middleweight shaftie

[Robby]

well. I'm looking for my vfr replacement and i'm rather taken by the guzzi v50 monza or v65 (maybe lario model).

however, all the reviews of these machines make them look like absolute dogs, corroding to buggery overnight, shit points or even worse electronic ignition, cracking cylinder heads, Universal joints breaking - generally lumps of metal breaking, and the gearbox is too weak on the V65.

so, anyone know of a middleweight with shaft drive that still goes and handles alright? preferably unfaired and reliable.

[TiN]

What exactly is "middleweight"? 600cc ish?

I only know of Beemers, but their sub-900cc bikes are usually belt-drive.

Oh how useful this post was Sorry.
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TiN
dotgems.net

[Robby]

yeh middleweight for me is about 500-650 cc. the only one i can think of from recent years is the divvie, which may be shaftie, but its shit anway.

[Robby]

well after 3 hours of research i've found a couple that interest me.

1st is the Honda NTV 650. The pre deaville model, unfaired 650cc V twin with shaft drive, but many have been despatch bikes, and i don't really want another honda.

2nd is the Suzuki VX800, bit of an oddball. Cruiser/roadster hybrid. 800cc V twin, got a good review in UBG, but rather rare.

Which should i go for?

[Phoenix]

NTV is bulletproof dunno about the VX, and diversion *shudder*

What happened the the Bandit?

[Kickstart]

Hi

The V50 is now an old bike. Newest will be around 20 years old. Quality wasn't great when new. If well treated it would be OK, but unless you are going to spend a lot on an immaculate one then I would say budget on spending loads on it. Not sure about the V65 but didn't they have weak top ends?

Others to consider. Kawasaki GT550 / GT750. Honda VT500. Honda NTV600 / NTV650. Honda PC800. Numerous factory custom things.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Robby]

PC800 is very tempting, but a bit much just yet, and the sportsbike brigade ("the forum") would string me up for it.

the V65 is know to drop valves, and also has a weak gearbox - its a direct lift from the V50, so its just not strong enough for the extra power and torque of the V65.

i had a look at kawa GTs, but i'd rather have a V twin, and a lot of the GTs have been dispatched on. oh and they are supposed to handle like poo.

in response to you phoe - well the bandit is a nice bike, but i had a think and decided i wanted a V twin, and i'd rather like shaft drive, plus money is again being an issue, even if i get what i want for the VFR and CB i'll have to buy a cheap bandit and have no money left to fix the first thing that breaks.


if the NTV is bulletproof i'll go for one of them, you can get a powerbronze fairing for it too in case i change my mind on the whole naked thing.

but one day, i'll get a PC800, unless i get a wing.

[G1_]

Actually I know someone with a vx800. I couldn't say much about it but she seems to like it!

[Robby]

they seem to be good bikes, kinda like a roadster with raked forks but still pretty upright position.

but they are very rare, nothing on biketrader or ebay, and fuel economy isn't as good as the NTV.

[TiN]

At the end of the day, get what you want...but expect to park your bike at the *other* end of the car park
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TiN
dotgems.net

[Robby]

when i get my wing it'll be parked at both ends of the car park.

[retrofly]

hi
get a real bike, i bike with plastic bits that aint over 20 years old

Luke
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"The food was not undelicious"
-Homer Simpson (Exceptional beast : Underachiving Human)
www.geocities.com/retrofly

[Robby]

pfft. i'll get a Real Mans bike, with no fairing from the mid nineties.

may get a powerbronze fairing if i get one, come winter time.

but its upright and easy torque that i want, none of this high revving small capacity nonsense.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Watch out for an NTV that has been dispatched. They are commonly used for that (along with the traffic reports around here for the "AA Vodaphone Road Watch").

The PC800 was Hondas attempt to build a bike that would appeal to people who didn't like bikes. It was built for the American market (I don't think it was officially sold in the UK) but it bombed and Honda had a large number that they had great difficulty shifting.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

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