Taking a test ride Sunday....

[smilinjack 0]

....I'm starting the search for a replacement/update for my 1200 Bandit. Seen one I quite like so I'm off out Sunday for a test ride, weather permitting. I know you all like a quiz, so before I post a pic any guesses?

[Grumpyowl 0]

Gsf 1250 gt


You might be lucky forecast partly cloudy light rain Sunday

[melly 0]

1200 bandit

[Davehutch-hutchs 0]

B-KING

[smilinjack 0]

Sorry to piss on everyone's strawberries, but it isn't a Suzuki

[smudgeandsmear 0]

cb1300s?

[Davehutch-hutchs 0]

Kawasaki then aint it ?

[smilinjack 0]

@Davehutch wrote:

Kawasaki then aint it ?

Nope. Although a green ZZR1400 would be hard to turn down

[madsod 0]

Best of luck have fun

[Davehutch-hutchs 0]

@smilinjack wrote:

@Davehutch wrote:

Kawasaki then aint it ?

Nope. Although a green ZZR1400 would be hard to turn down

text me the bloody answer PLEASE

[smilinjack 0]

You give up too easily dude

http://www.cmcbikes.com/catalog/product/view/id/238472/s/aprilia-tuono-1000-2008/category/4/

[fr499y 0]

twins all the way!

[Stue11 0]

Love it dont you dare stick any off those silly baggage thingies to it if you are to purchase her

[Davehutch-hutchs 0]

@smilinjack wrote:

You give up too easily dude

http://www.cmcbikes.com/catalog/product/view/id/238472/s/aprilia-tuono-1000-2008/category/4/

cool !!!!!!

[smilinjack 0]

@Stue11 wrote:

Love it dont you dare stick any off those silly baggage thingies to it if you are to purchase her

Don't worry m8 I'm looking for a strictly Sunday toy. I want to see how they feel. I reckon it may end up between a Tuono and Speed Triple 1050. No rush

[fr499y 0]

@Stue11 wrote:

Love it dont you dare stick any off those silly baggage thingies to it if you are to purchase her

Hmm better not post the pic of my duc covered in mud/salt with bags attached then

[Stue11 0]

@fr499y wrote:

@Stue11 wrote:

Love it dont you dare stick any off those silly baggage thingies to it if you are to purchase her

Hmm better not post the pic of my duc covered in mud/salt with bags attached then

NO

[smilinjack 0]

Of course, I really need to get rid of my Bandit to free up some space. And to avoid the possibility of finishing up sleeping in the shed!

[Chadatious 0]

@smilinjack wrote:

You give up too easily dude

http://www.cmcbikes.com/catalog/product/view/id/238472/s/aprilia-tuono-1000-2008/category/4/

mates uncle has one. very nice bike he got one of the very last twins. saying that he test rode the v4 version and said it was amasing, but its just the money factor, as his tuono was brand new just over 6k on an 11 plate.


still hope weather holds up for you mate

[smilinjack 0]

Cheers Chad and yes, if I had the coin I would be lusting after the V4

[dick65 0]

nice one alan good to try something different ,hope the weather holds for ya m8

[lee1 1]

nice 1 alan,I think there a cracking bike

[Tony nitrous 0]

Test rides ?

You dont need to understand French,

just watch, its pretty self explanitory...

(or just start 2m 30sec's in...)

[Stue11 0]

@Tony nitrous wrote:

Test rides ?

You dont need to understand French,

just watch, its pretty self explanitory...

(or just start 2m 30sec's in...)

just imagine couldnt ya

[Grumpyowl 0]

I don't know if you've owned an Italian V2 before but here's a little story.
My mate really fancied something different something "exotic"
Or was it erotic ?( cant remember getting old).

So at the back end of last year he swapped his CB1300 which he'd had for about 6 years,
( before that he'd mostly had big 4 cyl sports bikes ),for a mint low mileage Aprilia Tuono Factory.

He spent the winter putting £700 end cans and got a map 2 installed +all sorts of lovely goodies on it. ( It looked the dogs doo dass)

When the weather changed and he finally got to ride it he lasted 3 months with it.
It was fast and got a lot of attention whenever parked up.
He just couldn't get over the feeling it was VERY Fragile and was at some point going to let him down.

He went and swapped it for a BKING in Black with less than 1k miles on it.

The power difference is incredible in his words, he knows its going to be a keeper and he's so glad he's gone back to a big 4 that he has complete confidence in.

If you only have one bike and your looking for a keeper the Tuono may just be your cup of Tea.
My mate payed a lot out to find out it wasn't his.

Enjoy your test ride Sunday hope the weather stays fine for you.

[Tony nitrous 0]

Mate Chris had two B-Kings before his Aprilia's.
(He was "Megatron" on the B-King forum)
He loves them, has the Tuono V2 and RSV4
and another (maybe a 750?)

Im not convinced.
Last time I saw him at the dealers he was collecting
his almost new bike after it had had a new engine
due to the last one going off like a grenade !

Each to their own.

[Davehutch-hutchs 0]

good luck for tomorrow Alan weather aint looking to bad

[smilinjack 0]

@Davehutch wrote:

good luck for tomorrow Alan weather aint looking to bad

Yesh cheers Dave just come in from a quick spin on the ZZR just to gauge the roads. I just hope once they've seen my counterpart they still let me out, and I'd better not take a credit card with me, may do something rash.

