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From sleek sport bikes to rugged adventure machines, Francesca's expert insights and passion for motorcycles will have you hooked from the first throttle twist.

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Transcript
00:00 So Adam, that's today's selection. First up as I say is the BMW 1150 RT. What do you think
00:12 of it looks wise? I like the colour, the seat looks comfortable and plenty of storage. Loads
00:18 of storage, yeah. I mean it's a nice wind deflector here, adjustable wind deflector.
00:22 But you're going to be pretty used to Taurus anyway, so they're all going to be pretty
00:27 comfortable for you. Now this is only an 1150, you've got an 1100 so...
00:32 Just a slight increase. Yeah, we'll see what you think to the power
00:34 then. So are you ready to go?
00:35 Certainly am. Well you get your helmet on then, we need
00:38 to know what it's going to ride like. Great.
00:51 So while we give Adam a chance to gather his thoughts on the BMW, let's go back to Paul
00:54 and Steve and see what they think to the bike. Are you two still awake in there?
00:58 Have you got much experience with it? I've ridden one, but I've not done huge amounts
01:03 of miles on one. I had one very recently and I did do a lot
01:07 of miles on it, I had a long way to go. And it's one of those things where you couldn't
01:11 really enjoy the journey, I just had to get where I was going. And to be honest, it's
01:14 one of the best bikes for that. Yeah.
01:16 Absolutely great. I think really to appreciate it, you need
01:19 to do a lot of miles on it. You do. It's not the sort of bike you look
01:21 at and you think, oh I just want to ride it. You think, I've got a long way to go, I've
01:25 got luggage, it's comfortable, heated grips, adjustable screen, plenty of luggage carrying
01:30 capacity and a smooth bike. It's got an adjustable seat as well you know.
01:33 That's right and the seat screen, all the business in it, all the protection. But I
01:36 think you'll find it odd when he brakes and nothing happens. When I say nothing happens,
01:41 I mean it doesn't dip down because you've got this.
01:42 I hope something happens. I know what you mean.
01:44 You've got this telelever, you know. Yeah, they are an acquired taste, BMWs.
01:48 They are. To be honest, I was quite shocked at how
01:51 much you did enjoy riding that bike. Yeah, well there you go. Well, let's see,
01:54 I think you'll enjoy it. Without a doubt.
01:56 Well, BMW, here we come. Adam's a Honda owner at the moment, but is he going to be a BMW
02:08 man? I quite like the range myself. A couple of little 650s in there, I wouldn't mind.
02:13 So Adam. You have to work.
02:16 You have to work on it. Tell me then, what do you think?
02:21 The comfort was nice. Handling a bit through the gears was much better.
02:26 Right, so I mean, how's it handle it? I mean, was it a lot quicker than yours?
02:31 Slightly quicker, yeah. It's just that initial kick when you open the throttle from the side
02:36 pots. But after that, it was there. It was there. So I mean, it's kind of a love/hate
02:43 then. I mean, it's got the comfort. Yeah, I think you have to be a BMW rider for
02:48 it. Right, OK. And I mean, we know you are a
02:50 bit of a Honda man. I am a bit.
02:51 So how was the windshield then? Very nice. It took a lot of the deflection
02:56 off. Raised it up for higher speeds and there's nothing in front of you at all.
03:01 Yeah, OK. Well, don't give me too much away, but I'm getting a feel for what you think
03:05 of that one. Last bike of the day is the Honda Blackbird.
03:10 Honda started a top speed war with the introduction of their Blackbird in 1996. With a top speed
03:15 of over 180 miles per hour, it stole the crown from Kawasaki's ZZR1100 and also brought with
03:21 it improved levels of comfort and safety. The Blackbird was the first production bike
03:26 to feature the linked braking system, which was greeted with mixed feelings by the public
03:30 and the journalists alike, but did allow the average rider to brake in confidence.
03:34 This is a bike that genuinely offers the ability to cover huge miles in plenty of comfort.
03:39 Once you're there, you can unstrap your luggage and scratch to your heart's content.
03:44 So Cliff and Sue, your third and final chariot, the Honda Blackbird. What do you think of
03:49 the looks of this? Very nice. Yeah, looks nice.
03:53 Yeah. It's just a big, comfy, lot of miles kind of bike, isn't it?
03:58 Yeah, and that could be advantageous. What do you think of that pillion seat?
04:02 Looks very comfortable. Doesn't it?
04:04 Like the rear grab rail. Right, well, there is only one way to find
04:08 out. You know what I'm going to say, don't you?
04:11 Helmets on. And let's see what you think.
04:13 Cliff and Sue are testing this 1997 Blackbird priced at £3999. The Blackbird may not be
04:24 as sporty as the R1 and the ZX9R, but it is more than capable of giving surprising levels
04:29 of handling, as well as the legendary performance for which it's renowned. This bike on the
04:34 whole appeals to a completely different type of rider than the R1 and the ZX9R. This can
04:38 be a bonus as the Blackbird is less likely to have suffered abuse and will probably have
04:42 full service history. Once again, the condition of the bike will tell you a lot about how
04:47 it's been treated, so be prepared to walk away from untidy examples. Handling and performance
04:51 should be excellent for a bike this size, so if your test ride shows up any problems,
04:55 then check tyres and bearings for wear. If these don't provide any answers, then walk
04:59 away and look for a better example. There are plenty of tidy Blackbirds out there.
05:04 So, Cliff and Sue, your third and final bike. What do you think?
05:13 Well, it's a nice bike. Handles great, but it didn't ring my bells.
05:17 No? No.
05:19 Just a bit too kind of... It was very insular. It was not telling me
05:25 anything about what was going on. It was just sat there. Nice bike, very powerful, nice
05:30 performance, but it didn't give you that thrill factor or that grin factor.
05:35 So, brakes and everything alright? Nice and comfy?
05:38 No, wasn't happy with the brakes. Oh, really?
05:41 This dual braking system, I don't think I can get on with that.
05:44 Sue? Very comfortable. Perhaps too comfortable. I think I've got used to a sport bike now
05:50 and this is a bit low and a bit, you know... This is it. You know, most people that want
05:54 to solve loads of miles under the belt go, "Oh, yes, perfect machine." You two want to
05:58 be like feeling it all the way. Yes, we do. Absolutely.
06:02 There's so many things about this machine. It is well built. It's Honda. It just didn't
06:07 do it for me. Didn't?
06:08 No, I'm sorry. Don't apologise to me. I know I liked you being
06:13 so giddy about the ZX. I mean, you know... I still am and I can't get over that.
06:17 Well, there you go. Let's take this one to the scoreboard then.
06:20 So, Cliff and Sue, what do you give the Blackbird for style?
06:23 It's a nice looking bike, but a seven.
06:25 Performance?
06:26 Again, it's in bland, seven.
06:29 Practicality?
06:30 Well, it was practical enough for the both of us, but an eight.
06:33 Reliability?
06:34 Honda's renowned for good reliability, so eight there.
06:37 And value for money?
06:38 On this particular model, eight.
06:40 Our third bike today is Kawasaki's ER5. The ER5 is another reliable Kawasaki. It's the
06:48 same parallel twin engine as the GPZ, but retuned to make it more tractable low down.
06:53 Perfect for those who are vertically challenged, as the 17-inch wheels make the twin low, and
06:58 it's also pleasantly light at 174 kilos. While the ER5's chassis is basic, with twin shocks
07:05 and disc drum brakes, the parallel twin engine isn't. You get liquid cooling, six gears,
07:11 two camshafts, vibration-smoothing balancers, and four valves per cylinder.
