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Compare 34 hp motorcycles
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Compare 34 hp motorcycles

The power of feelings

Finally 18, finally my driver’s license in my pocket. What can the youngsters expect? How do entry-level throttled motorcycles feel? Four machines of very different colors in the test.

The magic number for everyone who wants to plunge into the adventure of two-wheelers at the age of 18, for all those stalwart who were mostly hopelessly attacked by the motorcycling virus at the age of 16: 34 hp. Attempts to curb the forward thrust of the younger generation of motorcycle enthusiasts were made long before the legislature put a certain stop to it: caring and nasty traps, laid out by concerned parents, gladly presented in the form of a nice, used, but cute small car that you are Call your own. Before that, however, you have to swear off the motorcycle quickly and once and for all, with your grandma’s beard, the life of the prophet, or anything else that is sacred to you. This is what happened to the author of these lines. But he smelled a fuse. Looted his passbook, softened daddy’s heart ?? and found a financially strong ally in Grandpa. The goal of all dreams was achieved. A Honda XL 600 R, gray import, delivered in the box; in 1984 it cost 5500 marks. Driver’s license? Everyone who was self-respecting in the clique took part in the driving license. The few driving lessons? Pah, didn’t taste the world. Back then. And the Honda? A dream, this enduro. Open power: 44 hp. A performance limit for beginners did not yet exist.
That was only introduced due to the motorcycle boom in 1988. It was also better for the life and limb of the motorcycle novice. The limit of 34 hp has been in effect since April 1, 1993.
In fact, there is hardly a motorcycle that cannot be throttled to 34 hp. Alpha-Technik (phone 08036/300720) will be happy to help with various conversion kits and reports. But the manufacturers have long since come to terms with the tier driving license and offer a large number of throttled variants. MOTORRAD took four of them to a kind of self-awareness course in the south of France. And invited a special guest: Benjamin Schuler, 23 years old (see also box on page 44). Unused, the man? and not yet spoiled by the sweet poison of over 100 hp motorcycles.
But very receptive to pure poison in the form of an Aprilia RS 125. It’s great that such motorcycles still exist. The little two-stroke has been the undisputed star of the 125cc scene for years, and its fans cavort on great websites between trips (www.aprilia-rs-125.de). Classic gateway drug for 16-year-old adrenaline junkies. In the street legal, unthrottled version 2003 with U-Kat, the RS 125 is 22 kW (30 PS) strong, so it fulfills the relation between power and the empty weight (139 kg) shown in the vehicle registration document: a maximum of 0.16 kW per kg the legislature before.
The small 125cc doesn’t have to hide from supersport heroes like a Suzuki GSX-R 1000. Because it is made at least as radical and ambitious. Where else in your class is there a fine, polished aluminum frame, an upside-down fork plus high-quality shock absorber and banana swing arm? A thoroughbred sports motorcycle for sensitive specialists. Engaging less than 5000 rpm? Forget it. The small two-stroke simply quits the service. If you want to be kept on your toes at all times and everywhere, it snaps so quickly at over 9000 rpm that the shift foot has to do a wild dance, the next gear needs to be pushed up that quickly. Consumption fluctuates. Anything is possible between four and ten liters.
Some experienced testers find the first rendezvous with the Italian a little more difficult. Darned performance. Draft? Does that even exist? Benjamin, the youngster, shoots himself at the Aprilia surprisingly quickly: »Wonderfully uncompromising, not exactly easy to drive, challenges me? and it’s a lot of fun, «is his conclusion. Simply impressive, what is possible with this small lethal injection. If you dare. Almost unlimited freedom of lean angle, which you can really savor thanks to the mounted Dunlop D 207 GP. 45 degrees incline ?? and there is still no end in sight. What a landing gear. Ultra-stable, incredibly handy. Just don’t let the speed drop too much. Drive by ear. Shit, braked too early again. Although the four-piston caliper only bites hard when a lot of force is used. For good reason, because otherwise every careless action would threaten a forward somersault. Braking point caught. Pretty bitchy, she is now standing up mightily, the little one. Right back on the gas. The two-stroke grabs, the sound beguiles. Where do you go to the next racetrack? And there is an age limit in the ADAC Junior Cup?
