My New Therapy

It took a weekend of thinking after trying out the Honda, and then my mind was made up. Going through the pros and cons, I really could only find pros with the CB1100, but more so the size of my smile after riding was the real deal closer. So, I went to order the new bike, which would be ready a week later.

It’s now in the garage just waiting for its next ride. Hopefully the weather improves soon because with the wettest summer in 50 years here I have not had much chance to go riding yet.

Honda CB1100

The second and only remaining bike on my short-list was the Honda CB1100 I mentioned in an earlier post, so it was time to head on over to Honda for a proper test. I have been having conflicting feelings about this bike for some time now. I remember when Honda brought out a prototype of this bike a number of years ago, and really liked it. Then they actually began producing it last year, and I was a bit more hesitant since I was afraid it had been perhaps too refined. It still looks fabulous, and this is even more so true in real life than in pictures. The latest model with wire wheels and a more comfortable seat coupled with the dual exhausts is really nice. Compared to the BMW though it is somehow more restrained, or perhaps a bit bland. I do tend to like a bit of quirkiness which can be seen in the vehicles I have owned over the years. However the details are great, and it oozes quality. I have had several Hondas in the past, and they certainly know how to make a solid and reliable bike.

The one I was trying was actually last year’s model, so it has a 5 speed gear box as opposed to the 6 of this year, aluminium wheels, single exhaust pipe and a smaller tank. The chassis, suspension and engine is exactly the same though, so it should be fine for a test ride. Starting the bike produces the familiar hum of a four in line, and even though I normally prefer the rumble of a twin, it is actually quite pleasant. It has a seriousness about it, compared to perhaps a more wild side of a twin’s rumble. It could do with a little more volume though, and I suppose some new slip-ons might be nice. Still, I really would not want to mess with the looks of the bike, unless it was for some 4-in-4 pipes to really go for the old CB750 look, but that would also just add to the already imposing weight. It should be pointed out here that it comes standard with a center stand which is really practical, something which doesn’t exist for the Beemer.

I climb on, and immediately feel at home on the bike. The seat is fairly low, so my feet are well planted on the ground with the handle bar being exactly where I would want it. The shape of the tank is good, as you can properly get your knees around it. The engine, although quite wide being a four in line, is not at all obtrusive for my feet, so all is good to go. A smooth click selects first, and I let out the feather light clutch. Man this thing is smooth of the line! You can short-shift if you want and quickly get it in third while just rolling at 40 kmh. It feels so effortless, and is actually really pleasant. Negotiating the city is a breeze, and as much as it was a pain to do with my Corsaro, here it is really enjoyable.

Other than the smooth engine, there are several other factors that makes it so good in the city. The weight distribution is perfect, and even though it is a pretty hefty bike, as soon as you start moving all that weight just disappears. I don’t think I have ever ridden a bike that is as well balanced as this one. The position on the bike is upright, and the handle bar not too wide so you can get it through any gap you want. On top of that, the tires are quite narrow, at least in comparison with what I am used to, so it behaves like a bicycle almost. So easy, and so stable all the time. I think I can safely say this is the best bike I have ever ridden in the city, and I would not miss my scooter if I was to ride this thing to work.

Getting out of the city and the pleasant surprise continues. Riding on roads limited to 60 or even 80kmh was always a bit frustrating with the Corsaro as you really needed to get going for it to be good. Here the CB is excellent, and so relaxing. You can keep it in whatever gear you want, and it just goes. The power is there though if you want it, and with a twist of the wrist it shoots forward. Never as violently as a big twin, but nevertheless very briskly. It’s all smooth all the time, yet it doesn’t lack feel. Going even faster, like highway speeds, and it is the same story, except that at over 130kmh the lack of any wind protection and the rather upright riding position tends to make it a bit tiring. Feeling comfortable at 80 or 130 is just a great way to keep your license a bit longer too!

The final test is a nice twisty mountain road. Obviously it is not able to go as fast as the Corsaro did, but it does go. To top things off, it is still just as pleasant and relaxing. The narrow tires allows for quick turns, and the chassis is very stable keeping things in line. Cruising up a mountain road while maintaining a reasonable safety margin us suddenly pure fun. The bike really does hit the spot for me in pretty much every category, and corresponds to what I am looking for now, I want easy cruising, and this Honda really delivers!

