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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.
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  #1  
Old 1 Dec 2011
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The Track has been around for a few years. It is the Smart Car engine. I love it, but too risky to punt that sort of money on a company so small with no dealer back up. If one of the big boys brings out something similar I may just go for it. Top speed means nothing to me.
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  #2  
Old 1 Dec 2011
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Way to heavy and I've had that mileage on my F650
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  #3  
Old 1 Dec 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tmotten View Post
Way to heavy and I've had that mileage on my F650
I was going to add that bit about the mileage and I thought I had! It equates to nearly 80 MPG (UK gallon) and, yes, my F650GS can do about 75 MPG, sometimes better.
Talking with the guys on the show stand, they are hoping/expecting to make it more fuel efficient.

As for the weight, well loads of new bikes at the show are well over 200Kg which, as lots of other posts have said, is a trend for the European market with its' emphasis on cat converters etc.
Note the exhaust on that Track bike; as a diesel it doesn't need a cat.

Also, yes 15K is a lot for a bike but Yamaha & Ducati (to name a couple) want that for some of their current models and BMW want about £18K for their latest grand tourer (1600cc petrol).

Yep, it has been around for a while but it may have more backing than the average small manuf (whatever that is defined as). The links within the UK website indicate that this bike originates from the Netherlands.
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  #4  
Old 2 Dec 2011
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Gents

Thanks for debating the TRACK T800 CDi, which as pointed out, was recently 'launched' onto the UK market at the Motorcycle Live event.

The bike is generating a phenomenal amount of interest. We have test rides booked up until Christmas and various organisations (Police, Fire, Driving Standards Agency) all queuing up to take a bike for evaluation. It's the start of a long road for us in the UK, but one we are relishing.

We have literally only just launched the bike here. It has been in development in the Netherlands for the past 6 years, where it's undergone rigourous trialling and testing to get the bike to the refined level it is at today. It is now in production with a large number sold around the world since early 2011.

Once the UK ownership market grows we (TRACK UK / OVIK) will naturally look to appoint a nationwide service and dealer network to support those customers. Indeed we are already in discussions with some existing Motorcycle dealers/servicers about this. Until that time we will obviously commit to providing the necessary after sales support and service ourselves.

I must address the SMART engine issue - it's a common misconception. The engine block is obtained from Daimler-Benz and a large amount of work, design and engineering goes into making this fit for purpose on the TRACK. Daimler Benz sell this engine block to a whole host of companies for a whole host of uses (aircraft, ships, cars etc). Whilst derived from the DB block, it is not a SMART car engine.

We don't believe the weight to be an issue. The bike's dry weight is comparable to other bikes on the market of it's size and class. Indeed it's lighter than many. The CofG is also sat low for a bike, which provides exceptional handling.

As a company we are steering away from giving fuel consumption figures. We have not conducted the motor industry default test at 56mph etc. In respect of which our consumption figures vary hugely depending on numerous factors. We have some customers regularly achieving over 100mpg, whose bikes are completely bedded in - 30-40,000km on the clock. When new, for the first 15,000km the bike won't achieve this, more like 80-85mpg, but again, there are a huge number of influecing factors.

In addition to the immediate fuel economy benefits, there is the longer service intervals and cheaper servicing costs (still to be determine in the UK).

Equally as importantly as the engineering....it's a beautiful looking machine that is an absolute joy to ride. We at TRACK UK are seasoned bikers with penchants for Harleys, Sports Bikes and the like, but we have all fallen in love with it.

It's unique, it's different and it's a whole lotta bike for the money. Why own another 'variation on a theme'? Be different and explore the world with us...we dare you!

Thanks again gents and hopefully you'll keep 'tracking' us.

TRACKDIESELUK
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  #5  
Old 4 Dec 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TRACKDIESELUK View Post
Gents

Thanks for debating the TRACK T800 CDi, which as pointed out, was recently 'launched' onto the UK market at the Motorcycle Live event.

The bike is generating a phenomenal amount of interest. We have test rides booked up until Christmas and various organisations (Police, Fire, Driving Standards Agency) all queuing up to take a bike for evaluation. It's the start of a long road for us in the UK, but one we are relishing.

We have literally only just launched the bike here. It has been in development in the Netherlands for the past 6 years, where it's undergone rigourous trialling and testing to get the bike to the refined level it is at today. It is now in production with a large number sold around the world since early 2011.

