thinking about a 'retro' standard, modern classic, etc

I'm thinking about moving on from my Yamaha WR250R to something a little more street savvy and, well, just a different ride. Between the one that was stolen and the current bike I've gone over 40,000 miles on them in the last 2 years, so the urge for 'shiny new thing' arises again. The only thing I really dislike about the Yamaha is its inability to really get on the slab and cruise at 75-80mph for a few hundred miles if/when I have/want to. It happens more than you'd think, particularly since I am still without a car and still happier because of it.

I prefer new bikes to used if only because over the last 10 years of vehicle purchases I have HORRIBLE luck with buying used. I definitely want fuel injection and minimal maintenance. I like to ride not wrench, but I prefer wrenching to paying a shop for service and therefore want most of the work to be easily completely at home or on the road (I like to travel and I ride a lot, would ride more with a more comfortable highway bike probably) with minimal fuss. I prefer the looks of old bikes too, naked over plastics, standards over cruisers or sport bikes, narrower vs wider, middleweight category. I keep coming back to three similar but different bikes: a 07+ HD Sportster with mid controls (probably an 883 Iron), a Triumph Bonneville, or a Moto Guzzi V7 Classic.

The Bonne is easy. I test rode a '10 thruxton at a triumph demo a few weeks ago as the bonneville was taken. Great sewing machine smooth motor, good power everywhere with a really flexible powerband, competent handling even with the horrid rear shocks, and a great exhaust note from the Arrow 2-2 exhaust. The ergo changes I'd want in the thruxton would make it a bonneville (taller bars, lower pegs), rear fender eliminator (GOD that stock rear fender is hideous!), and ohlins or ikon shocks to start. Maintenance is oil changes, filter changes, chain tension, valves checked and/or adjusted every 12k. Shim-under-bucket valves though.

The Sportster is less easy. I got to ride a Nightster a few weeks ago too, went in thinking I would hate it but it was a damn fun motorcycle. It rode way better than something with 1.6" of suspension should, the motor made all the right sounds stock, and I love the blacked out looks. The stock 1200 motor was more than enough for me, so I'm guessing an 883 with breathing mods would be similar? I felt a little cramped thanks to the slammed seat, but there are hundreds of aftermarket options and there always seems to be a decent amount of people looking to trade or swap. I'd really want the 4.5gal tank, but again there seems to be no shortage of people looking to change their bike. Can't beat the dealer network or aftermarket range, period. I'd be torn between buying a new Iron or finding a lightly used unmolested Nightster, changing to Road King air shocks, swapping or buying a seat to start. Maintenance consists of oil changes, filter cleanings, and belt/primary/clutch adjustments from what I can tell.

The Guzzi I have not ridden yet but spent too long oogling today at the local Ducati/MotoGuzzi dealer. Pictures don't do this bike justice, it looks much more svelte and compact in person. Its the lightest by 75-100 pounds, but is also the least powerful engine. Shaft drive means no belts or chains to maintain, but lots of fluids to change every 5k miles (engine, trans, final drive). Screw-type valve adjusters with cylinders right out there in the open where you can work on them. Its Italian, but Guzzi's were always known for being reliable right? From the reviews I've been able to read online, the only thing it needs are shocks as the forks are supposed to be decent from the factory. Basically no aftermarket, very few dealers, and just plan odd. Beautiful, but odd. Which I like. Sounds great with a set of slip-ons from the video's I've seen too.

These are my thoughts, I'm fairly well equally torn at this point. If you were choosing, which would you chose and why?

I've owned rubber mount and pre-rubber mount Sportsters. The rubber mount Sportsters reduce vibration through the bars, seat and pegs, but the engine still vibrates like crazy and since the air cleaner sticks out far enough that I can't help but touch it, the vibration against my knee drove me crazy. On the plus side, there's an infinite amount of parts for the Sportster so you can modify it to your heart's content. You can picked low mileage used ones up cheap too.

That said, I'd prefer a Bonneville. Narrower, more comfortable seating position (IMHO), less vibration.

DISCLAIMER: I've sworn off new Harleys after they screwed over Buell. Might go for a used one made before that happened.

The 1200 has more "umph" than the 883. The 883 has plenty, but if you want a lot, then the 1200 would be the way to go. As the old saying goes, there's no replacement for displacement, and an 883 with a different air cleaner and a tuner is still not going to be a 1200 unless you swap out the jugs and pistons, then it is a 1200 (see other thread). Realize that the 1200 is 1/3 larger than the 883, 1/3rd more HP. They are not difficult to work on at all, and routine maintenance is about all they need. Dr.Linda's 883 has been very reliable over the past 24 years. I have friends with 1-2 year old 883's and 1200's and they are problem free. With the economy as it is, I've seen a lot of practically new bikes very reasonable. I understand wanting new, but a 1 year old bike with low miles for thousands less would not be a bad deal.

The H-D has the best support hands down. I've lived with a triumph for 8 years. It's only let me down once from a $.50 plastic fuel line connector and I've seen quite a few high mileage triumphs. My buddy has had one for around 7 years with no mechanical issues (his gf put it down though). That said - my eyes wander to the oddball stuff every time. Would love to have a goose.

W650.

Sportster 1200 Low, if they still sell that version. Bigger motor, mid controls, bigger fuel tank. Chromier than the 883s.

Don't think W650 are available stateside.

I have a W650. They were only sold in the states 1999-2001, and weren't real popular so there aren't that many around. They are good bikes, though, and I think they're more attractive (and sound better) than the Bonneville.

I made that previous comment knowing they were sold in the US, but since you basically can't find them, they are pretty much non-existent.

Great bikes though. I like that they have the retro look of the older Triumphs but with a modern twin.

How about a Speed or Street Triple? Quasi-classic looks and better than everything else you listed in every way.