Moto Guzzi Griso

Having completed my short-list, I went first to have a go on the Moto Guzzi Griso, as I had found a shop in the area that had a demo bike that they were also selling. The first impression when seeing the bike was very good. The bike looks great, and the quality can be seen in all the little parts. Given that Guzzi is part of the Piaggio group since a few years, it is not surprising to find a number of quality Aprilia bits on the bike. I could recognize several parts from my brothers Aprilia Tuono, and it all felt very solid just like the Tuono. The seating is low, but it is a long bike and reaching for the wide bars feels a bit strange. You need to lean forward on it, but unlike my Corsaro where you still felt like you were sitting a bit in the bike, here you really feel on top of it. I get this image of somebody trying to break the land speed record in Bonneville from the 30’s by lying on the bike to be more streamlined, which is not particularly reassuring.

Punching the starter brings the engine to life, and a gentle blip of the throttle has the bike leaning on its side. Although a bit unusual, I like it! There are some vibrations, but not too much, and the sound reminds me a bit of my old Ducati. All good! It’s time to get out on the road.

The bike is quite heavy, and you feel it as you maneuver it around the parking, but as soon as you get on the road the weight seems to disappear. It is incredibly stable and easy to ride around with at low city speeds, even though I find the riding position a bit awkward and the length a bit unwieldy. Not only do you have this feeling of lying on top of it, but the tank also tends to spread your knees more than I like (yeah I know this all sounds pretty kinky!). Once on the open road it all works though, and it is incredibly planted in the corners. Like the Ducati ST2 I had many years ago, you need to have a firm hand when getting it in to the corner and down on an angle, but once there it is rock solid. I used to refer to this behavior on the Ducati as virile, and I always like that feeling. You have to properly commit yourself to each corner, but when you do you are properly rewarded. Power is good, but coming off the Corsaro anything is lacking in power a bit. However, since I specifically want less power than what I had before, this Guzzi seems pretty much spot on in this department.

Basically everything is good with this bike, and 10 years ago I probably would have bought one. It looks fabulous with an excellent build quality and ride. However, when I compare it to the Beemer it just kind of falls behind in every category. It is heavier, uses more fuel, is more of a handful in all conditions, and let’s be honest here, Moto Guzzi does not have the same reputation for reliability as BMW. Coming out of 15 years riding Italian bikes, I think I could use something different. No, I can safely say I would rather go without a bike this summer and wait for the BMW than getting the Guzzi for now. Besides, as much as the Corsaro was difficult to sell when I wanted a change, I am certain the Guzzi is no easier.

So Now What?

With the BMW R nineT now being out of the equation, I have tried to determine what I am looking for, and it broadly comes down to a retro looking bike with modern mechanics. I was already looking at something like this some years ago, as I had a test ride on the Ducati SportsClassic GT. At the time I thought that bike to be ideal as it came with one of the best engines Ducati ever made, a simple air-cooled twin with the proper amount of torque. The chassis and suspension were top notch and very up to date, and it looked great. The problem is that since then Ducati have stopped making these, preferring to focus on more modern and sporty bikes. The sales figures for the GT would show that it was not a bike the market was looking for, but perhaps now with the success that BMW is having with a similar concept they may just re-consider and bring out another attempt at this. But for now there was no Ducati option.

We then have a group of some classics that are quite closely matched: Triumph Bonneville, Kawasaki W800 and Moto Guzzi V7. These are all really nice bikes, and having tried them all I would go for the Kawasaki. As much heritage that Triumph and Guzzi have to their credentials, the Kawasaki just seemed a little bit more accomplished. However, all three of these suffer from being a bit too limited in power. Going from 140hp and insane amounts of torque to something like 60hp is a little bit too much of a step down. I know that although I would enjoy these bikes, within a week I would really be annoyed by the ultimate lack of power, and so these three were ruled out of the equation.

Some may at this point say that I should have a look at a Harley. Often people that do not ride bikes refer to Harleys as the real motorcycles, whereas people that do ride tend to refer to them as rather agricultural! There is always a fair amount of snobbism within biking, especially between the Harley crowd and the “rice cooker” crowd. I don’t really share these traits, and keep an open mind. I can admit that some Harleys are actually quite good looking, but the riding style simply does not correspond to what I want. The feet-forward position just doesn’t work for me, and if I qualify the Bonnie and Kawasaki W800 as too limited on power, then don’t get me started on a Harley Davidson Sportster 1200. Besides, my wife would not let me in the house again if I was to come home on a Harley!

So what else is there? Honda came out with an incredible remake of their CB bikes of the 70’s and 80’s in the CB1100. It looks stunning in real life, and this year’s EX model is even better as they have added wire spoke wheels and dual exhausts. It certainly looks the part, but for me the problem may be with the four in line engine. I have basically always had twins, and simply prefer the feel of a twin in a bike. From what I have read, the Honda has an amazing engine, but also one that lacks feeling and soul.

