[HiVel]

Those magazine guys are really mis -informed. Maybe they are not old enough to remember what a BSA looks like? The Kawasaki is a copy of the A-10 BSA 650.
I used to work at a BSA dealer in Fla and we sold some parts to Kaw riders from our BSA stocks -direct replacements for the Jap bike from Jolly Old. Not a lot of them but points etc. fit perfectly. (remember points?) Anyhow the Triumph is several things to me and
something else to others. A rider from California I met this year at the Barber Vintage days told me his new T100 was "my old Norton with everything fixed". Right! They are what they are to each of us and they work great. I love mine. I always wanted a 1959 Bonneville and now I have one that works and does not vibrate. I had a1954 BSA A-10
and if you fired it up and let it idle on a concrete floor it would walk all over the garage!!
Vibrate much? The Ducati is an attempt to make a new sporty bike look old. It is a failure in both respects. Not a really good sporter and it looks like dung. Ugly with mediocre performance. Who needs it? I will keep my Triumphs and hopefully add a Thruxton or ? to the garage. They are the most beautiful motorcycles on earth.

 

[Sheepdog]

I think you may have the old (since 1967) Kawasaki W-1, that looks like this:

confused with the newer (since 2000) Kawasaki W-650, that looks like this:

The W-650 came out just before the new model (Hinckley) Bonneville and the two are often compared. Our beloved and authentic Triumphs outperform the Kawi handily, though the W-650 is a credible and handsome machine.

 

[baldy]

On 2006-12-17 22:25, HiVel wrote:
Those magazine guys are really mis -informed. Maybe they are not old enough to remember what a BSA looks like? The Kawasaki is a copy of the A-10 BSA 650.
I used to work at a BSA dealer in Fla and we sold some parts to Kaw riders from our BSA stocks -direct replacements for the Jap bike from Jolly Old. Not a lot of them but points etc. fit perfectly. (remember points?) Anyhow the Triumph is several things to me and
something else to others. A rider from California I met this year at the Barber Vintage days told me his new T100 was "my old Norton with everything fixed". Right! They are what they are to each of us and they work great. I love mine. I always wanted a 1959 Bonneville and now I have one that works and does not vibrate. I had a1954 BSA A-10
and if you fired it up and let it idle on a concrete floor it would walk all over the garage!!
Vibrate much? The Ducati is an attempt to make a new sporty bike look old. It is a failure in both respects. Not a really good sporter and it looks like dung. Ugly with mediocre performance. Who needs it? I will keep my Triumphs and hopefully add a Thruxton or ? to the garage. They are the most beautiful motorcycles on earth.

We are not all young here some of us do remember the old stuff quite fondly. Now to the point dont knock the Ducati unless you have ridden a few miles on it a simple sprocket change and good exhaust and it is VERY sporty. Trust me I am an old man that smiles a lot nowadays

 

[HiVel]

On 2006-12-17 23:18, Sheepdog wrote:
I think you may have the old (since 1967) Kawasaki W-1, that looks like this:

confused with the newer (since 2000) Kawasaki W-650, that looks like this:

The W-650 came out just before the new model (Hinckley) Bonneville and the two are often compared. Our beloved and authentic Triumphs outperform the Kawi handily, though the W-650 is a credible and handsome machine.

You are correct-I am so OLD I only remember old bikes! I had two friends that had the original Kaw and they were good bikes-one bud chopped his (very nicely) and won a bunch of show trophies cuz it was such a rare bird. Also I am sorry if I jumped the Ducati too hard-my dealer is also a Ducati dealer and leeps trying to get me to test ride one-maybe I am afraid I will like it?? Just that I hear so many negative reports about the Ducatis makes it hard to seriously consider owning one.

 

[HiVel]

On 2006-12-17 23:18, Sheepdog wrote:
I think you may have the old (since 1967) Kawasaki W-1, that looks like this:

confused with the newer (since 2000) Kawasaki W-650, that looks like this:

The W-650 came out just before the new model (Hinckley) Bonneville and the two are often compared. Our beloved and authentic Triumphs outperform the Kawi handily, though the W-650 is a credible and handsome machine.

