A bit of a strange question but...

bikesnbones · Post by **bikesnbones** » Sun Nov 17, 2013 5:16 pm

Twinspark wrote:Thing about the Diversion 900 is that they are soul-destroyingly dull.

Fine for commuting - but you want something with a bit of character for a summer holiday.

I disagree.
When you're doing big miles in a short time, what you want is something that just quietly get's on with the job without making a big song and dance over it.
Believe me when I say, my Guzzi 1100 Sport had oodles more character and soul than my 12S, which is bland by comparison.
It's better for long trips though.
The very things that can endear you to a bike when you're just using it for the odd weekend blast, can become a pain in the ass over a long trip.
Besides which now that I think about it, I didn't find the Divvy dull to ride.
People just assume it is because it's so plain Jane,
I suggest the OP take a test ride before putting too much faith in bar stool road testers.

SP250 · Post by **SP250** » Sun Nov 17, 2013 6:22 pm

I have to say I partially agree with bikesnbones.

Was going to the Manx GP to spectate back in 1999 and I broke the face cam shock absorber in the gearbox of my R100RS. It would still just about drive, but as soon as you wanted more that 20mph the drive slipped and sounded like a machine gun and a failure to proceed ensued.
I hired a brand new Fazer 600 from Dave Jones Motorcycles in Newtown who I knew.
Told to thrash it to run it in and not bring it back without at least 1000 miles on it I did as I was told and have not had as much fun on anything since my ex proddie race RD400.

However the choice is up to Marsh and either spend cash on a second bike which may well have serious stuff wrong with it, or get good luggage for the 11S and a few bob on the clear protection film and stuff to keep it pristine.
I would take my 11S if in the same situation.

conkerman · Post by **conkerman** » Sun Nov 17, 2013 6:33 pm

I looked at buying a divvy.

They are dull. Like a cheap VFR.. Great if you want a motorcycle as appliance. Glad you had a good ownership experience but Its not a bike for me and many others. The linearity of the power deliver coupled with poor quality suspension were turn offs.

OP. Bikes in that budget will almost certainly need spending on. Throw some shiny at your S and don't be so sentimental

You have a bike you like. Use it. Lots. Replacements will be availble if you wear it out.

Twinspark · Post by **Twinspark** » Sun Nov 17, 2013 7:29 pm

bikesnbones wrote: Besides which now that I think about it, I didn't find the Divvy dull to ride.
People just assume it is because it's so plain Jane,
I suggest the OP take a test ride before putting too much faith in bar stool road testers.

See, you're making an assumption that I haven't ridden one.

As someone who did 70k miles on a 600 version, I was interested in a 900... but bought a VFR800FI instead. That was because the 900 was the most soulless bike you could imagine. A bit like the biking equivalent of a Korean hatchback.

If you can get comfortable on an 11S for long days in the saddle, then use it... I can't, so it's being kept for weekend fun / shorter trips.

Al · Post by Al » Sun Nov 17, 2013 8:10 pm

What have you in mind for the trip? just being nosey here and assuming you are taking the medical team with you.

Al.

bikesnbones · Post by **bikesnbones** » Mon Nov 18, 2013 9:11 am

Twinspark wrote: As someone who did 70k miles on a 600 version, I was interested in a 900... but bought a VFR800FI instead. That was because the 900 was the most soulless bike you could imagine. A bit like the biking equivalent of a Korean hatchback..

Funny you should say that.
Just before I got my 12S I had a test ride on a VFR800 and thought exactly the same.
Within 10 minutes I wanted to take the thing back.
I was expecting great things from that motor.
I don't know how any manufacturer could make a V4 so void of any character and soul, but Honda pulled it off with the VFR.
If you had told me afterwards that it was the only bike I could ever own, I'd have just hung up the helmet for good.
So you see it's a very subjective thing, and at the end of the day, each individual is different, and so we cannot possibly say which bike is right for someone, just as we cannot say which bike is wrong.
All I can tell the OP is that I did 40,000 miles over 4 years on my Divvy, and a lot of that was two up in Europe, but of course if he chooses to go by the opinion of someone who took one around the block for a test ride, then so be it.

big rob · Post by **big rob** » Mon Nov 18, 2013 10:02 am

Hello Marsh, here's a little food for thought: Friends of mine have for the last 3-years & are planning to do the same in 2014 buy very low budget (£300-£400) skips (errr, I mean older, well used & abused Motorcycles) and ride them to some far flung foreign destination via many interesting countries. Hand the bikes over to some poor unsuspecting locals, then fly home after what was an outstanding & very amusing motorcycle adventure

Rob.

conkerman · Post by **conkerman** » Mon Nov 18, 2013 10:14 am

For that sort or adventure I would say CB250/500.