Moto Guzzi have also had another bike around for almost ten years that on paper is very similar to the BMW; the 1200 Griso. The stats are almost a carbon copy of the BMW, and it also has a bit of a neo-retro look as well. It also comes with an air-cooled twin and a shaft drive. Also like the BMW it comes with a proper 180 sports tire in the rear, but on this one mounted on wire wheels that also allow for tubeless tires. Finally the price is very close to the BMW, with the bonus that I can find an almost new one with several thousand’s knocked off.

The Beemer

Having sold the Corsaro, there was already a new bike that I have been lusting after for a little while now, and that is the new BMW R nineT. This is a particularly interesting concept that was brought out by BMW at the beginning of the year following a prototype they displayed a few years ago. The idea is to produce a bike that serves as a tribute to the BMW biking heritage, and perhaps more particularly the R90 of the 70’s. The result is a bike that has a classic look to it, yet is built using very modern components. The idea is making a classic looking bike that can run with the best of the roadsters of today, and the result is a stunning looking bike that has a bit of a steam-punk look to it.

I was lucky enough to try one a couple of months back, and was pretty much sold right away. The looks are very much in line with what I am looking for right now, and just sitting on the bike I was thoroughly impressed by the quality of all the little details. The paintjob is top quality, and there are little brushed aluminium things strewn over the bike. The tiny BMW logo in the middle of the round headlamp is a perfect example of this bikes quality looks, and it is a bike you could actually put on display in your living room if you are so inclined. The position on the bike is nice an relaxed, with the seat being quite low. You do not have a cruiser feet-forward position on it, but proper roadster style with the legs bent and a need to slightly lean forward to reach the wide handlebar.

Being a bit of an older rider, I have never had bikes with a bunch of electronic stuff and ride-by-wire etc. that you find on most recent roadsters, and I am happy to find that the BMW is old-school. Really the only exception is the ABS brakes, which I suppose can come in handy on slippery surfaces. Pressing the ignition brings the air and oil cooled flat twin to life, and I am pleasantly surprised to find that it does not have the normal sound of BMW flat twins. This one sounds beautiful, with a purposeful rumble, and twisting the throttle just improves on that sound with more volume. In fact, the volume is to the point that I wonder how this thing can be legal. Revving the engine also produces the typical left to right shake of flat twins, but the bike does not really lean over as other have in the past. Time to go for a ride…

The bike takes off easily enough, and although it is quite powerful with proper amounts of torque, it is nothing like the brutal Corsaro. I think stepping off the Corsaro pretty much anything will feel a bit docile, and that is also the case for the Beemer. It is very smooth, and surprisingly for a twin does not mind moving off from very low revs. There is not shaking in protest from the engine, and it just moves away. Getting in to the first corner and I find the turn-in to be very easy. A light pull on the bar gets the bike on an angle, and it feels very stable once it is there. It is not intimidating in any way, and as the confidence in the bike quickly grows, so does my speed! This is just pure fun, and riding up a nice twisty mountain road has me smiling under my helmet. I have gotten used to having to work hard for this sort of reward on my previous bike, and speeds would also be a fair bit higher. Here I just go, and it always feels so planted. To top things off, the suspension excels at absorbing bumps in the road, resulting in a very comfortable ride even if the seat looks really thin at first.

After this test ride, I was sold on the bike. The fact that it was a BMW as well further helped reassure me as it would be nice to have a big solid company behind the bike I ride instead of a financially strapped little Italian outfit. So, there was not to be any motorcycle hunt after selling the Corsaro. Or so I thought…

On the Monday after I sold my bike, I went to he BMW garage to place an order, only to be told that there are none available. The soonest possible would be possibly November this year. Nooooooo! I can’t go all summer without a bike! The thing was that I really wanted this Beemer, but perhaps I should take the opportunity to see if there are any other bikes out there that can serve as a replacement. Maybe I can find something even more appropriate!

And Now For Something Completely Different

Although the main purpose of this blog may be to rant, I have decided to broaden the scope of my writings. Rather than having several blogs, each one with a specific topic, I will bunch in here all sorts of entries. Here is the first twist…

One of my true passions is motorcycles, and this has been the case for as long as I remember. I got my first motorcycle when I was 8, and the passion has just grown since then. Over the years I have also found riding motorcycles to be an excellent stress therapy. Today, I have the bike that was my first one, and even though it is not the actual bike I had when 8 it is still exactly the same: a 1972 Honda 50 Monkey Bike. Over the years I have gone through a number of different motorcycles. And each time I change for a new one, considerable research and testing goes in to the process. I suppose this whole research and testing process is almost as much fun as then actually owning a new bike. Almost…

My most recent bike is a Moto Morini Corsaro 1200. This is quite an amazing motorcycle, but also one that is simply not known by the general public. I came across it 6 years ago, and after having tried every single big roadster on the market, getting on the Morini was an eye-opener. Every bike I had tried until that one always had something going against it. For some it was a lack of power, while for others it might be the power delivery. Ergonomics often played a role as well, especially since I am quite tall and tend to get cramped on modern bikes. On the Morini everything was right, and it had an engine like nothing I had ever tried before.