BMW F 650 CS, the contrast to Aprilia, if you will. A lot of zeitgeist is concentrated in it. Pretty extroverted when it comes to design. Also otherwise beautifully modern. Has intake manifold injection and G-Kat. And drives lately ?? thanks to the revised shock absorber ?? like the devil. Not exactly a lightweight, but it surprises you with its downright insane handling. Pretends to turn it on a beer mat if necessary. On narrow, furrowed passes, you can’t fool yourself so quickly. Not even in the throttled version. The open 50 hp single skilfully conceals the lack of performance, stomps diligently out of the rev range, but annoys with delayed throttle response and constant speed jolts. It spoils you with its lightness and precise lines, which it does not spoil with disturbing load change reactions.
The CS has great brakes, even with ABS for a surcharge. You should definitely order that too. Because it works great. Just like the traditional heated grips, which are subject to a charge. BMW still seems to have a monopoly on this. Why else do other manufacturers not rely on the practical parts. Benjamin, however, leaves the BMW cold: “Drives easily, the sound is disappointing, unfortunately it looks like it was designed for Barbie,” he reports. He’s in a fever. Wants to ride a Harley. His first time.
The baby. That’s what they like to call the Harley-Davidson Sportster 53 at the company. Whereby that’s pretty presumptuous, given 883 cubic centimeters of displacement. The smallest twin in the Harley range: an insider tip. Unfortunately, too little attention is paid to it. Hand on heart, when you think of Harley-Davidson you think of a Twin Cam 88th displacement. That costs. The little Sporty, on the other hand, almost looks like a special offer: 8,453 euros, including ancillary costs, high value retention and a huge sympathy bonus, which is important when looking for sponsors within the family. Hasn’t the senior secretly dreamed of good vibrations for a long time? The little one offers a lot of them. So much in any case that one or the other screw connection blesses the time. Belongs to it. Just like the bloodcurdling clong when you insert the individual speed levels. Benjamin is on it. »The engine starts pushing clean even at low speeds, but it doesn’t shake, it just vibrates appropriately. Great sound, stylish design, a real eye-catcher. ”It also makes life surprisingly easy for him. Wheelbase as long as an inch, large front wheel, narrow tires. This combination enables fine aiming accuracy, and the Custom 53 also has a ?? for cruisers ?? amazing lean angle. In any case, she doesn’t act as a drag on a lively country road boom and goes along casually. With her, nominally 53 horsepower, the throttling to 34 horsepower is the least noticeable. By default, Harleys don’t like revs, but with displacement they are amply blessed, an advantage that they skillfully exploit. And then this sound. Unique. This is what a Harley should sound like. A thick Twin Cam 88, on the other hand, almost whispers as if it had indulged in too much sake.
Welcome to Japan. Land of the four-cylinder. Suzuki GSF 600 S Bandit. Actually wants to be turned up with relish, because only then does the popular all-rounder really show life. But this bandit is unfortunately not allowed to do that. Because it is on 34 hp via a cross hole in the throttle valve. First of all, this twists the performance character. High speeds do not help. Shift quickly, skilfully use the available torque, then the required propulsion sets in. If that is internalized, the throttling can be considered very successful. What else does Suzuki have to offer? Your well-known recipe for success. Cheap ?? There are also good used cars in abundance, versatile, comfortable, foolproof to drive. Good wind protection, great seating comfort, even for a co-pilot. And very future-proof. In the open version it comes up with a nominal 78 hp. The time there won’t be long. The tuning of the spring elements is a little underdamped, but that’s exactly what makes them so special. It purrs through the corners as if on velvet paws, without making life difficult for you. Doesn’t even hold you against course corrections in an inclined position. No trace of erecting moment. For the novice Benjamin it is the first choice: “The bandit flatters me. It makes me believe I’m a good motorcyclist, gives me a lot of security and a lot of driving pleasure. “
S.pass that all four bring across in this 34-horsepower quartet. As long as they are on the winding path as undisturbed as possible by annoying four-wheelers. Given the significantly increased performance of cars and ?? especially ?? Trucks want to be carefully considered when overtaking with such entry-level variants. You should also consider raising the limit in a timely manner. How about 44 hp?

