Trying out a slightly bigger inline twin next week

I'm not really considering replacing my CB anytime soon, but just for interest I'm test-riding a Yamaha MT-07 next Tuesday morning.

689cc, 74bhp, 50 ft·lb, 164kg dry weight. Claims to be able to do 68mpg.

Should be a laugh. Will report back.

Please do - I rather like the look of those, and they seem very good value.  The CB is my first parallel twin (had an SV640, a street triple, an R1, a bandit and a duke over the last four years), so I'm really interested in any comparison you have!  It's got great reviews, and a nice 6k service interval too.

Although, are you sure you don't fancy one of these...

http://bikes.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/range/125cc/msx125-2013/overview.html

I already drove one once.
Went for a testdrive.
The pearl is the engine. What a blast. Very good compromise of performance and economy.
The bike behaviour is also top. Good brakes, frame etc.
ABS is something i want in my next bike. It just gives you that extra confidence.

Apart from this, i think the bike is a bit ugly. Out of proportions. Awkward front.
The ridding position also seemed to me like half roadbike, half supermotard. Strange.
I could easily buy one, add a screen, different headligh and handlebars.


You will enjoy!

They look great on paper and I think it's appearance isn't too bad either. If I were into buying new bikes it'd definitely be on my list. Generally seem to get good reviews although have heard the odd complaint about fuelling at low speed through traffic etc and have had a fuel injected Yamaha in the past with this same problem so would be interested if you experience any of that. That said you do get used to it after a while and they may have fixed this by now anyway.

Look forward to hearing about it!

Well, I rode the MT-07 this morning.

The CB5 is the biggest bike I've been on, so the initial impression was WOW at the torque in second and third. You can go from 20 to 60 sort of instantly! I took it out for a quickish ride on some fast A roads. I have to say I was, well, not disappointed, but surprised that I didn't feel that there was loads more overtaking power than on the CB. Yes, you can do it in a higher gear so it feels like less effort, but in reality it didn't happen much quicker. The MT's engine doesn't reward you for revving like the CB's does, and maybe I'd adjust to this, but I much prefer the CB's power delivery. I could also easily tell that it was fuel-injected and having never ridden an FI bike before I can see why people who prefer carbs do so. There somehow felt like there was just slightly more in the way between the engine and my right hand.

I also absolutely hate the LCD display: give me analogue speedo and tacho any day.

Although I had a hoot, when I got back on the CB it was a relief. Oddly the CB even feels more sporty – riding position, more revvy power delivery, quicker turn-in on the skinny tyres. I love it more now than I ever did.

I'm going to try the MT-09 next week – a 114bhp triple. Now that should be more of a difference...

jchesshyre wrote: I could also easily tell that it was fuel-injected and having never ridden an FI bike before I can see why people who prefer carbs do so. There somehow felt like there was just slightly more in the way between the engine and my right hand.

That sensation may be down to lag, or latency as it's sometimes called. I haven't ridden that many bikes - probably somewhere between ten and fifteen. But the only one with EFI that I liked, and where I couldn't tell I was riding an EFI bike, was a CBF600. All the others had something - SV650, snatchy somehow - probably a latency thing. MT03 - surging at 35-40mph (although to be fair, carbs can surge too). Blah. Oh wait - W800; wow that was really great. Smoother than a carb'd W650.

Anyway, interesting thread and comments on the 07.

louis_sutton wrote:http://bikes.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/range/125cc/msx125-2013/overview.html

Ah! The tricked-out, souped-up, steroid-pumped version of the venerable 1972 ST70/Dax.
Featuring the ubiquitous SuperCub engine, of course
Only, this one doesn't fit in a car boot. Fat lady.

@jchesshyre: Thanks for sharing the MT-07 test ride results. It confirmed my suspicion. Regarding FI engine response: I believe there's a PowerCommander map to cure that. Most factory ECUs are very emission/pollution-centric, meaning they all run lean - which affects power delivery. I've had a wee chat with an independent motorcycle magician, and he claimed it's no longer possible to extract all the poke any given FI-bike has, without exceeding so-and-so many emission/environment-related regulations.
So, he makes a living out of restoring the poke in peoples' bikes.

Basically; no noise + no emission = no fun.

Digital speedo: Agree. It's harder to read and cheaper to produce. Manufacturer-Enduser 1-0.

Here's a test: For analog resp. digital, see how fast you can find the odd one. Compare.

I don't understand why if they must use LCDs they can't still make dials with LCD needles. I'm sure I've seen this on a bike but can't remember which.

Having the speed as a number is awful, I think. And the revs as a flickery bar across the bottom was also useless. 

Next week I'm testing either the MT-09, a Speed Triple, or, if they have one, one of the new CB1100s.

Nice write up - thanks for the review.  I saw one on the way to work yesterday morning, they do look rather nice, and well finished, but if they're not lively, then perhaps not the most fun.  My favourite is still the street triple!

Oh, don't get me wrong, it is lively, VERY lively, but the liveliness doesn't feel as if it increases up the revs much like it does on the CB500. Its redline is at 10,000rpm, but the stats say that whilst peak power is at 9,000, peak torque is at 6,500 vs the CB's 8,000 or so.

The bike I rode had 300-odd miles on so this may improve with a bit of running in. It just didn't feel happy revving like the CB does, which is one of the things I love about it.

The CB has a slightly shorter stroke, relatively, than the MT-07, so this must also partly explain the difference.

jchesshyre wrote:I don't understand why if they must use LCDs they can't still make dials with LCD needles. I'm sure I've seen this on a bike but can't remember which.

Having the speed as a number is awful, I think. And the revs as a flickery bar across the bottom was also useless. 

Next week I'm testing either the MT-09, a Speed Triple, or, if they have one, one of the new CB1100s.

By pure coincidence, I have a business card on my desk that I picked up at a show last weekend... This is not a recommendation as I've not bought anything from them, but they looked pretty nifty on the show stand. digital-speedos.co.uk