Start the week topic

[guest7]

As I was booting an XBR along a country road yesterday I had an idle thought. Is the 500 actually much better than Honda's seminal thumper offering, the CB250RS?

The CB is marginally slower, but the engine has a better reputation for reliability. Both bikes handle excellently, but the lighter CB is easier to ride on tight roads.

Both stop equally well and both are pretty frugal, although the CB drinks less fuel overall.

So... is the extra 250cc really worth it?

GC

[Richard]

No.

[guest7]

The only thing that swings it (imho) is the thing that we like from our bangers: torque.

GC

[squirrelciv]

As with most things, I reckon it's a case of horses for courses. Pootling around green lanes or zipping through city streets then probably not. But if you're going a bit further afield, with a bit of luggage on board or two up, then I'd like a bit more drive out of corners and a bit of punch to get past the odd car. Do think, you can go a long way on a middle weight though.

[Steve H]

Similar issue between and SRX400 and SRX600. The 400 has a much nicer engine, smoother and spins up much easier than the 600, speed wise there isn't much between them. In the end though the 400 didnt suit my rather lazy approach to gear changes.

[Andy M]

The Wee's 70 HP is excessive for sure. I'm fast coming to the conclusion 30-40 would be fine. Trouble seems to be that a modern 70 HP set up has better economy than the older, smaller ones and no one is developing the modern middleweight. The new CCM 450 looks like the only recent attempt.

Andy

[Richard]

If youu like torque wouldn't you be better off with a twin ?

Old argument but whilst singles can feel torquey they rarely are, and feel less so with modern light flywheels.

[guest7]

I just meant that the XBR has more grunt than the CB, but agreed, relative to a big twin, it has shag all 

GC

[Mark]

Surely there is more go in an XBR that is on the road than there is in R100 that is stuck in the back of a garage.

[002]

Surely there is more go in an XBR that is on the road than there is in R100 that is stuck in the back of a garage.

......in bits......Have you managed to drain all the water out yet ?

Jethro   

[Richard]

Who has an XBR with water in it stuck in the back of a garage ?

I have one in a lean to awaiting rewiring.

[steveD]

ER........steady on gents. Have any of you heard my XT660Z recently??

I've opened up the airbox, fitted a single silencer and fitted a fuelling mod. Sounds like a big single and will pull from 2000rpm up to fourth gear, real torque and pulls like a steam train, a joy to ride and sounds fantastic.
Before the mods would only take throttle from 3k rpm, now smooooooth and loverly!

[guest18]

And yet engine setup plays a big part too, for example the skorp is a pita to ride at a steady 30mph, yet the undoubtedy excessive blackbird is a doddle...

[guest7]

......in bits......Have you managed to drain all the water out yet ?
Jethro   

Do you mean my R80? That went to Ian Taylor a while ago. We were in my garage looking at the pile of bits after he'd delivered Bruce's old bicycles to me and he said, "I've built loads of these over the years" and I thought 'sod it' and gave him the lot. 

GC

[Mark]

......in bits......Have you managed to drain all the water out yet ?
Jethro   

Do you mean my R80?
GC

My dig was at Richard, I don't know what Jethro is refering to....but if the cap fits