Time For The Bmw To Go

It was always going to happen. I love this bike with it's big, stupid sticky-out engine for it's character and performance. Unfortunately it hates me back by giving me wrist, shoulder and back ache after a couple of hours riding. Also, the seat is very hard and the suspension harsh over bumps.



Considered lots of options for a replacement fun bike and rejected many including the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC - more money than I wanted to spend (even second hand) and I would probably have always considered it a bit of an expensive whim.

Strong contender in the Street Triple and about the right money for a decent second hand one but I'm just not totally comfortable on them. The seat seems to want to tip you forward into the tank and I'd probably have to consider bar risers. I just can't risk another slightly uncomfortable bike.

So I've gone well off-piste and I'm now turning Japanese, as the vapours once sang (and yes I do know what they were really singing about).

This bike fits me perfectly, it's lighter and more nimble than the BMW (not hard) but still a bit quirky and lots of fun. So yesterday was new bike day and here it is - a Yamaha XSR 700 XTribute (to give it it's full, silly name). The XT being a reference to the XT500 of the mid 70's (which it no way resembles)



The XTribute list price was £8400.00 and this one had £2056.00 of extras on it (mainly £1545.00 for the full Akrapovic system). Bought it for £7999.00 with £6800.00 trade in for the beemer. I wanted £7000.00 trade in but they agreed to fit a £250.00 tracker for free so I got there really.



Did about 70 miles on the way home yesterday but the weather is shite today so won't be going out on it. Limited to 5000 rpm for the first 6000 miles and it reaches this very quickly so not really able to judge performance properly yet. Had it at 70 mph in 6th and overtook a car easily without dropping down a cog so it doesn't look like it will struggle.



The pipe sounds wonderful - not stupidly loud or obnoxious but like a bike should and it encourages blips of the throttle on the downshift and whilst sat at traffic lights (even though I should know better at my age.) Only slight negative so far is that some of the switch gear, especially the indicator switch, feels a bit cheap and cheerful next to Triumph and BMW quality but then it's a more budget bike.

I do like the offset instrument pod - it even has a fuel gauge!



I kept the BMW as I had it with the sports-bars and risers installed and the fairing removed and was happy to hand this over to the dealer with the bike, thinking it would clear some garage space. Didn't realise that I would inherit two large boxes with the new bike including the stock exhaust system, the stock seat and the rear footrests with hangers.

 

I do like the idea of a Moto Guzzi, that may be one for the future. (Will probably go BMW again at some point). Not sure about the Honda or Z900 neither really excited me and the Thruxton was a bit too close to the Rninet to make it a viable contender.

 

Yes, same as in the MT07 and Tenere 700 - it is a pretty decent motor!

 

Yes you are!

 

Thanks Sandi, it poured with rain here the next day and was also very windy. I did get out on Sunday for a short ride, which confirmed what fun this bike is. It feels so nimble and lively after the BMW, despite the power difference. I will have to do a proper right up with pictures soon.

 

Yes, it's definitely not a motorway slogger! I will stick to my favourite B roads where it belongs.
Yes it does! I watched a YouTube video of a bunch of journos test riding them at the launch - easily pulled wheelie in 3rd gear. I probably won't be though!

 

They're knobbly enough mate!