Post your bikes thread

[CGrieves]

Generally, the more cylinders, the smoother the bike is at low revs. I'd much rather be on an inline four CBR600 in traffic than a parallel-twin CB500- the CBR runs from idle all the way to the redline smoothly. Twins tend to be much more "lumpy" and often require clutch slip, especially when crawling along, especially performance twins which tend to have lighter flywheels. My TL1000S is a great laugh, but murder in traffic!

Also don't worry about putting too much throttle on and wheelying unexpectedly. It doesn't happen at sensible revs, even on a 1000cc litrebike. Most sportbikes are tuned to make all their power at the top end, so the torque curve is generally flat below 6000rpm, which is where you'll spend most of your time riding. On a sports 600 you can whack the throttle wide open at 2000 rpm and it'll make more noise but not a lot else.

 

[Master Skooter]

sunama, seriously... I have a 1000cc V-twin which has huge amounts of power at low revs (can wheelie on the power VERY easily) and I can ride it through traffic at less than 10mph (almost to a stop, balancing) with no problems.

My Aprillia SL hates slow speeds - trying to do 30 through a 30 is a real nightmare. I have to ride the clutch like a mofo in traffic. Anything under 40 and it's pretty lumpy, no matter which gear I'm in. Do you run a standard front sprocket?

 

[PardonTheWait]

I commute on a Fazer 1000, it makes a million horsepower but it's a piece of cake to commute on. It's upright, it's comfy, it's smooth, I love it.

My dad's VFR800 is a pain in the arse (well, wrists). It's not even a sportsbike, it's a sports tourer but it murders my wrists in traffic. It's lumpy as hell at low revs as well, the fuelling's awful on it. Nice enough at speed though.

Seriously though any bike is commutable on, just some are better. You're at no risk whatsoever on a more powerful bike at low speeds, as others have said you'll get the hang of it in no time - the bike doesn't want to run away without you, it'll do what it's told.

I'm a firm believer in the original Fazer 1000 being the best all rounder ever. Ever ever ever.

 

[Flukester]

Generally, the more cylinders, the smoother the bike is at low revs. I'd much rather be on an inline four CBR600 in traffic than a parallel-twin CB500- the CBR runs from idle all the way to the redline smoothly. Twins tend to be much more "lumpy" and often require clutch slip, especially when crawling along, especially performance twins which tend to have lighter flywheels. My TL1000S is a great laugh, but murder in traffic!
.

This is so true, I managed to stall the TL1000 at lights a couple of times and it trys to throw you off when the engine clunks to a stop

Get it wrong on a big v-twin and it stalls, get it too right and your up on one wheel

 

[St0rmer66]

My Aprillia SL hates slow speeds - trying to do 30 through a 30 is a real nightmare. I have to ride the clutch like a mofo in traffic. Anything under 40 and it's pretty lumpy, no matter which gear I'm in. Do you run a standard front sprocket?

Standard sprockets, but it has a power commander and a remap done (been done before I got it, so I only know what it's like with it). Have no problems at all doing a steady speed . My only issue in traffic is that my left hand gets tired holding in the clutch at a stop (finding neutral is a fine art on this bike for some reason).

 

[sunama]

Something with flat bars would definitely be more suitable [for commuting in traffic] (maybe a Yamaha Fazer 600/1000?)

The 2 bikes on top of my list, after I pass my full bike test, are the Honda CB500 and Yamaha Fazer FZS600. Research tells me that they are both decent bikes for commuting on. Thanks for the advice gents.

 

[RoysonBobson]

you should add a bandit 650/656 to that list if you can get a decent price on one.

 

[MoNkEyMiKeY]

Yes yes. The problem is that with me, its easy to lose concentration, when I have been stuck in traffic for a good 30 mins or so, with an average speed of around 10 mph. With constant starting and stopping, I sometimes let go of the clutch too quickly and rev the throttle a little too much. I did this a few times today, where I found myself going from 1st into 2nd, with a "thud", where the bike jerks. On a 125, this lazy clutch/throttle control does no damage, however, on a 600cc bike, at the very worst, I may end up doing a wheelie in the middle of a traffic jam in central London.



What I like about the 125cc bikes is that they are extremely forgiving. So, what I want is a bike that can be softened up to be a little more forgiving...reducing BHP is the obvious method.



Great stuff, but I wont be buying a new Suzuki bike for a while.

I've also read in some reviews that some 600cc superbikes are actually poor at low speed/revs (ie. in traffic jams) and that something like the CB500 is actually better as it has better control at slower speeds.

