Bike never ridden

[Road Rocket]

50 years of riding and there's only few bikes I have ridden, various 500- 750 British bikes, Bevel drive Ducatis and a Monster, two big block Guzzis, Air head BMW, a few Shovelheads Iron head, Evo Sportster, Honda 750 4 ,Kawasaki 500 and 750 triples, Honda 650NT and a Buell Ulysses...Never ridden a scooter, a single cylinder street bike or any bike newer than 2007...I might be missing an experience but maybe not....
   

[egschade]

Scooters are fun in the right use - like puttering around a resort or town. Single cylinder street bikes are a lot of fun on twisty back roads or as city bikes with their torque and nimbleness. Have read glowing reviews of the Svartpilen 401 and I've had a great time on a variety of 250/400/500cc dual sports.

[blackcat]

A friend of mine just bought a 701 Svartpilen and he says it’s a lot of fun to ride. Around 350+ lbs wet and 74 hp.

[sdcr]

74 horsepower from a 700cc single is impressive. Wonder how smooth it is.

A friend of mine just bought a 701 Svartpilen and he says it’s a lot of fun to ride. Around 350+ lbs wet and 74 hp.

[pressureangle]

A friend of mine just bought a 701 Svartpilen and he says it’s a lot of fun to ride. Around 350+ lbs wet and 74 hp.

My son just bought a 401 Svartpilen, and it's just a joy. Like I'm 17 and everything is new again.

[blackcat]

74 horsepower from a 700cc single is impressive. Wonder how smooth it is.

He didn’t say but if it was an issue I’m sure I would have heard about it. He did say it’s hard to ride slow and is worried about losing his license.

[rocker59]

I put some miles on an MZ Skorpion Sport Cup.  It was great fun.

660cc Yamaha 5-valve single. 

[Scout63]

Thumpers are a lot of fun on the street.  Older ones have a lot of grunt but aren’t very fast.  The new generation of four stroke singles really rip. Definitely worth trying.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I put some miles on an MZ Skorpion Sport Cup.  It was great fun.

660cc Yamaha 5-valve single. 

I rode 240 miles on my Skorpion Tour last Sunday. Other than crazy tall gearing (5th only usable above 65 mph) and disappointing gas mileage (44 mpg) it's great fun to ride. Ordered a one tooth smaller countershaft sprocket and have identified a few other things potentially causing the low mpg.

[larrys]

Ridden many bikes over the years. Never ridden a six cylinder Gold Thing, but I'm okay with that.
Larry

[80CX100]

     I've only ridden a Ducati on a short test ride of an 860GT, and as bizarre as it sounds, the only Hondas I've ridden, were a couple of test rides on small trail bikes for the grand kids and I've never ridden a Harley or BMW.

     I grew up pining for english twins, ie BSA's, Triumphs and Nortons, and loved my SR500 which was based on old British singles, but I've never ridden any of the British brands, the closest was sitting on a modern Bonneville in a showroom a few years ago, I was struck by how small and light it felt.

     

[moto-uno]

 Started working at motorcycle dealerships from the mid 70's until this year . Sure put a few road-tests
under my belt as a mechanic , heck I've even ridden Hercules Wankel's , pretty much every Yamaha made
in those years and  Honda's and H-D's . First rip down the street on a CBX was an eye opener after British
twins :) ! Bucket list would probably be a Vincent .   Peter

[Desmo]

 Had a track MZ Skorpion bike. Good times

I put some miles on an MZ Skorpion Sport Cup.  It was great fun.

660cc Yamaha 5-valve single. 

[Chuck in Indiana]

My "Skorpion in a pile" I took out to SoCal to ride the canyons is arguably the best handling bike I've ridden. It's *not* a thumper, though, and comfortable on an all day ride.

[john fish]

disappointing gas mileage (44 mpg) it's great fun to ride. Ordered a one tooth smaller countershaft sprocket and have identified a few other things potentially causing the low mpg.

I once got 32 mpg on my Skorp.  It was during an 'enthusiastic' ride with a Buell and a Ducati.  I was shocked at how quickly a single dies when it runs out of gas-- no warning, just immediate silence.

Otoh, I got over 45 mpg last weekend.  Riding alone and sticking close-ish to the speed limit.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I once got 32 mpg on my Skorp.  It was during an 'enthusiastic' ride with a Buell and a Ducati.  I was shocked at how quickly a single dies when it runs out of gas-- no warning, just immediate silence.

Otoh, I got over 45 mpg last weekend.  Riding alone and sticking close-ish to the speed limit.

The third tank returned 52 mpg. The only difference? No headwind.

I've made a few changes since then: one tooth smaller countershaft sprocket so I can use 5th gear below 70 mph, swapped in a foam filter with a 3D printed frame I got from Sir Real Ed, adjusted the idle mixture screw in a bit and... filled up with the fuel the owner's manual calls for this time (91 ROZ - our 87 Regular).