Once the UK ownership market grows we (TRACK UK / OVIK) will naturally look to appoint a nationwide service and dealer network to support those customers. Indeed we are already in discussions with some existing Motorcycle dealers/servicers about this. Until that time we will obviously commit to providing the necessary after sales support and service ourselves.

I must address the SMART engine issue - it's a common misconception. The engine block is obtained from Daimler-Benz and a large amount of work, design and engineering goes into making this fit for purpose on the TRACK. Daimler Benz sell this engine block to a whole host of companies for a whole host of uses (aircraft, ships, cars etc). Whilst derived from the DB block, it is not a SMART car engine.

We don't believe the weight to be an issue. The bike's dry weight is comparable to other bikes on the market of it's size and class. Indeed it's lighter than many. The CofG is also sat low for a bike, which provides exceptional handling.

As a company we are steering away from giving fuel consumption figures. We have not conducted the motor industry default test at 56mph etc. In respect of which our consumption figures vary hugely depending on numerous factors. We have some customers regularly achieving over 100mpg, whose bikes are completely bedded in - 30-40,000km on the clock. When new, for the first 15,000km the bike won't achieve this, more like 80-85mpg, but again, there are a huge number of influecing factors.

In addition to the immediate fuel economy benefits, there is the longer service intervals and cheaper servicing costs (still to be determine in the UK).

Equally as importantly as the engineering....it's a beautiful looking machine that is an absolute joy to ride. We at TRACK UK are seasoned bikers with penchants for Harleys, Sports Bikes and the like, but we have all fallen in love with it.

It's unique, it's different and it's a whole lotta bike for the money. Why own another 'variation on a theme'? Be different and explore the world with us...we dare you!

Thanks again gents and hopefully you'll keep 'tracking' us.

TRACKDIESELUK
I know I would love it without even riding it. I currently run (amongst other things) an old 1100GS and it has proved to be the most `real world useful`bike I have ever owned so the weight and lack of outright power is not a big concern to me.
I have been following the evolution of the bike for the last few years with interest. I know the engine isn`t lifted straight from the Smart, and I know you have done a lot of work on the mapping to get the best from it in a two wheeled application.
I wish you every success as it is most definately my kind of bike however I think you will have your work cut out to get the average biker to put that sort of money into a product from a new company (to the British biking market anyway), particularly in this current climate. Yamaha are, not surprisingly, discounting the new S10. I have yet to see one on the road.
Having said that, plenty are still buying the 1200GS despite the huge publicity over what appear to be commonplace failures to key components so I guess anything is possible!
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  #6  
Old 4 Dec 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TRACKDIESELUK View Post
We don't believe the weight to be an issue. The bike's dry weight is comparable to other bikes on the market of it's size and class. Indeed it's lighter than many. The CofG is also sat low for a bike, which provides exceptional handling.
That pretty much sums up everything that it's wrong with the industry. You guys seem to listen more to your competition rather than the potential customer base. Shame, that.

The first company that has the nuts to actually try and design on the basis of weight will make a big leap in it's market share.
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  #7  
Old 4 Dec 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tmotten View Post
That pretty much sums up everything that it's wrong with the industry. You guys seem to listen more to your competition rather than the potential customer base. Shame, that.

The first company that has the nuts to actually try and design on the basis of weight will make a big leap in it's market share.
I don`t think that is a fair criticism in this instance as a diesel bike is always going to be heavier than a petrol one. If a diesel bike can just match the weight of its petrol fuelled competitors that is an achievement in iteslf.
If ultimate lightness is your prime criteria then you are unlikely to find it with diesel power.
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  #8  
Old 5 Dec 2011
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That's a good point.
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  #9  
Old 5 Dec 2011
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Diesel Enfield Sommer.

Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkShelley View Post
I don`t think that is a fair criticism in this instance as a diesel bike is always going to be heavier than a petrol one. If a diesel bike can just match the weight of its petrol fuelled competitors that is an achievement in iteslf.
If ultimate lightness is your prime criteria then you are unlikely to find it with diesel power.
+1. And it looks nice...

Diesel Enfield Sommer promises 2 lts per 100kms on the Autobahn. 11PS and 180kg, I just wonder how it feels riding the Enfield on a German Autobahn...

Last edited by estebangc; 5 Dec 2011 at 16:32. Reason: Added data
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