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Differences/Benefits of single vs twin vs IL4

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Baffler186
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PostPosted: 12:24 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Differences/Benefits of single vs twin vs IL4 Reply with quote

Hi all,

still a noob when it comes to bikes so I'm seeking advice. I'm looking at buying a new bike (to replace my Bandit 600) but just wondered what the main differences are between 1 and 4 cylinders? I was looking at the MT03 which I believe is a single - how would this compare to my Bandit for example?

Basically I need a bike that will be a year-round commuter, and also needs to be fun for weekends etc. I won't be doing any touring, just some occasional DCW riding. Also worth mentioning my commute is 4 miles each way at 30/40mph.

Do singles/twins have a shorter life-expectancy or anything?

My favourites at the moment are the Er6-f and the Hornet, but I have ruled out any bikes with clip-ons, and Bandits.
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slowlydoesit
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PostPosted: 12:41 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Re: Differences/Benefits of single vs twin vs IL4 Reply with quote

Baffler186 wrote:
Basically I need a bike that will be a year-round commuter, and also needs to be fun for weekends etc.

Budget?
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Baffler186
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PostPosted: 12:41 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Re: Differences/Benefits of single vs twin vs IL4 Reply with quote

slowlydoesit wrote:
Baffler186 wrote:
Basically I need a bike that will be a year-round commuter, and also needs to be fun for weekends etc.

Budget?


£3k
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wr6133
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PostPosted: 12:53 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

4 mile commute at max of 40Mph...... I'd get a cheap 125 for that then buy something fun with the change for the weekend.
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chris-red
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PostPosted: 12:55 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Buy a push bike,
cycle to work,
by generic fun bike depending on what your idea of fun is.

A 4 mile commute should be an easy 20 minutes on a push bike, it'll get you fitter and save on fuel.

I don't even think my bike is fully warmed up after 4 miles Laughing
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Conzar
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PostPosted: 12:57 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUZUKI-GSXR-1000-K3-/291087136590?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item43c625374e

done and dusted.
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Teflon-Mike
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PostPosted: 13:18 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Re: Differences/Benefits of single vs twin vs IL4 Reply with quote

Baffler186 wrote:
Do singles/twins have a shorter life-expectancy or anything?

It's unrelated. How long an engine will run for depends on how well its made, then how hard its used, and how well its looked after.

Buy a BMW S1000, never break a speed limit, never hammer it on the brakes or through the bends; service it religiousely... likely to still be in good serviceable condition in half a centuries time.

Buy a Honzuki chinese 125 commuter... thrash the pants off it to keep up with your mate on a moped and never change the oil... probably wont last long at all.

Nothing to do with how many cylinders it has, all to do with use you give it in relation to manufacturing standards and maintenence.
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dydey90
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PostPosted: 13:18 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

My commute is six miles and I'm not sure that it's long enough to put enough juice back into the battery to compensate for starting it up in the first place. Takes just over ten minutes. If I use my bike, I tend to take a longer route because of this.
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Baffler186
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PostPosted: 13:26 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

I commuted on a push bike for a year and hated every minute of it - I arrived at work more stressed and enraged by idiot car drivers and it wasn't good for my mental health.

I also commuted on a 125 for a year which was ideal, but I can't afford to have 2 bikes, and only have space for 1 in the garage (and don't want to keep a bike outside overnight).

My commute takes about 15 minutes as it's always heavy traffic, and sometimes I take the long way. I've used an Optimiser in the past so have had no issues with replenishing the battery.

So my question still stands: I need a bike for a short commute AND for some longer-range fun. I don't need anything bigger than a 600 but I don't want anything slower or less capable than a bandit.
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Baffler186
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PostPosted: 13:33 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Re: Differences/Benefits of single vs twin vs IL4 Reply with quote

Teflon-Mike wrote:
Baffler186 wrote:
Do singles/twins have a shorter life-expectancy or anything?

It's unrelated. How long an engine will run for depends on how well its made, then how hard its used, and how well its looked after.

Buy a BMW S1000, never break a speed limit, never hammer it on the brakes or through the bends; service it religiousely... likely to still be in good serviceable condition in half a centuries time.

Buy a Honzuki chinese 125 commuter... thrash the pants off it to keep up with your mate on a moped and never change the oil... probably wont last long at all.

Nothing to do with how many cylinders it has, all to do with use you give it in relation to manufacturing standards and maintenence.