Unkillable.

But a 1200 quid bike is too good to give away (except to me).

big rob · Post by **big rob** » Mon Nov 18, 2013 10:23 am

conkerman wrote:For that sort or adventure I would say CB250/500.

Unkillable.

But a 1200 quid bike is too good to give away (except to me).

GPZ500 FZR600 CBR600 GPX750 600Divvy 600/750 Suzuki Teapot thingies are some of the bikes they've used to date and they've never paid more than £400 ...... I've seen the bikes and they are rough

A pair of decent road tyres can set you back £200 and would be completely knackered after 5000-miles ......so £400 for a 'disposable' bike seems reasonable

conkerman · Post by **conkerman** » Mon Nov 18, 2013 1:47 pm

I quite like the 750 Teapot.

Cheap, nippy and robust.

big rob · Post by **big rob** » Mon Nov 18, 2013 2:59 pm

conkerman wrote:I quite like the 750 Teapot.

Cheap, nippy and robust.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUZUKI-GSX750 ... 25854fbd5b

there you go sir, make a silly bid and it maybe yours

oops! post hi-jack, sorr-ee

Al · Post by Al » Mon Nov 18, 2013 5:31 pm

I have had 2x 600 and 1 750 teapot, motors tough as old boots and comfy enough for long days riding but I would rather use the 1100. I kept my 750 as I intended to use both bikes, but never ever rode the 750 after I got my 1100s.

Al.

Mister C (Marsh) · Post by **Mister C (Marsh)** » Mon Nov 18, 2013 5:48 pm

big rob wrote:Hello Marsh, here's a little food for thought: Friends of mine have for the last 3-years & are planning to do the same in 2014 buy very low budget (£300-£400) skips (errr, I mean older, well used & abused Motorcycles) and ride them to some far flung foreign destination via many interesting countries. Hand the bikes over to some poor unsuspecting locals, then fly home after what was an outstanding & very amusing motorcycle adventure

Rob.

Rob now you've done it.... 2015 India via Kazakhstan on a C90 here I come, now that would be amazing

Love this idea may think more about the bike choice though, thanks, what a great idea, Rob my head is now full of interesting stuffage for 2015.

Back to 2014 its a round trip (hopefully) so the disposable bike scenario will have to wait

Cheers Marsh

bikesnbones · Post by **bikesnbones** » Mon Nov 18, 2013 6:21 pm

conkerman wrote:I looked at buying a divvy.

They are dull. Like a cheap VFR.. Great if you want a motorcycle as appliance. Glad you had a good ownership experience but Its not a bike for me and many others. The linearity of the power deliver coupled with poor quality suspension were turn offs.

We must remember that the OP has a budget of £1,200 for a 5,000 mile trip, and whilst it'd be good to have the whole package, that ain't going to happen within budget, so the priority has to be, above absolutely everything else, reliability.
Try and find a bad review of the Divvy 900.
Go on I challenge you too.
You won't of course, because it's one of the soundest used buys out there.

Here's one from MCN which is fairly typical.
Yeah Yeah I know, MCN what do they know, but their opinions of the bike match mine pretty much word for word.

"The Yamaha XJ900S Diversion is an excellent all-rounder at an affordable price: it’s no luxury mega-tourer but it’s supremely practical and great value. Cheap to run and insure, simple to service on your own plus spares are easy to source and not too pricey. Often overlooked and underrated, you can usually pick up a Yamaha XJ900S Diversion for peanuts".

Twinspark · Post by **Twinspark** » Mon Nov 18, 2013 8:23 pm

Depends on what you call a bad review.

My measure would be 'totally dependable and cheap to run, but dull as used dish water'.

Which is pretty much the universal opinion of Divvy 9s.

Shame the OP wasn't looking a few weeks ago, as I sold a very usable VFR750FT for 500 quid. Lovely bike, that, too - with a fruity stainless exhaust on it.