Oooo. I had a TT600 just like that. Same year, too. Very underrated bike.
Cheers for the info.
Facebook group that might be of interest.
Well, holy thread resurrection Batman.....
After 7 months of ill health and a very inspirational return to the TT, I thought I'd better get on with it.
Had the OK to get on a motorbike about a month ago so went and test rode pretty much everything. Sod the budget, life is short, but unfortunately so am I:
Bikes I loved but were too big:
Honda CB1100 - creamy, smooth, great once moving but huuuge and heavy. Pretty bike. Great quality.
Yam MT09 - Ugly, crazy, too powerful, just could not comprehend how capable it is. Very, very ugly.
Kwak Z900RS - One day I'll have one of these, but not yet. Big, bad, beautiful. Too big, too powerful ATM, but superbly designed and a great bit of realistic retro design.
The contenders:
Honda CB650 - Oooh, nice. Fun, fast, classy, manageable. Comfy and solid but a real rush at the top end.
Yam MT07 - Fun, ugly, fun, bouncy, fun. Didn't feel too solid, bit cheap. Tall. Very, very ugly. Fun though.
Enfield Interceptor - Disappointment. Top heavy, slow, crap suspension. Very pretty though.
Triumph Scrambler 900/Street Twin/T100. Well finished, ride nicely but cheap components - steel rims on a 10k bike?!? No ta.
Sooooo, I bought a Guzzi V7 850 Stone. ? Gorgeous and well made, proper quality.
Low, fast enough, torquey and classy. Most of all an experience - it jiggles your eyeballs at tickover. It's all day comfy. It suits a small chap. Had it 3 weeks and it's averaging 76 mpg. 'Er indoors fits on the back. Planted, solid, fun. Feels like a bike. Most of all it makes me smile like a loon. Seems very well made. Mine was the cheapest 850 on Autotrader, from Padgetts in Batley, 9000 miles in 3 years.
Not a spot of corrosion. Nicely run in.
Happy sausage.
Ta folks.
Vfr?
Nice, there’s something about a Guzzi, good choice.
Fair enough on the Guzzi... If it floats your boat... They sound lovely!
Be careful though... A friend had that engine in a V85... The thing just kept pissing oil out! It was in warranty and went back to the dealers twice to be fixed, but the problem kept coming back. It also had the worlds noisiest gearbox and shaft drive!
He cut his losses and PXed it against a Husqvarna Norden 901, which despite the chocolate cam scandal on that engine has so far been totally reliable.
Good choice. Guzzi's are great. No pissing around with chains either, which is nice.
Could not find a nice one. I think they've all gone now. Hell of a shame.
Loads of lovely CB600F's about, but the prices are crazy.
I did ride a massively high mileage ZX7R which made me feel like both Charles Bronsons at the same time, but I couldn't keep up the illusion.
Love a guzzi
I got my old bsa back on the road. Fast enough to be fun. Slow enough to thrash the spuds off it.
I built this bike in the early 80s. Rode it as a day until 2000ish. Jeepers I am rusty on it but its nice to be back on a bike
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Guzzi is a good call. I always wanted one
Welcome to the Guzzi club
My new toy.
It's a Harley, so everyone else hates it. It's a Sportster, so other Harley riders look down on it it. It's an 883, so other Sportster riders look down on it.
Which suits me, I've always though that if you actually tried to design a motorcycle around the criteria people say they want (brisk, torquey, weather protection, unintimidating, reliable, comfortable) then what you'd end up with is a car.
Sooooo, I bought a Guzzi V7 850 Stone. ? Gorgeous and well made, proper quality.
Make with the pictures already.
I have an 883 too. Great bikes, mine is an almost completely stock 2005 apart from some extra spotlights. I’d been toying with buying a HD for ages so just picked a cheap sportster but was surprised at how nice it was to ride so it’s a keeper now.
Put a forty quid eBay screen on mine and toured the sw of Ireland on it last year.
Next change on mine will probably be hagon shocks.
Love the V7s. I’d have one myself but I love a topbox and it would feel like a crime to put one on the V7. V85TT would suit me I think, but they’re out of budget for me at the moment.
Ive got a very cheap V Strom 1000 at the moment, I’d like to replace it with something lighter and cheaper to run but it’s solid and paid so it’s staying for now. I’ve got used to the power too now so I don’t know how much of that I’d want to give up now.
I took the plunge last year on an XSR700 Xtribute having thought long and hard about a V7 Guzzi. Figured the Yamaha was visually and ergonomically similar, yet a bit more modern… don’t regret it (but still hanker after a V100 Mandello)
My bikes are mocking me whenever I open the garage. Wish I had time to work on/ride them!
sold my 1980 CB400 for £800 a few years back. I bought it for £600 a couple of years prior and only sold it because someone stuck a post note on it one night saying they'd like to buy it. Needed the cash at the time. Wish I'd kept it now. Only had 25k miles on the clock!