[Davehutch-hutchs 0]

take it you are going , let us know how you get on

[Stue11 0]

Weather looks fair good luck Alan and enjoy

[madsod 0]

Have fun

[haveugot1 0]

Hope you have fun today

[smilinjack 0]

It's raining at the moment

[Davehutch-hutchs 0]

@smilinjack wrote:

It's raining at the moment

hope it drys up for you alan

[smilinjack 0]

Right, I'm kitting up. Will report back later

[Stue11 0]

@smilinjack wrote:

Right, I'm kitting up. Will report back later

[smilinjack 0]

Well, that was an interesting afternoon, not all good either I'm afraid. I'd arranged to be there between 12 & 1 today, and I was. The Tuono was still in the showroom so the salesman pushed it into the workshop for a bit of fuel and quick check. I'd said I might be interested in a Speed Triple-good job as the Aprilia had a flat battery so I went out on a 1050 Speed Triple, hopefully to then go out on the Tuono when it had had a bit of charge. Took the Triumph out for an hour or so, came back to swap bikes, but unfortunately I only got about a mile before the Aprilia cut out. Guy came out with a booster pack, got the bike started and took it straight back to the shop. I was a bit pissed really as they'd been expecting me and hadn't prepared the bike.

As to the bikes-that was my first ride on a Speed Triple and I was mighty impressed. Lovely smooth, torquey motor which sounds a treat of course. Nice short bike, easy to steer and good brakes. It felt like a really well sorted Bandit in a way TBH. I could certainly see myself owning one.

Aprilia-despite these problems, and I know plenty will say walk away now (Italian bike, electrical gremlins) in that short ride it promised enough for me to rearrange for next week. Hopefully they can sort that battery out and I can have a proper ride. I suspect it will be good. It felt so beautifully balanced, obviously a good engine which surprised me with it's smoothness. Brakes felt good, and in a beauty contest it knocks the Triumph into a cocked hat, at least for me. Let's see next week.

[madsod 0]

Well that does sound like fun not the best start with the way the weather is and the bike .still lets hope for more next week Alan

[Stue11 0]

Obviously dont value there customers...and potensial sales...good luck for next week Alan

[madcarper 0]

thats a shame about the aprillia but they are known to have battery and wiring problems, sound bloody great though mind i would'nt say no to a speed triple.

[smilinjack 0]

Incidentally they offered £1100 P/X for my Bandit without seeing it. Saves the grief of spending in order to sell it, but not exactly being generous I'd say.

[madcarper 0]

if you liked the touno have you thought about ducati monster i tried one and would buy one tommorow if my hands could handle the vibes off a twin.

[smilinjack 0]

@madcarper wrote:

if you liked the touno have you thought about ducati monster i tried one and would buy one tommorow if my hands could handle the vibes off a twin.

I'd never touch a Ducati. Don't much like the trellis frame on the Monster either. the Tuono frame/swingarm look very good. The other good thing about Aprilia is that the engine is made in Austria, which makes it almost German I was quite taken aback by it's smoothness, and it has an excellent reputation for reliability and longevity.

[dick65 0]

bet they thought you werent coming,at least you got to sample the triumph,fingers crossed for next week alan i would have thought they'd offer more for the bandit,i got £900 3 years back for a clapped out b6 in px

[Davehutch-hutchs 0]

thats a bugger Alan , if I hadn't gone for the king the speed triple would have been my choice, I know its not near but http://www.streetbike.co.uk/ where i brought my king from are really good can not fault there service , any way better luck next week m8

[Grumpyowl 0]

My 2 penneth and obviously nowt to do with me.

Out of those 2 I'd defiantly go for the Triumph.

But if you want a powerfull Naked.
Power for Pound I would say find a low mileage Bking if you can get past the looks and ditch the end cans.
If you test ride one of these I think you'll be amazed.

Only my opinion mind

[Davehutch-hutchs 0]

@Grumpyowl wrote:

My 2 penneth and obviously nowt to do with me.

Out of those 2 I'd defiantly go for the Triumph.

But if you want a powerfull Naked.
Power for Pound I would say find a low mileage Bking if you can get past the looks and ditch the end cans.
If you test ride one of these I think you'll be amazed.

Only my opinion mind

cant agree more with you there Jim about the king , I like the cans though

[smilinjack 0]

I won't be buying a Bking-one thing my next urban bike will not have is a 4 cylinder engine. That's what limits my choice. Pretty much looks like a V twin or triple.

[Grumpyowl 0]

I know you do Dave some like big Arses some like big T@ts

Would be boring if we all liked the same

My mate has a black King with Black Yoshis on not for power or sound just for looks and IMO transforms the look of the bike.

Up at CMC Clay cross they have a white low mileage one with Laser pipes .. They are 4 shotgun high polished pipes can't have been cheap but they look the db's.

It was on Evilbay might be worth having a look.

Oh sorry about the pint now your on the wagon

[Oldfart 0]

Ive got the 1050 ST Triple. I know its not a naked but I love it to bits. One of the nicest bikes Ive ever owned.