, light, chuckable & quick enough to enough the fast bits. MTB would be bored as it's not 554bhp at 190,000rpm but you can't please anyone.
The reason I don't think sportsbikes are ideal up there? I like the small naggery single track roads and they are too slow to be comfy lent right over.
The reason I don't think sportsbikes are ideal up there? I like the small naggery single track roads and they are too slow to be comfy lent right over.
Mad Jock said:
Prof Prolapse said:
I only do those roads Jock, I don't touch the A9, or indeed any major road, unless I absolutely have to. Last month I was in Lochinver during a thousand mile run up around the coastline, I was in Ardnamurchan either this year or last year (memory fails me). This year my mate has about six months experience under his belt and he ran the same roads in the pissing rain and wind and didn't struggle on his SV650.
I'm not denying some bikes could do it better. I'm just saying the original point is not correct to say that sportsbikes aren't suited to either the climate or the highlands, it's just people trying to rationalise their bike choice. The reality is all out adventure bikes are no more ridiculous than all out sportsbikes on these roads. These are public maintained roads which are in reasonable order they require no specialist equipment or training.
The point is, surely, that any bike will do. Kevin Saunders (?) took an R1 round the world, including deserts, kind of making the point that a dedicated Adventure bike isn't entirely necessary. I'm not denying some bikes could do it better. I'm just saying the original point is not correct to say that sportsbikes aren't suited to either the climate or the highlands, it's just people trying to rationalise their bike choice. The reality is all out adventure bikes are no more ridiculous than all out sportsbikes on these roads. These are public maintained roads which are in reasonable order they require no specialist equipment or training.
I did the same roads as you years ago on a Laverda Jota, so I'm not averse to doing them on a sports bike, it's just that if you had a choice and a very fat wallet, there are any number of bikes that would suit those roads better than a sports bike. I've passed (going the other way!) any number of Ducati's, ZX10's, Fireblades, S1000SR, RSV4's etc on those roads, but equally I've caught a fair few as well, and that was down to the bike, not my riding ability.
Look in the car park at the Applecross Inn, and see what types have crossed the Beallach na Ba. It's a real mix of types, from all over Europe, but leaning towards the tourer or adventure type slightly more.
Anyway, I'm too fat for a decent sports bike!
Edited by Prof Prolapse on Wednesday 22 July 17:37[/footnote]
[footnote]Edited by Mad Jock on Wednesday 22 July 17:59I've actually never done Applecross on the bike. I did it once in a mates S4 driving like I stole it and I never took to it afterwards. It's the Stelvio's pass of Scotland. Built up a great deal but actually dwarfed by the roads around it.
Wedg1e said:
Granted you can ride any road on any bike, just some are harder work than others (roads as well as bikes). Fast sweeping A-road or winding B-road? Sports bike no problem. Twisty, nadgery, single-track, potholes, gravel, cows
t, off-camber, cross-wind, stray sheep, non-constant radius blind corners... give me a big fat tourer 
Nah I don't dispute that, it's more the assertion that sports bikes are outright unsuitable for the highlands, as if the area is like the wild west or something. The reality is they have, with few exception, good to acceptable roads for that sort of motorcycle or indeed any vehicle. The highlands is remote, but it's still civilised and accessible even if you take the back roads to places (as we normally do). The really bad roads aren't commonplace at all. I did a thousand miles last month around the coast line just following squiggles and I don't recall one we hit that we couldn't maintain a fair pace on. t, off-camber, cross-wind, stray sheep, non-constant radius blind corners... give me a big fat tourer marcella said:
I've been thinking about it and I could justify buying it, but the more I think about it the more I'm wondering if its just the cost I can't justify at the moment. Will need to ride one to find out I guess!
I have been looking at GSXR 750's too, but it's just not exotic enough for my taste. Would like to try one though as it will be a good comparison to the 899 but a lot a cheaper!
As said, have you thought about second hand?I have been looking at GSXR 750's too, but it's just not exotic enough for my taste. Would like to try one though as it will be a good comparison to the 899 but a lot a cheaper!
Or maybe something really exotic instead of what everybody already rides
?MV Agusta F3 675
I was actually really set on the MV F3 800. Was put off by the comments of fuelling issues especially at low speeds but that has been fixed now. The only other thing to put me off one is reliability, read a couple horror stories and poor dealer service which also wouldn't help.
In saying that the nearest MV dealership is actually closer to me than the Ducati one. Will definitely go for a test ride though as I really fancy the triple. Always wanted the 675 Daytona but they are pretty common up here and not as exotic as the Italians!
I just like the idea of those bikes, not as insane as a thou but more than a 600. So basically I think I've made my mind up in that I can justify buying one, its just which one to choose. Since its going to be a commuter as well made me a bit worried but its only a 30 min ride and I can just take my car if the weather is crap!
In saying that the nearest MV dealership is actually closer to me than the Ducati one. Will definitely go for a test ride though as I really fancy the triple. Always wanted the 675 Daytona but they are pretty common up here and not as exotic as the Italians!
I just like the idea of those bikes, not as insane as a thou but more than a 600. So basically I think I've made my mind up in that I can justify buying one, its just which one to choose. Since its going to be a commuter as well made me a bit worried but its only a 30 min ride and I can just take my car if the weather is crap!
