Pete

I've been looking at comparisons and it appears that the V-Strom is far better in many respects than the TA. But to me it looks like a road bike. However, it seems there may be a main bearing fault which Suzuki are trying to worm their way out of. Why am I not surprised? :roll: http://11109.rapidforum.com/topic=101081106027

Congrats Alan...just lose the mullet before the baby sees you!

We're in danger of getting a real bike thread going here you know. Anyway, I was looking at a Transalp Forum and have come across a few people complaining about their bikes using a lot of oil! That's getting into Shitzuki territory....anybody else know whether that motor has a history of oil usage?

You know my main concern about the XT660? The design of it! What I mean is that as far as I can see, the bike was made to be a motard. Everything about it says motard. I reckon Yam wanted to produce a motard, which they did with the XT660X, then thought..."Hang on, let's throw bigger wheels on it and sell it as a dualsport and get 2 bites of the cherry". Which they have done through the XT660R. I want a bike that doesn't look or feel like a motard or a streetbike. That's why I'm thinking of an Adventure Tourer...but BM's are OUT! I'll only buy Jap.

Good points Alan. As you know I love the XT but 2 up it does have shortcomings. I still want this style of bike, and I'm not going back to a standard, but options are limited unfortunately.

The big slump was late 70's to mid 80's. Dealers going to the wall everywhere. Then it picked up a bit only to bottom out again in the early 90's. Then another boom in the last 5 years which is now showing signs of ending. Bike sales way down this year. Great....the fashion victims will then piss off to their next craze and stop fucking up our world by causing higher insurance costs and increased police vigilance. As well as the shit attitude they bring with them.

You must be a newer rider cos these slumps come every 15 years or so. And with less buyers available, the supermarket dealers struggle and prices DROP!

It's not a dualsport John....it's a road bike.

Try Yamaha Insurance Services.

Reminds me of a couple of years ago on another forum. Somebody posted up a photo of this stunning Thai bird....but something didn't seem quite right. Well one of the Americans steams in with stuff like "I'd shag the ass off that... etc". Anyway another photo of her gets posted....and it turns out she has a bloody dick! The guy is really embarrassed but he couldn't amend or delete his post so everybody sees it. And shit.....he's still taking stick for it 2 years later! So if you see a guy called Gass on any US Boards, just ask him about his Ladyboy fetish....he won't be happy! 8)

Now I love the XT...never had so much fun on a bike. But there's a few problems. Seating: 90% of my mileage is two up cos the wife likes going on the bike. Unfortunately the XT seating is not really designed for two people...it ends up with me nearly sitting on the tank and the wife half on the luggage rack! Power: 2 up does hit it hard, particularly uphills and in a strong wind. Overtaking has to be planned very carefully. Most of the time I'm revving it like hell to keep the momentum going. Brakes: Single disc up front, and once again, with the additional weight of a pillion it tends to fade a bit. Fine for normal use, but in the event of an emergency, you could be in trouble. Screen/Fairing: Got to have one cos I'm being inflated like a sail. And being so upright and high up, I get splattered with millions of insects. I get home and it looks like somebody's thrown a Pizza over me. So....I must have a Dualsport/Adventure Tourer cos they suit me perfectly, but there's only one bike that fits the bill..... The Honda XL650 Transalp! :shock: Will I be banned from here....and what will Skyline say? What do you reckon on these Transalps then guys?

You're never gonna live it down axl!

Z1 Kwak! 8)

The time we got to worry is when all the idiot car drivers start wearing floppy ears!

Get ready for some oil burning then Alan!

Have you got a Purple helmet to go with it? If not....I'm sure I can help out!

I think you should ride a few different styles of bike and see what suits you. Cos I feel you're thinking about what you think you should be seen on, rather than what fits you best. If you're getting the wrist problem, it won't go away until you get a standard.

Great stuff Karban. Keep it coming!

New R1? You said the sports riding position was giving you grief.

Well done Moz!

Better quality of life there!

That's why I'm going! Gotta get there early....I don't want an ugly one

Alan's the Guru! 8)

See what I mean Yammie?

It's right for me. You need to set the time to GMT + 1hour in your profile.