So Teff, lets say a single and an IL4 were maintained properly and ridden in the same style. What would I notice most between the two? Would the single be more vibey on the motorway for example, and a bit twitchier at low speed? My only reference is my Bandit, a couple 125's and a Yamaha TY175 trials.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha
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PostPosted: 13:40 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

I liked the MT03 when I rode it but it was a bit naughty for town work - or, at least, I had to be a bit more attentive than on the CBF600. But if you were asking me which I would prefer, all things considered, it would be the former. It was just a bit more interesting. Nice torquey surge up to 70, e.g.
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Conzar
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PostPosted: 13:47 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you want to have a bike for commuting and something to have fun on after get a more upgraded 600/hornet/fazer

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CB-600-F8-Hornet-/271418809177?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item3f31d25b59

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-FZ6-FAZER-2005-/300955014804?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item4612511694
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Baffler186
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PostPosted: 14:06 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Conzar wrote:


Yes I like the Fazer as well, there is a nice one locally:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201310299514991/sort/recpriceascdefault/usedbikes/cc-from/600cc/page/6/postcode/pl22rr/radius/50?logcode=p
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Conzar
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PostPosted: 14:10 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Baffler186 wrote:


they are good bikes, much quicker and fun than a Bandit
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Az
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PostPosted: 14:37 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

I rode an MT-03 for my lessons and tests & I currently ride a bandit 600.

The differences between an MT-03 and a bandit are

Arrow Engine braking on an MT-03 is crazy, with it being a 660 single as soon as you come off the throttle it's like your putting on the brakes. It felt a lot more vibey and the engine was not as smooth to ride as the il4 bandit.
Arrow It's brakes and suspension are a lot better than the bandit, going through pot holes and up speed bumps is no where near as much of a trauma as it is on the bandit
Arrow It handles a lot better, feels a lot more flickable, probably due to the lighter weight and wide bars.
Arrow The MT-03 felt a lot slower than a bandit, although the MT-03 was the first big bike i'd ever rode, it still didn't feel mind boggling fast. It does 0-60 in around 5 seconds where as a bandit does it in around 4, bandit top speed is around 125, an MT-03 struggles to get past 95mph. The bandit does a quarter mile in around 12-13secs, MT-03 does it in 14-15seconds… so the bandit's quicker, which is a + in my opinion.
Arrow The MT would be cheaper in maintenance cost, with it being a single the services would be cheaper (only by a small amount) and it's better on petrol than a bandit.

I think for you needs, an MT-03 could suit them well. It's fun enough around town and has enough punch to keep you entertained on a weekend, although you may get bored of it in time and just end up selling it and replacing it. All depends on your limits and how fast you ride. If your idea of a fun weekend is going 100mph+ down some fast roads, an MT-03 isn't going to cut it.

As for singles being less reliable, I wouldn't worry about that. My training school used one and if i remember correctly it had around 40k on the clock, it was only a 2009 plate and it ran fine. That's considering all the abuse it would of received from new riders and it had been down the road a few times apparently.

What did you like and not like about the bandit?
Why an MT-03, ER6 or Hornet? Why not an SV, Fazer, XJ6 etc'

Why don't you test ride all three bikes (the MT, ER6 and Hornet), i'm sure you'll take a natural fondness towards one of them.
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c_dug
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PostPosted: 14:59 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's a four mile commute, four miles!

Buy whatever takes your fancy, you hardly need to worry about fuel, tyres or general servicing when the bulk of your riding is a four mile commute.

You could probably do it on a trials bike if you were that way inclined.
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Teflon-Mike
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PostPosted: 15:20 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Re: Differences/Benefits of single vs twin vs IL4 Reply with quote

Baffler186 wrote:
So Teff, lets say a single and an IL4 were maintained properly and ridden in the same style. What would I notice most between the two? Would the single be more vibey on the motorway for example, and a bit twitchier at low speed? My only reference is my Bandit, a couple 125's and a Yamaha TY175 trials.


What if politicians could be trusted? Weather did what the weathermen said and the Iotolah & Pope got together and created a new world church?

If you got an MTO3 you WOULD ride it differently to how you would an ER6 or a 600 Bandit. They are different bikes with different charecters, that do different things good bad or indiferently; generalisations just don't apply, and you are down to looking at actual specific bikes, and how you GUESS, its all guess work ultimately, even more so if you are buying used, which may or may not work a bit better or worse, for you.

Lets compare, GPz500S and an XJ600 Divvy. Mainly cos they make about the same power, one be water cooled twin, one air-cooled four, and are notionally middle weight commuters.

Twin... to make its power, 20% down on capacity, its going to have to be in a higher state of tune. Means that the power curve will tend to have a steeper ramp, and it will feel like you have to rev it harder to access the power it offers; but, two slugs going up and down, making big bang each cycle, rather than four, making much smaller ones, even at the same revs, the motor is going to tend to be a little less 'smooth'.

