cbr600f - transalp

[kev]

hi all, as anybody gone from a cbr600f to the transalp? I am seriously thinking of changing this year but not sure yet. Will i miss the speed and handling of the cbr .Also is the offer still on with the free luggage.

[wheeliebin]

Course you will miss the speed and handling :twisted:

[DaveS]

kev do you worry about speed limits and find yourself going far too fast?
When I had my YZF600 I would find myself overtaking at 120 in a 60.
I was asking to get nicked.
Moving to the AT I thought it would be far too much of a jump and I would hate. How wrong I was.
The AT still felt "pokey" due to the torque being a V Twin and it felt fun to ride and much slower speeds. I didn't miss the YZF at all.
The riding position was also important to me as I suffered from RSI, neck and back problems. Sitting up right is fantastic, comfortable and you can see so much more!

[croydon@twin]

... and it felt fun to ride and much slower speeds ...
I would second that. I swapped a CCM R30 for the @ and, whilst I did like the R30, it was just so easy to ride faster than you needed to. The @ is a lot more laid back, not that it can't be pushed, it's just that you don't have to blat every where to enjoy the ride.

Or maybe I'm just getting too old :lol:

Tony

[DaveS]

Or maybe I'm just getting too old :lol:

Tony


That's what I keep wondering...... am I just getting too old to charge around everywhere?

[kev]

yea dave i do find myself twisting the throttle a lot of the time, fancy something a bit more comfy cause i wanna do more touring. still nice to have a good blast tho, maybe i need two bikes.

[Lord Stig]

Keep the CBR and get a TA - it's the only way you'll be able to compare them. I don't know about what they say about getting better cornering due to better ground clearance on trail-style bikes, but on poor road surfaces (i.e., most of them) and where there are high verges, the more compliant suspension and the ability to see further down the road (e.g., not with your head buried in the clocks) can make up for a lot. Riding technique is different from a sports bike, though. I found sitting up slightly around corners on my TAs helped a lot (and allowed me to plan corners and positioning relative to pot-holes, cow faeces etc.), although on the AT it's less effective. Once you get used to these bikes they are pretty good, and very effective for touring (especially over Third World-type roads such as South Kensington....).

See if you can get a test ride off a friend or a dealer. I heard there was free luggage etc. but can't find any details - some dealer is likely to do a good deal on a new one for you though.

Stig

[venanziomix]

kev do you worry about speed limits and find yourself going far too fast?
When I had my YZF600 I would find myself overtaking at 120 in a 60.
I was asking to get nicked.
Moving to the AT I thought it would be far too much of a jump and I would hate. How wrong I was.
The AT still felt "pokey" due to the torque being a V Twin and it felt fun to ride and much slower speeds. I didn't miss the YZF at all.
The riding position was also important to me as I suffered from RSI, neck and back problems. Sitting up right is fantastic, comfortable and you can see so much more!T.A. IS MUCH comfortable then a luxury car!!! I ALSO have back problems and i've leaved my car in the garage for my T.A. so... :lol:

[JAK]

Hi kev

I have an 04 TA with the offer which in my case was the touring screen, the heated grips and the top box. The dealer also through in a centre stand and I fitted a scottoiler. Unless a dealer pre registered one prior to the 31 March 05 your stuffed as that is when the offer ended. However it may well be worth scouring around just in case there is a pre reg or demo available. Also you could strike lucky and like one of my friends just trade in your 600 mile 04 for the new cosmetically improved 05.

By the way you will miss the speed but probably enjoy the TA in a whole new way. I have a VFR VTEC and a TA and enjoy the difference.

happy hunting

JAK

[Tikka]

I went from a GSX-R600 ( 98 ) to a Africa Twin. I was getting out of control on the GSX-R. Lost confidence in it to. Did testdrives on different bikes and went for a AT. Best choice i ever made. I'm just back from a 4 day trip to luxembourg with a group of sportbikes and on the twisty road in the mountains i had more fun then they did because AT's and TA's steer so easely. You will miss the power and handeling of your CBR but when you get used to a allroad bike you can have as much fun as on a sportbike.

[venanziomix]

I went from a GSX-R600 ( 98 ) to a Africa Twin. I was getting out of control on the GSX-R. Lost confidence in it to. Did testdrives on different bikes and went for a AT. Best choice i ever made. I'm just back from a 4 day trip to luxembourg with a group of sportbikes and on the twisty road in the mountains i had more fun then they did because AT's and TA's steer so easely. You will miss the power and handeling of your CBR but when you get used to a allroad bike you can have as much fun as on a sportbike.that's right!!!! buddies!!! :lol: i quote 100%!!!

[jabba]

Keep two I run the @t all year as my main bike and play around with a second for a spare.

[sean]

i run a transalp, a hayabusa and an sv on the road but if i had to, i could live with just the transalp. yes you will miss the speed, but the transalps an absolute giggle when trying to get the pegs down through corners. also when youre travelling at 80 mph you know youre doing it whereas on a busa/cbr/etc you tend to be doing silly mph without realising half the time(officer)!take a couple of test rides and see what you think.

[Dessert Storm]

Kev -

I have just bought a new but unregistered 2004 model, that included the luggage offer. I think a few dealers may still have bikes that they took into stock to take advantage of the luggage deal; as there is now a 2005 model, you may well be able to get a good deal on one of the 2004 bikes. I did....

I also previously owned a CBR600. On smooth, well surfaced roads the CBR is much much faster, period. However, on crap every-day real-world roads the difference is less than might be expected given the difference in horsepower. I occasionally miss the arm wrenching pull and feeling of the front end going light of a sportsbike when the throttle is snapped open, but the TA isn't actually a slow bike, it just isn't a very fast one, a subtle difference but one that I think becomes clear the more the TA is ridden. You may go a little slower on the TA, but that absolutely doesn't mean it's any less fun: quite the opposite!

