What’s the best none Norton Norton ?

I had a bit of a flashback to the 80's the other night. I was on my 4th Norton, an 850Mk2, which was a daily ride 12mth of the year and regularly did long haul trips two-up. My girlfriend at the time also had a CZ175 and had recently passed her test, she wanted a bigger bike and something a bit more modern. I can't recall quite how we ended up getting her a Kawasaki Z750 twin but anyways, I had the job of picking it up and riding it the 100 miles home. I do recall that I was quite impressed with the bike and how it was so similar to my Norton in many respects, and remember feeling a little envious of my girlfriend :) I should add that I was quite accustomed to Jap bikes as I had a Honda CB900 when we first met.
 
Anyone here have or ridden a Huskavarna Vitpilen 701?
I like the idea of the big single, odd lines and light weight.
www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com

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www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com
 
Britfan60 said:
Totally redesigned. Very comfortable. Nice cushy seat, excellent riding position. The thing has ESP. Knows where you want to go as you thing about it. As far as being stupid to not buy the Yammie, you can't go by reports. You'd have to try both yourself and then decide. It does however seem to be a nice bike and I'm sure there are more Yammie dealerships than Ducati. And if that be the case, stupid not to buy a Harley. Can't spit around here without hitting a Harley dealership. I have three within a 10 mile radius.
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Some (read most) bike manufacturers will not allow a lot of dealerships within a 10 mile radius.
 
I was toying with the idea of getting a Yamaha TRX 850 (mentioned earlier), as a non-Norton Norton, when I got settled here in Japan 2years ago, fate dropped a SRX 400 single in my lap, it was priced right and it was fun but I sold it after a year. What about the MT-07 or MT-09, they seem like a possible candidate although I haven't personally ridden either. Cj
 
Voodooo said:
Anyone here have or ridden a Huskavarna Vitpilen 701?
I like the idea of the big single, odd lines and light weight.
www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com

Error Page

www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com
Click to expand...
I have a friend with the Husky 701 Supermoto which uses the same engine as the 701 Svartpilen/Vitpilen. It's the strongest single-cylinder bike I've ridden. Being about 317 lbs dry weight, is a little heavy as far as Supermotos go, but still handles great. I was close to getting a 701 Svartpilen until SWM began importing to US, and ended up with a SWM SM500R Supermoto, which has a little less power than the Husky 701 Supermoto, but is noticeably lighter in weight.
 
italia said:
I have a friend with the Husky 701 Supermoto which uses the same engine as the 701 Svartpilen/Vitpilen. It's the strongest single-cylinder bike I've ridden. Being about 317 lbs dry weight, is a little heavy as far as Supermotos go, but still handles great. I was close to getting a 701 Svartpilen until SWM began importing to US, and ended up with a SWM SM500R Supermoto, which has a little less power than the Husky 701 Supermoto, but is noticeably lighter in weight.
Click to expand...
How’s the build quality of the husky? From the looks on the Internet they look nice.
 
Voodooo said:
How’s the build quality of the husky? From the looks on the Internet they look nice.
Click to expand...
I've seen one Vitpilen briefly in person but didn't spend much time looking at build quality. Husky Supermoto/Enduro have very good build quality for Supermoto/Enduro sector, which typically trail standard/naked bikes from Ducati/Triumph etc. I would suggest looking at one yourself and sitting on it (test ride if possible) before purchase, as build quality for an $11000 bike is likely to be lower than your Norton & Ducati.
 
Voodooo said:
How’s the build quality of the husky? From the looks on the Internet they look nice.
Click to expand...

Looks a very stylish machine to me. MCN give it a pretty good review on their website and there are two owners submitting comments which are well worth reading.
 
Right! That’s it! My teddy is firmly in the corner! My very beautiful :rolleyes: 990 Adventure was called ‘the ugliest grasshopper in creation’ earlier in this thread and now you guys, displaying very dubious taste I might add, are cooing over the Vitpilin 701! Outrageous I say, OUTRAGEOUS [shouting]!

