That would be a bike night eye magnet. That would be the only reason to own that. I'd only buy that if I had lots of money and didn't know what to do with it.

From what I've read it's fantastic handling road machine with the Ohlins suspension bits on there. Looks like a lot if fun to me!

It's a cool bike, no doubt but I'll bet money it is ONLY fantastic handling by cruiser standards. That makes it marginally well handling at best by sportbike standards. If your scraping your pegs on the VTX, you'll be scraping engine on this. Very nice eye candy. You'll get looks on that bike for sure but I doubt you'll want to do any serious sport riding. If I saw it parked, I'd definitely stop to linger over it a minute but it's really a novelty item for a rich man who won't ride fast anyway. How much do they cost?

DragKing is probably too young to remember when the Norton Commando 750 was the last word in two wheeled performance, I can barely remember myself...lol!

The Norton SE(BST carbon-fiber wheels)goes for $19,500. Cycle World calls it a "back road scratcher" and it feels similar to a Ducati 1100S. 79/66 HP/torque.
I like the looks but the previous pic in this thread looks better. My friend had an 850 Commando for years and he really enjoyed it.

$19,500 sounds like an ok price. Those bikes are very rare. I bet you'd have to do some digging to even find a dealer. I doubt there would be any wiggle room for negotiating price. That bike would be cool as is and downright amazing if you blinged the crap out of it with all sorts of small aftermarket parts. It could end up being a black hole of money if you let it.

Or you could have this:

Hayabuser, that BMW HP2 looks pretty cool, I love that boxer twin layout. Only problem with that bike is it is mucho expensive.

but how 'bout you take a break in the action?

LOOKING FOR SLOWNINJA

* Last updated by: Rook on 6/11/2014 @ 7:44 PM *

Sorry Rook, I don't really know Slowninja so can't offer any help there.

boy, you are having a rough week, aren't you. Remember our convo about 1bad? He knows Slowninja. Probably 1bad could get ahold of him. Mind giving your bro, 1bad a call and asking him to direct Slowninja over here to the thread we have going about him right now?

Hayabuser, that BMW HP2 looks pretty cool, I love that boxer twin layout. Only problem with that bike is it is mucho expensive.

It's the new for 2014 RnineT... retro bike with (BMW) sportbike suspension. I like it but it is expensive... not HP2 Sport expensive, but pricy nonetheless.

Now the HP2 Sport... LIKE!

Yes, that HP2 is retrocool and a real performer in the handling department. Most folks discount it because it doesn't have 180 rear wheel HP, too bad their missing out on a great bike.

It may be ironic to say on a ZX14 forum but sometimes character trumps horsepower. That being said, an overabundance of horsepower can give a bike real character!

I think I 'd prefer the HP2 to the HP4 even though the HP4 has waaaaay more HP, character would rule here, you won't see this bike on every corner.

This is a classic as well!

http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news--general-news/bmw-tells-r1200rt-owners-not-to-ride-bikes/25102.html

NOLTT when I say jerman junk abound is the calling of that sound = RazzBerries

Hub, how is that Two On Oh holding up for ye?

Kruz,

Just last week I put it all back together to sell. I was too late trying to move it this season. I'm thinking of that 1290 ktm, but I hear an outside jobber ran out of parts, placed the bikes on back order. This Tuono is a keeper, but I'm too fickle with some bikes. Faster than a duc. Handles like a dream. Torque up the rear end for what it is. One hell of a trackbike for someone.

That ktm might be the next 2nd ride. That's about 300cc's more torqueyefacation.

ozjohnno: My 2010 Multistrada is in the bad books with me at the moment. 52000km and the hardening is flaking off the bloody exhaust cams

f*cking ducati's

Where is that 100K + 14 miler bike? My guess is it was never torn down yet. If you look down at that bmw article, see all the recalls on those piles, now a short fused duc and the Japanese just hum along as the duc's take a shit in the lake, the jerman junk pollutes the motorcycle industry with recalls, Crutchlow describing how the pig does not turn and neither do their cams LOL

Hubmeister, I got a garage full of Jap bikes, what you're talking about is exactly the reason I haven't gone 'exotic'. I prefer riding to wrenching any day and the Jap stuff is for the most part reliable, not perfect mind you but certainly better than Euro. I looked at the KTM 1290 but concluded too expensive.

Agreed, Kruz.

It's amazing how the yamahas are the bike to beat in 600 or 1000 class. They are flogged to the limit. Run all season without tearing it down [amateur level]. Never see the bikes let go during the races. To me, they are an impressive bike.

When Nicky and Crutch experience the duc's worth, even Dovizioso has DNF'd on these too. You never see honda or yam pull in or park a blown engine. Just the exotics trying to remain reliable and fast.

Which brings us back to the parts counter. If ktm's jobbers do not come thru, that's weeks of sitting waiting for parts to show up. Whereas, the japanese production runs are larger, which makes the parts easier to come buy. You are back on the road in a few days of special ordering whatever you needed to repair. With ktm seems like, their jobber dropped the ball and has the jobber's jobber dropped the ball not having thishit in house like the rest of the bike.

So trackday wise, who is back out sooner, the exotic or the more reliable everyman bike? Thus, we agree about the main thing... The engine plant staying together. All the yes's line up except for one:

Chassis = Better handling? Yes
Brakes = Better stopping? Yes
Electronics = Better mode package? Yes
Engine family? = Better think again!!! That's a big fat N and O!

What's the verdict on the Aprilia reliability? I remember you saying the electrical connectors are agricultural, AutoZone quality.

It's more off the shelf parts. However, if I look at it as lightweight, good call. If I look at it as a harley part you can buy at ace is the place, again, good call. How they designed the air cleaner box for the filter to rest in? Well, that was one of my meguyver moves to keep the gap closed. I used an old honda bendable strap and forced the filter down to close out the gap it left. If you just placed it in its tray it was not snug in any way.

If you started the bike, took off with the throttle opened and such, it would high idle. If you let the bike warm up at idle, or took off real slow with low throttle openings, no problem. Very touchy electronics. Other than those flawed design executions, she's very reliable. The tune is fine. The trans is slick. It's been all true that was written up on her and more.

Would I take this over a japanese twin equivalent? Yes. I think this would give the Suz TL series a run, if not dominate tit for tat.

The trick to this bike is to re-gear it and de-snorkel it. I'd have 2 gears left if I rode on the freeway. If I geared up, I'd use those 2 gears up and hunt for 2 more. The bike wheelies with the right input. When I took the snorkel off, I knew the bottom was going to fall out. Sure enough, no effortless wheelies. So back in went the snorkel.

I wouldn't mind a used harley to putt around on though.

So "What's Next" Hub, sell the Two Juan Oh and buy the Katoom 1290?