Modern Vespa

Take a look at these specs Rex. The problem is they are not selling them in the states??

2009 BMW K1300R specs:

Engine

1,293cc, water-cooled four-stroke straight-four,
DOHC, four valves per cylinder

173bhp at 9,250rpm

140Nm at 8,250rpm

Electronic fuel injection, Digital Motor Electronics with integrated knock control (BMS-K)

5.0ltr/100 km (at a steady 90 km/h)

Chassis and suspension

Aluminium beam frame, with the engine as a load-bearing member

Duolever with central spring strut (front), cast aluminium single-sided Paralever swingarm (rear), adjustable for preload and rebound damping

Dry weight 217kg

Brakes

Twin 320mm discs (front) with four-piston fixed calipers, single 265mm disc (rear) with twin-piston fixed calipers. ABS (optional)

Electronics

Anti-lock brakes, ASC traction control, ESA II (electronic suspension adjustment (optional)), Quickshift system, with clutchless, push-button gearshifts (optional)

No one was buying them here...

I don't think they ever offered the K1300R here in the states? I wish they would have at least given this model a chance.

They did. Miles on sport-touring.net has one and loves it. Just didn't find a market like BMW hoped.

Thanks and that's good to know. That means there might be some used ones floating around somehwere.... Thanks Desmo.

here is a pic of my new ride

The market was there for a bike of that performance level, probably just not for what BMW was asking for it. There are alternatives that equal or exceed the BMW's performance for less money. Hayabusas, ZX14's, GSXR1000's, and a handfull of others manage to find that market in the U.S. all at about $13,000 or less.

Damn sweet ride Geo. I LOVE the color! You need to give is a ride report once you start logging some miles.

Naked bikes are not big sellers in the us market. most people like the look of a race bike "Sport Bike"

Very sweet! Congratulations!

??Not where I come from

I love this. What model is it?

Thanks guys - great ride so far and will report back when I get about 1k on it - so far looking at 350 miles and I picked it up last Friday afternoon with 1 mile on it.

Hotbox, it's an Iron 883 - one of their Dark Custom models.

Geo-Vesp that's one horny bike 8) I've just been to the HD site and fell in lust with some of their darker models. Hmmm, despite having a slightly wonky image over here too (think realtors in pirate costume, or Village People members who've lost their way) I'd love to have one one day, and I'd make sure I rode it all-weathers. But without the leather vest and the eyepatch

Screw what people think, if you like your ride, who cares what 'they' opine

I find the Iron 883 one of the sexiest and coolest bikes on earth. Maybe it is because of its raw essentiality. The raw idea of a bike.

I find it a bit pricey, though, and not so friendly with our bendy and tormented roads. Original HD Accessories (one will need some, in time) are very expensive in Italy, too.
I think that for the same money, or less, I would buy a 696, more akin to my inclinations and to European roads.

Ah, Il Mostro! I was there when they launched the bike in the UK and thought that was pretty much the ideal motorbike 8) I still like them but I hate the new headlight treatment, if they stuck the old style back on there I'd be on lust again

Damn you, sexy motorcycles! Especially double damn the super sexy Triumph Street Triple...don't like that either

Hmmm...

My first post here and it is about a Harley.

Iv'e had 3 Harleys (touring, Dyna & Sportster) and my Nightster is the most fun to ride. If you get the lowered version be prepared to spend some change on suspension work. I put Works Performance shocks on it and had the forks revalved and it now rides wonderfully. Except for the somewhat reduced lean angle of a lowered model they handle really well.

Someone posted that Sportsters are not "Chick" bikes and I absolutely agree. It seems that only posers call them that to justify whatever it is they paid for whatever they paid too much for and use only for some personal "reason". If anyone knows about Harleys they would know that they are the best performing "traditional" bikes in the lineup (V-Rod & CVO not included here). They are taller and up until 2004 shook like only a man should have to deal with. We got my wife a Dyna Low Rider because of this and the local Harley shop owner (a friend) said he just didn't understand why men would put their girlfriend and wife on a Sportster unless it was just to save money.

With the new rubber mount motor and and decent suspension the Sportster is quite a bike and some models are actually quite a deal.

So that's my $.02 worth. Now what about a kick stand for the 300 Super?

I saw this XL 883 R today and am going back tomorrow for a test drive.

What year is that? If it was made before 2004 it will have a solidly mounted motor and will shake like crazy. 2004 and newer are much smoother.

2005 model with 6000 km

Best looking 883 IMHO , but then i got a thing for orange bikes¨.

I have nothing against them, I work in a chopper shop. Sporties are known as"your lil sisters bike" but they actually are my favorite harley and a great bike. I still would rather push a Lammy the ride anything else. Come to think of it I pushed my GT 2 weeks ago and my Ape this week-----------------

the scootser (which I may add left me speechless) is so much cooler then this craptastic thing

http://www.craigvetter.com/pages/Motorcycle_Designs/defiant.html

i was saving for a harley until i saw the Honda Fury, man what a bike to have....

Yup x 2

I dress like a pirate when I ride a Vespa

I wonder if that is illegal?

btw - The person that posted the bike below gave me second thoughts about a Harley. Yes... I like the Harley... but this Triumph is HOT!

