Moving to a V Twin

[vt6]

Now then, atm im riding a cbr 600, great bike love it to bits but i've got a curiosity about a big v twin , im also told its an aquired taste a bit of a love hate sort of bike, i'm going to get a test ride soon to see for myself but for now what are peoples opinions of say Mille rsv's or tl1000s or any other v twins you have experience of? Cheers

[Sparks!]

I have a VTR1000 Firestorm and a CBR600 I like both, the VTR is more fun for road riding in my opinion. It's loud, tourque and IMO fun. I like it a lot anyways!! I'd definetly reccomend it but might be worth a test ride first to make sure a v-twin is for you.. they are a bit vibey and some have low tank ranges, but they are good fun to ride, especially with race cans
____________________
Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

[Finglonga]

I find IL4's boring and flat prefer twins with the power pulses. Every now and again I have gone back to the 4's but get bored very soon and sell it for something with character.
____________________
Andy Sez....
F.Y.Y.F.F.

[Doddmaster]

I've got a Firestorm too, I much prefer v-twins. You don't get the power surge that you get with a 4, but I prefer having useable power all through the rev range. Sounds much better too!
Down side is the small tank, and the fact that it eats tyres and chains/sprockets. Camchain tensioners are a weak point but I changed for twenty-something quid and it's sweet now

[mark83]

I've just sold my my cbr 600 rr and just got myself a vtr rifrestorm.

couldn't recommend v twins enough. Having said that, the Firestorm is a little less focused than SP series or the milles.

Obviously if you can afford it, go Ducati.

Pictures/thread of my firestorm to come soon.......
____________________
Kawasaki ER6n -> Honda CBR600RR -> Honda VTR 1000 -> Moto Guzzi Norge 1200
Buy my Mercedes 350 Sport AMG Evo

[Seb]

My Futura basically has a Millie engine and its great fun. It pulls like a train from just about anywhere over 3500rpm, with nice steady delivery and no flat spots in sight.

Imho needing to change gear less is a bit of a misconception with twins though, Whilst they don't have the grunt there, my ZZR handled trundling along at 2000rpm through town much smoother than the Futura, and on the opposite end of the spectrum, thrash it and you'll quickly find yourself bouncing off the rev limiter far faster than you're used to with the CBR. If anything, the limit any straight line hero antics I get up to on the Futura isn't the power, its how quickly I can get it through the gears.

Brilliant bike though, I'm glad I made the jump, its just a shame Aprilia haven't shown much interest in making a new one
____________________
2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[Method]

Cant give you any advice on VTR vs TLthou as ive never ridden a TL. However i have ridden a VTR and owned an SV.

Both are twins obviously.

Personally i love the things! I had never owned an IL4 and went straight for the Twin and it was very easy to get used to. Be prepared for engine braking of immense proportions (watch your male area when shutting the throttle - you will find out what i mean).

It will feel very strange at first and you will probably struggle to get on with it, however - after a very short space of time you will start to wonder how you managed without one!

They are generally very pokey bikes with an awfull lot of lowdown power, which means it will pull like nothing else, right through the rev range!

Personally i love them I sold my SV when i bought my Gixxer, and unfortunately the Gixxer doesnt give me the same smiley feeling that the SV did. Yeah its quick, but my the growl of the SV roaring will be sadly missed
____________________
CBT Aug '03 ... Gilera GSM 50 ... Honda NSR 125 Aug '04 ...
Full Test Dec 04... Suzuki GS500 Jan 05... Suzuki SV650 Mar 07... Gixxer 6 K5 May 08... Oh and my 'Rado
My Bikepics.com - No Brakes, No Gears... No Fear.

[DynaMight]

Just test ride one or two. I have an Honda SP1 and have had IL4's before, wife has a 636 too. I enjoy both, I like the grunt of the V-Twin but I love the revyness of the IL4. I dont know which I enjoy more.

All V-Twins are fat pigs so they'll feel quite heavy compared to a newish 600, not a major problem on the road except real slow speed stuff but dont let that make you hate them.
____________________
My bikes are at https://www.bikepics.com/members/dynamight/

[Villers]

Ive only had one V twin, was an SV, bit dissapointing really. The proportional power (even low down) compared to an inline 6 seemed a bit weak. I also didnt like the wheezyness opnce you got up to something like 80mph.

I love the growl of the V twins, I like the lazy way you can ride it around and not give a shit what gear your in. I hate the snatchyness you get on open to closed throttle etc.

I quite fancied a SP2 but they seem to command a high price. I see two on the way to work, an sp1 and an sp2, both ridden by nutters from what it seems and both with carbon race cans,fantastic!

