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Dr_greg
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 - 02:28 pm: | 
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I think Dr. Greg has the right idea with the new Multistrada.
Why, thank you very much! It IS a fine idea, as long as you got the do re mi (or have good credit)...
BTW, the MTS 1200 is alive and very well...well enough to get me my first speeding citation in ten years. Humph.
I have lots of pics and words in mind for an extended ride report and my opinion of the Multi so far. But I've got a new consulting job and the time is hard to come by. However, maybe this weekend...
--Doc
P.S. Kudos to all us working stiffs out there. I consider myself one of y'all...I grab every opportunity that comes my way. With four kids and deadbeat Mrs. Greg I have to. I just learned a little math somewhere along the line... |
Bosh
| | Posted on Thursday, August 12, 2010 - 05:33 am: |
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....but last month's Rider mag had a review of the KTM SMT...and that looks VERY much like the sort of thing for a Uly person. Don't know if i care for the soft bags but the rest sure seems appealing. Any of you looked at this bike?
I've been reading up on the KTM SMT also. That's a really good looking bike that ticks all the boxes on my check list. I don't care much for the soft bags either but I've found several photos on the net of that bike with regular "adventure" type luggage attached, so it's available.
I really like the [Ducati like] trellis frame. The engine doesn't have the punch the 1200 duck has, but 115 hp is plenty for me. All the electronic doo-dads and gismos on the Ducati kind of kills it for me. Just way to much to go wrong there. Even the steering lock is servo actuated for Peet's sake. |
Blackdog
| | Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 12:53 am: |
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I ride with a friend that has the KTM SMT. He loves the bike except for one thing, it only gets around 35 mpg on a good day. |
Jphish
| | Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 12:32 pm: |
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JohnBoy is right - Parts will be in pipeline ONLY until HD decides it aint worth the trouble. Leaves us all very vulnerable to whims of corporate conscience. (Corps' arent necessarily known for having any - greed & bottom line rules...BP, ENRON, AIG etc. ring a bell?) No matter how much we love our iconic Uly's, like Dr Greg & others, we all have to eventually / realistically think 'spare bikes'... instead of spare parts. I'll keep Uly until it becomes hopeless...then make a coffee table out of her - with 'Courts' "25 years of Buell" on top. Then the Tiger will have sole responsibility to carry my aging carcass. |
Buellerxt
| | Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 12:57 pm: |
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Jeeze, Jphish, why not spare the misery coming your way and go with suicide? 
Corporations suck and you're old and not getting any younger! Yey! Let's assume the worst and dwell on all parts going away! Cool!
How about a different, more realistic, and upbeat outlook? How about corporations provide jobs and the means for folks to buy the toys we are conversing about here, not to mention build them? As for age, I have a friend who is 77, rides 30,000+ miles/year and NEVER drones on about aging. Come on, Man, you've mentioned your 'aging' several times in recent posts and what, you're only 62? 
Cheer up! Life is good! |
Jphish
| | Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 02:11 pm: |
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Buellerxt - 30K mi / yr commendable at ANY age. Good on him. Yeah, I'm feeling 'mortal' tday - did a 2 day, 500 mi "off road" trip on KLR last week with kid brother - he's a maniac. Recovery still in process. I know there's a 60+ yo guy that does the Baja 1000 - and is competitive. (But as a more accomplished rider I dont think he has to pick up the bike as often - skill does count here!) I do fine on adventure trips with dirt roads - but the off road crazyness may exceed my healing capability anymore. Lamentable. So hence my whine. (Gotta say those KLRs can take some abuse - it kept running in spite of my efforts to kill the poor thing) As for Corps'... Not saying they're all inherently evil entities - just gotta remember they aint philanthropic organizations - profit will always be their 'North star'. So being 'realists' about HDs future intentions on timely availability for Buell parts is something we need to be prepared for. It aint if - only when... & It is what it is. I got past the Buell / HD thing when I bought 06' Tiger last year - it's my spare. |
Towpro
| | Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 02:58 pm: |
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My fear wasn't hd pulling the plug. They will continue to play middle man between us and the suppliers, as long as they are making money on our orders. But what is to keep the suppliers in business? They already lost a chunk of orders when the requirements to build parts for production bikes stopped last fall. |
Buellerxt
| | Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 02:58 pm: |
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I understand, Jphish. Hey, I'm within months of you so I'm talking to myself too!
Those KLR's have always had allure for me. Though I don't have off road riding options nearby I've been tempted to pick one up just to play around with. That Versys seems like a fun bike as well.
That 77 year old friend I mentioned is something else. He rides 'everyday' and 150 miles is a low day. He put 417,000 miles on a 1987 FLH that is now in the Harley Museum. Today he has a very high mileage Ultra, a Suzuki Bergman with 140,000+ miles and a new Bergman he is piling up the mileage on. He wore out a Suzuki Bergman 400 before switching to 650's! A good ol' boy who stays active riding and stopping to meet folks. Very cool. |
Eulysses
| | Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 03:07 pm: |
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The danger of the corp is that they will make irrational decisions about our bikes. But free enterprise will rescue us and provide parts flow...as long as there is money to be made. I suspect Erik will be part of that. So keep riding those Buells...keeps the market alive.
