| Author | Message | ||
     José_Quiñones |
2003 Streetfighter/Naked bikes sorted by Features Feel free to add bikes and discuss what market Chain driven: Aprilia Falco/Tuono   Italian Water/Oil Cooled DOHC 60 degree Vtwin Ducati SuperSport and Monster series   Italian Air/Oil cooled Desmo Valve 90 degree Vtwin KTM Duke 950 (2004?)  Austrian Watercooled 75 degree DOHC VTwin Suzuki Bandit 1200 & 1200S  Japanese Air/oil Cooled DOHC Inline 4 Suzuki SV 650/650S and 1000/1000S   Japanese Watercooled 90 degree DOHC V-Twin Kawasaki ZR1000 & ZRX1200   Japanese Watercooled DOHC inline 4 Yamaha FZ1  Japanese Watercooled DOHC inline 4 Belt Driven Buell XB9R and XB9S   American Air/Oil Cooled 45 degree Pushrod VTwin with patented frame and front brake design. Shaft Drive Moto-Guzzi  Italian Air cooled transverse 90 degree Pushrod Vtwin Streetfighter Niches not currently being exploited in the US market Japanese air cooled belt/shaft driven pushrod vtwin or inline 4 Italian belt driven watercooled pushrod/DOHC inline 4 and finally, American Water Cooled chain/shaft driven Desmo/DOHC V-Twin or inline 4......... | ||
| Bykergeek |
Triumph Speed Triple?  | ||
| José_Quiñones |
yes, I know I forgot a few, that's a beautiful picture! | ||
| José_Quiñones |
 Brittish chain driven liquid cooled dohc inline triple  Brittish chain driven liquid cooled dohc inline four Honda 919  Japanese chain driven liquid cooled dohc inline four Honda Superhawk  Japanese chain driven liquid cooled dohc 90 degree v twin | ||
| Xgecko |
Although the SV1000 doesn't appeal to me. I am frightened to say that there is something about the 919 that makes me wonder what it could be made into. It is the only BIG 4 bike other than VFR that actually intrigues me. It's just raw. There is no baby fairing like the Yamaha and Suzuki's. The Kawi is interesting but the angles and the colors turn me off. I like the the Duke 950's motor but I'm really hoping KTM soften's it a bit before they release it. The rest of the European bikes are beautiful for sure but too "Refined" for my taste. Nekid bikes should be about business not beauty...though the S1 Proved you can do both It still had that raw, nothing that wasn't needed look. Honda has done a nice thing with the 919 though...by all accounts a good motor and a very clean look without resorting to plastic to cover things up. | ||
| Blacksix |
The only two Hondas I would consider right now would be the 919 or the VFR. I have always liked the Interceptors. Cheap enough right now...ought to get one just because.... | ||
| Jmartz |
The Kawi is sort of interesting. I had a '73 Z1 in my youth so I a bit prejudiced. Eventough the bike does have an inverted fork, a rarity when it comes to the "low end", the weakening of the motor and those horizontal runners truen me off. Anybody know the performance figures of a ZX=9? This detuned from that... | ||
| Jmartz |
The Guzzi is superb! But, why would I buy a heavier bike with less handling capability and less acceleration than a tube framed Buell and weighing another 100 lbs? BTW that particular one in the pic I don't think is factory built so extpect the price to equal 2 Buells +. | ||
| Bomber |
also, it looks like its gonna transform into a robot any minute . . . . . I think my daughter had a toy that looked like that about 15 years ago the goose looks like fun, though | ||
| Lake_Bueller |
If your going strictly on looks, I like the Kawi ZR1000 and the Guzzi (especially the Guzzi  ) | ||
| José_Quiñones |
Kawasaki wants it to be called the Z1000, it wants to sell it for $8,499 and it makes about 144 hp at the crank........ By looks, I love the Speed Triple and the Aprilia Tuono (reminds me of the Terminator without his skin) Best bang/buck: SV650/1000, Z1000 and FZ1 By originality/low maintenance requirements, the Buells Most potential: the Duke 950/Moto Guzzi if they actually build it that way. The Duke, if it proves reliable and gets a good dealer network and support, will be the Streetfighter to beat in 2004. For my money?? SV650/1000, KTM Duke or Speed Triple | ||
| Rick_A |
The Guzzi is damn sexy. By looks alone it's my favorite out of the lineup...but given the choice I'd take the XB9S. The Duke looks rediculous...and the Japs are trying too hard to make the bikes look aggressive...yet they still have UJM written all over 'em, IMO. | ||
| Xgecko |
The reason I like the 919 so much is because it has such an average look nothing fancy. Just simple lines that scream for pure streetfighter conversion. | ||
| Libnosis |
Mostly, I agree with you Rick...mostly. I'll wait for the REAL S1 replacement to come along.  | ||
| José_Quiñones |
Here's another Aprilia  it's a Falco after a $2000 "Streetfighter" kit. Read about it HERE Looks like one of those robots from Battlestar Galactica. | ||
| Raymaines |
