Where are the singles?

[jrflanne]

Originally Posted by WAP

Duke III

I gotta concur with that. Strong bike!

[RobbieAG]

How about the new Honda CBR250R? It looks like a really fun little bike.

[tastroman]

In the world of scooters, singles dominate.

[danketchpel]

I love old school thumper street bikes.

My first street bike was a '78 SR500. It was very close to what I'm looking for today.



What I'm searching for is a modern incarnation of the fabled BSA Goldstar 500.



I don't see why it can't have electronic ignition and simple fuel injection along with modern materials and a counterbalancer inside the cases to make it live and livable. Put 6 gears inside that transmission so it can have a suitable speed range without needing to rev crazy high.

I think Honda's GB500 is probably the closest to a modern practical incarnation I've stumbled across.



I test rode a 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500. It feels vintage in pretty much every way. My KLR650 felt like a rocket powered magic carpet ride in comparison. They sell the Clubman version in the UK but not here in the States. I inquired about what it would cost to upgrade it to a Clubman and was quoted about $4000, ouch, that's on top of the $6000 they are asking for a new Bullet classic. It's got the right look, if not the performance of a Goldie.

[HapHazard]

Originally Posted by 40cu.in.of.furey

I saw that in cycleword a couple of months back, that motor is really great looking to bad the bike isn't. Some subtle changes would make it look a lot better, I'll have to keep my open for a good used one for sure. Does anyone know what carb comes on the bike, mechanical of cv carb?

You'd better be small - I'm 6'5" - for me it'd be "circus bear" time for sure

I like the looks of it, too - except from the rear

[NJ-Brett]

Love the looks of the sr500!
I never had one, but know I would like it.

The TU250 is everything you want, just a bit small.
I love mine. Smooth, fuel injected (a very good system), light, nimble, good brakes, good range, 80 mpg, a stock suspension that can handle 2 up, great looks, great seat, about $3000.00.
Its the most fun I have had on a bike in about 25 years...

Originally Posted by danketchpel

I love old school thumper street bikes.

My first street bike was a '78 SR500. It was very close to what I'm looking for today.

[danketchpel]

Originally Posted by NJ-Brett

The TU250 is everything you want, just a bit small.
I love mine. Smooth, fuel injected (a very good system), light, nimble, good brakes, good range, 80 mpg, a stock suspension that can handle 2 up, great looks, great seat, about $3000.00.
Its the most fun I have had on a bike in about 25 years...

If Suzuki make a TU650 along the same lines I'd jump on it immediately.

I can't figure out why all the recent Thumpers coming out of Japan are all small displacement??? It's like they have just forgotten the 500-650 class Thumpers entirely.

Nothing against the TU250, but I want a THUMPER not a small bore bike I have to wring it's neck to keep up with traffic.

It's partly why I own the KLR650 now. It was the most reasonably priced and practical new Thumper I could find. Like I mentioned, I test rode a Royal Enfield 500 but that company needs a reality check on their prices, they are about $3k off from what it's worth. I just can't understand how they think $6,000 dollars for that bike can be realistic. I paid $5,500 OTD for my brand new KLR which is light years ahead in every way and it's almost an antique in it's own right.



If Suzuki made a TU650 using the DR650 engine with FI I think they'd have something very good with very little effort on their part. If they offered it for ~$6,000 - 6,500 I believe they'd sell.

[Wuwei]

From another site.

[RaY YreKa]

Originally Posted by Cortez

And the MT03 ALSO uses the same 48hp engine but looks like a bunch
of fun:

I really like that bike. I met a couple who had one each and used them for weekend rides, commuting, and short-haul touring. They said they loved the bike.

[RaY YreKa]

Originally Posted by Cortez

Love that bike!
Only saw it once here..

The 650CS has a cult following in the UK, and they hold their price almost as well as the 650GS here.

[danketchpel]

I would love to own something like a Husky TE630 or KTM 690 (only smoother) engine (ie modern design and HP and 6 spds) in more street oriented chassis, not a super motard, but more like a Cafe Racer.

This is getting closer and looks to be based on a DRZ400

[ShardPhoenix]

I'm quite fond of my Suzuki S40. Great little bike. I may be biased though because it's my first motorcycle, but hey.....I think the big thumper has personality, and I love the way it sounds (exhaust isn't stock).

[chazbird]

Apples and oranges maybe....I've always been partial to singles but I've had two SR500's, and briefly a 08 KLR, and a 01 F650GS, ridden a bit on a DR650 and rode a Bullet 350 and 500 ($1700 and $2000 new) in India a couple years ago ...and lately been riding a friends (with option to buy) Piaggio BV 250. I suppose, technically, the BV is a thumper...apples and oranges again, but it is way smoother (no thump) than any of the aforementioned bikes, is, in practical terms, probably just as quick in real world situations, and more comfortable than all of them. It handles better and brakes better than all of them except the GS. I suppose my point is if a scooter motor can be that smooth and flexible something like that in a motorcycle type frame would seem like significant progress for a modern "thumper"...

[Murphy Slaw]

Thump, thump.....

[danketchpel]

Originally Posted by chazbird

..... rode a Bullet 350 and 500 ($1700 and $2000 new) in India a couple years ago ...

That's what I don't get. The Bullet 500 sells for ~$2000-2,500 in India and they want $6,000 for it here, WTF???, put the crack pipe down RE. It's worth about $3,500 max, and at that price I'd probably buy one just for it's nostalgic character.

Originally Posted by chazbird

......and lately been riding a friends (with option to buy) Piaggio BV 250....... probably just as quick in real world situations, and more comfortable than all of them. It handles better and brakes better than all of them except the GS. I suppose my point is if a scooter motor can be that smooth and flexible something like that in a motorcycle type frame would seem like significant progress for a modern "thumper"...

I "suspect" you'd have all the Yamaha WR250R (and maybe some TU250) fan boys agreeing with you big time. Maybe Honda's new CBR250R is very much along the same lines. I haven't ridden either yet so it's hard for me to comment on them accurately. Most older 250cc street bikes I've ridden were too slow for my tastes even though they were able to keep up with traffic for the most part.

I wonder if Honda does well in the showroom with the CBR250R if Yamaha will follow suit with a similar bike based on the WR250R engine?

My preference for the big THUMP is more the relaxed torquey nature of them over any outright measured performance value. Even though my DRZ400 and KLR650 make very similar total power I much prefer the 650 on the street. If I toss a pillion on then the extra torque really shines.