A meeting with the Japanese

[Mastodon2]

Momentofmadness said:

Do you actually want a 1000cc Mastodon2?

I've got both, but the 600 is the one I love for the thrash feeling rather than the effortless power (to me the 1000 is like an automatic car cos it doesn't matter what gear it's in )

Keep the SRAD and go trackday crazy

Yep, next bike will definitely be a 1000cc bike, no question about that, I love the torque and the muscular midrange that 600s don't have, not to mention the enormous amount of top end power. It definitely not a forgone conclusion that 1000cc is more fun than a 600cc on the road though, for example I have a friend with a CBR600RR and he loves it, but never really hits big speeds on it. If he was riding a 1000cc bike however, the he'd barely use half of the revs in any gear on a any ride and I think that would be a bit dull for him, knowing what he likes about his CBR, not to mention the additional cost of ownership of a 1000cc bike being a waste if you weren't at least giving it a decent bit of welly now and then.

I've mentioned in other threads the better touring potential of a 1000cc bike over a 600, and I think that goes for all sorts of bikes, larger displacement generally meaning more torque and longer gearing, if I was crossing Europe I'd much rather do it on a litre bike, my SRAD is doing about 7500rpm at 80mph in 6th gear, on a bigger bike the revs will be much lower which would be more pleasant for the long, boring motorway bits.

[Esceptico]

Mastadon2 - have you also tried the 675 Daytona? Maybe you have your heart set on a litre bike but I rode on a couple of weeks back and was very impressed. Seemed to have a lot of lowdown power and also a nice top end kick as well. Was comfortable for me and handling was nice too. Doesn't have the electronic trickery on offer with the litre bikes but didn't feel
like it needed it. I think the 675 R looks good, has some nice bits and massively cheaper than (say) the BMW RR or MV. Worth a test ride before you make a decision.

[Mastodon2]

Esceptico said:

Mastadon2 - have you also tried the 675 Daytona? Maybe you have your heart set on a litre bike but I rode on a couple of weeks back and was very impressed. Seemed to have a lot of lowdown power and also a nice top end kick as well. Was comfortable for me and handling was nice too. Doesn't have the electronic trickery on offer with the litre bikes but didn't feel
like it needed it. I think the 675 R looks good, has some nice bits and massively cheaper than (say) the BMW RR or MV. Worth a test ride before you make a decision.

I have not ridden one but I've always been impressed when I've sat on them, some people seem to find them a bit tall and thin but I've always liked the seating position. I haven't ridden a triple before so I'm interested in having a go for that reason at least, but I'll be having a ride on a friend's T595 to tick that off soon anyway. I've always red glowing reviews of Triumph bikes, perhaps a little too glowing - some of the bike mags feel a bit like EVO did with Porsche, where any group test becomes a battle for second place as there is already a winner before they've even ridden the bikes.

[Esceptico]

Mastodon2 said:

I have not ridden one but I've always been impressed when I've sat on them, some people seem to find them a bit tall and thin but I've always liked the seating position. I haven't ridden a triple before so I'm interested in having a go for that reason at least, but I'll be having a ride on a friend's T595 to tick that off soon anyway. I've always red glowing reviews of Triumph bikes, perhaps a little too glowing - some of the bike mags feel a bit like EVO did with Porsche, where any group test becomes a battle for second place as there is already a winner before they've even ridden the bikes.

A British bike in a British bike mag might be subject to conscious or subconscious bias. Don't let that put you off though. I thought it was a cracking bike.

[John D.]

spareparts said:

If I had to pick a Japanese IL4 1000 bike on a budget, I would be very tempted by the latest GSXR Thou -especially in the Suzook MotoGP blue. I still have very fond memories of my K6's superb 'velvet iron fist' of an engine. It was an IL4 with great 'character' and I loved to ride that thing hard and fast everywhere I went - I'll never forget jumping on the Eurotunnel without anywhere to go, and ended up doing 1000 miles in a weekend just tearing through the open country roads in France. The GSXR is cheap too, reportedly with much better quality/finish than before, and nowadays seemingly less chav than the S1000RR or R1...

http://www.suzukicycles.com/Product%20Lines/Cycles...

Spotted a couple of these parked together outside a pub near Abergavenny today. Colour scheme looked great in the sunshine.

[John D.]