07:16 The ER5 is a good learner bike, and favoured career hack, but it does lack weather protection.
07:23 It's insurance group eight, and a very cheap way into the big bike world.
07:27 So Alistair, we don't normally do this, but we've thrown in another Kawasaki.
07:33 Yes, another Quacker, yeah.
07:34 Yeah, an ER5. What do you think of it?
07:36 Basic, but nice. Yeah, it looks nice. I spot the colour theme, all red bikes, that's OK.
07:41 This is it.
07:42 I say it's nice, yeah. I like the look of it.
07:44 I mean, they've got, they're a basic bike, aren't they?
07:47 Yep.
07:48 But they've got the nice, naked feel to them, these.
07:50 Yep. Everything you're looking for on a bike, nice and basic.
07:52 I would probably get a bikini fairing if I was taking this, again, for the weather.
07:55 But overall, looks nice, it's been obviously cared for, so I'm really looking forward to riding this one as well.
08:00 I do like the dials, actually, on this one as well.
08:02 The dials are nice and clear. I can see it's an import, just for the dials, but that's not a problem, not an issue.
08:06 And everything looks fine.
08:07 They look good, solid bikes, don't they?
08:08 They do, they do, absolutely.
08:09 Shall we see what it's like on the tarmac?
08:10 Yes, I'm looking forward to it. Get it on the tarmac and see how we go.
08:13 Marvellous. Let's do it.
08:14 This ER5 is a 2000 model, priced at £2000.
08:20 Compared with the GPZ, the ER5 is basic.
08:25 Its soft, stator tune means it's as easy to ride as it is to fall off a log.
08:29 ER5s are favoured by riding schools, so beware when buying of scratched engine bars.
08:36 The finish isn't as durable as it could be, so do check this when buying.
08:40 Watch out for engine noise, oil leaks and smoke.
08:43 There are tons of ER5s out there, so if you look hard enough, you'll find a minter.
08:49 Plenty of bikes are more exciting, but the ER has all the performance you really need at a pretty reasonable price.
08:57 So then, Alistair, the ER5.
09:04 The ER5.
09:05 What do you think?
09:06 Well, we said earlier it looked like a basic bike, and unfortunately it rides like one.
09:10 I thought you might say that.
09:12 There's not a great deal of focus in it.
09:14 It's a very comfortable ride, but it's a bit soft for me.
09:17 A bit woolly in the steering and the brakes, although they're alright.
09:20 There's not much feel to them.
09:21 Bit spongy.
09:22 Bit spongy.
09:23 Which doesn't inspire confidence.
09:24 Doesn't inspire confidence.
09:25 No.
09:26 Especially the soft rear end.
09:27 Yeah, and if you're doing 70 miles a day on it, you don't want a soft rear end.
09:31 I would be very tired, yes. My rear end would be very painful, yes.
09:34 Exactly, yeah. I think these basically, they're a nice bike. They're well put together.
09:38 Absolutely well, yeah. Absolutely.
09:40 I think they are geared towards a new rider, aren't they?
09:43 That's right.
09:44 That isn't going to go fast, just needs to get used to the roads.
09:46 You can pick them up so cheaply, these.
09:48 Cheap, good, reliable bike.
09:49 But for me, coming from the 636, it's too far a leap.
09:53 There's no excitement to it.
09:55 I mean, it's very well kept, this one, actually.
09:58 Yes, it's a very nice looking bike. Everything's in its place. It's cool.
10:01 There's visibility alright on this one.
10:02 Everything's fine. The mirrors are good. You can see behind you, which is always a good thing.
10:06 Nice soft seat. It's a nice bike. But, as I say, just lacks focus.
10:10 You are a Kawasaki man, aren't you?
10:12 I love Kwak. I do love Kwak.
10:13 I can tell. Absolutely. Right, well, we need to go to the scoreboards.
10:16 We do, indeed.
10:17 So, Alistair, style.
10:20 Six. Nice looking bike, but bland.
10:23 And performance?
10:25 Six. Performance is okay. Not too great, but it's alright.
10:29 And practicality?
10:31 Seven. It's a very practical bike, and for a beginner, it would be an excellent bike.
10:36 And reliability?
10:38 Seven. Again, it's a Kwak, so I'm confident in the reliability.
10:42 You're such a Kawasaki man. Value for money?
10:45 Seven. I think, considering what you're getting, it's good value for money.
10:49 First up, it's Suzuki's GSX-R600.
10:55 Introduced in 1996, the GSX-R600 became the 600 to own for all wannabe racers.
11:01 This 2001 bike is the first of the new shape and features the now familiar Suzuki brand styling.
11:07 This new model was very closely related to its bigger brother, the GSX-R750,
11:12 and both featured a whole host of design cues taken from the GP race bikes.
11:16 The first time you ride this, you'll find yourself getting off afterwards to check it actually has 600 on the fairing and not 750.
11:23 This bike featured more mid-range than most 750s of the time and also looked a whole lot better too.
11:29 So, Shelley, bike number one is the beautiful Suzuki GSX-R600. What do you think to the looks of this?
11:38 Looks very heavy. Pretty, but heavy.
11:40 Well, yeah. So does that frighten you?
11:43 Well, I've never considered it before, but it's always put me off.
11:46 Right, because you're coming from your 125, aren't you?
11:48 Yeah.
11:49 So what bikes have you been looking at or thinking about?
11:52 Well, it's mainly the R6 that take my eye.
11:55 Right.
11:56 Because it looks quite dainty and quite light.
11:58 It does. It's quite sleek, isn't it?
11:59 It is, yeah.
12:00 Yeah, it's quite sleek. But these are fantastic.
12:02 They are gorgeous looking.
12:03 Great sports bike. Now, what are you going to use your bike for?
12:06 Just mainly fun. You know, Sundays.
12:08 Yeah. Until you get used to it. And then it's like every day.
12:12 That's it.
12:13 Will you take it on the track?
12:14 I'd like to eventually.
12:15 Yeah.
12:16 When I've had a bit more practice.
12:17 When your confidence builds and stuff.
12:18 Brilliant. Well, you know, there's only one way to build your confidence.
12:21 And that's to get on them. So get your helmet on and let us know what you think.
12:24 Okay.
12:25 Michelle is testing a 2001 model GSX-R600 on a Y-Plate priced at £4499.
12:33 The chassis on the GSX-R600 is virtually identical to that of the 750,
12:38 so you know the handling is going to be spot on.
12:41 Performance too is good, with the new fuel injection providing plentiful, smooth, progressive power,
12:47 making this bike an ideal candidate for track days.
12:50 Looks wise, this bike is now much more modern in appearance and has lost that bulbous styling of the previous model.
12:56 Pillion provision is not particularly good, so this bike is more suited to one-up riding with your mates
13:00 than taking your partner out for a Sunday stroll.
13:03 So, Shelley, are you a Suzuki lady? Tell me what you think.
13:13 It was brilliant.
13:14 Was it?
13:15 Loved it, yeah.
13:16 Tell me why. What was the handling like?
13:19 It was just so easy. Really smooth, but the acceleration was there.
13:23 It was just really easy to corner, which is the one thing I'm worried about.
13:28 Well, you were worried about the weight, weren't you? I mean, how was that?
13:31 It was really light, to what I expected. Yeah, really brilliant.
