Possibilty of new Yamaha SR400 in the states

[chazbird]

Sir Lornce does make a good point. The V7 Classic is indeed about $1500 too expensive, as are several of the other replica efforts. And indeed, a modern Bonnie is tubby thing, although reliable compared with an original, bu tI think they got a lot of the look wrong, the W650 did a better job with that. I am not sure of the performance difference between a T100 and a '69 TR6, but the T100 has 250cc more, so in reality the the TR6 is probably a better performer considering displacement and the weight difference. My fave Bonnie's are the latter ones, '72 & up, 750cc, with a 5 speed on the left, and a disc brake. Yes, even the oil in the frame. Certainly, less pure than a "sacred Bonnie" - which makes the latter marques affordable.

[NJ-Brett]

The V7 is over $9000.00 now I think, its light for a 750 shaft drive bike, but its small in size.
I have had a new and an old Bonneville at the same time, and in many respects, the old (1979) was the better bike.
It felt faster and much more nimble being over 50 pounds lighter.
It was much more comfortable then the new ones in every respect, sounded better, looked better.
No electric start, and more high rpm vibrations, which made it feel like a real motorcycle.
In their day, they were reliable, I had a new one in 1979 and made many long trips on one, 9000 mile trips, rode it to work year round, and had very few problems, key switch and speedo drive was about it.

Over 30 years of progress and I do not see any big improvement in bikes.
The new ones seem heavier, more complicated and less comfortable.
Sport bikes have gotten better, dirt bikes have gotten better in suspension.

I am 6 foot, 200 pounds, my wife is not little, and yes, the TU250 is good for 2 or 3 hour rides with her on the back.
She reports its better then the new Bonneville was, the new sportster, about the same as the 1969 Daytona and the 79 Bonneville.
For both of us, the 79 Bonneville has the edge, but the last one I had was a rust bucket and was too easy to get tickets on, as it would do 100+ mph quickly.

My kick start bikes always started one or two kicks, and the 750's were easy to kick except when it was 20F out, what with gear lube in the trans, but they all started well.

[Lornce]

Originally Posted by NJ-Brett

The V7 is over $9000.00 now I think, its light for a 750 shaft drive bike, but its small in size.
I have had a new and an old Bonneville at the same time, and in many respects, the old (1979) was the better bike.
It felt faster and much more nimble being over 50 pounds lighter.
It was much more comfortable then the new ones in every respect, sounded better, looked better.
No electric start, and more high rpm vibrations, which made it feel like a real motorcycle.
In their day, they were reliable, I had a new one in 1979 and made many long trips on one, 9000 mile trips, rode it to work year round, and had very few problems, key switch and speedo drive was about it.

Over 30 years of progress and I do not see any big improvement in bikes.
The new ones seem heavier, more complicated and less comfortable.
Sport bikes have gotten better, dirt bikes have gotten better in suspension.

I am 6 foot, 200 pounds, my wife is not little, and yes, the TU250 is good for 2 or 3 hour rides with her on the back.
She reports its better then the new Bonneville was, the new sportster, about the same as the 1969 Daytona and the 79 Bonneville.
For both of us, the 79 Bonneville has the edge, but the last one I had was a rust bucket and was too easy to get tickets on, as it would do 100+ mph quickly.

My kick start bikes always started one or two kicks, and the 750's were easy to kick except when it was 20F out, what with gear lube in the trans, but they all started well.

Word.



(former '70 TR6R owner, and at 350lbs and 50hp it was the shit).

[skysailor]

I'd buy it.
BTW, who's the idiot that removed kick starters in the first place?????
Lyle

[oalvarez]

Originally Posted by Lornce

Exactly.

That, and a lot of older bikes will run circles around them. Modern Bonnies, overweight and underpowered, are a poor styling exercise and little else.

Originally Posted by chazbird

A current "modern retro" usually doesn't perform as well, handle or brake as well, nor does it have the top shelf components of the higher tier modern bikes but all the modern retro's perform as well (actually, usually better) handle better, brake better and are leagues more reliable and comfortable than the original bikes they are replicating. Given that and considering they are less expensive than a top tier bike I feel that's a pretty good place to be.

interesting and differing viewpoints.

i owned a V7 Classic for a short while.....small bike but heavy.....anchors for wheels....shoddy suspension....relatively slow (poor fueling) and i don't weight much....any taller and i wouldn't want to ride it for long periods of time let alone subject someone to the back of one. i also owned a r90s/6, nothing to write home about in terms of its road going performance either. old, new, they're all the same to me with the exception of relevance, maintenance, and relative cost, but at the end of the day, they're not great riding bikes. having said that, i'll take a vintage example over a modern one all day long.

