Best 600 to 900 naked bike?
Discussion
It seems better made than i feared from what i can tell. Power is good, 140 bhp or so. Didn't like starting from warm this morning after a run out but it's getting a service today with new plugs and air filter plus a new battery which may well help in that department. £3,000 well spent. Nice addition to the Grindle garage. (Might need to be trimmed a bit soon, no room to move now).
What are the lightest bikes in this category?
I’m looking at a s/h Ducati scrambler or new monster 797. Test rides planned this weekend. I’d previously settled on a svartpilen 401 but the cost of obtaining one is more than either of the aforementioned dukes and so man maths doesn’t work out.
I want something light and agile, preferably not too modern looking/insect like, and one which I can put semi offroad tyres on as there are a lot of trails and wadis around here which i think would be cool to explore. I don’t want an adventure bike.
Use will be primarily commuting, occasionally mountain blats and trail riding. Dealers are quick to quote me power figures which don’t figure in my decision (new rider) but it’s a lightweight, agile and fun ride I’m after.
Thoughts?
I’m looking at a s/h Ducati scrambler or new monster 797. Test rides planned this weekend. I’d previously settled on a svartpilen 401 but the cost of obtaining one is more than either of the aforementioned dukes and so man maths doesn’t work out.
I want something light and agile, preferably not too modern looking/insect like, and one which I can put semi offroad tyres on as there are a lot of trails and wadis around here which i think would be cool to explore. I don’t want an adventure bike.
Use will be primarily commuting, occasionally mountain blats and trail riding. Dealers are quick to quote me power figures which don’t figure in my decision (new rider) but it’s a lightweight, agile and fun ride I’m after.
Thoughts?
shirt said:
What are the lightest bikes in this category?
Use will be primarily commuting, occasionally mountain blats and trail riding. Dealers are quick to quote me power figures which don’t figure in my decision (new rider) but it’s a lightweight, agile and fun ride I’m after.
Thoughts?
I was about to say an 800 scrambler would be your best bet... but they're 193kg dry! Crumbs.Use will be primarily commuting, occasionally mountain blats and trail riding. Dealers are quick to quote me power figures which don’t figure in my decision (new rider) but it’s a lightweight, agile and fun ride I’m after.
Thoughts?
Monster 797 is lighter but not as tough for off-roading.
shirt said:
What are the lightest bikes in this category?
I’m looking at a s/h Ducati scrambler
or new monster 797. Test rides planned this weekend. I’d previously settled on a svartpilen 401 but the cost of obtaining one is more than either of the aforementioned dukes and so man maths doesn’t work out.
I want something light and agile, preferably not too modern looking/insect like, and one which I can put semi offroad tyres on as there are a lot of trails and wadis around here which i think would be cool to explore. I don’t want an adventure bike.
Use will be primarily commuting, occasionally mountain blats and trail riding. Dealers are quick to quote me power figures which don’t figure in my decision (new rider) but it’s a lightweight, agile and fun ride I’m after.
Thoughts?
I find you just have to google.I’m looking at a s/h Ducati scrambler
or new monster 797. Test rides planned this weekend. I’d previously settled on a svartpilen 401 but the cost of obtaining one is more than either of the aforementioned dukes and so man maths doesn’t work out.
I want something light and agile, preferably not too modern looking/insect like, and one which I can put semi offroad tyres on as there are a lot of trails and wadis around here which i think would be cool to explore. I don’t want an adventure bike.
Use will be primarily commuting, occasionally mountain blats and trail riding. Dealers are quick to quote me power figures which don’t figure in my decision (new rider) but it’s a lightweight, agile and fun ride I’m after.
Thoughts?
D. Scrambler appears to be 187kg which is light for this size of bike, a 990 KTM SM is 205kg
For context a 450 KTM is 105kg and a 640 is 137kg - they don't feel that light when you pick them up in the mud.
Don't think I'd trail ride a monster
Yeah. Reviews I’ve read comment on it being light, 200kg is not light imo.
Scrambler can at least lose 30kg or so with decat, lipo battery and aftermarket parts. Much prefer the look of it to the monster as well. Only issue is that the latter is about £5k brand new on the road inc 2 years warranty. This is hard to look past.
Scrambler can at least lose 30kg or so with decat, lipo battery and aftermarket parts. Much prefer the look of it to the monster as well. Only issue is that the latter is about £5k brand new on the road inc 2 years warranty. This is hard to look past.
shirt said:
Yeah. Reviews I’ve read comment on it being light, 200kg is not light imo.
Scrambler can at least lose 30kg or so with decat, lipo battery and aftermarket parts. Much prefer the look of it to the monster as well. Only issue is that the latter is about £5k brand new on the road inc 2 years warranty. This is hard to look past.
Agreed but if you want light, you want a singleScrambler can at least lose 30kg or so with decat, lipo battery and aftermarket parts. Much prefer the look of it to the monster as well. Only issue is that the latter is about £5k brand new on the road inc 2 years warranty. This is hard to look past.