13:35 Because they're quite, I mean, really, these in the 600 category, I think,
13:38 I'll probably have lots of people say different, but I think these are quite, they can be a handful.
13:43 You know, they're all there, really. They're a nice nippy.
13:46 Yeah, it felt really controllable, though.
13:48 Yeah.
13:49 Even though the power was there, it didn't scare me in the corners, which is the main thing, really.
13:54 It was a big leap, 600 from 125. I mean, that's a serious lot of power.
13:58 So, brakes and things like that, all to your liking?
14:01 The brakes were quite soft, but they still worked really well, so I didn't have any trouble on that.
14:06 Yeah.
14:07 Really nice bike.
14:08 Yeah.
14:09 I can't bolt it.
14:10 It's an extreme...
14:11 I love it, I love it.
14:12 It's quite an extreme position on these, though, because they are an out-and-out sports bike.
14:16 Yeah, it is what I'm used to, though, because I tend to...
14:19 Of course, yeah. And the seat, that's a nice comfy seat, isn't it?
14:22 Yeah.
14:23 Yeah? And you take the other half on the back.
14:25 I don't think it'd have the nerve.
14:27 Yes, anyway, until you start whooping past him.
14:30 Yeah. So, I mean, you like the bike?
14:33 Yeah, I think it's lovely.
14:34 Can't bolt it?
14:36 Not a bit, no. It is quite tall, but then again, I can cope with that.
14:39 You're not sure.
14:40 Because it's not too heavy, so, yeah, it's great.
14:42 So, we like it, then?
14:43 We do.
14:44 That's really good. Well, at this point, I'd like to take you to the scoreboard and see what you give the Suzuki GSX-R 600.
14:49 So, Shelley, what do you give the GSX-R for style?
14:52 I'd give it an eight. It's a lovely-looking bike.
14:55 And performance?
14:56 Eight again, surprisingly. I didn't think I would.
14:59 Practicality?
15:01 Six, because sports bikes aren't practical, for sure.
15:04 I second that. Reliability?
15:06 I'd say an eight. I haven't heard anything bad about them.
15:09 And value for money?
15:10 A seven. It's not a bad price at all.
15:13 So, we're going to put you on the Honda CB1300. Hop on.
15:17 So, I mean, we're going to get your thoughts on the ride of it, but what do you think of the looks of it?
15:22 First impression is, oh, this is so different from the bike that I've just got off.
15:26 It's very traditional. The colour seems not very exciting.
15:31 Yeah.
15:32 But, um...
15:33 Bit retro, isn't it?
15:34 It is. Yes.
15:35 And I think, to be honest, this colour scheme, we've seen it before, obviously.
15:38 So, it's, you know, there's nothing new there. But it's a Honda.
15:41 Right.
15:42 So, you've got the quality.
15:43 Absolutely, yes.
15:44 So, your dials are all in the right place.
15:46 Thank goodness, yes.
15:47 Yes, absolutely. Now, it looks the same height as a Tuono.
15:50 In actual fact, as I've just sat on it, it feels so much more comfortable.
15:55 Straight away, I've sat straight into the seat. Possibly the ride's going to be even more comfortable.
16:00 Oh, we'll have to see. Fantastic. So, we need you to go off and have a go.
16:03 Okay, thank you.
16:04 Marvellous.
16:05 Just getting onto the CB1300, settling down, starting the engine, makes an instant impression on you.
16:13 The power, the sound of the engine is absolutely stunning.
16:17 Pulling off, you can pull off with confidence. It feels so comfortable and so eager to get going.
16:24 Riding the CB1300 around town was a fantastic experience.
16:30 I was expecting it to be heavy, lumpy and slow around the corners and at junctions, but it was absolutely superb.
16:39 The engine of the CB1300 feels lively and responsive.
16:44 It's ready to do what you want it to do.
16:47 It's there to glide you around corners and open out onto the straight.
16:52 Well, I must say, you look very happy on this bike, Karen.
16:58 What a great bike to ride.
17:00 Why is it?
17:01 It's just absolutely fantastic. It's so well-mannered.
17:05 It's a really comfortable riding position, something I was slightly concerned about, but I got straight into it straight away.
17:12 The power delivery is superb. So well-behaved.
17:16 Well, this is the only CB1300. Obviously, the other two are thousands.
17:20 I know you've not been on the Kawasaki, but do you feel a big difference in power then, from the Aprilia?
17:25 The delivery is totally different, probably because it's a four-cylinder configuration compared to the V-Twin.
17:32 But it's just so well-behaved. It's such good manners.
17:36 It's very civilised.
17:37 Very.
17:38 Okay, well, did it feel heavy?
17:40 It does feel heavy, but it feels heavy in... It's not too intimidating.
17:46 I'm not worried about it at all. I feel it's part of the bike and part of the experience of riding this bike.
17:53 Because they've put the SP2 wheels on it to help the handling be lighter and the general weight.
17:58 The handling is absolutely fine, yes.
18:00 Good. I'm pleased about that.
18:01 I didn't have any problems.
18:02 Well, that's fantastic, Karen. Now all we need to do is go over to the scores and see what points you've given it.
18:07 Style-wise, 7 out of 10. This is not the sexiest-looking bike in the showroom.
18:14 Performance-wise, I'm going to go for 8 out of 10.
18:18 This isn't the fastest bike I've ridden today, but it seems reliable and I have confidence in the engine.
18:25 For the ride, I'm going to go for 9 out of 10. I really enjoyed riding this bike.
18:31 Build, I'm going to go for 8 out of 10. This is a Honda. We have high expectations of their build quality.
18:38 Practicality, 9 out of 10. This is a practical bike to ride.
18:43 It is comfortable. It's going to carry my luggage and it's going to take me around Europe.
18:48 Reliability, 9 out of 10. This is a Honda and I expect it to be very reliable.
18:55 Price, let's go for 10 out of 10. Superb value.
19:00 Hello and welcome back to Used Bike Heaven.
19:03 Today we're with Adam, who's already tested two Taurus for us in part one.
19:07 Now, I told him to meet me here at another dealership over half an hour ago.
19:12 It's a 10 minute ride and here he is. Where have you been Scenic Route?
19:16 Just a bit.
19:17 You like this, don't you?
19:18 I do.
19:19 Well, come on because I've got another test for you to do.
19:21 Okay.
19:22 Nice little Yamaha over here for you.
19:24 This one, the Yamaha FJR 1300, hop on.
19:28 It's a little cheaper, in fact quite a lot cheaper.
19:31 Alright.
19:33 £1,500 cheaper. So what do you think of it aesthetically?
19:36 It's not as bulky at the front.
19:40 The controls are nice to read.
19:41 Looks a bit more like a sports Taurus, doesn't it?
19:44 It's very sporty and we haven't got the panniers on this one, although they do come in the price.
19:47 Right.
19:48 So, I mean, it is quite a sporty looking bike.
19:51 So, how's it feeling? Comfy?
19:53 It is, yeah. Much lower.
19:55 Right. You look like you're raring to go.
19:58 I'll have a go.
19:59 Go on then.
20:00 Set off. Enjoy yourself.
20:01 Thank you.
20:02 Right, Paul and Steve, what do you think of the FJR 1300?
20:09 I personally think it's the prettiest of our bikes this week.
20:11 It's a pretty bike.
20:13 It's a pretty bike. Let's find a pretty one.
20:15 You've ridden out one of these quite a bit though, haven't you?