Mrs DB did a back to biking course the other week, after 30yrs of not riding, would be very happy if I could steer her into getting a V7 but already been sternly advised she'll be making her own choice of bike not me....
Mrs DB did a back to biking course the other week, after 30yrs of not riding
What did that entail, out of interest? Is it just a one-off refresher session?
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What did that entail, out of interest? Is it just a one-off refresher session?
A one off 5hr course with a.n.other + an instructor, with local motorcycle trainer, to be fair she didn't rate the particular instructor & I recon 5hrs is too long, should have been split into probably 3 x 2hr sessions, but it was the easiest way for her to try riding again without the need for getting either a bike or insurance.
My first taste of Moto Guzzis back in the mists of time, currently have a 1200 sport.
I'd love a Guzzi, such great looking biking with quirky character from the transverse V twin. It was the one and only likeable characteristic of my old CX500 Eurosport.
I just don't understand how a quarter of the way through the 21st century, Moto Guzzi still manage to make so little power from a reasonably big engine.
@dave_h my Griso in my previous post is for sale. ( https://revtothelimit.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=9435)
Relative lack of power (although 80 odd) is because it's a 2 valve, oil cooled, pushrod OHV and the only consent to modern engine design was the addition of an extra spark plug per cyclinder and fuel injection rather than carbs.
It doesn't need much more power to be honest as the wind above legal speeds gets unpleasant. The torque to get you there is fabulous though.
Right.
It's Italian:
It's done nearly 500 miles in 3 weeks and nothing has exploded, broken or fallen off.
I just don’t understand how a quarter of the way through the 21st century, Moto Guzzi still manage to make so little power from a reasonably big engine.
As above, torque, innit? It might only have 64hp but bloody hell, at real life speeds it shifts. And it feels magnificent.
It's so old fashioned it feels like flying a Sopwith Camel. I'm reliably informed that the exhaust sounds great. But that doesn't matter because I can't hear it over the whining from the drive train, the several different ticking noises from the valve gear and the clanking of the floating discs.
I remember reading a road test of the Mk2 Lemon (sic) vs the 900ss vs the BMW 100CS in an early 80s edition of Bike. It sparked off a lustful fantasy now fulfilled.
It's one of the few things in life that have completely lived up to my expectations.
This is going to be fun.
Oh, engine bars have arrived, it's getting the latest map update next week and I'm looking at luggage.
And if anyone can recommend a better road than the one from Horton in Ribblesdale to Hawes via the Ribblehead Viaduct, I'm all ears.
I could tell you my favourite roads but then I would have to kill you 🙂
I am very relaxed about lower power bikes, 65 BHP with a load of torque is plenty. The fun in riding a bike comes in thrashing them. That 65 bhp bike is sort of legalish speeds when being ridden hard. I have ridden 100+ bhp bikes - to make them fun means absurd speeds. If you have not ridden a lower power bike much you probably will not learn to corner properly. Once a bunch of us on big tourers where having a nice day out pressing on a bit. We overtook a group of power rangers on sports bikes. They tried to keep up and one put his bike thru a hedge. The thing is we were not even trying that much. Just a good apprenticeship on old small slow bikes and a nice rhythm. I have seen this sort of thing numerous times. I wasn't even quick in my group of riders. Fast bike does not equal fast rider or a fun ride or even a safe ride
Mind you 20 years off bikes and boy am i rusty and slow. Embarrassing chicken strips. Ill get there
I was out on the BSA today - its 40+ bhp. It will still break the national speed limit in 3rd. Lovely ride around some B roads. When the throttles open at 60 in 3rd pulling out of a corner it feels fast as ****. A good rider on a sports bike would be faster - but would it be as much fun? IMO not until you reach very illegal speeds
Keep it shiny side up!
I knew there was a reason I liked you......
I was out on the BSA today – its 40+ bhp. It will still break the national speed limit in 3rd. Lovely ride around some B roads. When the throttles open at 60 in 3rd pulling out of a corner it feels fast as ****.
30 years ago it would have been LC's, narrow power bands and a box of holed pistons under the bed.
The V7 feels just as reprehensible, if you're up for it. Alternatively, it's very relaxing if you're that way inclined.
Always fancied a Guzzi, can’t believe I’ve actually got one!
Neither can we as we haven’t seen a picture of it yet 😉
I tried!
I'm a member and I tried to link a photo from my phone gallery.
Let's try again.
My brother has a Honda CB750KZ, it’s the bike he bought as soon as he passed his test on a CB250RS. He ain’t selling it…
Never been a biker, but there’s been one bike I’ve always rather fancied, and that’s the Honda NX650 Dominator. I’ve always liked the styling, as a 650 twin it’s narrow and fairly light, the ideal bike for hacking around narrow lanes and byways, and I believe the Ridgeway is still open to motorcycles. There’s one for sale in Malvern, for £3850, so not a cheap bike even now.
