Review / Rate your other bikes.

[PapaTom]

Following on from another thread, it occurred to me that it would be a nice idea if we could review and rate our other /second bikes for prospective future owners.
I know we are all Tiger fans, but many of us have a second (or third, fourth, fifth) bike.
Have had a search but can't find a similar thread. My apologies if I've missed it.
I can't post a review yet as my second bike will not be with me until May (hopefully).

Who wants to go first?

 

[GeoffS]

There’s a 2018 V Strom (650) currently sleeping next to my Tiger. This is an awesome piece of kit; my son rode it to the 2019 Tiger MegaMeet in the Lake District and it performed superbly. Don’t be fooled or put off by the lack of “cubes”, this motor is a peach and more than holds its own with my Tiger. If you’re looking to down-size as your old bones get weary and you struggle moving your Tiger around, have a serious look at the little Suzy.
.........., PS, I believe the little Kwak Versys is another pearler, but I’ve never ridden one.
Cheers
Geoff

[Tigermainia]

Or even the Trident 660 if you want to loose weight!!!¡

[93TigerBill]

Funny you should say about the Versys 650....
I'm on my second Versys 650, totalled the first one with a 'Roo hit at 120 kph.
My first Versys 650 (both ABS btw), was to replace my '93 Tiger as my LD 'bike.  Versys is very much fit for purpose, more like a road 'bike, but better ergos, and great fuel consumption.
Still have the '93 Tiger, now fully de-farkled.
A '98 KLR650 is still good fun in the dirt, now selling (reluctantly).

That's not counting the KLR250 and a Honda TLR200 at the Farm : just for Fun!

[Derchef1962]

My second bike is a 2017 Bonneville Bobber, the standard Bobber not the Bobber black.

That bike is a beauty and performs very well but I had to do some changes to it: the standard two piston caliper front brake is crap, so I went for a four piston caliper which made braking easier in connection with better pads. The rear shock needed to go as my back started to hurt everytime I hit a pothole. It's a Wilbers now and that made handling better and improved the comfort.

A little luggage on the rear fender and a tiny flyscreen went onto it. It's my everyday bike, the Tiger is more or less for long distance travel and right now as the Bobber as a season plate so I have to wait for April to ride it again.

Would I buy the Bobber again? Of course...

[steve@lincs]

After hankering after a Royal Enfield Interceptor since they were announced, I got a chrome one last September and only managed 3,000 miles in the intervening 6 months, but absolutely love it. No real negatives; the standard seat is a bit cruel and rear brake is just a round gear lever, but that's mainly personal issues. 75 mpg, plenty fast enough for me and a lovely ride. The biggest headache is which bike to take out, when the opportunity arises!

[coddy]

My 2nd bike has been relegated to "winter hack" status due to the excellence of the 800 XRT.

It's a BMW F800 ST and it got mothballed due to unreliability and cramped (compared to a Adventure style bike) ergonomics.

Was very light with centre of gravity nice and low and sipped petrol too.

[jeffa]

My second bike is a CBR600fm 1991 which I rebuilt 12 years ago, I got it featured in Practical Sportbikes magazine. Its a keeper, runs like a watch, great bike, easy to work on
My third bike is a VFR800 fi 1998, great gear driven cam engine, Honda quality, maybe a keeper

[tauzero]

My second bike is a T120 Black. Mrs Zero finds it a huge struggle to get on and off the Tiger, so I've had a succession of other bikes to see what suits us for touring (if we can ever do that again). I had a Bonnie SE which was a bit cramped for me, and a Scrambler 900 which Mrs Zero didn't like because the high pipes meant an offset footpeg on the right side which also happens to be where her bad knee is. The T120 has lots of poke and is comfortable for both of us. I've put the K&Q seat on to stop her trying to occupy my bit of seat and to raise the seat slightly, plus a screen and some luggage and a DIY cruise control (works the same as the Triumph one but the push-button switch cost under a fiver rather than the £300 of the replacement Triumph switchgear).

[AvgBear]