20:17 I'm not keen.
20:18 Are you not?
20:19 No. The 1300 for me is, I rode it, I spent all day riding one, it's too heavy.
20:23 Really heavy under braking. It's got a great engine.
20:26 It's a fast bike.
20:27 It's fast.
20:28 It's a pretty fast bike.
20:29 I don't think it can work out what it is. I think he'll find it too sporty.
20:33 He's used to much more of an all-rounder with his pan.
20:35 Yeah, he'll find it very lively getting off his pan, I think.
20:38 He will. I think a bit too much.
20:40 And I can't see the point of a bike like that when you can have something like a Phase 1000,
20:44 which is again lighter, sporty, it's got the R1 brakes, the R1 engine.
20:48 It's a halfway house, the FJR 1300.
20:50 It's not a sports tourer and it's not a sports bike.
20:52 It's neither one nor the other.
20:54 Right, well, let's see if he agrees.
20:56 So, it's been a while. I wonder what he's thinking to this one.
21:00 Thank you for running me over.
21:03 Hop off then. Let me know what you think.
21:08 Very sporty.
21:09 Yeah?
21:10 Very, very sporty.
21:11 Really? A lot different to the others, obviously.
21:13 Yeah. Oh, yeah.
21:14 So, tell me then, how did it handle?
21:17 Very good. Just a lot of engine road noise coming through the front there from the forks.
21:23 Really? Well, you're used to it being all so enclosed.
21:25 Yeah, enclosed. Much narrower.
21:27 Yeah. So then, Adam, controls on this one. Similar to the tourer?
21:31 Basic, manageable, easy to get to. No problem.
21:34 Yeah, I like the dashboard on this, actually.
21:36 It was really clear. You can see everything.
21:38 Very easy to see. So, it's a pretty nice bike.
21:41 And in this one, you've actually got two bikes in one because the minute you take the panniers off, as we've said.
21:45 You've got a sports bike.
21:46 You've got a sports bike.
21:47 Panniers on, you've got a tourer.
21:48 Absolutely. So then, now we're going to give each bike a scoreboard.
21:53 Okay.
21:54 So, shall we nip inside and have a cup of tea and also do some points?
21:58 No problem.
21:59 Let's go.
22:00 David, what do you think of the looks of this one?
22:04 It looks big, heavy and sluggish.
22:07 But it's the tourer end of the range, isn't it, this one?
22:11 Yeah, a bit more sit up and beg.
22:13 Yeah. You could do plenty of miles on this.
22:15 Lots of fairings to keep you protected. Panniers for your luggage.
22:19 Plenty of storage. Not what you expect on a bike.
22:21 No.
22:22 Something I'd need to try to get used to.
22:24 Yeah. Am I talking you into it yet?
22:26 Slowly.
22:27 Well, get your helmet on and let me know what you think.
22:30 Will do.
22:31 Okay.
22:33 [Music]
22:35 The performance on the Honda Deville, I'm not really impressed with.
22:48 There doesn't seem to be any.
22:50 I keep wanting to drop it down a gear to accelerate more and it just doesn't seem to want to go.
22:58 The handling, for a heavy bike, the handling I didn't actually find too bad
23:05 because you don't really feel the weight of it once you're actually moving.
23:24 The braking isn't too bad. The brakes are actually quite effective on it.
23:31 But again, they haven't stopped quite a heavy bike.
23:36 And the comfort, it is actually quite a comfortable bike.
23:41 I could quite imagine myself riding this bike up and down the motorway, the dual carriageway,
23:46 and riding it for many miles.
23:51 So on the comfort side, it is a very comfortable bike.
23:55 And last but not least, David, the very practical looking Honda Deville.
24:00 Should we go to the scoreboard?
24:01 For style, 6 out of 10. Doesn't really do a lot for me.
24:06 Performance, again, 6 out of 10.
24:10 Still not very responsive at all. A little bit sluggish.
24:15 The ride, it was actually quite comfortable.
24:20 I've given that 7 out of 10.
24:22 Quite impressed with the comfort on it for a sit-up ride.
24:26 Practicality, I've given 9 out of 10.
24:31 Definitely the most practical bike of the three.
24:34 The price, I've given this 8 out of 10.
24:39 Again, I did actually think on this particular bike it was very good value for money.
24:44 Last but not least, it's the Suzuki Bandit 600.
24:49 The Bandit is the joker in this week's pack, featuring an inline four
24:52 as opposed to Karim's request for a V-twin.
24:55 Maybe its smoother power delivery will tempt him away from those throbby twins.
24:59 This is the bike that revitalised the naked middleweight category.
25:03 Suzuki spotted a gap in the market,
25:05 raided their parts bins and popped out the Bandit.
25:08 This bike was extremely well received and sold by the shipload,
25:12 catching all the opposition unawares.
25:14 Power is a credible 80bhp, giving reasonable performance,
25:18 but the engine does need to be worked hard to get the most from it.
25:21 Budget suspension once again rears its ugly head,
25:24 meaning the Bandit isn't up there with the class leaders when it comes to handling.
25:28 So Karim, bike number three.
25:31 You're probably looking at me a bit strangely really,
25:33 because we've kept the naked theme, but we've dropped the V-twin theme for bike number three.
25:37 We know you're a fan of fours, so we thought we'd go along that line.
25:41 What do you think to the looks of the Bandit?
25:44 The looks, erm, nice. Average, but more than capable I think.
25:48 Yeah. Steady looking isn't it?
25:50 That's it.
25:51 Right. OK, well we need to know what you think to the ride of it.
25:53 Of course.
25:54 So do you want to get your helmet on and let us know?
25:56 Love to.
25:57 Karim is testing the 2001 Suzuki Bandit 600, priced at £3495,
26:03 making it the cheapest bike in this week's trio.
26:05 Suzuki's Bandit is no longer the class leader, but it is still a capable little bike.
26:11 Many of them were bought by first time bikers,
26:13 so do make sure to check for damage caused by accidents,
26:16 or even the novice trick of just simply dropping the bike.
26:19 The suspension was never the best and may well have given up the ghost on a well used example,
26:23 so make sure to check and haggle the selling price accordingly.
26:27 So then Karim, the Suzuki Bandit, what do we think?
26:35 It's quite good, but, I don't know.
26:39 It doesn't do it for you, does it?
26:40 It's nothing wrong with the bike.
26:42 It's very smooth, it's very quiet, but there's no soul.
26:46 Something missing.
26:47 You want that aggression, don't you, behind the V-Twin?
26:49 The kind of, I don't know, engine braking and all the rest of it.
26:52 The sound, the passion, yeah.
26:54 Yeah, OK.
26:55 I mean, let's judge this bike then.
26:57 It looks like a nice big comfy seat to me.
26:59 It is, comfort wise, not a problem.
27:01 Quite good.
27:02 Seating position, you know, the riding position?
27:05 Again, fairly upright, bars are nicely positioned.
27:07 Height wise, again, fine for me.
27:09 Yeah?
27:10 Not bad at all.
27:11 Right.
27:12 I'm not getting any passion there at all.
27:14 OK, no worries.
27:15 Well, we need to know what you give it on the scoreboard.
27:17 Of course.
27:18 OK.
27:19 So, Karim, what do you give it for style?
27:21 Styling's OK.
27:22 I'll go with a six.
27:23 And performance?
27:24 Again, nothing special, but worth a six.
27:27 Practicality?
27:28 Very good.
27:29 Go with eight for that.
