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Nov. 22, 2011 10:14 p.m. BAMF Reader

I've had a 150cc scooter for the past 8 years, I still enjoy the heck out of it. I used to do road testing for a scooter magazine, so I've ridden my share of scoots. I've also ridden several bigger bikes, and have enjoyed most of them for what they are.

My immediate family likes "real" motorcycles, cruisers primarily. My brother has an Ultra Classic, and my folks both have Shadow 1100s. I'd love to go on some rides with them where I can keep up or go on Interstate highways.

I don't have any desire for a mega-tourer or cruiser, and most of my riding will still be on back highways, though I would enjoy occasional out of town trips. The modern Triumph Bonnevilles are sort of my benchmarks. Something you could ride about anywhere, especially with a few well chosen accessories.

My initial budget will be about $1500-3000, which pretty much rules out Bonnies for the time being. So far, I've found a few Moto Guzzis I like...low mile V50s and 850 T3s. I also dig BMW K75s, and the rare standard version is pretty sweet. I've also looked at the Honda CX series. Barring the Guzzis, none of these are what I want aesthetically, but they are all reliable bikes that can run a long time and should require minimal maintenance.

Any horror stories to be aware of on these bikes, or one to look for in addition?
Nov. 22, 2011 10:23 p.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

V50s are physically very small so depending on your size you might not fit them comfortably. Well, comfortably being relative as comfortable bikes, they aren't.

The 850 T3 is a much bigger and heavier bike, but the basics of the bike go on forever - it's the stuff like electrics and the finish that tend to fall apart. They handle pretty well for a bike that long, too.

For the K75, the 'S' is the one to have. The standard one is a bit meh, but the 'S' is a sweet sports touring type bike. Change the seat and "four hundred miles before breakfast" type days are well within your reach.

The Guzzis will need most attention, with the CX and the BMW probably needing least attention. The BMW is the most high tech bike (fuel injection, possibly ABS) and thus has a few quirks that the others one your list don't. Changing a fuel filter on any K is a major PITA, especially if you don't have small hands as it's in the fuel tank. Consequently they don't get changed and that doesn't do the bike any good...
Nov. 22, 2011 10:31 p.m. ST_ZX2 Reader

1999+ Buell M2--fun all-around standard. Right in the budget too. Miss mine every day.
Nov. 23, 2011 8:34 a.m. PHeller Dork
Nov. 23, 2011 9:26 a.m. chaparral Reader

You are probably thinking about a Honda Nighthawk 750 or a Suzuki SV650. Maybe a Yamaha FZ6 if you like plastic.
Nov. 24, 2011 9:14 a.m. BAMF Reader

ST_ZX2 wrote:

1999+ Buell M2--fun all-around standard. Right in the budget too. Miss mine every day.

I love Buells, the CityX and Ulysses are on my dream list. I didn't realize any were even close to my budget.

PHeller wrote:

Wow, is this an XS? My coworker traded a hacked up old Benelli 250 for an XS400. It's a great bike. This one has the general vibe I like. Standard seat & bars with minimal plastic.
Nov. 25, 2011 12:31 a.m. Appleseed SuperDork

W650. If you can find one for sale.
Nov. 25, 2011 5:30 a.m. ddavidv SuperDork

chaparral wrote:

You are probably thinking about a Honda Nighthawk 750 or a Suzuki SV650. Maybe a Yamaha FZ6 if you like plastic.

Quoted for truth. I researched the Nighthawk extensively and almost went that way before realizing a dual-sport was better for my desires. They have a loyal following, and are one of those bikes owners typically regret selling, which is always a good sign. Some minor research into the SV650 looks appealing also, but it's a little too non-traditional for my dated taste.

I also did a ton of research on the K75 BMW as it seemed like it was a cheap entry into the brand. There's a reason they are cheap: final drive failures. You can quickly spend the cost of the bike fixing this catastrophic failure. Preventing it is also maintenance intensive. It's unfortunate, because it seems like a technically interesting bike that otherwise runs practically forever. The issue was so common, though, I crossed it off the list for eternity.
Nov. 25, 2011 2:26 p.m. BAMF Reader

I've been reading about K bike final drive issues too. It appears that the K75 driveshaft assembly can be converted to a Paralever somewhat easily. If that cures the issue, and if the appropriate parts can be tracked down at a price a GRMer could love, it could be a great bike.

I imagine with a belt drive conversion the Nighthawk 750 would be almost maintenance free, given that the chain seems to be the only thing that needs much attention aside from oil changes. Edit: Apparently some Nighthawks were shaft driven. These are solidly on my search list.

As with the SV, the Nighthawk is less traditional than I like a bike to look. Same goes for the Flying Bricks, but the uniqueness offsets it for me a bit. Either way, I'm comfortable making alterations and tailoring what I get to my own taste and purposes. Considering there are some mean looking Nighthawk cafe racers that Google Images just brought up, I imagine a more classic looking standard bike would be pretty well within reach.
Nov. 26, 2011 7:25 a.m. ddavidv SuperDork

The 'early' Nighthawks (with the ugly rectangular headlight) were shaft drive. The 'later' (or what I'd call, second series) ones are chain drive. I wouldn't dismiss the bike based on the chain. Owning a bike with a chain, with modern O-ring style chains the maintenance on them really isn't much, particularly if it's not an off road bike. The second series Nighthawk is so highly regarded and apparently indestructible it's worth a test ride. Haven't ridden any of them myself, but the value the 1st series seems to retain speaks highly of them also.

There seems to be a 'ladder' of quality in bikes, with Honda consistently being on top of the Big Four Japanese makers. Once you start looking at the brands you can almost see the quality difference (and this comes from a guy riding the bottom of the list, Kawasaki).
Nov. 26, 2011 12:23 p.m. BAMF Reader

ddavidv wrote:

The 'early' Nighthawks (with the ugly rectangular headlight) were shaft drive. The 'later' (or what I'd call, second series) ones are chain drive. I wouldn't dismiss the bike based on the chain. Owning a bike with a chain, with modern O-ring style chains the maintenance on them really isn't much, particularly if it's not an off road bike.

Good to know. I was talking with my coworker who just got an XS400, and he was telling me how much a new chain was going to be (his is the original, and in bad shape) for his bike. It was a bit surprising. My biggest gripe about chains is less the potential maintenance and more that I don't care for the sound they make. I have a feeling that it's something I could get over pretty quickly.

I'm impressed that on the later ones they have hydraulic lifters. I'd take chain maintenance over valve adjustments any day of the week.

ddavidv wrote: The second series Nighthawk is so highly regarded and apparently indestructible it's worth a test ride. Haven't ridden any of them myself, but the value the 1st series seems to retain speaks highly of them also.

My cursory research on this indicates that it's hard to go wrong with either one.

ddavidv wrote: There seems to be a 'ladder' of quality in bikes, with Honda consistently being on top of the Big Four Japanese makers. Once you start looking at the brands you can almost see the quality difference (and this comes from a guy riding the bottom of the list, Kawasaki).

I'm sure this has a lot to do with why my mom has had 3 Honda bikes, and why my dad bought the same bike as my mom. They do make good machines, and for a long time, made some very interesting ones too.