He ain't heavy....

[Zombie Master]

Actually he is. I'm talking about motorcycles suitable for spot touring. I was looking at a Honda VFR1200 because I'm having problems with tendonitis, and was wondering what kind of automatic clutched bikes are available. This bike weighs over 600pds dry! A ST1300 over 700!!!!!! I know Honda makes that new 700 twin with that kind of clutch and it's no lightweight either, and seems rather a bore. My Shitzuki GSF1200 weighs 474 pds dry and I think of it as a heavy weight sport tourer. My 29 year old airhead is lighter than that! Sport bikes are light, but are not practical, nor do they have a suitable riding position for long days. With all the technology available, I can't understand why ST bikes can't be lighter and human being sized as well.

[dougie]

I'm with you all the way on this. Seems like the only ST bikes with what could be called a "full-sized" engine are quite hefty. If you want 400 lbs or less, the only options seem to be sportbikes or small displacement bikes.
I remember investigating the new Bonneville. My 1966 Bonnie's manual said 363 lbs dry. The new Bonneville was listed at 460 lbs dry. WTF!!!
It's the reason I got the 1989 Honda Hawk (380 lbs dry).
My '87 R100RS (about 500 lbs.) has been parked by in the furnace room for months. Unless I can figure out a way to remove at least 50 lbs., without spending a fortune, it will be sold in the spring.

Check out the new 2013 CB500 series of models, especially the "F" model. About 400 lbs. dry and probably 45-50 hp.
http://powersports.honda.com/2013/cb500f.aspx

[Major Softie]

I'm with you all the way on this. Seems like the only ST bikes with what could be called a "full-sized" engine are quite hefty. If you want 400 lbs or less, the only options seem to be sportbikes or small displacement bikes.
I remember investigating the new Bonneville. My 1966 Bonnie's manual said 363 lbs dry. The new Bonneville was listed at 460 lbs dry. WTF!!!

If you actually weighed your 66 Bonnie and compared that weight to the claimed weight, you would ALSO say WTF?!!!

You can't compare claimed weights to anything. Some historical periods are more honest than others, and some manufacturers are more honest than others. Some weighed with a battery, some without; some weighed without tires! Some just made up lies. If you can find reviews in a magazine, you can compare the weights from that magazine, but not between magazines, as they didn't even all do it the same way. Some magazines weighed with 1 gal. of fuel, some with 1/2 a tank, some with a full tank (the issue being: if you weigh with a full tank, aren't you penalizing a bike like BMW for having larger tanks, thus making them look heavier than they are?). But, at least the magazines actually put the bike on a scale and gave you a way to compare the machines to one another, and they didn't strip parts off before weighing.

Today, some manufacturers seem to be quite honest about their claimed weights, but some still seem to fudge.


By the way, speaking of comparing apples and oranges, you do notice that you are comparing a kick-start 649cc motorcycle to an electric start 865cc motorcycle, right?

[Zombie Master]

Some magazines weighed with 1 gal. of fuel, some with 1/2 a tank, some with a full tank (the issue being: if you weigh with a full tank, aren't you penalizing a bike like BMW for having larger tanks, thus making them look heavier than they are?).

A major pet peeve for me Magazines that give weights with a full tank are indeed penalizing a machine for having superior range....not OK!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dougie]

By the way, speaking of comparing apples and oranges, you do notice that you are comparing a kick-start 649cc motorcycle to an electric start 865cc motorcycle, right?

Yes. But 100 lbs.?
Today they can make a 1 liter 4 cylinder at about 400 lbs. dry. A CBR1000RR is advertised as weighing 439 lbs. with oil, antifreeze and a full gas tank.

[enigmaT120]

My Bonneville is much lighter than my R65 -- both air cooled 650s. We'll see what I think when I finally get around to getting the Home market 5 (US) gallon tank painted and installed on my Triumph. I do want more range on that thing.

[Zombie Master]

My Bonneville is much lighter than my R65 -- both air cooled 650s. We'll see what I think when I finally get around to getting the Home market 5 (US) gallon tank painted and installed on my Triumph. I do want more range on that thing.

What do you intend to do for brakes?

[dougie]

My Bonneville is much lighter than my R65 -- both air cooled 650s. We'll see what I think when I finally get around to getting the Home market 5 (US) gallon tank painted and installed on my Triumph. I do want more range on that thing.

What do you intend to do for brakes?

Sheeesh ZM!
Brakes are just for stopping.

[Garnet]

Under 390 lbs soaking wet.
ABS
200 mile + range
$5800 CDN
300cc but can top the ton.
Cheap to insure in our world.

Haven't ridden it yet, but have sat on one and the ergos are good.

Oh ya, Slipper clutch with feather light operation, so light even a girl could ride one.

[SteveD]

F800ST is faster, more nimble, better brakes and even lighter than a R100. I had one as a loan vehicle last year whilst getting some work done on my R/RS, and whilst the initial seating position didn't thrill me, it was an excellent and comfie too!

The German motorcycle comes with a weight of 182 kilograms while a 798 cc DOHC engine is able to deliver 85 horsepower and 86 Nm of torque.
The model is fitted with a six-speed toothed belt drive transmission while the Rotax engine benefits from a cooling system using water.