Headed down into the hills of WV this weekend (Pocahontas County) on it. Made some mounts and installed a "mystery" BMW windscreen. The screen has a BMW logo and part number, as well as a National Cycle logo. When I searched the BMW part number I got no results, so I don't know what's it off of.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Dang! You got a green one.  Even though mine (and the free one) is black, you'll still pry it from my cold dead fingers.

[lucky phil]

50 years of riding and there's only few bikes I have ridden, various 500- 750 British bikes, Bevel drive Ducatis and a Monster, two big block Guzzis, Air head BMW, a few Shovelheads Iron head, Evo Sportster, Honda 750 4 ,Kawasaki 500 and 750 triples, Honda 650NT and a Buell Ulysses...Never ridden a scooter, a single cylinder street bike or any bike newer than 2007...I might be missing an experience but maybe not....
   

Without a doubt you would be missing quite a lot. I have a 2009 Ductai1198S with upgraded everything including race spec Ohlins forks and shock, aftermarket quick shifter, factory traction control aftermarket programmable ecu etc . Speaking to other riders I know that ride and own later bikes I think even my 1198 would be pretty outclassed by a 2022 sports bike. I'd love to have a ride on the latest up and down factory fitted quickshifter bikes, from what I can deduce they are quite amazing, more so when ridden aggressively. So you haven't experienced 6 axis traction control, (with wheelie and launch control) up and down quick shifting, ABS (even my Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor has front and rear ABS) plus the improved suspension technology. Electronic cruise control is another thing. You obviously don't need all of it but I'd imagine as a riding experience the latest bikes would be quite an eye opener compared to 2007. As a point of interest I was talking to a bike salesman yesterday and he mentioned that the Honda CT125's are no longer going to be sold in Australia, reason being they dont have front and rear ABS which is now mandatory for new bikes sold here. Interesting. No more new Postie bikes.

Ciao         

[john fish]

The third tank returned 52 mpg. The only difference? No headwind.

I've made a few changes since then: one tooth smaller countershaft sprocket so I can use 5th gear below 70 mph, swapped in a foam filter with a 3D printed frame I got from Sir Real Ed, adjusted the idle mixture screw in a bit and... filled up with the fuel the owner's manual calls for this time (91 ROZ - our 87 Regular).

Headed down into the hills of WV this weekend (Pocahontas County) on it.

I'm puzzled.  Mine is definitely not geared that high (numerically low, I guess).  I can definitely use 5th gear under 70.

I'll try to use 87 and see how that goes for the gas mileage.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I'm puzzled.  Mine is definitely not geared that high (numerically low, I guess).  I can definitely use 5th gear under 70.

I'll try to use 87 and see how that goes for the gas mileage.

Mine has a 39 tooth rear, perhaps yours has a 43 tooth, some models did.

[john fish]

Thanks, Charlie.  I'll check. 

[Chuck in Indiana]

I've always used 87.. no problemo. It's not where I can count teeth, but fifth has always been usable.

[john fish]

Had the Skorp out today.  4000 indicated rpm has it at about 62 indicated mph in 5th gear.

[john fish]

No matter what you're referencing-- no.  My multi cylinder bikes give some warning before cutting out.  Sputtering, etc.  The single just goes from full chat to nothing in a blink.
If you're referencing the mpg, also no.  I've never ridden a bike that can vary by almost 20 mpg depending on the day;s enthusiasm.  The Skorp has a 2 barrel carb and that secondary is thirsty.  :)

[SIR REAL ED]

74 horsepower from a 700cc single is impressive. Wonder how smooth it is.

Same engine as the 2016+ KTM Duke 690.  Very smooth.  Not just low vibration for a single, but very pleasant.

[SIR REAL ED]

No matter what you're referencing-- no.  My multi cylinder bikes give some warning before cutting out.  Sputtering, etc.  The single just goes from full chat to nothing in a blink.
If you're referencing the mpg, also no.  I've never ridden a bike that can vary by almost 20 mpg depending on the day;s enthusiasm.  The Skorp has a 2 barrel carb and that secondary is thirsty.  :)

Yep.  Also true for my DR650.  When the gas is gone, it's like you accidentally hit the kill switch.

[john fish]

Headed down into the hills of WV this weekend (Pocahontas County) on it.

I think I saw a Skorpion heading north out of Boyer Station about 11:00 today.  Seemed to be in fast convoy with another machine.  You?

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I think I saw a Skorpion heading north out of Boyer Station about 11:00 today.  Seemed to be in fast convoy with another machine.  You?

We (my friend Joseph on my Convert and me on the Skorpion) left Boyer Station around 10:40 am.

[john fish]

Must've been you then.  Funny how distinctive the Skorpion is with that frame.
I was on my KLR looking for a road along the Greenbriar river.  A friend of mine told me that there is a dirt/gravel road along the Greenbriar that's accessible near Cass.  I tried a few but got stymied with dead ends.  Just have to try again.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Yep.  Also true for my DR650.  When the gas is gone, it's like you accidentally hit the kill switch.

When an airplane engine runs out of fuel, it will be running along at full chat, then stops instantly. Don't ask me how I know.