Every time I look in the Sunday paper I see a ton of Harleys but very few Vespas & other bikes. Why is that?

Uh....Market share?

Harley has half the US market share for heavy motorcycles, so there are A LOT more Harleys out there, and probably more in your local market.

If you want a better sampling, go to eBay. There are over 9000 motorcycles for sale, not even 1/3 are Harleys, even though they make up half the market share. So regardless of what you see in your paper, there are proportionately less Harleys for sale than their competitors.

Now as to Vespas, I love my Vespa more than anything, but realistically, there aren't enough out there in the American market to even make a dent. It seems most people that own Vespas sell them online anyway.

fury. honda's factory chopper

better pic

Well I just got back from Sturgis where I test rode 9 of them. After owning 39 motorcycles and 9 scooters I don't think I would ever buy one. I couldn't believe how clunky the transmission was on them. Every time you put it in gear, upshift or downshift you are greated with a big loud clunk. Some other things I noticed: they get crappy gas mileage, vibrate like crazy at idle, way overpriced and some handle very poorly (V-Rod). I liked the sound and the torque (V-Rod) but I just can't see spending that kind of $$$ on one. I would buy the Honda Fury in a heartbeat b4 a Harley. Just my .02.

Funny, I think I rode 9 of them too that week. I agree about the clunky transmissions, though the Sportsters weren't nearly as bad as the larger models, but still not what you could call 'slick' shifting. The V-Rod I rode was the frosting on the Harley cake though it has THE dumbest seating position of anything I've ever ridden, I just hate that 'C' clamp it contorts you into.

I like the looks of the Honda Fury, but using the 1300cc VTX engine, it's a bit misnamed...there's not much 'Fury' in that motor, they should have put the 1800 in it.

I live in the heart of bike country, Daytona. Thousands of Harley's are here twice a year. I've riden most models and have owned 5 of them. The Sportster is on the small side, but a great entry level machine. The larger models are incredibly heavy and tend to 'fall' into slow turns. Something you really need to learn to handle. I'd go for a cheap used Sportster. Learn how to ride it, sell it, and get yourself a true 'Hog." BTW, yes it's true, you must purchase the costume to go along with the bike. With all said, I prefer my Vespa with my DOT approved flipflops.

The Fury is great if you like a neutered styling, weak motor, clunky shaft drive instead of belt, and plastic chrome everywhere.
Have you seen the unbelievably bad welds on that thing? Like a cheap Chinese bicycle.
Read motorcyclist magazine's review on that thing...

Something about "production" choppers that just doesn't sit well with me. I thought the whole point of a chopper is that it is "chopped up" and customized. I'm not just picking on Honda here, as I feel the same way about Big Dog, Big Bear, American Ironhorse, etc. I view the production choppers as no different than a stock Harley, Yamaha or Honda. No originality. I'd much rather see a chopper that is 'one of a kind'.

I don't know what a Sportster is on the small side of, unless you choose to compare it to only it's bloated, ponderous, and ( generally, but not always) underpowered cruiser HD stablemates.

If I recall, a typical Sportster is something like 570lbs wet, with around a 60 inch wheelbase. They are a full-sized motorcycle, just not of the aircraft carrier class of 'traditional American-style V-twin' motorcycles. 'Smallness' when considering a Sportster is a bit of a misperception.

An 883 Sportster is longer than, and heavier than my 1300cc Suzuki Hayabusa was, and nobody ever called that bike small, in fact, the younger riders think it's a regular beer truck of a motorcycle.

The Sportster is at least a little honest in it's name, and actually has some actual 'sport' potential within it's limits. It's been the 'hot-rod' of the Harley line since the late 1950's, and in the 1200cc version has been more than a performance match for the floorboarded hog variety of HD's.

For a 'Girly bike', all the 1200 Sportsters I recently rode had more snot than the 'real' motorcycles' such as the 'Road King', 'Fatboy', and the new 'Rockster', which by the way, was the doggiest 'big V' Harley I've think I've ever ridden (outside of the 883) and handled like a lumber truck.

(I can't believe I'm defending a Harley-Davidson, I've been 'at odds' with them since the late 1960's...my God! what's the world coming to?)

"Arrr! Where's me Harley?"

No matter what is said about Harleys they are in demand all over the world - must be they have some type appeal to all kinds of people.

I've had two Sportsters.....a 2000 and a 2003 model year, both 883's.

I liked the sturdy feel of them, and the belt drive and hydraulic lifters.....but the Sportster ergonomics never set right with me. With the knees high riding position my legs and hips began to tire badly after 40-50 miles max.

It took quite a while to sell each of the Sportsters but several Vespa I had sold within a day or two.

If I were going for a Sportster I would get a 2007 or later with the fuel injection. Used ones are readily available.

That said, my Scarabeo 500ie is noticeably faster than the Sportster, and my Kawasaki W650 and old Triumphs fit me a lot better ergonomically.

Just my thoughts.

fried okra

I took the Duc out for an early morning ride on Pacific Coast Hwy. It was grey and drizzly. I saw about 5 Harleys for every 1 of any other bike.
Which dispels the claim of fair weather riders etc etc.

p.s. also saw 3 Vespas on separate occasions. I waved to them which seemed to shock them!