I suggest you never get a big bike till you can concentrate enough not to go to fast maybe.

 

[sunama]

I suggest you never get a big bike till you can concentrate enough not to go to fast maybe.

Speed isnt the problem. Dropping the clutch hard and twisting the throttle hard, when spending 30 minutes in crawling traffic, is. Though this may be a result of using a 125cc, weak engined, bike.

I'm actually very careful on speeds and I find that 90% of the time, people overtaking me, even though I am riding at the speed limit. I was beginning to think that there was something wrong with my speedometer, however, I know for a fact that my speedometer is correct and that I am riding at the correct speed and that it is the other motorists who are breaking the speed limit. Impatience does seem to be a problem for most motorists and humans.

The last thing I need are points on my license and a fine. Unfortunately, most other motorists dont seem to share my view.

 

[St0rmer66]

Generally, the more cylinders, the smoother the bike is at low revs. I'd much rather be on an inline four CBR600 in traffic than a parallel-twin CB500- the CBR runs from idle all the way to the redline smoothly. Twins tend to be much more "lumpy" and often require clutch slip, especially when crawling along, especially performance twins which tend to have lighter flywheels. My TL1000S is a great laugh, but murder in traffic!

Parallel twins are generally very smooth, bad example I'd say . CB500's are as smooth as any 4 cylinder bike .

 

[MoNkEyMiKeY]

Speed isnt the problem. Dropping the clutch hard and twisting the throttle hard, when spending 30 minutes in crawling traffic, is. Though this may be a result of using a 125cc, weak engined, bike.

I'm actually very careful on speeds and I find that 90% of the time, people overtaking me, even though I am riding at the speed limit. I was beginning to think that there was something wrong with my speedometer, however, I know for a fact that my speedometer is correct and that I am riding at the correct speed and that it is the other motorists who are breaking the speed limit. Impatience does seem to be a problem for most motorists and humans.

The last thing I need are points on my license and a fine. Unfortunately, most other motorists dont seem to share my view.

Let me refrase it then. Your life depends on you concentrating and not dropping the clutch. Any size bike could be dangerous. Most of your training and test will be slow traffic riding. They mainly care about how you can control a bike under slow conditions. Especially doing a U-turn, get practising those now.

 

[Lakeland]

Parallel twins are generally very smooth, bad example I'd say . CB500's are as smooth as any 4 cylinder bike .

agree'd.

i did 400 miles on an R plate vfr750 the other week, a day later i popped back onto my cb500s and it still felt fantastic!

 

[Draeger]

Parallel twins are generally very smooth

To the point of boredom I would say.

Was it not the Yam TRX850 that the engineers had to specially tune the exhaust note so that it "sounded like" a Vee?.

Personal opinion but I would rather have the blandest i4 than a parallel twin, I just don't see the point in 'em. If your going to have a twin, make it a vee. That's the way twins were meant to be.

 

[MoNkEyMiKeY]

I liked the way my cb500 on lessons and test rocked side to side when sitting stationary

 

[sunama]

I liked the way my cb500 on lessons and test rocked side to side when sitting stationary

Why was this "side to side rocking" happening?

I like the idea of the CB500: low insurance, good fuel economy, good power for legal speeds, forgiving of errors and reliable.

The CB500 sounds like the ideal commuting bike.

 

[spp]

A few years ago, when I was still restricted to 33bhp, I had a cb500. Was a great bike for cheap, reliable commuting. Also got very got mpg I seem to remember.

 

[Draeger]

Why was this "side to side rocking" happening?

I believe its to do with the nature of the engine design and the way the pistons move. I wasn't aware parallel twins did this but I know BMW's flat twin Boxer engines do this "rocking" thing.

 

[MoNkEyMiKeY]

The pistons are side-by-side when one is down the other is up. So you get a slight rocking movement. Kinda soothing makes you want to sleep

 

[hillbilly2]

To the point of boredom I would say.

Was it not the Yam TRX850 that the engineers had to specially tune the exhaust note so that it "sounded like" a Vee?.

Personal opinion but I would rather have the blandest i4 than a parallel twin, I just don't see the point in 'em. If your going to have a twin, make it a vee. That's the way twins were meant to be.

Carn't say theres much wrong with my old XTZ750, great engine

 

[Fireskull]

I believe its to do with the nature of the engine design and the way the pistons move. I wasn't aware parallel twins did this but I know BMW's flat twin Boxer engines do this "rocking" thing.

Its the weirdest feeling on the beemers as you can feel them pulling to one side