CX machine (NOT)

Advantages: Cheap, ultra reliable, comfortable, easy to maintain
Disadvantages: bit slow, bit ugly, no good for posers

...Picture the scene.... you pull into the pub car park after a summer Sunday ride, the girls sitting at the tables outside look over at the sound of the deep rumble of your V-twin motorcycle, you think you look pretty good in your leathers... 'hello girls' thinking kicks in... and then... horror of horrors... you look down between your legs... and there it is. Your CX machine. Grasping at the last hope of attracting one of the girls you quickly glance over to check for guide dogs or white sticks. No. Damn. Oh well, you only wanted a quick pint anyway. The CX is to pulling power what Norah Batty is to the porn industry. Not so much irrelevant as just not at all connected, despite ostensibly having the same basic features as something that is. Motorcycles exist at two opposing poles - Very functional transport, not very stylish...

peteshone 12.05.2005 (18.03.2007) · Read review
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Review of Honda CX500 V Twin

CXing here and there

Advantages: Good tourer and all rounder
Disadvantages: Should attend Weight Watchers

...It’s not small, in fact it has a weight problem. But the CX500, made from the late seventies to eighties, was the couriers dream machine. It wasn’t overly excessive with power, 498cc, and were – and still are – cheap and reliable. Okay, so heres some facts: It is water cooled (Check coolant level – just like a car!) It’s shaft driven (No chain, it’s driven by a series of adjoining metal pieces) It’s 498cc (Top speed of about 105MPH) It’s a V-Twin (It has 2 cylinders, in a V shape) There are several models (Custom, Eurosport, 1980) Okay, you have 750 pounds burning a hole in your pocket. You want a nice, comfortable bike suitable for the daily 25 mile commute and for occasional touring. You want something reliable, economical but not too daunting. You head down to your...

o_morris 28.06.2003 · Read review
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Review of Honda CX500 V Twin

The SV 650 is a quality motorcycle that does everything.

Advantages: Performance, purchase price, cheap insurance, resale value.
Disadvantages: May want a bigger bike after awhile. Cheesy-looking rear bumper.

...I have owned and driven many motorcycles for about eleven years now, and always enjoy the versatility of a "middle-weight" bike. The Suzuki SV 650 is by far the greatest value on the market right now. For under $7,500 US you get a very sharp looking bike that performs well and does everything you ask of it. The SV 650 comes with fuel-injection, which may not seem like much, but once you get used to a fuel injected bike, starting up a bike without it will make you feel like you're in the stone age (you'd be amazed at how many "value bikes" that are still carbureted). So working from the inside out, I love the 90 degree v-twin. Almost every sport or "sportier" bike out there is an inline four (except Ducatis of course). The SV has a distinctive exhaust note that only a V-twin can give, and of course an after market exhaust pipe/system (and...

matthewaggie 02.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Suzuki SV650

The best starter bike ever built!

Advantages: Cheap, easy to ride, insurance friendly, great first bike
Disadvantages: Build quality, when you park it next to a 900 or 1000cc, you'll want rid

...As a 22 year old who has always been into biking i decided to do my full test last september. I passed 2nd time (had trouble with a u turn in the wet on 1st!) and set about looking for my first 'big' bike. On a budget of about £2500 i had a fair few choices - the insurance companies managed to cut these choices down to 3 or 4 for me! In the end it came down to a choice between a 51 reg SV650S for £2400 or a R reg Yamaha Thundercat for £2300. I rode both and for me, the SV won hands down - so i bought it! As a first bike, you dont have to worry about squeezing the brakes too hard and locking wheels (although they are good enough to feel safe) as its a V twin. This was my first V twin and i was impressed how easy it was to ride, barely any power was needed to pull away and the low down torque was unbelievable! It was easy to throw...

fezza101 10.04.2006 · Read review
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Review of Suzuki SV650

Great Road Bike

Advantages: Fast light
Disadvantages: Uncomfortable

...APRILIA RSV Mille R The APRILIA RSV Mille R is a technological gem, fruit of the same design philosophy guiding development of the SP. An important result in terms of design and construction, making the RSV Mille R a new standard setter among competitors, a perfectly balanced mix of quality, technology, components and finish at an absolutely competitive price. The engine benefits from the new technical systems and modifications designed for the RSV Mille "Year 2000 Model", with specific mapping. A series of improvements have been introduced to the powerful and reliable longitudinal 60° V twin engine with four valves per cylinder timing and double cam shaft in the cylinder head, controlled by a mixed chain and gear system , increasing efficiency, range of use and performance. An exclusive characteristic is the new stainless steel oil...

garrick 17.08.2000 (12.07.2001) · Read review
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Review of Aprilia Mille RSV