Straight away; that will effect 'how they are ridden'. Twin? You will either thrash it harder, because the bigger difference between low rev and high rev power makes you want to find the power... OR the 'harsheness' of the twins delivery will disincline you from reving it, compared to the four.

Single? Well 600cc single will tend to be a 40bhp machine, not a 60bhp one. again, that will effect the way you ride it. Its a different 'class' of bike.

On to living with the thing? Which is better to start with? Buying used; which is newer, better looked after, or the 'better built' to begin with.

I've just pulled a swing arm spindle out of a 22 year old Honda 'budget' model... I expected it to be todays 'job' having taken the spindle caps off to find them full of condensation rust... BUT, one tug on the breaker, out it came, factory 'white-grease' still on the threads. If that was a fourteen year old SV650..... I would be far more surprised if it delivered such little moments of glee.

Different manufacturers apply different standards to build quality; and individual manufacturers apply different standards between models.

My CB750 was built, down to a price by Honda back in the 90's, but, also built for a customer to whome 'traditional' virtues were important, of which DIY serviceability was important. Its engineered so that fasteners are easy to get to; so that things fit together simply and logically.

The CBR600 of the same era? More expensive bike, that sold on looks and performance. Huge number of fasteners to undo just to change the spark plugs or oil filter; much more complicated and harder/more expensive to maintain suspension, and engine. Finished, where you can see it, to a better standard, but under the shiney bits? Well theres more of it, and its arranged to best suit being put together easily, not taken apart easily; as buyers weren't looking for traditional values and didn't expect to get the spanners out to do much to it; they would give it to a dealer. And second hand owners would suffer the 'awkwardness' in recompense for the performance.

And end of the day, engine is only one part of a bike to worry about; and probably the one that needs least worry anyway.

CB750 uses Honda's obligatory twin piston floating brake calipers. These need far more attension, far more often than the engine does! Keeping the pistons and float pins clean, and free and greased. Neglect them, and you end up with them dragging; fuel consumption goes up, speed goes down, and when you get round to it, you find you have scored or warped break disc. 750 has two calipers, two discs and overhauling that little lot can be something of a rather expensive ball-ache.

CB500? uses the same caliper and disc, as far as I know... but only has one of them. Its easier to look after, and less hassle if it needs major remedial attension.

So you go round the loop, and you are not looking at pistons or cylinders or counting valves.... but looking at specific models of motorcycle, and trying to weigh up and balence thier known niggles, tendancies and traits.

Charecter. the 'grade' of bike; what they are built for; how they behave'.

For what you SAY you want and need; personaly I'd say its, its pointing at a commuter twin. ER5/6, CB500, GPz maybe an SV or a Dullsville. That is the sort of use those bikes are built for. Bandit or Divvy is a different grade of machine; less 'utiliterian', Divvy was really a 'little tourer' the Bandit a baby muscle bike. Might have some 'commuter capability' in thier engineering, but not the primary role they were built for; can do the job amicably enough, BUT, its always a compromise, you pays your money and you takes your chances.

Whats really important to you? How much ecconomy do you want? How much every-day utiliterian 'I just want to press the button and ride' ability do you want? How much maintenence are you prepared to put in or pay for?

All has very VERY little to do with bits whirling about inside the crank cases.
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Conzar
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PostPosted: 15:26 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

TL;DR

Buy the bike you want
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Baffler186
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PostPosted: 15:35 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

az- wrote:
I rode an MT-03 for my lessons and tests & I currently ride a bandit 600.

The differences between an MT-03 and a bandit are

Arrow Engine braking on an MT-03 is crazy, with it being a 660 single as soon as you come off the throttle it's like your putting on the brakes. It felt a lot more vibey and the engine was not as smooth to ride as the il4 bandit.
Arrow It's brakes and suspension are a lot better than the bandit, going through pot holes and up speed bumps is no where near as much of a trauma as it is on the bandit
Arrow It handles a lot better, feels a lot more flickable, probably due to the lighter weight and wide bars.
Arrow The MT-03 felt a lot slower than a bandit, although the MT-03 was the first big bike i'd ever rode, it still didn't feel mind boggling fast. It does 0-60 in around 5 seconds where as a bandit does it in around 4, bandit top speed is around 125, an MT-03 struggles to get past 95mph. The bandit does a quarter mile in around 12-13secs, MT-03 does it in 14-15seconds… so the bandit's quicker, which is a + in my opinion.
Arrow The MT would be cheaper in maintenance cost, with it being a single the services would be cheaper (only by a small amount) and it's better on petrol than a bandit.

I think for you needs, an MT-03 could suit them well. It's fun enough around town and has enough punch to keep you entertained on a weekend, although you may get bored of it in time and just end up selling it and replacing it. All depends on your limits and how fast you ride. If your idea of a fun weekend is going 100mph+ down some fast roads, an MT-03 isn't going to cut it.