[Barnone]

Originally Posted by skysailor

I'd buy it.
BTW, who's the idiot that removed kick starters in the first place?????
Lyle

I've had three Kawasaki W650s over the years and have never had to use the kick starter.
Did use it a few times just playing around.

I used the kick starter on my BSAs and Triumphs back in the 1960s because there was no estart.

Got a new Ural hack the other day and used the kick starter once for the fun of it. Fired up on the first kick.

The times I could have used a kick starter on a bike that didn't have one have been rare. I just did a bump start when the estart failed.

[pm9654]

I'll take a new fuel injected Bonnie thank you. Yea, heavy compared to the older versions, but more reliable, and the mag wheel version handles fantastic. I dig the fuel injection when I travel up in the mountains. They have plenty of power, and ride great.

[NJ-Brett]

Well, what other bikes have you had?
Very well built bikes, but not a lot of fun to ride for me, and not over comfortable.
Likely the best of the vintage look that is being made (and sold in the US).

Originally Posted by pm9654

I'll take a new fuel injected Bonnie thank you. Yea, heavy compared to the older versions, but more reliable, and the mag wheel version handles fantastic. I dig the fuel injection when I travel up in the mountains. They have plenty of power, and ride great.

[tarantulahawk]

Originally Posted by Navin

My friend raced the old SR/XT/TT500 version in roadracing. I recall all the mods it needed to be beefed up to survive. So, a new bike from 1975 with no other updates in design except F.I.? No thanks, and I loved the mid 70s standard Yamaha styling.

I had a buddy in Seattle who campaigned an SR-powered HawkGT in Open Singles for awhile back in the 90s. Apparently it stood him in good stead, he always got misty-eyed when we chatted about it while wrenching on the SR I had bought from him.

I learned to ride on the 500, it was possibly the best intro to motorcycling I could have had. Ended up doing a short stint as a despatch rider for a legal messenger company on that bike.

[Krasniewski]

Originally Posted by tarantulahawk

I learned to ride on the 500, it was possibly the best intro to motorcycling I could have had..

Same here, actually. What a bike that was...



I will not buy a new 400 though - no way. I don't like anything about that bike... the looks, the specs, the size. Nothing. I don't really like the new CB1100 either though... not many retro bikes do it for me. I had a V7 Cafe for a while - liked it ok, but wasn't fantastic. I'm over the classic thing, I think.

[cb4017]

I had an SR500 back in the day. I really enjoyed the bike and would consider a new one for around town.

[RustyStuff]

I think they are Nice lookin' bikes, and I would ride one.

Though sitting here, I don't know how I would like rideing a bike with the same weight, 1 less gear, no button, Vibrates worse and has a bit over half the HP power of my current GS450(27 HP VS 42HP). I could see it being fun to ride, But I'm a big (fat) guy, and I bet I would be working that motor hard at 60mph.

[NJ-Brett]

http://contemplativemotorcycling.blo...00-review.html

Review and comparison of the sr400 and 500.
He likes the 400 better, but both bikes do not like high speeds (over 60 mph), like most old designs.

While under powered, the TU 250 is happy to spin anyplace in its rpm range for hours (or days), even up to the rev limiter.
The SR has a dirt bike ratio trans (he says) and its JUST like the Japanese to make something and not change a flaw for 20 years, like the drz400 trans....

Be nice to have an sr400 with a 6 speed trans, where 6th is an overdrive for running 70 mph and up and 1st gear is good for lifting the front wheel....

[bk brkr baker]

Originally Posted by NJ-Brett

http://contemplativemotorcycling.blo...00-review.html

Review and comparison of the sr400 and 500.
He likes the 400 better, but both bikes do not like high speeds (over 60 mph), like most old designs.

While under powered, the TU 250 is happy to spin anyplace in its rpm range for hours (or days), even up to the rev limiter.
The SR has a dirt bike ratio trans (he says) and its JUST like the Japanese to make something and not change a flaw for 20 years, like the drz400 trans....

Be nice to have an sr400 with a 6 speed trans, where 6th is an overdrive for running 70 mph and up and 1st gear is good for lifting the front wheel....

In that Aussie ? reveiw the SR pictured had an English Tri-BSA looking muffler on it. When I bought my beat to hell SR 500 it had no muffler . I had a Triumph style muffler that had an adapter welded to it to allow it to fit on a 860 Ducati I bought. So I slipped it on the SR and went for a test ride. It was fairly quiet , but, choked the motor down badly.
I went with a Supertrapp and it was loud and made the motor happy again.
If it comes and our opinion matters , I vote for the 500 cc size. The U.S. is not Japan.

[NJ-Brett]

Sounds like they are only making it in the 400 size now, but you could likely fit a 500 crankshaft...