A females rider Point of view

Advantages: Comfort, poseablity,
Disadvantages: Warm legs

...I am writing this as a female ride of my husbands bike. This bike is ideal if you are a smaller women, I am just 5 foot 2 but I can sit comfortable on the bike with both feet on the floor. Being over weight I find the seat is wide enough for my larger than normal behind. The bike is very nice to look at with plenty of crome. It looks like a Harley with its v twin engine and if you have slash cut exhaunts on it as we have it sounds like a Harley also. This bike turns heads. The engine has plenty of power and sometimes even feels like it wants to give more. The tank is only small so hold only about £7 worth of petrol but this is plenty as the machine doesn't use that much. For an older rider it is also quite cheap to insure. The riding postion of this bike is very comfortable, the only downside to this is having the engine...

tazhull 26.12.2002 (28.12.2002) · Read review
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Review of Yamaha Virago 535

Dragstar 125 the bike with street cred and safety

Advantages: Well balanced power to weight ratio
Disadvantages: Some of the pannels are chrome plated plastic

...Having been a biker on and off for over thirty years I went with my son (19 years) to find a replacement for his sick Yamaha 125 custom. Getting lost looking for a motorcycle dealer who had moved, we were looking for directions and were attracted by the sight of a lovely, what we thought to be Harley Davidson Fat Boy. parked outside a security lodge. This bike turned out to be the Yamaha 125 Dragstar and my son was in love for the first time. The bike looks fantastic and has bags of power and a lovely deep note to the engine. None of the whiny noises of the other 125cc bikes on the market due to the v twin configuration of the engine. From my point of view being the concerned parent with some experence of the biking world, I was pleased to see a machine with the weight to resist the onslaught of a crosswind and the power to deliver...

Zaphoid 17.04.2004 · Read review
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Review of Yamaha XVS 125 Dragster

1998 Honda 1100 ACE Tourer

Advantages: Attractive Cruisor. Smooth accelleration and easy handling. Great suspension and ride.
Disadvantages: Heavy. Engine vibration above 85mph. Drags pegs on sharp turns.

...The Honda Ace Tourer is an excellent motorcycle package for someone looking for a cruiser style bike with excellent retro looks, and a proven hydraulic valve V twin engine. It has excellent acceleration for its weight of over 600 lbs. Handling is easy at slow and high speeds up to 85 mph. Top speed no matter how you slice it is 100 mph. Good hard bags with top lid access and plentiful rubber gaskets keeps your gear dry and safe. The ACE comes with a great windshield, wide plush seat and large wide handle bars that keep you in good riding position for many enjoyable miles. A great interstate bike with sufficient power to pass and adjust your position on the highway. MPG 41 town 44 Hwy The draw backs to the bike, if you want to call them that, are typical of most cruisers. Top end engine vibration is more than I expected from...

Orcaltours 12.06.2004 · Read review
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Review of Honda Shadow ACE Tourer

Me and my Shadow

Advantages: Excellent to ride, easy to clean
Disadvantages: Not fast enough for some people

...One of the loves of my life is my motorcycle the Honda Shadow 1100. Imported from America by my local motorcycle shop, I took delivery of my baby in 1997 although she was built in 1986. I still own the bike six years later and have no plans to sell her in the near future. The Shadow is a V-twin custom style motorcycle. With its 45-degree liquid-cooled four-valve V-twin shaft driven engine and its electric start you are promised a smooth and comfortable performance and ride at any speed. A winner with her looks she receives admiring glances wherever we go. Her highly polished dark blue metallic paint and chrome catch the sun, which makes her stand out from the crowd. Sleek and perfectly formed she is a desirable object. With her low style she is easy to get onto even if you are of short height like myself, and you feel secure...

Night_Rider 14.04.2003 (05.01.2005) · Read review
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Review of Honda Shadow 1100 Road Bike

Honda NT650V - Deauville - Road Test

Advantages: Excellent Roadholding, ecconomical, comfortable
Disadvantages: very slightly underpowered

...better than a small car. It was here that Honda, in typical Japenese style, found the niche in the market. A mid-range tourer, with sporty ability, light enough to be easy to ride, yet sturdy enough for everyday use in all weathers. what the came up with was the Deauville. In simplist terms, the Deauville is an adaptation of the now aging NTV600, a reliable V-twin shaft drive. The frame is nothing fancy, but its strong, light and predictable. The main and obvious differnce is the new body work that covers this frame, which includes a half fairing, with optional tall screen (Very similar to the Pan European), large panniers that are incorporated in to the tail section, and very aerodynamically shaped. The fairing has several little cubbies for storage of items, and the list of optional extras which includes a 6 CD multi-changer, 12v socket...

SvenBoulton 26.04.2002 · Read review
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Review of Honda NT650V - Deauville