27:31 OK, and reliability?
27:33 Never heard any bad stories about them, so I'll have a seven.
27:36 OK, and a value for money?
27:38 Not good, I'm afraid.
27:39 I'm going to have a five.
27:40 OK, then.
27:41 Next up, it's the Honda XRV750 Africa Twin.
27:45 The Africa Twin is as hot as the continent it's named after.
27:48 It combines superb engineering and good balance in an overall package,
27:52 which is hard to beat.
27:54 Originally built to pay homage to the heroes of the Paris-Dakar
27:57 and never as a serious attempt at an off-roader,
27:59 the Twin is much better as a soft, comfortable back-lanes bike
28:03 or as a practical tourer with a twist.
28:05 This bike is not, however, an off-roader unless you have huge biceps.
28:09 Keep this bike where it works best, commuting, touring and even scratching.
28:14 Right, Pete, bike number two is the Honda Africa Twin.
28:17 What do you think to the looks of this?
28:19 I love the looks of it.
28:22 I like the looks of the Triumph, as you know.
28:24 But this looks, how can I put it, Berlin by tea time.
28:29 Yeah.
28:31 You could certainly bowl up at Dover, get on your ferry
28:33 and be anywhere you fancied in no time, I imagine.
28:36 Absolutely. Another all-rounder.
28:37 I mean, to be honest, the Triumph was, but I think this is as well.
28:40 I think you could have some serious fun, but it's comfy for those miles, isn't it?
28:44 I think it probably will be.
28:45 And it's got a V-Twin engine.
28:47 I know it's only the 750cc, so it's smaller than the Triumph,
28:51 but I've always enjoyed the way big Twins deliver their power.
28:54 Absolutely. And it is a Honda, let's face it.
28:57 So build quality should never be an issue, should it?
28:59 Shouldn't really, and it should go well.
29:01 Get your helmet on and let us know.
29:03 OK, I will.
29:04 The Africa Twin Pete is riding is a 2001 model priced at £4,795.
29:11 The handling capabilities will surprise many, including sports bike riders.
29:15 Bend swinging couldn't be easier.
29:17 The Africa Twin turns with the gentlest persuasion.
29:19 Only the dual-purpose tyres prevent some serious cornering speeds.
29:23 Compliance over even the roughest road is a feature of the long travel
29:26 available from both fork and shock.
29:29 When damped superbly, there is little hint of wallow or harshness.
29:33 And the result is excellent comfort for the rider.
29:36 This, another hallmark of big trail bikes, and the Honda is no exception.
29:40 Pete, can I just say, as you rode in on this, it looks fantastic.
29:53 What a great-looking bike. What do you think of it?
29:56 I love it. It was really enjoyable to ride.
29:59 It may only be 750cc, but the way the V-Twin engine delivers that power,
30:04 it's a little bit lumpy low down, smooths out,
30:07 and it gives a good, even spread of torque.
30:10 It's a really nice package.
30:12 Riding position, I thought, feels like it would be real all-day comfortable,
30:17 with the exception of the seat, which is a little bit narrow and square.
30:21 Especially in comparison to that tri-up, it does look narrow.
30:23 Exactly. However, a couple of hundred pounds for a core-bin seat
30:27 will sort that out once and for all, so it's not a problem.
30:30 These look all right. These look a bit better.
30:32 The mirrors are absolutely perfect.
30:34 I was able to set them up, both mirrors, in a way that I can see everything going on behind me.
30:38 It was lovely.
30:39 The only other criticism I could make is the front brake felt a little bit wooden.
30:44 As compared, most modern bikes, two fingers on the front brake
30:47 and don't bother with the back at all, as you know.
30:50 It's been in production a few years, so it's perhaps not fair to compare it with ultimately modern bikes.
30:56 I found it was all four fingers on the front brake and a little bit of back as well.
31:00 A little bit of rear.
31:01 Not suggesting the brakes are bad, they're just not as powerful as those on the tri-up.
31:05 Yes.
31:06 But it doesn't give me any problems at all. I was very, very impressed with the bike, Fran.
31:10 Sounds very good. I like it, I must say.
31:12 I've not actually ridden this one, because I like what I see, certainly.
31:15 And you're giving it a very good write-up.
31:17 So our next bike's going to have to be something pretty special to compete then, really, babe.
31:20 Isn't it just?
31:21 Isn't it just?
31:22 Well, of course we need to go to the scoreboards and see what you give the Honda Africa Twin.
31:25 Now, Pete, what do you give it for style?
31:27 Eight. It looks rugged and built exactly to do what it's there for.
31:32 And performance?
31:33 Seven. Strong engine, good handling, slightly marred by braking, but nothing too bad.
31:40 And what about track ability?
31:41 Nine. That bike will do anything I intend to do on it perfectly well.
31:46 And reliability?
31:47 Nine. There's a Honda badge, enough said.
31:50 And value for money?
31:51 Six. This one's a little overpriced and not quite to the spec I want,
31:56 but a bit of negotiation fixing that one, certainly.
31:59 First up, it's Kawasaki's GP-Z500S.
32:03 If you want a bike that can do it all well, then you should consider the GP-Z.
32:08 The slim, light quack is a perfect beginner's bike, ideal for couriers,
32:12 and good for the vertically challenged, with a seat height of 760mm.
32:17 The parallel twin engine runs forever and is lively enough to keep the riding experience entertaining.
32:22 A top-half fairing and belly pan cowling add style and practical wind cheating to just over 120mph.
32:29 It has sports bike looks and handles itself well.
32:32 So now it's time to meet Alistair. Welcome, Alistair.
32:36 Thank you.
32:37 I see you've found the GP-Z, then.
32:38 I have, indeed.
32:39 So what do you think of it?
32:40 I think it's lovely. It's very clean.
32:41 It's an R, right?
32:42 Very sporty looking, yes.
32:44 Considering the age of it, it's very nice. Very nice, indeed.
32:46 And we've got the nice fairing, because you do some miles, don't you?
32:49 I do, indeed. Inclement weather, so the fairing's nice, keeping you protected.
32:53 And it's a Kawasaki. You have a Kawasaki, don't you?
32:57 I have a Kawasaki, yes. I like Kawasaki's. I've got a Ninja 636,
33:00 so this would fit in very well with what I have at the moment.
33:03 I do apologise for it not being green.
33:05 Don't apologise. Don't apologise. I don't like green too much, I'm afraid.
33:08 So I'm quite happy for it to be red.
33:10 My goodness, you are a first.
33:11 A Kawasaki man that doesn't like the green meanies. Brilliant.
33:14 Fairly rare, I've got to say, yes.
33:16 Yes, absolutely.
33:17 But I stand out, that's it.
33:18 I'll say. Yes, right.
33:19 So we need you to tell us what you think of the ride.
33:21 Indeed, looking forward to it.
33:22 Can't wait to get this out on the road and see how it goes.
33:24 Well, get your kit on and tell us what you think.
33:26 OK, thank you. I will.
33:27 This Kawasaki is a 1997 model, priced at £2,200.
33:33 Genuine sports bike style doesn't come much cheaper than this.
33:39 When buying second hand, avoid high mileage versions as they may have been used and abused by couriers.
33:44 Aim for a well looked after GPZ that has been loved and cherished, as this model of machine tends to be.
33:49 Beware alternator woes on early ones.
33:52 Engines run very quietly unless there's a problem and are smoke free unless they've been over revved.