You are correct-I am so OLD I only remember old bikes! I had two friends that had the original Kaw and they were good bikes-one bud chopped his (very nicely) and won a bunch of show trophies cuz it was such a rare bird. Also I am sorry if I jumped the Ducati too hard-my dealer is also a Ducati dealer and keeps trying to get me to test ride one-maybe I am afraid I will like it?? Just that I hear so many negative reports about the Ducatis makes it hard to seriously consider owning one.

 

[Brooksie]

Neat shot of the old Kwak. Got to have stones to go drum on the front! Yikes, I do NOT miss those days at all.

 

[ohiorider]

Baldy - your Paul Smart Replica is one gorgeous machine. I suspect with its relatively light weight, and close to 90hp twin, she is what the original would have evolved into years later if the Smart team had stayed after it.

Bob

 

[ohiorider]

Here's a quick comparison of the features of my 2000 W650 with my 2003 T100. Though they are both designed to look like Britbikes from the late 1960s, they are different enough that I enjoy riding them both. I've never felt one was better than the other, just different.

Comparison Items: W650----------T100

Front Forks: Gaiters ----------No Gaiters
Wheels: Alloy ----------Steel Chromed
Fenders: Chrome ----------Paint
Fuel Tank: TwoTone/Decal/clearcoat ----------TwoTone/Hand pin-striped
Exhaust: Double Wall-Chrome ----------Single Wall-Chrome
Fuel Cap: Unlocks w/ignition key ----------Screw Out/Ratcheting type
Seat Hold Down: Unlocks w/ignition key ----------Allen screw/wrench

Valves: SOHC ----------DOHC
Valve Adjustment: Shim under rocker arm tip ----------Shim over bucket
Special Tools required: No ----------Yes
Cam Removal Required: No ----------Yes
Engine Cases: Polished Alloy/Clearcoat ----------Chrome
Rear Brake: Drum/Shoe ----------Hydraulic Disc
Front Brake: Single Disc ----------Single Disc
Carburettors: Keihin CVK/no heaters ----------Keihin CVK/w heaters
Cam Drive: Bevel Gears/shaft ----------Camchain
Starter: Electric & Kickstart ----------Electric
Transmission: 5 speed ----------5 speed
Clutch: Wet – Multiplate/cable oper ----------Wet-Multiplate/cable oper
Ignition: Digital Electronic ----------Digital Electronic
Engine (cc): 675cc ----------790 or 865cc
Cooling: Air cooled/no oil cooler ----------Air cooled/oil cooler
Bore/Stroke: 72 x 83mm ----------86 x 68mm (790cc)
Tool Set: Multi-piece under seat ----------One piece under sidecover
Center Stand: Standard ----------Optional
Petcock: Vacuum operated ----------Manually operated
Published Horsepower: 50 at crankshaft approx ----------61 at crankshaft approx
Published quarter mile: Approx 95mph ----------Approx 95mph

 

[Brooksie]

Pretty coll comparo, Ohio. Nice.

 

[mtgarritson]

The Ducati is an attempt to make a new sporty bike look old. It is a failure in both respects. Not a really good sporter and it looks like dung. Ugly with mediocre performance. Who needs it? I will keep my Triumphs and hopefully add a Thruxton or ? to the garage. They are the most beautiful motorcycles on earth.

Ever ridden one or seen one right next to one of the classics from '72? Probably not or you wouldn't have posted your last comments. I've got the Sport 1000 and for what it is, it's a really cool bike that performs extremely well on the street. Also, when next to an old one, the design similarities are remarkable. It's no track machine, but if I'd wanted one of those, I'd have bought a 999.

To each their own I guess.

Mike

 

[HiVel]

if I wanted performance I would buy a Suzuki 1000. I had a1991 GSX1100R and it was pretty fast. Not like a Ducati, but pretty fast.
Also , my dealer told me the service on some of these Ducatis runs about $750 per and on the Desmo engine models it is approx $1,000.00- I can't afford that!
Then there are the legendary parts unavailability and non-existent reliability-all the guys I know who have owned them are glad to be rid of them-just my personal experience. I know 2 guys who have 999's and one who has an ST 3. They love them but hate the dealer! It goes on and on. Pay your money and buy what you like. That is what it is all about. My opinion is not worth worrying about.


[ This message was edited by: HiVel on 2006-12-18 18:20 ]

 

[kdrake]

Funny, when I test rode the Bonny i thought "Norton". When a younger rider asked about how it felt, I told him reminded me of old Nortons. -- "What's a Norton?" was the next remark.

Fun to be old.