The tank looks like the illegitimate love child of an MT01 and my old 250N Superdream, the header pipe has obviouly been stolen from the reject parts bin at Harley’s R&D department (if they had one) and the designer clearly took a three week holiday in the Maldives WHEN HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FINISHING THE REAR END! The thing does’nt know whether it’s ‘Arthur’ or ‘Martha’! Have you gone mad? I demand that if you buy one of these you must immediately sell your Norton 961, so as not to dilute the discerning nature of this forum!

PS. I’d quite like to test ride one though!
 
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italia said:
I've seen one Vitpilen briefly in person but didn't spend much time looking at build quality. Husky Supermoto/Enduro have very good build quality for Supermoto/Enduro sector, which typically trail standard/naked bikes from Ducati/Triumph etc. I would suggest looking at one yourself and sitting on it (test ride if possible) before purchase, as build quality for an $11000 bike is likely to be lower than your Norton & Ducati.
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That’s the problem. No husky street bike dealer near me at all.
 
Stephen_Spencer said:
Right! That’s it! My teddy is firmly in the corner! My very beautiful :rolleyes: 990 Adventure was called ‘the ugliest grasshopper in creation’ earlier in this thread and now you guys, displaying very dubious taste I might add, are cooing over the Vitpilin 701! Outrageous I say, OUTRAGEOUS [shouting]!

The tank looks like the illegitimate love child of an MT01 and my old 250N Superdream, the header pipe has obviouly been stolen from the reject parts bin at Harley’s R&D department (if they had one) and the designer clearly took a three week holiday in the Maldives WHEN HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FINISHING THE REAR END! The thing does’nt know whether it’s ‘Arthur’ or ‘Martha’! Have you gone mad? I demand that if you buy one of these you must immediately sell your Norton 961, so as not to dilute the discerning nature of this forum!

PS. I’d quite like to test ride one though!
Click to expand...


I agree, yet another bike designed by someone who played with Transformer toys when growing up.
I saw about 100 versions from every manufacturer at the last bike Show. Couldn't even get remotely interested no matter what the spec sheets read.
Everyone loves to hate on Harley, but only Harley and Indian did not have Transformer design.
Triumph is smart enough to know that Transformers sell to young guys and the Bonneville line will sell to old + young guys, Because of this, and their unexpected success with their earlier AC Bonnie's, they lean heavily on that Bonneville line. They do have some Millenial transformer bikes too ( Speed Triple, Street triple)

Maybe I'm just really old now!


Glen
 
worntorn said:
I agree, yet another bike designed by someone who played with Transformer toys when growing up.
I saw about 100 versions from every manufacturer at the last bike Show. Couldn't even get remotely interested no matter what the spec sheets read.
Everyone loves to hate on Harley, but only Harley and Indian did not have Transformer design.
Triumph is smart enough to know that Transformers sell to young guys and the Bonneville line will sell to old + young guys, Because of this, and their unexpected success with their earlier AC Bonnie's, they lean heavily on that Bonneville line. They do have some Millenial transformer bikes too ( Speed Triple, Street triple)

Maybe I'm just really old now!


Glen
Click to expand...

We are of like mind my friend however, my clearly confected rage (and over use of sarcasm) was aimed at getting a reaction from one of the boys above but to no avail! I love a good debate - light hearted of course!

I can really appreciate some of the transformer toys for their specs, engineering and performance - point in case is the KTM Superduke (F%$#k! What a machine!). Couple of mates of mine ride MT10's, what an engine, it could easily pull you out of orbit if you got carried away with that endless throttle. Unfortunately, again, it looks like a transformer that's mated with a wheelie bin! Just can't get excited about the angular radical styling; a face that only a mother could love. I have a softer spot for the Speed and Street triples because I am in awe of what Triumph have achieved. Don't really subscribe to the Thaiumph rhetoric, just really want to see this British firm continue to beat the Japanese at what used to be 'our (Brit) game'.

They all of course pale into insignificance next the sheer beauty of the Norton Commando/Dominator 961, although I suspect that I may be a tad biased.

Steve.
 
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I often thought what would a modern motorcycle look like if it crashed on another planet where motorcycles had never been invented. With all of its component parts broken, bent and twisted beyond recognition, how would the resident species on that planet attempt to reassemble the wreckage?
I think the result would closely resemble the MT10

What’s the best none Norton Norton ?
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