Esceptico said:

Mastodon2 said:

I have not ridden one but I've always been impressed when I've sat on them, some people seem to find them a bit tall and thin but I've always liked the seating position. I haven't ridden a triple before so I'm interested in having a go for that reason at least, but I'll be having a ride on a friend's T595 to tick that off soon anyway. I've always red glowing reviews of Triumph bikes, perhaps a little too glowing - some of the bike mags feel a bit like EVO did with Porsche, where any group test becomes a battle for second place as there is already a winner before they've even ridden the bikes.

A British bike in a British bike mag might be subject to conscious or subconscious bias. Don't let that put you off though. I thought it was a cracking bike.

Or maybe it is just best of the 600 super sport bunch? Not hard to see why when it nicks 75cc.advantage!

[Baryonyx]

Plus, whatever their displacement, triples seem to be very popular because of what they offer. Comparatively high torque makes them very flexible and tractable, but with a pleasing top end rush that rewards digging deep into each gear. It's an attractive mix for any bike, and that's before you get to that immense noise.

[Mastodon2]

John D. said:

Or maybe it is just best of the 600 super sport bunch? Not hard to see why when it nicks 75cc.advantage!

I remember it cleaning up at the TT in the 600 class, again not surprising given it's advantage over the other bikes in it's class. Much like Ducati and their spiraling CCs. I'm sure the Daytona 675 is a great bike, I will endeavour to have a go at one point, all the good press in the world can't make up my mind for me, but their owners seem very happy with them and those opinions mean more to me than press.

[Momentofmadness]

Well if you're set on a 1000 then get yourself back to Newcastle Honda and try this baby out http://www.newcastlemotorcycles.co.uk/pages/used/u...



Coopers always have something nice too http://www.bmwapprovedusedbikes.co.uk/bmwuk/aub/bi...

[clen666]

Mastodon2 said:

John D. said:

Or maybe it is just best of the 600 super sport bunch? Not hard to see why when it nicks 75cc.advantage!

I remember it cleaning up at the TT in the 600 class, again not surprising given it's advantage...

I'm not sure it did...?

[Mastodon2]

Momentofmadness said:

Well if you're set on a 1000 then get yourself back to Newcastle Honda and try this baby out http://www.newcastlemotorcycles.co.uk/pages/used/u...



Coopers always have something nice too http://www.bmwapprovedusedbikes.co.uk/bmwuk/aub/bi...

I had a look at that GSX-R Graham, it's very tidy indeed and quite sensibly priced too. I did hoy a leg over it as the bikes in there are parked so close you couldn't get a fag paper between them, but it looks like a top ride.

[Mastodon2]

clen666 said:

I'm not sure it did...?

Gary Johnson took it to a win in the supersport class in it's debut at the TT last year. Perhaps "cleaning up" is a bit much on the praise front but a win on a debut is good going.

[clen666]

Mastodon2 said:

Gary Johnson took it to a win in the supersport class in it's debut at the TT last year. Perhaps "cleaning up" is a bit much on the praise front but a win on a debut is good going.

It's TT debut was actually in 2013 with Maria Costello, granted she wasn't expected to make a podium position on it.
Also only made one 3rd place this year out of the two races.

Anyway, this is rather irrelevant to what it will be like for the average road rider so I'll stop being pedantic

[neelyp]

The Daytona has been used at the TT since 2006 actually.
Which still has no relevance to road bikes.
Moanthebairns reckons the 675 is probably the best road bike you can buy, I certainly enjoy mine.

[clen666]

neelyp said:

The Daytona has been used at the TT since 2006 actually.
Which still has no relevance to road bikes.
Moanthebairns reckons the 675 is probably the best road bike you can buy, I certainly enjoy mine.

I think he was referring specifically to the R?

[neelyp]

Ah right.
As you were then.
Though I would have imagined they would have used the R in 2011/2012.

[John D.]

Never mind the TT. It's been at the front of British Super Sport grid for past 5yrs. Taken a title too with Glen Richards.

Kind of academic for a road bike I suppose in any case.

[clen666]

[AdamLoewy]

Mastodon2 said:

I have not ridden one but I've always been impressed when I've sat on them, some people seem to find them a bit tall and thin but I've always liked the seating position. I haven't ridden a triple before so I'm interested in having a go for that reason at least, but I'll be having a ride on a friend's T595 to tick that off soon anyway.

The 675 engine has a completely different feel to the T595i/ 955i engine, the 675 is a brilliant firework of an engine compared to the 955i which felt like a damp squib to me. If I had only tried the 955i engine, it would have put me off triples for life.

[FartKong]

Its not just the UK press which rave over the 675. It comes out on top in bike tests by the European and American mags too.