RaY2K thinks the REAL S1 replacement has come along. Sort of. I mean, it's going to come along, some day. In a year and a half or so. Maybe. Sort of. I mean, like, you know, really. Sort of. Really! The KTM 950 V-2 Super Duke seems to be just about everything I had hoped it would be. Except available. That, and it's going to be expensive (as if the Buell XB’s aren't). With a 55.3" wheelbase the KTM seems a little long but the swing arm looks like it's at least 3 inches longer than it really needs to be. I'm willing to assume that the KTM designers know more about chassis design than I do (as if there would be someone in the universe that knows less) so I figure it will handle well enough to keep me happy. Another thing that bothers me is the lack of torque, but 112 RWHP sounds pretty good. And over all, I like the style. Something interesting in the Alan Cathcart’s article in the November issue of Motorcyclist (page 46, column two, paragraph two, line fifteen) is the following quote. “A key in making the bike so maneuverable is the way … the sharp styling has your knees tucked in tight to the flanks of the tank.” The Firebolt feels about three ax handles wide at the “gas tank.” It could be truly said that your knees are “tight” against the tank, but they are certainly not “tucked in.” Maybe there is more to chassis design than just Mass Centralization. As Steve_A said on Sept 23 on the GenDis Board, “if only Erik Buell had this engine . . . extrapolating, the result would be a 390-pound wet weight Firebolt, as there's at least 60 pounds claimed weight different between the KTM engine and the 984 Buell/H-D powerplant.” The original S1 was a powerful, torque monster beast of a bike with controversial (weird) styling, an attitude and huge fun to ride. The KTM seems to be the 2004 equivalent of the 1997 Buell Bad Ass S1. Oh, BTW, piss on the Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi and Ducati pretenders. What thinkest thou? | ||
| José_Quiñones |
Ditto, Ray. Mass centralization works for a bike's width as well as it's height/length/weight distribution. As does the location of the rider on the bike as Dan Gurney has shown with his Alligator. The KTM almost matches the XB's weight distribution of 52% front/48% rear. If it takes putting the battery down under the front of the engine, so be it!  From motorcyclenews.com
________________________________________________________________ "If only Erik Buell had this engine....." Whenever the Book on the History of Buell Motorcycles comes out (Dave, Court???) I think that will be the most appropriate title for it! | ||
| Bonzo |
OK - I'll try again  | ||
| Bonzo |
2nd attempt at the Beast  | ||
| Libnosis |
IMHO of course... That Duke is FUGLY!  Like somebody threw a bunch of parts at a magnet. I mean, that engine BELONGS behind some plastic. The gas tank looks like it was carved out of bedrock. They need some Willy G love. Come on guys, Italy is right around the corner. Get some style!  Well, at least it has decent power... I guess.  | ||
| Pj1 |
one of my favorites  | ||
| Djkaplan |
Il Moto Guzzi è il motociclo che di stordimento ho visto in un molto tempo. Bello, assolutamente bello. | ||
| Court |
I was in the hunt for the KTM until they slapped that bodywork on it. Poof...bubble burst. Mark me down for lusting after the 9S or the 919. Ducati's totally awesome website (all parts catalogs, at just a click) keeps trying to pull me back into the Monster tractor beam. Pauls riding observations, from Colorado, keeping getting me out. I'd walk right past all of them for a 1996 S-1 though. Court | ||
| José_Quiñones |
  You have a year+ to get used to it. You'll get used to it. This bike might even be considered TAME in a year. | ||
| Jmartz |
I would buy that Sachs Beast eyes closed any time. Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.............. bring it in baby! The Mamut is a bit on the the doggy side, heavy and bulky, but, I don't have to worry about that one since I will never, ever be in $75,000 price category. | ||
| Xgecko |
the tank and those flaps....I won't get used to it...Court saying that he lusts for a 919....there's something I never though I'd ever hear...Not that I disagree I dream of the things I could do to a 919. | ||
| José_Quiñones |
the 919 is pretty cool too, except they forgot to put adjustable suspension in it, when everybody in that price range offers it. If Honda made an RC51 based naked bike with the looks/ergos of the 919, they'd have a winner! | ||
| Xgecko |
some guys I've talked to have put a 954's fork on a 919 and have upgraded to shock. I'd love a RC51 based nekid bike or better yet a 1000cc V4 which has been that talk of a few BBS's Stripping the VFR of it's bodywork is another thing I have heard. Why is it that Only Honda seems to understand the Nekid means no Fairing...not even a Bikini | ||
| Darthane |
Man...the vast majority of those are BUTTF@#$ING UGLY. Including the Duke. Especially the Duke. Looks like a Pontiac Aztek on two wheels. ::shudders:: Bryan | ||
| X1glider |
Is that Bulldog a Yamaha? If so, is it a replacement for the V-Max? I've always liked the V-Max but it is currently equally heavy as my Dyna. |
