Michel's Motors

Tell us your ongoing tales and experiences with your French car here. Post pictures of your car here as well.
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Michel
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

Unread post by Michel »

Hell Razor5543 wrote: 02 Feb 2018, 09:35 If you are not careful you might well be buying another Yamaha, but with a bit more performance;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_VMAX


I knew a mad Swedish programmer who had an original V-Max, a 1999 model. It was slow compared to the new one, having only 140bhp (the non-US versiond had more grunt). Lovely thing to ride. I'd like one.
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CitroJim
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

Unread post by CitroJim »

Excellent Mike :) I can well and truly understand your love of motorcycling... I could so easily fall victim to it too...

I try to resist but sometimes it's not easy...

It's now been a quarter of a century since I've ridden any two-wheeler with an engine that's not part of me!!!
Jim

Runner, cyclist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
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demag
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

Unread post by demag »

About the same for me Jim although there is a Suzuki 750GSX slumbering outside.

I really fancy buying a Velosolex as a little project but yesterday I heard one of my pension providers is in trouble so have to be carefull.
Dave
2011 Peugeot 3008 1.6hdi Exclusive EGS.
'04 C5 auto estate 2.2 hdi. Gone.
Bx 1.6 TGS Auto 50k A rare beast by all accounts. A bit tired but getting better by the day. Gone.
'96 XM 2.5TD VSX.......Sadly sold. What an idiot! I should have held on to that.
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CitroJim
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

Unread post by CitroJim »

demag wrote: 02 Feb 2018, 10:11 I really fancy buying a Velosolex as a little project


That would be a great little project Dave :) When I first read that I was thinking it was a Velocette LE200 'Noddy Bike' you were fancying...

I'd be keen to get hold of a Cyclemaster as a little project as it goes well with my cycling passion... But what I'd really love is one bike I always wanted when I was running my Suzuki triples - a Suzuki GT750 'Kettle'.

Hope the pension problem has a happy ending ;)
Jim

Runner, cyclist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
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Michel
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

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CitroJim wrote: 02 Feb 2018, 10:43 .... But what I'd really love is one bike I always wanted when I was running my Suzuki triples - a Suzuki GT750 'Kettle'.


Life's short Jim..... ;-)

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/list/96/gt750/
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CitroJim
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

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Michel wrote: 02 Feb 2018, 10:49
CitroJim wrote: 02 Feb 2018, 10:43 .... But what I'd really love is one bike I always wanted when I was running my Suzuki triples - a Suzuki GT750 'Kettle'.


Life's short Jim..... ;-)

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/list/96/gt750/


Life is short Mike, I agree, but sadly my arms are too short to reach the depths of my pockets to afford those prices :(

27 years ago I almost bought a decent one for £700... It would have been an excellent investment looking at the prices they fetch now :)
Jim

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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

Unread post by Hell Razor5543 »

I remember reading a review of the Yamaha Vmax when it came out (the European model with a lot more power than the poorly USA model). The reviewer said something like "You need arms like a gorilla, reflexes faster than chained lightning, and a brain the size of a peanut. Arms because it could accelerate so fast it would leave you behind, reflexes because it could change speed so quickly, and brain because it would be mashed up against the back of your skull". He did like it, however.
James
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
ex C5 2.2HDi VTX+

Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
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Michel
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

Unread post by Michel »

Hell Razor5543 wrote: 02 Feb 2018, 12:31 I remember reading a review of the Yamaha Vmax when it came out (the European model with a lot more power than the poorly USA model). The reviewer said something like "You need arms like a gorilla, reflexes faster than chained lightning, and a brain the size of a peanut. Arms because it could accelerate so fast it would leave you behind, reflexes because it could change speed so quickly, and brain because it would be mashed up against the back of your skull". He did like it, however.


I have at least two of those attributes.
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

Unread post by MikeT »

Damn, a missed opportunity!
I have a project (chinese knock-off) SuperMoto 125 I need shot of. Only done 1600miles (on a Y plate!). It's a nice looker with the road wheels too.

This was my last bike bike. It's classed a sports tourer which means it's both comfortable for touring and F-fast when you want to play the tarmac hooligan. With a V-Four that provides both lazy torque yet still pull like billy-o if you rag it up to 11,000rpm.
Viffer.JPG
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

Unread post by Hell Razor5543 »

MikeT wrote: 02 Feb 2018, 15:35 Damn, a missed opportunity!
I have a project (chinese knock-off) SuperMoto 125 I need shot of. Only done 1600miles (on a Y plate!). It's a nice looker with the road wheels too.

This was my last bike bike. It's classed a sports tourer which means it's both comfortable for touring and F-fast when you want to play the tarmac hooligan. With a V-Four that provides both lazy torque yet still pull like billy-o if you rag it up to 11,000rpm.

Viffer.JPG

Image

Don't worry. With Michel's habit of replacing his vehicles every few weeks or so it probably won't be long before he is looking for a different motorcycle.
James
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
ex C5 2.2HDi VTX+

Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
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Michel
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

Unread post by Michel »

MikeT wrote: 02 Feb 2018, 15:35 Damn, a missed opportunity!
I have a project (chinese knock-off) SuperMoto 125 I need shot of. Only done 1600miles (on a Y plate!). It's a nice looker with the road wheels too.

This was my last bike bike. It's classed a sports tourer which means it's both comfortable for touring and F-fast when you want to play the tarmac hooligan. With a V-Four that provides both lazy torque yet still pull like billy-o if you rag it up to 11,000rpm.

Viffer.JPG

Image
Didn't these have camshafts or cam gears made out of chocolate? I seem to remember issues with early ones, which is why I bought a CBR600 instead back then!
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Michel
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

Unread post by Michel »

Hell Razor5543 wrote: 02 Feb 2018, 15:38
Don't worry. With Michel's habit of replacing his vehicles every few weeks or so it probably won't be long before he is looking for a different motorcycle.


I only owned... I think, 5 motorcycles in the 10 years or so I rode them and didn't have cars. A motorbike is a much more personal vehicle than a car, it has to fit right, and you have to "bond" with it much more. I'll have this one until I'm relicenced, then I'll probably get a Virago or possibly a Honda Deauville tourer. I'd like a CBR600 again, but... they're a bit uncomfortable for my aches and pains, but they are the best all-rounder ever made.
Hell Razor5543
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

Unread post by Hell Razor5543 »

Well, how about something like this (if you can get past the presenter, that is)?

James
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
ex C5 2.2HDi VTX+

Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
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Michel
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

Unread post by Michel »

I was thinking more along these lines. Looks "Harley-ish" but ride like a motorcycle, and are much comfier and well, Japanese, so they work.
YAMAHAXV1100VIRAGO-779_1.jpg
MikeT
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

Unread post by MikeT »

Michel wrote: 02 Feb 2018, 15:43 Didn't these have camshafts or cam gears made out of chocolate? I seem to remember issues with early ones, which is why I bought a CBR600 instead back then!


That's contrary to what everyone else told me about them, bullet-proof cam gears. Maybe it was the smaller VRF/VRF400's that had the problem?
600 sports bikes are ok but need a lot of work to get the most of out of them.
I test-rode VFR**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff], VTR1000 and CBR900 back to back and disliked the CBR the most.
I did have brief ownership of a Kawa KLR650 but that spat it's cam out shortly after purchase, as did the Aprillia Pegaso750 that replaced it.