If you haven't already done so, my suggestion would be go and try one!


Alan

[piguglyshandydrinker]

Hi all, new to this forum.

I couldn't agree more with all the above, had 2 TA's in the past, currently run a TRX850, but, guess what?

I'm gettin' another TA, there a gas, just as quick A-B as the 'rex' some times faster, sometimes not.

What you will find is what you lose in performance you gain in planning, overtakes can be made earlier and smoother.

I think it is fair to say that a TA (or similar) flatters it's rider.

As for performance, look through any TA website, how many link's are there from members searching to tune the bike for more power?

'Nuf said.

Regard's Phil

[wheeliebin]

ah, the old trixie, very under-rated bike.

Welcome snagger :wink:

[DaveS]

welcome snagger.
:hello2:

[piguglyshandydrinker]

Dave, couldn't help noticing.

"Dropped=0"

Isn't that tempting fate a bit.....

Phil

[DaveS]

Probably but I've had it for nearly 3 years now..... and I've been biking for ummm 21 years now!

And I've never ever come off on a bike on the road, I've come very close a few times. I'm still as mad as ever though, just tonight I managed to scrape my boots whilst cornering on my AT and that was with TKC80's on. :shock:

[DaveS]

Actually perhaps you'd better order that Ambulance now!
:help:

[harrisphil]

just to say I went from a laverda 1000 3c to a TA
The only thing I miss is the bit of extra power when overtaking
I now find that I ride a bit/lot slower/steadier but get to where I am going
at roughley the same time.
bigest differance is that you feel like you ride a sports bike through the front wheel and a trail bike through the back wheel
insurance is a little more expensive
but fuel costs are less

[newbie]

How Do? just laughing at Alans sign out sig "what happens if i press thi " sorry but i don't knbow how to copy text from another message yet. I am in Somerset also, and have an 89 f reg TA v-k or at least i think it's a v-k but it's white. possibly a v-j then. anyway, How Do? :shock:

[DaveS]

Welcome newbie..... where in Somerset are you?

[newbie]

How Do, DaveS. I'm in Yeovil. only moved here from the frozen wastes of Scotland in march, so it's a bit of a struggle to acclimatise to the sub-tropical heat down here. managing, though. beer and a strange new thing called barbie queue helps. :lol: 8)

[DaveS]

Well you'll need to join us for the rideouts. :)
Get some off-road rubber on those wheels and join us at Salisbury. Mind you, you don't even need the off-roab rubber to be honest.

[Dickster]

Hi,

I had a CBR6 as my first bike and replaced that with a litre bike 'cause I carried a pillion everyday. That eventually got replaced with an SP1 which got nicked 18 months ago (still miss it). I replaced that with the TA.

I have found:

1. I do miss the power.
2. But mainly on the motorway part of my daily commute.
3. In town the TA is limited only by the rider.
4. The TA has improved my riding skill because you can push (unlike a sports bike) alot further without getting spat off.
5. Because of 4 above I can't help but wring the neck of the TA - ALL THE TIME!
6. It has alot more usable power in most road conditions.

I'll get another SP1 hopefully but I will try and keep the TA.

[piguglyshandydrinker]

Agree with 3 -6 of above.
Especially 5!!!

Jeeez, an SP1 to an 'Alp, culture shock or what!

Phil,
TRX to an Alp

[Dickster]

Phil,

It was winter (last day of freakin work before the christmas break) when the SP went for a walk so it made sense to get a TA.

I have to say also that it is a hell of alot cheaper to run (esp tyres) whuich was another reason I made the switch (growing family) but during the summer i do regret not getting another SP as it will be awhile before i can afford another.

[Dickster]

One other thing. I have found the TA to be very nervous in the wet and assume thats tyres?

Not sure whats on there at the mo....

[Fatjohn]

if it's trailwings you've got - that's your problem; they're slippier than an oiled arse in the wet. Ditch them.

[Ralphie]

:D
Riding the TA for 6 months now.
Still lovin it.
Agree that :
1. ALWAYS wring its neck on dual carriageways/motorways. Its quite comfy doing 70-90, no vibes, mates BM650 seems to have a problem with that.
2. Trailwings are ****e, I cant wait to wear them out - another couple pf months I think, and then Dunlops according to the survey results.
3. I commute 5.25 miles a day in 20-25 mins max, instead of 1-1.15 hrs.
4. Point 3 makes it all amazing/worthwhile/the reason to have a bike.
5. Having a bike, and mates who have bikes is interesting - cars are really boring in comparison now. You dont need different/interesting gear to drive a car,just an ability to be a complete tit.
6. I / and also my mates - bm 650, Hornet 250, Bandit 600 love the noise mine makes.
Cheers
Chucky

[Dickster]

thanks, i'll see whats on there now.

[oldrider]

Hello, I am new here. I have changed from Honda ST1100 to TransAlp. Why, because our Tax grabbing thieving government have got their fun police trying to spoil my day. Big bikes like to go fast and I fall for their charms so readily. ST1100's volunteer at 90/110mph my T/A volunteers at 90/110kph. If you want to go faster on the T/A you have to consciously ask it to do it. That means less problems with fun police and you can go where the fun police are most likely not to be. Although recently I came out of the dust on a back road and passed a 4x4 and did not notice the lights on top etc until I was alongside. He did not bother chasing me and I pissed off up the gravel road at about 140kph. (nervously) I like my T/A better every time I ride it. I bought it with 7000km and it's now got 28000km on it. I bought it on Xmas eve 2003, best Xmas present I have ever had. Actualy I find much more satisfaction out of going slower these days. Must be an age thingy I will be 66 soon. Cheers John.