Air cooled Ducati Monster. Just a handlebar raising kit ($40) away from what you are looking for.

I've thought long and hard about a Monster (make mine a red S2R 800 or 1000 pls), but the relative complexity of the valve service and frequency needed turns me off for a daily rider turning 15,000+ miles a year (not including trips).

Get an 883 then. 50+MPG and maintenance consist of change the oil and put tires on it.

Dr. Hess wrote: Get an 883 then. 50+MPG and maintenance consist of change the oil and put tires on it.

883---> kinda slow right?

I know its not a supposed to be a straightline rocket but i figured for the size of the motor it should have a bit more oomph

(that being said..i still would like one done up as a cafe style bike)

Going by the magazine times, the 883 should still be a solid second faster in the 1/4 than my current bike, so I'm guessing I'll be happy with it for a while as I'm mostly happy with my bike as it is power-wise. And if not, well... it's not like there's a lack of aftermarket.

If I did buy a Sportster, I'm leaning towards buying used as there are a TON of them out there compared to the other two, plenty of lightly to barely used bikes for a few thousand dollars less than new. Might even get lucky and find one with some of the stuff I want done already. Not really the case with the Bonne and definitely not on the Guzzi.

If you're going with a Sportster, get a 1200.

Buy my '80 Kawasaki KZ1300. The ultimate UJM for only 4 grand. sickness forces sale.

883 offers the best of what youre looking for. Good mileage, parts grow on trees, easy to work on, and its a modded seat away from a comfy long-hauler. Im not an avid rider, but Ive had my eyes on an 883, and everything I read just firms up that want in me. The Guzzi "looks" cool, and might be a great bike, but part of me thinks youll be hating yourself after 2 years when you try to maintain it and find you need a 3/4" piquney valve from a 1932 studebaker to adjust the torque service intershaft coupler on the flux capacitor...cuz its italian. When the HD needs service, if you cant find the right wrench in the toolbox, just bump the fork against a tree and its likely whatever adjustment you need to do is halfway done.

You can pickup tube frame Buells real cheap these days. I bought a S3T with bags for $1200. I put $1k into it and it's perfect with aftermarket suspension. 100 hp and gobs of torque.

Xceler8x wrote: You can pickup tube frame Buells real cheap these days. I bought a S3T with bags for $1200. I put $1k into it and it's perfect with aftermarket suspension. 100 hp and gobs of torque.

I can't find any under $3k around here. Except the blast...

4cylndrfury wrote: 883 offers the best of what youre looking for. Good mileage, parts grow on trees, easy to work on, and its a modded seat away from a comfy long-hauler. Im not an avid rider, but Ive had my eyes on an 883, and everything I read just firms up that want in me. The Guzzi "looks" cool, and might be a great bike, but part of me thinks youll be hating yourself after 2 years when you try to maintain it and find you need a 3/4" piquney valve from a 1932 studebaker to adjust the torque service intershaft coupler on the flux capacitor...cuz its italian. When the HD needs service, if you cant find the right wrench in the toolbox, just bump the fork against a tree and its likely whatever adjustment you need to do is halfway done.

I second the 883, but will say that if you can stomach a few years old a used dyna is a better choice.

Having an '09 Sportster and an '09 Dyna both at my disposal¤, I'll whole-heartedly agree with wearymicrobe.

¤ The Sportster is hers, but with all the sparkly stuff, Swarovski crystals, pink accents, etc that she's put on it over the winter, there's no friggin way I'll ever ride it again.

EvanB wrote:

Xceler8x wrote: You can pickup tube frame Buells real cheap these days. I bought a S3T with bags for $1200. I put $1k into it and it's perfect with aftermarket suspension. 100 hp and gobs of torque.

I can't find any under $3k around here. Except the blast...

That's about right. Skierd would pay that much for the Sporty, Triumph, etc.

I have seen some Buell owners trying to get $3k for theirs. My bet is if you offered something just north of $2500 they'd jump.

4cylndrfury wrote: 883 offers the best of what youre looking for. Good mileage, parts grow on trees, easy to work on, and its a modded seat away from a comfy long-hauler. Im not an avid rider, but Ive had my eyes on an 883, and everything I read just firms up that want in me. The Guzzi "looks" cool, and might be a great bike, but part of me thinks youll be hating yourself after 2 years when you try to maintain it and find you need a 3/4" piquney valve from a 1932 studebaker to adjust the torque service intershaft coupler on the flux capacitor...cuz its italian. When the HD needs service, if you cant find the right wrench in the toolbox, just bump the fork against a tree and its likely whatever adjustment you need to do is halfway done.

Actually Guzzis are generally about as simple as Sporties, just slightly different to work on. They're nowhere near as annoying as, say, a Ducati to fix. They're also supposed to handle better than a Sporty (which is "hearsay" from a friend of mine who knows about these things, I have ridden and owned Guzzis but never a California).

Where the Sporty or pretty much any Harley wins in the US is if you travel further on them than the nearest watering hole, simply because you can find someone to fix it pretty much anywhere.

BoxheadTim wrote: Actually Guzzis are generally about as simple as Sporties, just slightly different to work on. They're nowhere near as annoying as, say, a Ducati to fix. They're also supposed to handle better than a Sporty (which is "hearsay" from a friend of mine who knows about these things, I have ridden and owned Guzzis but never a California). Where the Sporty or pretty much any Harley wins in the US is if you travel further on them than the nearest watering hole, simply because you can find someone to fix it pretty much anywhere.

Anecdote-ly I've heard the same about Guzzi handling. I will say that up to their very top speed they are very stable.

Also agree with the HD fixing comment. Any guy in a shed can repair one to running condition. Now, to modify one for more power takes a more knowledgeable hand. HD's are the small block chevy's of motorcycling.