As for singles being less reliable, I wouldn't worry about that. My training school used one and if i remember correctly it had around 40k on the clock, it was only a 2009 plate and it ran fine. That's considering all the abuse it would of received from new riders and it had been down the road a few times apparently.

What did you like and not like about the bandit?
Why an MT-03, ER6 or Hornet? Why not an SV, Fazer, XJ6 etc'

Why don't you test ride all three bikes (the MT, ER6 and Hornet), i'm sure you'll take a natural fondness towards one of them.


Thanks for the input. SV I like but my back is dodgy so think I'd struggle with the more sporty riding position, and I've heard the brakes aren't that good. I like the Facer and Er6-f so would consider one of those. Regards the Bandit - I just don't like the look of them, and I have had bad experiences with mine (I know this has no actual relevance to other bandits, but it's a pride thing). I also have to consider what's close to me, and what is available at the moment. I want to buy from a local dealer (and again, I know I could still be shafted by a dealer but a 3 month warranty is worth the extra for me).
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Conzar
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PostPosted: 15:38 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Only going to notice the braking compared to other bikes if you pushing it..on a 4 mile commute i doubt it
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Baffler186
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PostPosted: 15:44 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Re: Differences/Benefits of single vs twin vs IL4 Reply with quote

Teflon-Mike wrote:
Baffler186 wrote:
So Teff, lets say a single and an IL4 were maintained properly and ridden in the same style. What would I notice most between the two? Would the single be more vibey on the motorway for example, and a bit twitchier at low speed? My only reference is my Bandit, a couple 125's and a Yamaha TY175 trials.




I understand. So I want a 600, and I like the looks of the Er6-f and the fazer. I'm prepared to shell out for what I think is a sound bike (with FSH, preferable dealer history). I just didn't want to restrict my search to IL4s, but I think from what AZ has said, a single like the MT will not be as smooth as I'm used to. I tend to be more of a diesel driver i.e. I'm not fussed about redlining it everywhere, and would prefer more torque low down.

Economy - anything above 40MPG would be a bonus.
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Conzar
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PostPosted: 15:46 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Fazer is a much better bike than the er6-f
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Baffler186
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PostPosted: 15:48 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

c_dug wrote:
It's a four mile commute, four miles!

Buy whatever takes your fancy, you hardly need to worry about fuel, tyres or general servicing when the bulk of your riding is a four mile commute.

You could probably do it on a trials bike if you were that way inclined.


I know what you're saying - 4 miles is doable on any machine, but I'm thinking more of when I go out for a 100 mile ride at the weekend (for example). Or when I have to visit the parents which is 30 miles on DCW. I guess like many other newbies I am thinking about it too much without even sitting on bikes.
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Baffler186
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PostPosted: 15:50 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Conzar wrote:
The Fazer is a much better bike than the er6-f


In what way? performance - doesn't matter. Handling - I don't intend getting my knee close to the ground anyway. Build quality and cost of servicing? That's a different matter!
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Teflon-Mike
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PostPosted: 15:52 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Conzar wrote:
Only going to notice the braking compared to other bikes if you pushing it..on a 4 mile commute i doubt it


Actually, possibly the reverse. Most bike accidents happen in urban & sub-urban situations, at speeds less than 40mph.. ie a commuting enviroment, not when 'pushing it'.

I rarely have to do an e-stop when I'm indulging in a bit of spirited riding down the country lanes.

Two miles to and from the shops? Plonkers pulling out of every fucking side turn; slamming on brakes when they decide they want a side turn, then indicating to tell me what they just did... peds stepping off the pavement; Cyclists deciding they suddenly want to be road-users not pedestrians; etc etc etc.

There's probably more hazards in that one mile, between where I', sitting now and the town center, than there is in ten miles in the other direction down the UCR to Meriden.

So that, when you are assailed by half awake arseoles, trying to get get to work, THAT is when you can most appreciate, not necessarily 'powerful' brakes, but 'good' brakes, ones with both power and feel.

Another irony... lots of them lower speed urban off's are from snatching the grabbers in panic response to twats, locking up the front and going down.

Another one of those ironies of attitute; the urban commuter, cranking daily miles, worried about maintenence and ecconomy; more likely to buy tyres that are cheap and last, rather than ones wot grip...pads that last, rather than ones that bite... yet the irony is, they is the ones more likely to get most benefit from 'better' tyres and brakes than week-end warrior, looking to explore the envelope... they ultimately are only going to go find the limit once.... cross town commuter might be forced to find the limits twenty times a bludy day!
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