33:58 It's insurance group nine, cheap to run and a bargain when picked up second hand.
34:04 As a budget all-rounder, the ageing parallel twin still takes a bit of beating.
34:08 Commute, scratch or learn the biking ropes, the GPZ is definitely worth a pop.
34:13 So Alistair's returned with the GPZ. What did you think?
34:18 Well, it rides as well as it looks. Lovely.
34:20 Very nice, very responsive. Considering it's a 500, it goes very well.
34:24 So very pleased with it. Very nice indeed.
34:26 Yeah, I mean you're used to obviously your 636. This must feel tiny to you.
34:30 It feels tiny and obviously the brakes aren't as progressive, but it's still fun.
34:35 I know I'm looking for a commuter but I also want some fun in it and this would give me both.
34:39 I'm very impressed with it.
34:40 And did you find this useful?
34:41 Yes, yes. Definitely kept the weather off. So very comfortable, yep.
34:45 Very good. Right, so, well, I mean, are the dials and everything okay?
34:50 Very clear. I mean, typical Kawasaki, so nice and clear.
34:53 Fairly old fashioned but it's not a new bike so I'm quite happy with that.
34:56 Everything's in nice touching distance. Everything's to hand. No, very nice.
35:00 Overall, very nice bike.
35:02 And I must say, as you came in, it is such a beautifully clean looking bike.
35:06 It's gorgeous.
35:07 And that's the thing with these things, with 500s, they're obviously couriers or loved and cherished.
35:12 And this is obviously been...
35:13 This is a cherished bike.
35:14 You look at the engine and it's just amazing.
35:16 It's lovely. It's a cherry.
35:18 Yeah.
35:19 Very, very nice.
35:20 So why are you going for a 500?
35:22 Well, as I say, I'm commuting so I don't really need anything with too much power.
35:26 Yeah.
35:27 But I need some power, obviously, to get, to enjoy myself.
35:30 So I felt it's a nice in-between. A 500 is nicely...
35:33 It suits me. It's not too fast, not too slow.
35:36 Price-wise and insurance as well.
35:37 Absolutely.
35:38 Obviously a winner.
35:39 Absolutely. It's a winner. It's a win-win really for this.
35:41 Right. Fantastic.
35:42 Well, before we actually decide what bike you're going to go for, we need to give each one a scoreboard.
35:48 Right.
35:49 Okay.
35:50 So I need to know what you think to the Kawasaki GPZ.
35:53 So Alistair, what do you give it for style?
35:55 Eight. It looks like a real bike and I like it.
35:58 And performance?
35:59 Seven. For a 500, it performs very well.
36:02 And practicality?
36:04 Eight. It's a very practical bike.
36:06 And reliability?
36:08 Seven. Kawasaki, so it will be reliable.
36:11 And value for money?
36:12 Six. Slightly pricey, but it's a very nice bike.
36:15 Next up, it's the Yamaha FZS600 Phaser.
36:26 The powerful detuned Thundercat engine, comfortable upright riding position and 20-litre fuel tank
36:31 make this a great bike for any journey. A true all-rounder.
36:35 When this model first arrived in January 1998, it was as revolutionary then as the 1000cc Phaser is now.
36:42 With close to 100 brake horsepower on tap and the brakes from an R1, it was no ordinary street bike.
36:48 Delivering exhilarating performance, rider and passenger comfort,
36:52 it's not surprising that the versatile Phaser has become one of the leading middleweight all-rounders in the European market.
36:58 Right, Mark, bike number two. I think you might like this one a little bit more.
37:05 It's looking a bit better right from the off-run.
37:07 What do you think of the looks of these?
37:09 I quite like the looks of this. It's got a bit more of an aggressive look.
37:12 It's got a few of the aftermarket things like the belly pan and the huggy on the back.
37:16 It's also got a few little pink bits.
37:20 Pink bits are the thing I'm not too sure about. It's a bit tarty.
37:24 Yes, I dare say it is a little bit. But they are a great bike.
37:28 It's a 600 engine, obviously, and it is a good bike.
37:32 It's also got a little bit of fairing, so it should protect you against the elements on your longer rides.
37:37 It should get a bit of protection from it, yes.
37:39 Does it look wise entice you into getting on it?
37:42 Looks wise, yes. I think it's a good start from it with the way it looks.
37:46 You don't mind being stood next to this one.
37:48 No. Well, we'd like you to get on it.
37:50 Right. I shall do that.
37:51 Super.
37:52 Mark is riding the 1998 model priced at £2,999.
38:02 This model was replaced by the FZ6 in June 2003.
38:06 For the money, the Fazer is an amazing bit of kit.
38:12 It has plenty of performance that's easy to get the best from.
38:15 The grunty and revvy four-cylinder motor is more than merely usable.
38:19 This is a great wheelie bike, but it's also up to chasing sports bikes along all but the fastest roads.
38:26 So, Mark, the Fazer.
38:41 Much more enjoyable, Fran.
38:42 Oh, good. I like to hear it. Tell me about it, then.
38:44 It definitely had a bit more poke about it.
38:46 I did enjoy the performance of the bike.
38:49 The only thing I will say is I don't know whether it needs new tyres or not.
38:52 It didn't feel too great.
38:54 A little bit square, maybe?
38:55 Yeah, maybe.
38:56 It handled fantastic.
38:58 I loved the position of it as well. It was quite comfortable.
39:01 It's got plenty of power there as well, isn't there, with these?
39:03 It's got plenty of pick-up. That's what I liked.
39:05 I think the only thing I probably would do is change the handlebars.
39:09 I wasn't too keen on the bars.
39:11 Where everything was, it was fine. The clocks were great.
39:14 There was protection from this.
39:16 And the mirrors weren't too bad either.
39:18 I mean, the engine, when you actually look at this bike, it looks a very tidy bike.
39:21 It looks very nice indeed. It's obviously been well looked after.
39:24 Yeah. I mean, it's an R-Edge.
39:26 And to me, I just think it looks like a really good example.
39:30 Apart from the little pink bits.
39:32 Yeah. He obviously looked after it, or she looked after it.
39:35 But there's that Tart element to it.
39:38 Well, I mean, they're easily replaced, though.
39:40 They are, yeah.
39:41 I do like the bike. They're easily replaced.
39:43 I did like the additional belly pan.
39:45 I just think that finishes its styling off quite nice.
39:47 Yeah. Quite a bit taller than the CB500 as well, which is probably an advantage for you.
39:52 The position was fantastic. It really was comfortable.
39:55 It was very nice. I could do miles on it.
39:58 I'm liking what you're saying. It's very positive. Very good.
40:01 The other thing I liked about it was you could sit and tootle along.
40:04 You can commute on it, but if you pull the throttle back as well,
40:07 you can really go with it as well.
40:09 Stop that. We've been riding six months. Stop it. We want you to keep your license.
40:13 Well, we'll go to the scoreboards then and see what you give it.
40:15 Okay.
40:16 So, Mark, what do you give the Fazer for style?
40:19 For style, Fran, it turns a few heads, so we'll give it a seven.
40:22 And performance?
40:23 Performance, you grow horns, so it's got to get a seven again.
40:26 Practicality?
40:27 Practicality. I'll give it a seven because it does everything I want and more.
40:30 And reliability?
40:31 Well, it's got that Thundercat engine, so any problems that have been ironed out, we'll give it an eight.
40:35 And finally, value for money?
40:36 Value, it's an excellent bike in excellent condition, so we'll give it a seven.
