Went out with @Scampey and done three test rides today Kawasaki Z900RS Smooth, quick, civilised up to around 6000 rpm, then a hooligan, can ride sensible, very slightly lean forward, not super comfy but almost, super smooth engine, nice power delivery Triumph Street Triple RS (new one) frigin monster, impossible to ride civilised screams and shouts at you in every gear, more lean forward more pressure on wrists, very light, was quite windy and at 90mph it was enough for me, me no likey if I were 25 then yes Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC bolt upright riding position really wide bars, engine is no slouch, confidence inspiring, bit agricultural, hilarious to filter as so wide (wait till you stick bar end mirrors on) really comfy for me, tft not easy to see in polarised sunglasses, easy fix; buy new sunglasses Street Triple off my list, as is Speed Triple, Speed Twin is too similar to Street Twin I have. Z900RS deserves another ride on dryer roads could be a winner Speedmaster and Tiger 900 to go, as of now Scrambler 1200XC is the main contender, albeit the most off road it will ever go is Waitrose car park As you can tell from the wide range of bike styles I have no idea what I want next, did have the hots for a Harley Sport Glide but £16,000 is too rich for me as I’m a fair weather rider, oh and it weight as much as a car so man handling around my drive and garage is impossible. More test rides to come
Z900rs or scrambler for me if I was buying, pretty much the only new bikes I would look at apart from T120
The Z900RS is a lovely bike, I test rode one around a year and a half ago and loved it, the new Candy Green colour scheme is absolutely beautiful
If you are test riding the Speedmaster and don't like it for the handlebars or foot position, try testing a Bobber. The bars and mid-controls from that are an option on the Speedmaster. (I went for the Bobber bars on my Speedmaster but kept the 'forward' controls.)
Sounds like you're having a ball doing test rides, @Repooh! Test ride everything you can get your hand (well, butt) on! I love to do test rides and every one I do helps me decide what I really do--and don't--prefer in a bike. I test ride even when I'm not in the market if I can swing it (Demo Days are great for that.) I've even test ridden bikes I wasn't particularly interested in and the test ride shifted my viewpoint. Are test rides on the Triumph Bobber and the Thruxton on your list??
Totally agree Sandi, I need to start one of these Youtube channels and arse around on dealers bikes every day. I can see it now; The Grumpy Mid Life Crisis Biker, I can be rude to everyone, one day maybe
Thanks for the suggestion Mark. Done the Speed Twin, very nice bike but a bit too similar to my Street Twin and I fancy a change
@Repooh are you looking for something with more performance than your street twin or something in the same power range? There are so may different bikes out there, it will be interesting on what you finally decide on.
Interesting to see your thoughts and wonder where you will end up. The bike that peaked my interest at Motorcycle Live was the CCM Spitfire. No idea what they ride like, apparently it's a BMW scrambler engine. Just looks lovely to me, this one is well out of price range for me though!
Z900rs cafe with old school astralights and a harris pipe would float my boat! Rumour is they are going to remake a gpz 900r next.....
Not a fan of Guzzis, my nephews buying one, he really wants the batwing one MX21 or something, but a tad too rich on a Paramedics income sadly