Character

[Carbonero]

I don't see myself ever going back to a big, overpowered machine. There's just no reason why so many of the modern bikes "need" so much power.

[guzzinut]

There's just no reason why so many of the modern bikes "need" so much power.

Yes there is.
It's so people who need big power to compensate for lack of ability have something to brag about so they can be king of the pub car park.
 

[Pete Roper]

Yes there is.
It's so people who need big power to compensate for lack of ability have something to brag about so they can be king of the pub car park.
 

Yes. But there is a reason for big power. It's amazing fun. It;s just a different sort of fun.

I had my first V4 Tuono through my shop this week. I'd ridden them before but only in built up areas. This was the first oportunity I'd had to go silly on one.

While I love the RSV-4 it is just too narrow focused and uncomfortable to be a real proposition for an ageing idiot like me. The Tuono? I've never ridden a bike so wonderfully berserk! All it needs is hard bags and it would be a real ST weapon. AND you can stand it on its rear wheel for as long as you want!!!!

Pete

[guzzinut]

Yes. But there is a reason for big power. It's amazing fun. It;s just a different sort of fun.

As I said in my first post, I rode a Honda Blackbird recently and was bored with it in 10 minutes.
It was fantastic getting back on my lowly V7.
I don't dispute that there can be other reasons for needing more poke, but let's be honest here, do you think the average road rider is capable of exploiting to the full what a lot of modern tackle has at it's disposal.
A friend of mine recently got himself a BMW R1200GS and tells me he's quicker on that than he was on the Ducati 999 he owned before.
Go figure.

[blakebird]

all the drivel about "too much power" is just that....drivel.  

Having that power doesn't mean you have to use it, but when conditions allow, there's no replacement.
The RSV4 Tuono is a bike I could own, for exactly the reasons Pete mentions.

My ZX-14 was hands down one of the best bikes I've owned, and it had nothing to do with 180hp.
Refinement, fit and finish, smooth motor.... a very long legged machine, that accumulated 27,000 miles in just over a year - it was that much fun to ride.

A bike that is engineered to safely cruise at 180mph makes going 85 a very relaxing proposition. All the systems designed to cope with the power and acceleration it can dish out, make it understressed at normal speeds.

[sammyseaman]

Talking about character on a sport touring forum is like talking about hot chicks on an Oprah forum  

[guzzinut]

all the drivel about "too much power" is just that....drivel.  

No it's not.
Why do you think that the adventure segment of the market has been steadily increasing, while sales of high powered sports tourers and sports bikes have been steadily declining.

A bike that is engineered to safely cruise at 180mph makes going 85 a very relaxing proposition. All the systems designed to cope with the power and acceleration it can dish out, make it understressed at normal speeds.:

Which can be said of plenty of lower powered bikes.

I have an old BMW 1100 that only has 61bhp, but cruises effortlessly at 100mph with less RPM showing than most big in line fours I've owned.

As I said, certainly in regard to character, is that you pay the price.

That Blackbird I rode was ballistic, but was as dull as a dull thing could be.

Bikes are about so much more than an impressive top speed.

[Pete Roper]

That Blackbird I rode was ballistic, but was as dull as a dull thing could be.

Bikes are about so much more than an impressive top speed.

That's he difference between the Aprilia V4 and the Japanese offerings. The 'Prilla has character to burn. I too find modern Japanese and Bavarian fours boring as batshit.

Not saying you *Need* the power, I find myself riding my Mana more and more nowadays simply because I can't afford any more tickets and it feels nice at the speed limit whereas the Griso doesn't really feel happy until you're in licence loss/go to gaol territory! But there is something wonderfully bonkers about whipping through the gears on the back wheel and laughing maniacaly while you're doing it!!!!!

Pete










[/quote]

[blakebird]

Bikes are about so much more than an impressive top speed.

Who are you trying to convince? Someone who's been riding 46 yrs and owned 55 bikes since 1968.... not going to work.

You have your point of view, and virtually every other rider on the planet does too...it's your opinion, not right and not wrong.

You're putting character pretty high on a pedestal all by itself. I can appreciate a bike with tons of personality - but I can also appreciate the engineering behind some of the amazing machines out there today.
Doesn't make my 2V Multistrada better or worse than my FJR. Just different. They were both favorites of mine, and for different reasons - but they both had character.
IMO it's how you quantify that as an attribute.

[guzzinut]

Who are you trying to convince? Someone who's been riding 46 yrs and owned 55 bikes since 1968.... not going to work.

Means nothing.
In fact very often it's the people who've been riding the longest, who are so set in their ways, that they are totally blinkered.
I include myself in that analogy.
I've been riding 30 years, and have owned more bikes than you.
Up till 5 years ago I would never have considered anything with less than four cylinders and 100bhp, but it was a test ride on a Guzzi that turned my way of thinking on it's head.
I'm not saying it's for everyone, but I am sick of reading the same drivle from idiots who've never even ridden the bike, claiming it's too low powered.
Silly middle aged born again farts who have nothing better to do than brag about big numbers down the pub.
I've ridden with loads of these people in various clubs, and most of them would be hard pushed to find the limits of a Puch Maxi.

[blakebird]

goodie for you.  

you need to be right....then you can be right.

Means nothing.
In fact very often it's the people who've been riding the longest, who are so set in their ways, that they are totally blinkered.
I include myself in that analogy.
I've been riding 30 years, and have owned more bikes than you.
Up till 5 years ago I would never have considered anything with less than four cylinders and 100bhp, but it was a test ride on a Guzzi that turned my way of thinking on it's head.
I'm not saying it's for everyone, but I am sick of reading the same drivle from idiots who've never even ridden the bike, claiming it's too low powered.
Silly middle aged born again farts who have nothing better to do than brag about big numbers down the pub.
I've ridden with loads of these people in various clubs, and most of them would be hard pushed to find the limits of a Puch Maxi.

[DrMikey]

What about "It's more fun to go fast on a slow bike than it is to ride a fast bike slowly"?

[guzzinut]

goodie for you.  

you need to be right....then you can be right.

Well so far, you haven't actually disagreed with anything I've said.

 

BTW, the ZX14 is not designed to cruise comfortably at 180 mph.
That a ridiculously stupid statement

[atadaskew]

What about "It's more fun to go fast on a slow bike than it is to ride a fast bike slowly"?

With my PX150, it's more fun to go as fast as a slow bike would allow you...
Which is still slow.