W650 or V7 to replace XBR?

[Moto63]

Evening Matt, personally I think any given riding experience is what "you" make it, irrespective of what machine you're on and irrespective of CC's. just go with what your gut tells you and not your head. Give it a month in the saddle of whatever you buy and you'll be thinking "this is cool, I'm so glad I bought this bike" but the main thing is whatever bike you decide on, just get whenever possible and ride the thing. Cos let's face it you only live once mate🏍🏍🤘🤘
Best of luck with whatever decision you make....oh and just because it'll av one cylinder to many don't think you can't log in from time to time.
Cheers, Michael

[timbo]

Matt, you really must PM Rossco500. Tony has owned three W650s over the years, and even had a W800, which is much rarer. He loves the 650s, and although I've never owned one, I've ridden his, and really liked it too.
As for numbers of cylinders, Michaels exactly right. We don't get all anal about it, and if I can put up a post about dogs and football.......nuff said!
I've found over the years that us lot on this forum, tend to be into the same kind of non-thumper bikes anyway 

[tommy]

hi not sure what you think of the yamaha trx 850 but there worth a look at  nice bit of power and handle brilliant im sorry i sold mine but might have another line up  tommy

[timbo]

Does the TRX have the TDM engine Tommy?

[tommy]

no even tough the motors  look similar the same they have different internals  nice bikes very understated i think  tommy

[xbally]

Ive just picked up on this thread as my PC has been out of action for a few days.I have had several XBRs and currently rum a W650 and a Guzzi Breva 750 which is the forerunner of the V7 so please feel free to ask any questions.When i get time i'll try to post my observations on each bike.

[mthee]

Cheers, Michael, sound advice from a man who's been there is always welcome.

Thanks Timbo, will pm Tony. Would you take the W650 over the XBR if you could only have one? What about using the cash to pep up the XBR? I replaced a holed piston on a Quack multi in my youth.

Proper love that TRX, Tommy (nice one on fleabay) but my back couldn't even cope with the XBR's clip ons!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YAMAHA-TRX850-LOW-MILEAGE-UNMOLESTED-BIKE-IN-SUPERB-CONDITION-850cc-TRX-/152387244822?hash=item237afcd316:g:nlwAAOSwZQRYcVNn

Thanks, xbally, I'd be pleased to get your observations on both machines.

[xbally]

Right-here are my thoughts:both the W650 and Guzzi are  heavier than the XBR-but still not  heavy in themselves. The Kawa is not (as standard) sporty nor is it fast in any way or particularly torquey.Its looks in my opinion are its best assett-take of the tank badges and it could almost be a Brit bike.I understand they can be improved by changing the exhaust/air filter and jetting up but this can be expensive and really what's the point on a bike like this?Mine is great for pootling round the B roads / back lanes and will keep up with modern traffic if you want.Mine has just had the lower bars fitted as i found the front end very remote with the higher bars.Mine does have a very slight oil leak which seems to come from the bottom of the bevel drive-which makes it even more like a Brit!The kick start is useful as a back up .Braking and handling are fine for what it is.I always fancied a Hinckley Bonnie but they tend to be more expensive and i'm guessing heavier.The Guzzi is a better all rounder in my view.It will do almost everything and is full of character which you may love or hate!I love it!It is not sporty though.I have looked at upgrading to a V7 many times but when i test rode one for the extra outlay (£2K + depreciation on my Breva) i didn't think it was worth it but i do like the styling of the V7 over the Breva.Hope this helps.

[mthee]

Thanks, Martin. So, given its extra HP (and weight) how does the W650 compare to the XBR for ease of overtaking?

[xbally]

Matt-that's a hard one to answer.To me the XBR is a more sporty bike but i do know that horrible feeling you get when you are used to more powerful vehicles (applies to cars as well)where it's much easier to do a quick and safe overtake when you have plenty of power in reserve. I honestly don't think the W650 would be much better than an XBR but i don't ever  ride my W650 doing a lot of overtaking-it's to me a much more of a chilled out ride.
Martin

[timbo]

I do remember when the W650 came out, there were lots of comparisons with the Triumph Bonneville, with the W650 coming out on top, as more torquey, even though its less cc. I know Tony rode both at the time to compare them, but he preferred the W650 too.

[mthee]

My thanks to Tony for his valuable input. Like SteveC, he reckons I may well regret selling the XBR. If I do, it'll be a double regret because mine has such sweet mods to the bodywork. However, next month, I'll be in a unique position to be able to afford to trade up and if I don't, I'm effectively saying the XBR is forever.
Damn you, Kawasaki, for putting out bikes looking like this!

[SteveC#222]

I do like the looks of the W650, but although it's a bigger engine and more powerful on paper I suspect with the extra weight etc you won't notice much difference from the XBR. You don't want to be afraid of giving the XBR a bit of stick, it'll happily bop along at 4000 revs but drop it gear or two and you'll find you get a nice little power Serge above 6000 rpm and it really likes to rev.

[mthee]

Thanks, Steve, you could be right. With the oil usage, which I'm not used to, I've probably left this area of the tacho untouched. Also, I may have been asking too much. The last humiliating failure to overtake was on a short, sharp hill with an overtaking lane. I knew it was coming up and had her in 4th @ 4k, but when I opened her up to get past what looked to be a humble hatchback, the driver saw me, put his foot down and finally blocked me out at the top of the hill where the road returned to a single lane. Maybe if I'd had her @ 6k?

[SteveC#222]

They do use oil - as long as it isn't excessive or you get blue smoke I wouldn't worry, just check it regularly. The motors are also pretty much bullet proof -the XR motor which it is based on has been thrashed and tuned to hell and back and has still proved reliable.  Take it out somewhere quiet and give it a thrash over 6k in 3rd & 4th and see what you think you may be surprised ( 5th is basically an overdrive - it is probably faster in 4th flat out than 5th but not a good idea to thrash it that much!). Don't get me wrong, if you fancy a change go for it but I wouldn't like to see you get rid of that nice XBR and be disappointed with it's replacement.  The XBR is one of those odd bikes that are nothing special on paper but just a really nice bike to ride.