40:39 Thank you, Mark.
40:40 Next up, it's the Yamaha R6.
40:43 This bike was Yamaha's response to the Suzuki GSX-R600,
40:47 and for that reason, they made sure it was the best in its class.
40:50 Looking at the R6, you can just see the styling cues taken from their flagship sports bike, the R1,
40:56 but the similarities don't end there.
40:58 Riding the R6 shows how much more focused it was than its rivals,
41:02 and until recently, it was the 600 that played hardest.
41:05 Ideally suited to track day and A-road thrashing, this bike is not really for the timid
41:10 and just demands to be ridden hard to get the best from it.
41:13 Right, Shelley, bike number two.
41:19 You did mention you liked these.
41:21 I did, yeah. I love it.
41:23 Yeah, they're very, very pretty bikes, nice and sleek for ladies.
41:27 Yeah, lovely.
41:28 So this is your dream bike then, in theory?
41:30 In theory, yeah.
41:31 Yeah?
41:32 We'll see.
41:33 We'll see.
41:34 So what is it about these you like so much?
41:36 Just the looks of them. They just look so dainty.
41:38 Yeah, and have you read all the reports on them and stuff?
41:41 Yeah, yeah, they just seem to have the best of both worlds.
41:44 Now, your partner's got an R1, hasn't he?
41:46 Yes, yeah.
41:47 So he would fully recommend the R6 to you.
41:48 Oh, definitely. Nothing else.
41:50 Right, well, we need to know what you think to it, so get your helmet on and let us know.
41:54 Okay.
41:55 The R6 Michelle is riding is a 2002 model priced at £5,299.
42:01 The R6 took handling and performance to a whole new level,
42:04 and it's taken the competition six years to catch up and introduce better bikes.
42:08 Many people buy the R6 and then complain that it's not comfortable,
42:12 and it does not provide ample accommodation for a pillion,
42:15 but let's face it, that's not really why you should buy a bike like this.
42:18 The R6 is a very focused bike and is not really suited to commuting or to upriding.
42:24 Make sure the R6 you're looking at has not been raced by checking for lock wiring holes
42:28 and bodywork that looks too good for the bike's age.
42:31 Right, Shelley, was it your dream bike?
42:39 No.
42:40 You're joking? Tell me.
42:42 Just too skitty in low gears.
42:45 Really?
42:46 To handle at really slow speed, yeah.
42:48 Gosh, weight...
42:49 It just worried me.
42:50 Really?
42:51 Yeah. The weight's fine, it handles fine, brakes are fine, but it's just not for me.
42:55 The power is just...
42:56 It's just the first gear. It's all or nothing.
43:00 Really?
43:01 No in-between.
43:02 Front wheel up a little bit?
43:03 No, no, not quite.
43:04 Could be.
43:05 On its side, more like.
43:07 Really? How funny, because you were in love with this bike.
43:10 Yeah, yeah. Well, it's one of these I passed my test for.
43:13 Good grief.
43:14 There you go.
43:15 So, I mean, is it comfortable? Because that seat is decidedly bigger than the GSX.
43:18 It is. It's very comfortable. Position's fine, but it just doesn't feel right.
43:22 It's a pillion.
43:23 I don't feel as though... I think it's taking me. I'm not riding it.
43:26 Yes, you're not in control of it. Do you think that might... With a bit more experience on it, do you think it might?
43:31 Maybe it would, but I'd like to feel comfortable now.
43:34 That's it, when you've been on the Suzuki and you felt so comfortable the first go on it.
43:38 That's it.
43:39 Makes a difference, doesn't it?
43:40 Yeah. I prefer to feel at least a little bit safe.
43:43 Yeah, we all want to feel a little bit safe.
43:46 So the positioning is fine and everything, and the weight's fine. Brakes? Because the brakes are a bit soft, you said, on the other.
43:52 Yeah, no, they're fine. They were great. It just didn't feel right.
43:56 Well, that's right, though, because that's the thing. I think it's right. You know, certain people...
44:00 Some people would probably think, "No, I'll have another go on it. I'll have another go, see if you can live with it."
44:04 But you know instantly that you prefer...
44:06 That's it. I'd be worried about taking the bike out.
44:10 Yeah, you wouldn't wake up on Sunday morning excited.
44:12 That's it. I'd be dreading the first few miles until I got back into it.
44:15 Right. You and the rest of us, to be honest, if you fell off.
44:20 Right, well, on that note, we'll go to the scoreboards.
44:23 OK.
44:24 Right, Shelley, why don't you give the R6 for style?
44:27 I'd still give it a nine.
44:29 You like that one, don't you?
44:30 Yeah.
44:31 Performance?
44:32 I'll give it a six because it just wasn't for me.
44:34 What about practicality?
44:35 Six again.
44:36 And reliability?
44:38 As far as I know, an eight, the other horse had no problem with his R1.
44:42 And value for money?
44:43 I'd say a six for that one.
44:46 Now, as we've said, you're a bit of a Honda man.
44:49 Oh, yes.
44:50 So, next up, hop on then, next up is the ST1300.
44:56 So, quite a bit bigger than yours, then.
44:58 Yeah, much lower.
45:00 Is it?
45:01 Yeah, I've got both feet on the floor quite comfortably.
45:03 Really? I mean, that's good in itself, isn't it?
45:05 It is.
45:06 Everybody feels more confident with that kind of thing.
45:08 So, I mean, looks-wise?
45:09 Very nice. It looks muscled to me.
45:12 Looks like it's got muscles.
45:13 Muscles?
45:14 Hmm.
45:15 Well, I like muscles, so it's down to you whether you do.
45:18 Right then, so we need to know what you think to this one.
45:20 No problem.
45:21 Are you going to let us know?
45:22 I will do, certainly.
45:23 On your way, then.
45:24 Thank you.
45:25 Right, guys, so he's a Honda man, he's got an ST1100.
45:38 What's he going to think to the 1300 engine?
45:41 This is going to be interesting, this, because, well, I had the great pleasure,
45:45 and it was a pleasure, of riding the 1300 Pan all the way around the south of France.
45:49 Fantastic. But he'll find it more sporty, he'll find it easier to handle than his own bike,
45:55 and, of course, there's more power as well.
45:57 It was the daddy for ages, the 1100, wasn't it?
45:59 Well, it was, wasn't it? And it still is.
46:01 But the other manufacturers like Yamaha with the FJR 1300, which obviously we've seen,
46:05 and BMW, they all up the game a bit.
46:08 And all those sort of sports touring bikes, they've all become a little bit sportier, like you said, haven't they?
46:13 I think he'll just think it's like his old bike, but better.
46:16 Yeah, I think it will really appeal to him, this one.
46:19 I think it will, I think. That's been interesting to see.
46:21 Well, we don't all get to France to test these bikes, do we, Paul?
46:24 Some of us have to stay in sunny England.
46:26 Anyway, enough about that. Let's see what Adam thinks to it.
46:29 So, Adam, you look a bit happier, actually.
46:35 Oh, yes.
46:36 What do you think of this?
46:38 Very nice. Much more power.
46:40 Really?
46:41 Much more power.
46:42 Yeah?
46:43 Yeah. It's much lower, so it tends to hug the road a bit more.
46:48 Yeah.
46:49 It's a nice and comfortable feeling.
46:50 Yeah, you can imagine doing lots of miles on it.
46:52 Yeah.
46:53 Right, OK, now you mentioned about the kick on the BMW. Anything like that on this?