The big 1200cc twin, referred to as the Bialbero Corsa Corta, is in my opinion the greatest v-twin ever made for a motorcycle. In standard form it pumps out 140hp which is not bad, but the truly impressive feature is the torque figure of 122nm at 6750 rpm! This kind of torque figure is what makes riding the Corsaro particularly interesting, and not quite like anything you may have tried before. Personally I have ridden and owned Ducatis that are generally known for their impressive power delivery, but they almost appear bland in comparison to the Morini. In standard form I would sometimes compare riding my Corsaro to riding a rodeo horse, then when I fitted the de-cat pipes and aftermarket QD exhaust it was like riding a rodeo bull! You knew all the time that the power was probably too much, and this actually made it even more exhilarating.

The rest of the bike was very well matched to its purpose. Some may have complained that the chassis and suspension could be a bit more sharp, but then this was always intended to be a roadster and not a race bike. As such, the chassis was more than adequate for anything you could possibly throw at it on a public road, and would hold up very well for a track day. At the same time, it was reasonably comfortable just because it is not a race bike, and the riding position was perfectly matched. You would lean slightly forward giving an intermediately aggressive position, and there was proper space for your legs so the knees would not be too bent. The shape of the tank allowed you to squeeze it properly with your knees, and hook in when hanging off in a corner. With a 180 tire in the rear it had not succumbed to the fatter is better that some roadsters go for, and the result was a very reactive bike. Coupled with amazing Pirelli tires and it handled like a dream, and never felt like it was struggling with the limits.

As amazing as this bike was, the fact is that I was not really exploiting its potential anymore. My riding style has changed with age, and I now tend to cruise at a more leisurely pace. This is something which does not really suit the Corsaro, and to be honest I was not doing the bike justice anymore. So, having had the bike up for sale for a while, it was just recently sold so that I may embark on the selection voyage for a new bike!

Let's Gowex Ends Up Going South...

This is a nice story to kick off the weekend, one that is totally up my alley. Although this blog is very recent, people that know me since a bit longer than a week, also know that I really hate modern investors that buy on hype and totally forego any sort of financial investigation. The GoPro post from the other day was along those lines, and today’s story is even more so.

This is the story of Let’s Gowex, a Spanish WiFi provider that has been making some headlines in the last few days, and not for the right reasons. In recent years, this company has been lauded several times for its significant growth and innovation. As recently as May this year the founder and CEO Jenaro Garcia won the top prize from Spain’s marketing association, and Garcia was referred to as “a magician who converted WiFi into water.” (I am not really sure what that is supposed to mean) In a nutshell, Gowex is a company providing free WiFi, having it instead financed by advertisement. It has been doing a number of implementations in Spain as well as elsewhere in Europe and also the US. Financial records have seemed very promising, and the stock price shot up as of September last year from EUR 5.38 peaking at EUR 27 in late March this year. That is a 400% increase over 6 months, and the type of absurd price increase that gets people to lose all sense of reality. It must be brilliant if the price goes up like that, no?

In late June this year, Jerano Garcia stated that Gowex was expanding fast and would soon provide WiFi to 20% of the world’s population. Indeed something that would warrant even a considerably higher stock market value, but also something so obviously impossible.

Luckily there are some people out there that do not believe everything they see or read, and short seller Gotham City Research decided to investigate the company in some detail. This was certainly not the first of Gotham’s victims as they have already covered a number of other dubious companies, and this time their report has had a significant effect. On July 1^st they published their report stating that their target stock price was EUR 0.00, and backed this up by disclosing a vast number of irregularities and plain lies in Gowex’s financial figures and claims from their CEO. Basically the revenue of Gowex had been overstated 10 fold.

After the report was published, Jenaro Garcia initially went on the offensive claiming that Gotham’s report was false, and was threatening going to court. The following day he admitted that the report was all true, and the stock subsequently dropped to the floor. It may be that the company actually survives in the end, but for now it has filed for bankruptcy protection. However a lot of greedy investors will have lost huge amounts for following the crowd instead of actually doing some investigative work on their own.

I gather that there are a lot of shadows around Gotham City Research, but I for one will certainly be keeping a look at their reports in the future. If for nothing else then at least to inspire a few more blog posts.