Friday morning rant.

[Andy M]

So, I got to the office early and as it's Friday there wasn't anything that urgent to do and to be honest nothing that great on any of the usual websites. I've therefore been flicking down the list of what's in my favourites, following links and so on. During my net travels I came across BMW south Africa and a run down on the new models. The R1200GS is still an overcomplex, over weight, over tall monster with stupid CAN based electrics. The F800GS looked OK until you read that the fuel tank is still in a stupid place and is too small. The F650 is no longer a thumper, it's a sleeved down 800 twin. The G450 is a kickstarterless single with a range of about 300 yards and a seat to match, that's obviously only meant to go in small circles!

I therefore went back onto E-bay and found a clutch of 3-23 year old Triumphs, BMW's, Hondas and Yams that would do everything the new bikes would, at half the price and with 100 times the practicality. The only new bike (advert on e-bay) that was remotely interesting was the FI Bonneville (better fuel economy) and I wouldn't touch one of those until the second production year when the chips might have the right map.

Is it me or have the bike designers lost the plot?

Andy

[guest18]

Completely! I had a look at the "Ride" rider power survey, and, as I travel more than 12k miles a year most years had a look at fuel economy (again). Only one bike listed managed better than 60mpg (BMW 650GS 64mpg iirc) Few managed 50mpg or better, the average I believe came out at 42mpg...
The old mans Renault saloon with 5 bods in and a (large) boot full of luggage can manage better than 50mpg.... and can go waaaay more than 300 miles between fills, yet the best technology in the world seems unable to make a "practical" bike, ie one that will go further than 200 miles a tank and better 60mpg 

The modern stuff all seems to be overpriced, overstyled, impractical and excessively complicated.

Bring on the chinese/tiawanese/wherever revolution that produces reliable economical "normal" bikes... who's for a cb500/er500/bandit style middleweight that does 100mph and 100mpg?
Or a big trailie that'll do 85mph/100mpg? (less aerodynamic)

The technology is there.... but the big four are still sprinting up the hypersports/weekend toy dead end 

[Bill Rutter]

I've got to agree. My CS isn't too many people's taste, mainly due to it's er, odd looks but I defy anyone to find a more practical single. It'll nudge 70mpg and do a claimed 110mph, but where it really scores is in it's practicality. Luggage carrying is never an issue. But it didn't sell well and BMW gave in after a five-year production run aimed at the younger "Scarver" set  . In my opinion a mild shake-up of the model's looks would have brought some success (a different end-can would have been a good start). Only the new Yamaha 660 appeals to me of the current line-ups but even that bike will have mediocre fuel economy and range.

[Steffan]

Hey Smudge,
I totally agree but where do you get these figures from? The 660 mill in the Mastiff won't do 100mpg except switched off and dropped off the pembrokeshire coastal path and the 600 tenere I had was not that much better. My bullet is the best so far pulling 70+ but that is nailed to the stop more than half the time. The only bike I wink at in terms of poor economy is my 2T at 50-55 and that is because everything else is so heartbreakingly cheap

Many of us have come to terms with having to ride nails for the rest of our lives

Steffan

[guest18]

Hey Smudge,
I totally agree but where do you get these figures from?Many of us have come to terms with having to ride nails for the rest of our lives

Steffan

erm... from the survey in ride magazine?

The Mastiff averages 50-55mpg, although I have had 70mpg two up on a French motorway!?! The 2t is just an example of my point, 50mpg from a cooking 250? that's appalling! I know the technology exists because the cars can manage such economy in comparison.. and they have worse drag figures (remember it's cd *and* frontal area) and they pull more weight!
Bikes of my grandfathers era could manage 60mpg ffs!!! The new US Marine KLR diesel is reportedly getting 120mpg while being tested off road... now if that is low powered but will hold 80mph (according to a friend who blagged a go on one) then 100/100 should be possible?

We shouldn't have to buy nails so that the low purchase offsets abysmal fuel consumption! Unless the manufacturers start to sort it bikes will simply become to expensive to make practical commuters in years to come :-o

[Steffan]

Too late!!
The whole pitch is at the leisure market not at people that "use" and love bikes.
It sucks but we are out of step and out of time

steffan

[guest18]

ahhh, but excessive congestion and global warming, allied to the horrific price of fuel may yet come to our aid 
Witness the rise in the number of "super scooters", and I have seen a slow but steady rise in the number of bikes I see commuting year round here.

Where there is a market there is a seller sooner or later....

[SteveC#222]

Just read a long term report on the BMW XCountry.  49MPG and only 85 miles to reserve!!!.. rubbish!

[Andy M]

Just read a long term report on the BMW XCountry.  49MPG and only 85 miles to reserve!!!.. rubbish!

AND that's got everything going for it. FI plus slightly larger capacity plus the sort of materials that were available from about 2000 on and you can "dial in" the performance of your choice. You'd think BMW would offer an F650 variant for training schools, councils and dispatch companies where they modify the FI programme and trade 5-10 hp for 10-20 MPG. This is something the truck makers have been doing since the FI went programmable.

Still, the emissions regs will force the likes of Enfield to go FI, then we'll probably see a 100 mpg bullet.

Andy

[Steffan]

If you could get a diesel one with a little more top end say similar to my 500 then I would be top of the list. 150mpg and 80mph instead of 180mpg and 65mph

Steffan

[guest18]

It will be a crowded list, don't bank on being at the top   

[guest24]

Being a skin-flint commuter, I am fully supportive of more mpg and less mph. Though a 125 does not appeal as I still like a few more then 15bhp to play with

The sound of a diesel bike gets more interesting by passing of each thump of fuel price increases.

[guest207]

  so my 640 rotax with 9litre tank and plank of a seat looking for fuel every 70 miles wouldnt fit in here too well then

I wouldnt change it either as its just so much fun, which to me is more important.

[guest18]

so my 640 rotax with 9litre tank and plank of a seat looking for fuel every 70 miles wouldnt fit in here too well then

I wouldnt change it either as its just so much fun, which to me is more important.

  As I'm sure you're well aware your 640 rotax will fit in just fine, especially if I can have a shot 

Fun is a very important thing, but for me at this particular time practical has to figure as well, hence my frustration that the manf's seem *only* to cater for fun and not for practical.

I'd still love the time/money to keep a purely fun bike though 

[guest207]

As far as practical goes it is not at all.. as you can gather, but I dont need it to be so yes am fortunate. My practical bike is actually a Ducati 900, but i also have an even less practical bike than the Rotax which can use  its 18litres in the same 70miles or it can do 170 miles plus on the 18litres.
I agree tho if you weigh bikes against cars they are not actually very efficient these days, a CBR600 is often in the mid 30mpg range which is aweful.