Scope for a certain amount of customisation as well, like upgrading forks, suspension, pipes, brakes etc, over time.
Dominator is a single. Thump Thump Thump.
I've got a 1986 Tenere 1VJ in 'that blue with gold rims' with only 25 000 km on the clocks. It lives 2m from my sofa.
Never been a biker, but there’s been one bike I’ve always rather fancied, and that’s the Honda NX650 Dominator. I’ve always liked the styling, as a 650 twin it’s narrow and fairly light, the ideal bike for hacking around narrow lanes and byways, and I believe the Ridgeway is still open to motorcycles. There’s one for sale in Malvern, for £3850, so not a cheap bike even now.
Dominators are odd. They bottomed out <£1000 a few years ago then suddenly became "classic". So beware that some will have been thrashed as a cheap bike at some point in their life. For that sort of money a CRF300L has more of a modern following which means suspension upgrades are plentiful (and possibly already fitted).
Also (2nd hand info, never ridden one) not that great (soft spindly suspension being the top comment). The bike you want is the XR650L. But again they've achieved some sort of cult status in part because big air cooled singles went out of fashion for ages, and now that people want them it's not really practical to make one meet modern emissions rules. Even Hondas CRF450L (does it still exist?) was a crap bike in factory trim, almost like Honda were daring people to strip it down and make it a CRF450R with lights (rather than a CRF450R with lights and a very expensive restrictor kit) because it was already impossible to make a real CRF450R with light pass the emissions rules. .
I have an 883 too. Great bikes, mine is an almost completely stock 2005 apart from some extra spotlights. I’d been toying with buying a HD for ages so just picked a cheap sportster but was surprised at how nice it was to ride so it’s a keeper now.
Put a forty quid eBay screen on mine and toured the sw of Ireland on it last year.
Next change on mine will probably be hagon shocks.
Yea, I'm umming and ahhing over suspension upgrades. The ~£400 YSS adjustable emulsion shocks look like a good compromise along with their fork valve kit.
The stock stuff is pretty shonky, on the rear anyway, mine bottom out on a few dips with just me and a bag on the rack.
Ive used hagon before, on a hinckley bonneville and they were good enough, so being cheap by nature i’ll probably just go for them.
hdforums.com, had a good sportster section, largely America based but you do get some useful advice there.
And if anyone can recommend a better road than the one from Horton in Ribblesdale to Hawes via the Ribblehead Viaduct, I’m all ears.
That is indeed a fantastic road and certainly takes some beating.
A trip to Hawes via Ribblehead isn't complete without a blast over the Buttertubs Pass also.
"And if anyone can recommend a better road than the one from Horton in Ribblesdale to Hawes via the Ribblehead Viaduct, I’m all ears."
Devil's Bridge to Sedburgh (A683) then on to Hawes (A684)
I've just bought a Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR for nearly £8k less than it cost new - bargain! 2021, One owner, just under 1000 miles, brand new tyres, amazing bike
I’ve just bought a Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR for nearly £8k less than it cost new – bargain! 2021, One owner, just under 1000 miles, brand new tyres, amazing bike
Lovely bike, but uncompromising sports bike riding position sadly! This is why they were shagging them out so cheap… A mate bought one brand new for £12k down from £18.5k, sounds like you’ve done even better! I went to look at one, assuming it would be easy to make it fit like a normal Speed Triple… It isn’t! Gutted… Same Electronic Ohlins as I had on my Tuono Factory 1100 V4, and even more poke from that lovely triple! But I can’t deal with sports bike riding position any more…
That is indeed a fantastic road and certainly takes some beating.
Shouldn’t need saying, but watch yourselves on that road… Too many have a go heroes turning themselves into statistics along there, and almost permanent police presence as such… It is a great road, but it’s one more to enjoy the scenery if that makes sense…
I am very relaxed about lower power bikes, 65 BHP with a load of torque is plenty. The fun in riding a bike comes in thrashing them. That 65 bhp bike is sort of legalish speeds when being ridden hard.
Recently been having more fun riding my Gasgas SM700 (74bhp) when out with mates on their big power bikes than I have on my KTM 1290SA to be fair… Only issue with the Gasgas is it’s incredibly impractical and severely uncomfortable after an hour! It’s also absolutely crap on anything other than twisty back roads, but then that’s what I bought it for…
Shouldn’t need saying, but watch yourselves on that road… Too many have a go heroes turning themselves into statistics along there, and almost permanent police presence as such… It is a great road, but it’s one more to enjoy the scenery if that makes sense…
Yep, I keep it sensible but thanks anyway - and just to clarify I'm not being sarcastic.
The statistics on that road aren't great, some folk ride way too quick. Not to mention the risk of animals wandering on to the road. Yes, one for the scenery and a modest amount of speed.