46:58 Nothing at all. From idling to moving off to actually opening that throttle, it just wanted to go.
47:05 Right, OK. So, I mean, anything bad about this bike?
47:08 The pannier is a bit of a letdown. They're not as big inside as the older ones.
47:12 Yeah. And, I mean, you could have your back box, though, couldn't you?
47:15 Yeah, but I think it ruins the styling of the line.
47:18 Oh, you're getting all posy on me now as well.
47:20 Well, I know what you mean. They are a little bit smaller and the back box can look a bit ugly at times.
47:25 So, well, that's it for part one.
47:27 But in part two, we're going to be setting you off on your third and final bike.
47:30 But that's at another dealership. So, do you want to meet us over there?
47:33 No problem.
47:34 Do you want to take this bike?
47:35 No problem.
47:36 I thought you might say that.
47:37 See you over there.
47:38 Welcome back to Use Bike Heaven.
47:40 This week, Karen from Stafford, who currently owns a Ducati Monster,
47:43 is looking for something a bit faster and a bit more aggressive.
47:46 She's already been out on the Aprilia Tuono and the Honda CB1300
47:50 and is about to go on her third and final test on the Kawasaki Z1000.
47:55 Karen, what do you think to this?
47:57 It looks absolutely great. Really aggressive styling. Really quite sexy as well.
48:03 I'd have to say, looks-wise, of the three, this is my favourite.
48:07 It's my personal favourite, this one. But I like a black bike as well, so I just think they look mean.
48:11 Well, we need to know what you think to the ride.
48:13 Okay.
48:14 The ride standard is just fine. It was kind of almost forgettable, really.
48:22 The brakes are sharp, the engine is responsive.
48:26 I found the gearbox to be slightly clunky.
48:29 You've got to be very positive when you're changing gear here.
48:33 On the straight, the Z1000 is absolutely superb.
48:38 Put your head down, crank it on and just get going.
48:42 I think after a while I'll start to feel a little bit tired across the shoulders here.
48:47 My weight is over the tank and this could become uncomfortable over time.
48:53 So, Karen, third and final test. Last but by no means least, the Kawasaki. What do you think?
49:00 Very nice. Very nice.
49:02 The bike to ride is really quite... Like its styling, it's quite aggressive.
49:09 You've got to have your wits about you. You've got to be positive with the gear change.
49:15 The gearbox, I found, was slightly notchy.
49:18 Hit neutral between first and second, especially.
49:21 I did.
49:22 I know where you're coming from.
49:24 It's a nice retro style, though, isn't it?
49:27 It's a lovely style. The colour combinations, the addition of colour, the upside down forks, the seating position is absolutely superb.
49:37 Well, they're actually all a mishmash of the ZX6R and the ZX9R.
49:41 Indeed, yes.
49:42 So it's working well, obviously.
49:43 Yes. We've got lots of things here that work well together already established.
49:47 Absolutely. Now, it's a lot lower than the other two.
49:50 I did notice that, yes.
49:53 My seating position at traffic lights and junctions, I feel much more confident than the other two bikes.
49:59 It's really nice to sit on. You feel nice and safe.
50:02 Fantastic. Well, it's available in a few different colours. It's available in orange, green and black.
50:10 So you've got a fair bit to go on.
50:12 Absolutely. Some choice.
50:13 Absolutely. So we need to know your points for this one.
50:17 Right. Okay.
50:18 Shall we go to the scoreboard?
50:19 Let's.
50:21 Style wise, 9 out of 10. What a beautiful bike.
50:24 The retro exhaust pipes really set the style off here.
50:27 Performance, I'm going to go for an 8 there.
50:30 This is a good bike, but it's not very exciting.
50:33 Ride, I'm going to go for 7 out of 10.
50:36 I'm starting to feel uncomfortable after a while. My shoulders were starting to ache.
50:41 Build quality, I'm going to go for 8 on this one. 8 out of 10.
50:46 Practicality, for my purposes, which is touring, I don't think this bike is going to be very practical at all.
50:53 7 out of 10.
50:54 Reliability, 9 out of 10.
50:57 Price wise, 8 out of 10. This is good value for money.
51:02 Earlier on in the show, we were talking to Eric, who was showing us his fine collection of vintage scooters.
51:08 Now he's let four out of his sight for me to have a play on.
51:12 So we start with the Vespa GL. This is a 1957 model, very popular in the 50s, 60s and 70s.
51:19 And it's a classic design, which is still being used to this day.
51:22 The Vespa GL is your run of the mill scooter.
51:26 The 125 engine is self-sufficient. There's no battery, but a magneto, which acts as an alternator.
51:31 It's just a kickstart and go.
51:33 This is the widest scooter you'll come across, and with the engine set to one side, it can make handling a bit tricky at first.
51:40 You also have to keep a watch out for the gears, as it's quite easy to miss a gear during changes.
51:45 Once you've got that sorted, you can sit back and cruise all you like.
51:49 But you have to remember though, that this is not a cheap bike.
51:52 Back in the 1950s, you would have paid around £100. It's worth £3,000 now.
51:57 Second in line is the Vespa SS90, first introduced in the early 60s.
52:04 Now, I've got to be a bit careful with this, because it's a bit rare, and I'm also told it's a bit of a wolf in sheep's clothing.
52:10 They actually call this the SS90 Racer, thanks to its tuned engine, which will power this thing to an amazing 90 miles per hour.
52:30 The sports riding position is enhanced due to a dummy tank, and the lightweight construction and slim styling helps for great handling.
52:37 And of course, acceleration and speed.
52:39 The SS90 would have cost you £200 back in the 60s, and will now fetch £3,500.
52:46 You have to remember though, for its size, this thing is fast.
52:57 And third in line, and we've changed manufacturers, this is the Lambretta SX200.
53:02 First introduced in the 60s, and commonly known in the scooter world as the Sex Appeal.
53:07 This is a follow-up to the TV200.
53:16 The SX has a more balanced engine, and also features dual shock absorbers and double engine mountings to reduce vibration.
53:23 It was introduced in 1966, and instantly inherited its nickname of 'Sex Appeal', which was due to its slim, smooth, classic lines.
53:32 And of course, the rider.
53:33 Costing £150 or thereabouts back in the 60s, this again, like the others, would have been a shrewd buy, as it's now worth between £3,000 to £4,000.
53:52 And last, but by no means least, the Lambretta GP200.
53:56 Now this was manufactured in the early 70s, and this was the last of the Lambretta designs.
54:01 Now this one is a bit special, because this is the tenth one ever made.
54:17 With the largest scooter engine out at the time, the GP200 needed bigger brakes.
54:22 Lambretta therefore introduced a disc brake, as well as dual shock absorbers and a beefed-up front suspension.
54:28 Shorter in height than the average Lambretta, the GP benefits from a more streamlined look and feel.
54:33 And with the throaty sound from the 200cc engine, it lives up to its Grand Prix name.
54:39 In the mid-70s, this would have cost you £250, but this would certainly have been a wise investment, as today's market would fetch up to £4,000.
54:47 So there we have it, four fine examples of vintage scooters.
54:53 Now there's just one problem. I can't ride them all at once, so I've always wanted to be in a gang.
54:59 Guys, let's do a bit of hell-raising!
55:01 Hey!
55:03 Now I know it's not quite quadrophenia, but I think my gang looks quite cool.
55:21 Bring back the 70s, that's what I say.
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