Did a tour of Scotland earlier in the year with a group from Pistonheads (but in cars). There were some great roads around Gairloch (hope I got that right as a combination of poor memory and poor spelling could have made that unintelligible!) Also went to Applecross. I thought the roads were pretty crap. Nice view at the top but too tight and too bumpy. Couldn't imagine it being that much fun on a sportsbike. Most of the other roads we drove (up from Glasgow to Inverness and from Inverness to Gairloch) would have been brilliant though. Would love to do a similar trip on the bike but it was boring and uncomfortable enough getting their in the car from the South East. Would have to plan a proper route there and back involving just A and B roads.
Renn Sport said:
I know the 675 is a great bike having ridden one. However I struggle to see how a 899 can be a worse bike?
I apologise if I have missed the point and I have ridden a 848 and yes it ran out of revs but its a different style of engine and use than a IL4.
The 899 is an awesome bike!
Who said it was a worse bike? I apologise if I have missed the point and I have ridden a 848 and yes it ran out of revs but its a different style of engine and use than a IL4.
The 899 is an awesome bike!
Both are great, OP mentioned "exotic", and from my experience, every other bike is a ducati panigali these days, I've got about 5 friends who ride, two of them ride a Panigali. For that reason alone, I'd seriously consider the MV Agusta
.As for the op, re reliability, is it really a big issue if you buy a new bike from a reasonably nearby dealer?
ZesPak said:
As for the op, re reliability, is it really a big issue if you buy a new bike from a reasonably nearby dealer?
My only problem is I don’t know how good the dealer is? Will do some digging on forums etc, but they are 2 hours away from me. I emailed them saying I’m thinking about buying from them or Ducati. Got a quick reply saying they will provide an excellent service from beginning to end and would pick the bike up for servicing etc (at a cost obviously).I’ll try and organise a wee trip to there and Ducati so I can do a back to back comparison of both the bikes and the dealership.
Prof Prolapse said:
Nah I don't dispute that, it's more the assertion that sports bikes are outright unsuitable for the highlands, as if the area is like the wild west or something. The reality is they have, with few exception, good to acceptable roads for that sort of motorcycle or indeed any vehicle. The highlands is remote, but it's still civilised and accessible even if you take the back roads to places (as we normally do). The really bad roads aren't commonplace at all. I did a thousand miles last month around the coast line just following squiggles and I don't recall one we hit that we couldn't maintain a fair pace on.
Indeed. The OP sounded like he wanted to justify why he SHOULD buy a sportsbike for Scots roads; I say buy what you like but I'm not sure one would be the ideal choice up there all the time. I was on my ST1300 in a group with three Multistradas, a ZZR14, a CBR600F and a Speed Triple and nobody was ever far off the pace of any of the others - however the 'Stradas were consistently faster on the twistier nadgery stuff. The CBR carried a spare gallon of fuel in his topbox as he was struggling to get more than 110 miles to a tank as he had to work it hard - one of our runs ran to over 130 miles between fuel stations.
Some people would claim that a 300Kg tourer is the 'wrong' bike to make progress in those circumstances but the ST is the only bike I have, it's all I had 'on the day' so I have to ride it in a fashion that doesn't slow everyone else up
- I honestly don't think I could have got any other bike down some of those Highland roads any quicker; the laws of physics are not to be trifled with Last bike was an xr650r converted to sumo. Good height advantage and being a thumper was quite linear and thus decent, knowable traction. Still, its the unknown that catches you out: grit, poop, oil etc and so it boils down to riding within the road's possible limitations. So on those proper back roads, in which your vision is limited, you can never really pin it.
My advice would be to own more than one bike!
My advice would be to own more than one bike!
marcella said:
My only problem is I don’t know how good the dealer is? Will do some digging on forums etc, but they are 2 hours away from me. I emailed them saying I’m thinking about buying from them or Ducati. Got a quick reply saying they will provide an excellent service from beginning to end and would pick the bike up for servicing etc (at a cost obviously).
I’ll try and organise a wee trip to there and Ducati so I can do a back to back comparison of both the bikes and the dealership.
It's Perth Honda that have opened the MV dealership, they have a pretty good reputation, the same group also have Cupar Suzuki and Kircaldy Kawasaki.I’ll try and organise a wee trip to there and Ducati so I can do a back to back comparison of both the bikes and the dealership.
I had a good poke around the F4 at Knockhill, it's a thing of beauty but all the reports indicate it's not a patch on the competition.
Also the F3 sounds a bit s
t, fully expected it to sound as good as the exhausts look but naw.moanthebairns said:
I thought it was a bag of ste personally. But if you like no low down torque, the flatness of the engine, and a power surge like a diesel only to get excited and have to change gear, knock yourself out.
Give me a screaming inline 4 or. Triple anyday.
I loved it. Esp for commuting and bimbling around its got loads of character compared to an I4 which is anodyne unless you're revving the tits off it, and even compared to a triple. And they've gotten rid of the bogging down when you're pootling through town in 4th gear at 30mph. That said, I'd much rather a secondhand 1199 than a new 899 (not ridden the 1199 though so no idea if bike journo reports of it being horrible to ride around town are true).te personally. But if you like no low down torque, the flatness of the engine, and a power surge like a diesel only to get excited and have to change gear, knock yourself out. Give me a screaming inline 4 or. Triple anyday.
Get the 899 OP (or a secondhand 1199!). It'll make the few sunny days you have in Scotland that much more special
I think I am more leaning towards a F3 800 now. Panigale's are quite common up here now but have never seen an MV yet. Plus my dream sports bike used to be the 675 Daytona so this is like a more exotic version of that!
Will still test ride both but Ducati dealer is 3 hours away and MV dealer about 2 hours away.
Will still test ride both but Ducati dealer is 3 hours away and MV dealer about 2 hours away.
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