Jphish...I stay in the gym to keep riding. And keep up with grandkids! |
Jphish
| | Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 03:56 pm: |
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Buellerxt - The KLR is a fun thumper. Pretty cheap to own & ya can get a well farkled one, with low miles, for under 4K (04-07) Having said that - a riding buddy has a Versy with Distanzias - its a pretty fine package. More like a 'wee'strom with its 650 twin. A bit more refined & comfortable than the KLR & still does pretty well on the rough stuff. Not an 'off road' machine - but that has alot to do with the rider of course. Eulysses - Golfed with my grandaughter last week - she only beat me by a stroke. I no longer try to keep up with her...just not too far behind. +1 on gym ! |
Hunn
| | Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 04:59 pm: |
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I got past the Buell / HD thing when I bought an 06' Tiger last year - it's my spare.
Jphish: What Tiger is that? How do you like it? How do you compare it to the Uly?
Just stumbled across a used 855i Tiger, considering buying it as a back-up for the same reason as you. How well are Triumph parts to come about? |
Towpro
| | Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 05:56 pm: |
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I also was lusting after one of those used KLR's I see on Craigs List. I like the way they look, but someone told me there is nothing you can do on the KLR that you can't already to on your Uly. Being from a dirt bike background, I went with the XR-650L. |
Jphish
| | Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 06:46 pm: |
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Howdy Hunn - (Not same 'Hun' I use to address spousal unit) Anyway - If you go on 'tigertriple.com' there's way more useful info & expertise than I can offer, but here's synopsis of my impressions. Mine's the last year of the 'Girlies' (99-06 - RIP) & very 'odd' looking machines - but I like 'em. 07's, & newer are referred to as the 'Roadies' as they have different styling, 17" front wheel and more road oriented. They also have the 1050 triple instead of the 955. ZOOM! The UlyX, for all it's flaws, is still my favorite all time motorcycle. The Tiger is a different beast, but very fun to ride. In fact, surprises me on how well it corners for such a big dualsport. Pretty good on dirt roads as well - better tire selection with 19" front wheel. Not as much low down grunt as Uly, but plenty of power / performance across the band. (In 6th gear above 3K RPM, I just use it like a 'twist and go' Bergman) Parts so far readily available, at least for essentials. (Stock top cases no longer mfg's for older models - but lots of after market parts for Tigers of all vintages) We have a good Triumph shop in Tacoma that I order thru for 'genuine' parts - gotta keep 'em in business for all the obvious reasons. The 885 you mentioned was the 'Steamer' - made from 92'-98' I think. In 99 they started with the 'Girlie' but still had the 885 motor for that year (not sure if 2000 model also had 855 or 955) At some point around that time they also went from carbs to FI. So I'm not sure which year Tiger your looking at. There are still quite a few 885s still on the road, but the 955 is generally preferred for some evolutionary up grades. The 1050 is probably the best of the triples, but 955s are pretty trouble free. Bottom line: If I could only have 1 bike - I'd be very happy with the Tiger I got. 07's & newer Tigers are alot closer to the Uly in set up, handling & ergos - and seen 'Roadies' for under $6K. Forgive my "stream of consciousness 200 word run on sentence" Hope it helped. j |
Jphish
| | Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 06:49 pm: |
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Taking nothing away from the ol' KLR mule - XR650L was a good choice. Honda did another nice job there. |
Towpro
| | Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 08:24 pm: |
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Jphish, and I got a great deal on the 05 XRl. It had 5K miles and was loaded with every farkle the internet crowd recommended, all the way down to a corban seat. The last 2 owners could not get it jetted right. Turned out with the 2" bar risers, the choke cable was too tight and it would not turn all the way off.
I cut 1" off each side of the bar, moved all the controls in which gave me enough free play to allow the choke to open, and now it runs like a champ! |
Jphish
| | Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 11:20 pm: |
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Tow' - Great story! a little troubleshooting ability and mechanical knowhow can really pay off. Sometimes the 'addons' are the first place to look for problems. Have fun with that thing - I was surprised how much more nimble & quick they feel compared to the KLR. |
Hunn
| | Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 11:21 pm: |
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Jphish, The bike that I'm looking at is a 03 955i with a scant 23 000 miles, so that must be a "Girlie"? And thanks for the valuable info! I love this forum.
For your info: my username came about as a cross between Hun (like in Atilla the Hun - since I'm German)- and being asked by my better half "hunney, could you do this real quick for me?" |
Jphish
| | Posted on Friday, August 20, 2010 - 10:40 am: |
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Ah yes - the 'Hunny do' list! I hate it when she pulls out the pen & sticky note chore pad. "Hunny, my sister is coming for lunch tomorrow - could you sand and refinish the kitchen floor for me real quick?" Yes - 03 Tiger is assuredly a 'Girlie' & has the 955 FI motor. 23K mi is just about broke in. 100K trouble free miles not unusual if taken care of. Go to <tigertriple.com> (without the arrows) & scroll down to Girlies - there are a couple of links of what to look for / questions to ask before you buy. Like - have the problem fuel connectors been replaced? etc. VERY helpful! Good luck on the Tiger - Triumph has been building some fine motorcycles since the 90's. TTFN, j |
Blackdog
| | Posted on Thursday, August 26, 2010 - 12:36 am: |
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Really love this bike. I just bought a Kaoka throttle lock and electrified tank bag for it. Did a little adventure riding with it today.
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