Bike Guide 2013-14

[CanberraR3]

Picked up a copy of the latest RoadRider Bike Guide. Brought to you by the same people who did the Darkside Review a ways back that didn't impress Hanso and others. Nevertheless it's an interesting and comprehensive guide to what's out there, including power outputs and price - neither of which seem easy to find on many web sites.

A few observations:

The Triumph Speed and Street Triples are both still class leading with summary comments like "Rolling ****" - which updates last year's "Sex on Wheels".

675 Daytona - described as a ultimate track day tool with many superlatives such as great, outstanding, glorious and concludes with "This is the bike that wins". It's also the cover pic.

Ducati Diavel's 119kW/127Nm and 210kg looks very pedestrian against the Panigale's 142 kW/132Nm, and weighing a mere 164kg.

Some odd categorisations. Roadster and R3T are listed in the Cruiser section. I know the R3T's lower 'comfort' spec than the HDs like RoadKing but surely is a bike designed for touring. In any case, the Ural is in the Touring section. The Trophy is slotted in there and the Sprint is a Sports Touring (along with the ZX14).

The Roadster, with it's riding position, should in my opinion be in the Naked Bike section, which includes the other Triumph 'roadsters' (Speed/Street Triple), Diavel, XJR1300 (which has very similar ergonomics to a Roadster), MT-01 and VMax.

Anyone heard of a Viper Black Diamond? For about twice the price of an R3T you get a 2490cc V-twin putting out 87 kW and 220Nm (Roadster has 109kW and 221Nm). Looks a lot like a Victory Hammer. Only 25 to be made.

 

[mr hunt]

I bet that Viper had a well proportioned single headlight too

Is that mag a newsagent job? Sounds like a good read

 

[peter k]

Viper black diamond twice the price you gotta be joking bit ordinary looking

 

[cardinal93]

Would like to have a look at it too. Seems it's a New Zealand published magazine. Can't find a way to purchase here even online
I can say that Diavel is a very comfortable bike, but shocked to hear the relatively low numbers on it? Then again, at half the weight of the rocket, makes sense.
The Rocket doesn't really "fit" into any category. I'm surprised they didn't just make up a new category just for it....THE BADASS BIKE THAT DOES IT ALL category

 

[CanberraR3]

It's an Australian mag. Not so much a good read but I do like to thumb through it. Has pretty much every bike available in Australia.
You're right about the Rocket, Cardinal. It really belongs on it's own. Naked would be a better spot than Cruiser though.
Oh and one more thing. The Roadster description is definitely unchanged from last year, so no sign of the derestricted model here - not according to this mag at least.

 

[69birdflu]

New Muscle

Look Out I see Mexican breaking open his piggy bank.

 

[cootertwo]

That's a big thumper for sure. I need to do some searching on that motor. Some pics look like a real loooong stroke, but another says something about a short stroke. To get 150 CI out of 2 cylinders, it has to have at least 5" pistons?

 

[R3Tex]

Just googled the Viper Black Diamond...butt ugly IMHO. Might would do if you stripped it to the frame and started over but **** its ugly the way it is.

 

[HansO]

Best thing that happened to that Mag (roadrider) is it was sold to the same people that bring you AMCN, the Bear and that half wit Stuart (give him dues and say he a good rider) that once said the Rocket is very smooth for a belt drive not mention tried to tell me that a Rocket could not lift a wheel a cant put the right caption to the picture not mention lies thru his teeth have both left the magazine and gone of and started another mag...... One that certainly won't buy

 

[CanberraR3]

I think when I say you weren't impressed I may have understated it a little......