[dunc4230]

you know you want one 2001 SP1 Laguna Seca colours
https://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a209/dunk4230/IMGP0638.jpg
____________________
https://www.speedtest.net/result/119878199.png

https://z3.invisionfree.com/Bikers_On_Board/index.php?act=idx

[Faldo]

Stunning bike dunc4230. Bet it sounds awesome with the Blue Flames too. You find it uncomfy ?
____________________
Current: ZZR1400
Previous: ZXR 400 L9, ZX-7R P5, ZZR 400, ZX-7R P6, Bandit 600, GSXR 750 Slingshot, DRZ400, DR650, ZX10R C1H, ZXR 750 L1, ZXR 750 L3, '99 ZX7R P4, KTM 300 EXC, ZX-9R E1, TDM850

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

V twins are awesome, some do see-saw impressions around town at low revs.

Great useable power, and a ride hoot on the road, quite easy to get points on though as they never sound like they are trying.
____________________
My Flickr

[phk6]

v twins are great easy easy speed power every where and you never know your going fast, get a high reving one like the sv or tl for the most fun and screw it in every gear.

the best thing is if you go into a corner in the rong gear it doesnt matter at all you can still pull away nicely, i loved my sv but it drunk petrol 70 ish miles to a 17l tank makes it expensive to run, they also eat tires when you get them wound on.

edit, town work can is hard going, use alot of clutch, i had to slip my clutch every where round town so not ideal as a commuter, but on the open road their fantastic
____________________
Current .. 2008 BMW R 1200 GS Adventure ..
Before .. 2003 Yamaha Fazer 1000 .. 2004 Kawazaki Z1000 .. 2003 Suzuki Sv1000s .. 1999 zx6r Track Bike .. 1999 CB 500 Cup ..
/Phil

[dunc4230]

[Biker101]

This is slightly OT but after reading the thread it got me a little confused.

With the bike i have i really do like the amount of engine braking it has, would an IL4 not have this?

Also, not this thread but other threads say a v twin is better than parallel, why?
____________________
Past: 06 Runner SP50 >>> 01 Varadero XL125 >>> 08 Kwak ER-6f >>> 05 CBR600rr
Present: 99 FZS600 Fazer

[Seb]

If I'm not mistaken, the main advantage of a V-twin is down to being able to make the motor narrower than most other layouts?

I'd imagine a parallel twin can be made lighter and cheaper due to the relative simplicity of the top end. Don't quote me on that though
____________________
2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[chris-red]

I ride a TDM 900 which is a paralell twin, apparantly it has the same charactoristics as a v twin mine has 86bhp and 89nm torque. it has 270 deg crank and 10valve engine. It is really light for what it is at only 190kg. Not stunning quick in a straight line (most modern il4 600's will piss on it) It is very agile and comfy. Coming from il4's to that the first thing I noticed was how I was constantly taking it past the 8k redline without realising it.
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[mattgirv]

I just went back to my CB-1 (IL4) after being riding my VFR (V4) for a good 6/7 months solid.

The biggest difference is how tiring my CB-1 is to ride. I find longer distances a much bigger effort than on my VFR, not just due to the comfort but how I have to ride it, and the fact the torque is all right at the top of the rev range.

Might just be my particular bike but the CB-1 was a heck of a lot buzzier too and felt almost pneumatic drill like.

Been on a VTR too, which was pretty nice. I'd say it wasn't too dissimilar to the VFR but it seemed a bit nippier.

In all honesty though of the V-Twins, they vary so differently. I wouldn't let one bike be the deciding factor for a type of engine. Try a few Vs that you like the look of.
____________________
Bikes: 1998 Honda VFR800Fi, 26,500 miles
1989 Honda CB-1, 38,000 miles

[vt6]

Popped into local bike place yest, tried a duke 996 really couldnt see me liking one other than to look at lol im 6'3 so wasn't v.comfy.
Tried the Mille which had a nice feel to it, the newer mille i couldnt fit on properly, so going to get a test ride on the older one i think see what the crack is, i may ride it and hate it yet who knows

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[dar]

Best bike I've ever owned go on go on go on you won't be disappointed

https://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/darrylbacciochi/DSC00366.jpg

https://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/darrylbacciochi/IMGP0427.jpg
____________________
Honda RC51 SP2 Colin Edwards Rep

[Villers]

[phk6]

[Paddy Blake]

Go for it and if you work it right and don't like it you could sell for more than you got it.

Paddy.

[Villers]

Your right it was just the 650. Very wheezy. I often forget about the thous when people say SV.

I moved from the 650 to a 636 ninja and even that felt ridiculously fast by comparison!
____________________
RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS