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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #16  
Old 29 Nov 2015
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When SWM have a dealer in every town and have a national government who would prevent them going bust I will cross Honda off my list of possibles. Until then I think you make a choice between effectively different offerings..

Just now I'd have to buy the Honda. They would give me a loan bike to go to work if a CB500 was broken..

Andy
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  #17  
Old 29 Nov 2015
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i get the point !
Nothing personal AGAINST honda ( love the 6' of Mike, the NR 750 an so on ) , just the point is that alle the jap' look and feel the same now . ( i change my GSXR for a mv B8 )
as honda is a reference anyway .
Shall use e DL 650 for a big travel
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  #18  
Old 29 Nov 2015
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However, seeing the earlier post about the AJP PR7 that will be built with " only " a 600cc, I am from now squirreling pennies away, and dreaming.
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  #19  
Old 29 Nov 2015
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About the dealers , service and so on .

My friend/SUZ sells also the mash : not so bad but based upon an old 400 cc DOHC Honda and the cycle part is old style ... but nice bike .
As he talked about the SWM like a kid in front of a new toy, maybe he would be "crazy" enough to import one ???? sells also aprilia .
In this case i will choose th 400 Scrambler .... no use really but for the style

and the 500 enduro is only 119 kg , on a short raid with a GLoop and a tank bag, could be terrible ...OK with a bigger fuel tank lets say 15 L
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  #20  
Old 29 Nov 2015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jmi View Post
Swm uses old husky engine, because they are using an old husky factory in Italy. This is the te630 engine, or something
OK, now it's all making some sense to me.
Thanks for the info.

I always wondered what would happen to that facility in Italy ... good to see SWM
got it and are making bikes there again.

The 630 engine was a good one ... but does have some issues. Hopefully those issues have been dealt with?


I looked closer at the pics and can see it is indeed, the "old" Husky engine. I remember reading an article years ago where the writer did a tour of the factory.
He pointed out that the Husqvarna engines were built on the same line as MV Augusta engines ... and that Ferrari was helping with tech and engineering. Not a bad thing. The article showed pics of this same Husky engine on the line with MV engines in the background.
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  #21  
Old 30 Nov 2015
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about mav I have just rode my B8 this morning, around zero degrees ....
this bike is really finition level of the japonese now ; just need more caring : it is a racing stuff
the swm might be the same ?
surely
nothing to do with the moulinex stuff !!!
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  #22  
Old 4 Dec 2015
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No SWM in sight
I went to the UK annual bike show yesterday but it wasn't there.

Very little was there in fact: no SWM, no Honley or WK (who were both present last year), no AJP (but AJP had said they couldn't get there in time from the Milan show).

There was lots of interest at the CCM stand though with plenty of folk talking with the staff (the latter are not quite like those who are at the big bike stands).
CCM now have three versions of the GP450 that vary in the amount of extras offered as standard.
GP450, GP450S, and GP450RS.

ps
Speaking with a Yam rep on that stand: Yamaha UK no longer import the XT660R or XT660X models.
They still bring in the XT660Z at a list price of £6999 (I think it was - I was reading it up side down on his desk).
But the 660Z was not on display at the NEC bike show - it was that which prompted my question.
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  #23  
Old 4 Dec 2015
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talking '
Yesterday I came to the Suz' place , they made a very good job on the DRZ giving a 8/10 cm of height on the handlebars, did not want to change the brake, neither the chain : could make some k a new plate ....

Anyway he said the SWM would be around 7000 euros , no SWM in the Paris bike stuff !
The importer is known as a one .
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  #24  
Old 5 Dec 2015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Walkabout View Post
ps
Speaking with a Yam rep on that stand: Yamaha UK no longer import the XT660R or XT660X models.
They still bring in the XT660Z at a list price of £6999 (I think it was - I was reading it up side down on his desk).
But the 660Z was not on display at the NEC bike show - it was that which prompted my question.
Thanks for the eyes on update on the UK show scene. We don't hear much about it here ... and our shows are a joke by comparison with several major OEM's bowing out. Sounds like a similar thing is happening in UK. (Reason given by some OEM's is that show promoters are gouging , charging a fortune to rent a stand for 3 days)

I guess the new companies will have to find another way to introduce riders to their new bikes.

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  #25  
Old 6 Dec 2015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mollydog View Post
Thanks for the eyes on update on the UK show scene. We don't hear much about it here ... and our shows are a joke by comparison with several major OEM's bowing out. Sounds like a similar thing is happening in UK. (Reason given by some OEM's is that show promoters are gouging , charging a fortune to rent a stand for 3 days)

I guess the new companies will have to find another way to introduce riders to their new bikes.

There are a number of other bike shows which can meet the need to view new products; that particular one has been something of an annual event but, sure, it does bounce up and down a bit in levels of both support by the importers/dealerships and the visiting public.

Yam UK's lack of interest in importing 2 of the 3 660cc minarelli engined bikes may indicate lack of sales prospects in the UK for 2016 and/or intent to replace it in the nearish future.

The big names were present in strength by the way - a big presence, in terms of floor area alone, by BMW with the UK Honda owners club located quite close by (the big manufacturers are generally separated by a few other display stands of "lesser standing" in the pecking order.
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  #26  
Old 6 Dec 2015
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when ?
Hi can you precise about these minarelli motors ? on yam ???
Is it on other bikes ?
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  #27  
Old 6 Dec 2015
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Originally Posted by ex-xt View Post
Hi can you precise about these minarelli motors ? on yam ???
Is it on other bikes ?
http://www.minarelli.com/pdfeng/xt660.pdf

The AJP PR7 was going to use it; apparently no longer though.
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  #28  
Old 18 Oct 2017
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adv bike
hi guys ,
Will be riding a new SWM 500 soon . Found one with a price cost which was staying in the shop : very few in France

BUT there are now aftermarket stuff for it
guard, tank from husky models, protection for radiator and
I was caring about the service intervals of course like on enduro bikes, supposed to be 2000 k' . I talked with the guy, told me that if " i knew what to do" ( ie checking air filter, removing oil, and co ) it might be doubled, which is OK for my little trips around Spain and Morocco .

and, it is NOT a ktm ( 3000 € cheaper )
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