And it appears you don't
KTM 690 is 140kg for example (I only keep quoting KTM as I've been looking for one)
Edited by V8RX7 on Friday 20th December 14:44
V8RX7 said:
I find you just have to google.
D. Scrambler appears to be 187kg which is light for this size of bike, a 990 KTM SM is 205kg
For context a 450 KTM is 105kg and a 640 is 137kg - they don't feel that light when you pick them up in the mud.
Don't think I'd trail ride a monster
I’m lucky that there’s no mud here. Trails are the kind of thing you could tackle with a softroader. I’ve only been challenged once in my landrover and that was because I’d taken a wrong turn and was tackling a hiking route by mistake. D. Scrambler appears to be 187kg which is light for this size of bike, a 990 KTM SM is 205kg
For context a 450 KTM is 105kg and a 640 is 137kg - they don't feel that light when you pick them up in the mud.
Don't think I'd trail ride a monster
I like this, but seems more work involved over bolt on (or off) parts on the scrambler
V8RX7 said:
Agreed but if you want light, you want a single
And it appears you don't
Not against a single, open to anything really old or new, I just don’t have the access to the bike market you do. Very limited options here (uae) especially if you don’t want a high end superbike or 1200gs. And it appears you don't
The svartpilen 401 at 150kg/40bhp was my first choice, especially as you can get -20kg and +10bhp from that baseline easily and cheaply. Only issue is that the dealer wants £6k for one which is very poor value. There are no 701’s in country so no pricing available.
There’s a Ktm dealer but I don’t like the looks. However I am planning to ride a duke 390 and 690 (both owned by friends) as part of my decision process.
Open to anything really if it fits the bill. My bike knowledge is weak having only started riding this year. Few preconceptions other than I find it hard to see past plasticky tat and s
t graphics which seem to prevail in this category. I recently sold my (MK 2) KTM Duke 690 which is as light as you are ever going to find for a bike which is also pleasant on the road, not just an enduro bike fitted with tiny lights.
All told the 690 is the best ever really lightweight sporty road bike for sure, with 75 bhp, 9,000 rpm red line (incredible for a huge single) and good everything else, brakes, suspension, acceleration, lights, plus pretty good comfort even.
A slightly fettled 80 bhp and just 149 kgs made for a very lively bike, giving a WAY better PTW than something like a kawasaki H2 750 triple 2 stroke!
All told the 690 is the best ever really lightweight sporty road bike for sure, with 75 bhp, 9,000 rpm red line (incredible for a huge single) and good everything else, brakes, suspension, acceleration, lights, plus pretty good comfort even.
A slightly fettled 80 bhp and just 149 kgs made for a very lively bike, giving a WAY better PTW than something like a kawasaki H2 750 triple 2 stroke!
Edited by Grindle on Sunday 22 December 07:19
Thoughts on monster 796 / 797?
I’ve missed out on 2 scramblers this week by mere hours. Seems at my budget (about £4k) they get snapped up very quickly. The new owner was riding off on the one I went to look over at the Ducati dealer as I pulled up...
There are way more monsters around so starting to look at these. A new (2018) 797 can be had from the dealer for around £5.5k including insurance and registration and 2 yrs warranty. They also have a demo model which should be a chunk cheaper.
However ive just seen a 2012 796 advertised which is 20kg lighter than the newer model and has far better specs. Price is about £3800 before haggling, 19,000 km.
Hoping to ride both tomorrow but where would you put your $? Worth stretching the budget for a warrantied brand new bike or would the enhanced spec and lighter weight make a better buy?
I’ve missed out on 2 scramblers this week by mere hours. Seems at my budget (about £4k) they get snapped up very quickly. The new owner was riding off on the one I went to look over at the Ducati dealer as I pulled up...
There are way more monsters around so starting to look at these. A new (2018) 797 can be had from the dealer for around £5.5k including insurance and registration and 2 yrs warranty. They also have a demo model which should be a chunk cheaper.
However ive just seen a 2012 796 advertised which is 20kg lighter than the newer model and has far better specs. Price is about £3800 before haggling, 19,000 km.
Hoping to ride both tomorrow but where would you put your $? Worth stretching the budget for a warrantied brand new bike or would the enhanced spec and lighter weight make a better buy?
Rode the 797 this afternoon. Definitely erring towards the monster over scrambler now, it was everything I hoped motorcycling would be when I started learning.
Low speed throttle was crappy and the front brake was fun the first time I grabbed a handful! But overall it felt ideal.
Still trying to get a test ride sorted for the 796 but if it’s in good nick I’ll buy it. Price of the 797 was not what I expected (the sticker already accounted for the advertised 20% discount) so the cost decision is pretty straight forward now.
Low speed throttle was crappy and the front brake was fun the first time I grabbed a handful! But overall it felt ideal.
Still trying to get a test ride sorted for the 796 but if it’s in good nick I’ll buy it. Price of the 797 was not what I expected (the sticker already accounted for the advertised 20% discount) so the cost decision is pretty straight forward now.
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