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Compare 34 hp motorcycles

Compare 34 hp motorcycles
The power of feelings

The baptism of fire

Benjamin Schuler, a mechanical engineering student, took part in a MOTORRAD test for the first time. The man has gone. On arrival, brazen thieves stole all his luggage from the editorial VW, Benjamin responded as follows: “Then I’ll have to buy a new toothbrush.” ​​He also proved to be the ideal choice for comparing the very different throttle variants. 23 Lenze young, he remembers “his” 34 hp days very well, mainly because he still swears by his Honda CB 200. He has owned the small two-cylinder since he was 18 years old, and despite having acquired a Yamaha TDM 850 in the meantime, he does not want to part in the foreseeable future. “It’s inexpensive to maintain and an ideal short-distance motorcycle, and I also love these incredible speeds,” is how he explains his liaison with the Honda. Benjamin’s, as it were, accurate and bone-dry comments on the respective test machines made the long-standing testers smile more than once.

Technical specifications & Measurements: Aprilia RS 125

EngineWater-cooled single-cylinder two-stroke engine, a balance shaft, diaphragm inlet, exhaust control via electronically operated slide, separate lubrication, flat slide carburetor, Ø 28 mm, condenser ignition (CDI), electric starter. Bore x stroke 54.0 x 54.4 mm, displacement 125 cm³, rated power 22 kW (30 PS) at 11,300 rpm Max. Torque 15 Nm (1.5 kpm) at 10,800 rpm power transmission Mechanically operated multi-disc oil bath clutch, six-speed gearbox, chain. Chassis, bridge frame made of aluminum profiles, upside-down fork, guide tube diameter 40 mm, two-arm swing arm made of aluminum profiles, central spring strut with lever system, front disc brake, floating Brake disc, Ø 320 mm, four-piston caliper, rear disc brake, Ø 220 mm, two-piston caliper. Tires 110/70 ZR 17; 150/60 ZR 17 tires tested Dunlop D 207 GP Chassis data Steering head angle 64 degrees, caster 88 mm, wheelbase 1345 mm, spring travel f / r 120/120 mm. Dimensions and weights Seat height * 790 mm, weight with a full tank * 141 kg, payload * 178 kg, tank capacity / Reserve 14 / 3.5 liters. Two-year guarantee with unlimited mileageColors red-black, silver-blackPrice including ancillary costs 4799 eurosDelivery performanceMaximum speed * 155 km / hAcceleration0-100 km / h 7.6 s0-120 km / h 11.6 sDraft60- 80 km / h 13.2 s80-100 km / h 14.6 s100-120 km / h -consumption country road 4.4 l * manufacturer information

Technical specifications & Measurements: BMW F 650 CS

EngineWater-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke engine, a balance shaft, two overhead, chain-driven camshafts, four valves, bucket tappets, dry sump lubrication, electronic intake manifold injection, Ø 46 mm, regulated catalytic converter, electric starter. Bore x stroke 100.0 x 83.0 mm, displacement 652 cm³, nominal output 25 kW (34 HP) at 6500 rpm Max. Torque 50 Nm (5.1 kpm) at 3500 rpm rear, Ø 240 mm, ABS single-piston caliper, 110/70 ZR 17 tires; 150/60 ZR 17 tires tested Bridgestone BT 010 Chassis data Steering head angle 62 degrees, caster 86 mm, wheelbase 1493 mm, suspension travel f / r 125/120 mm. Dimensions and weights Seat height 780 mm, weight with a full tank 187 kg, load 183 kg, tank capacity * 15 liters. Two-year guarantee with no mileage limitColours gold orange metallic, azure blue metallic, beluga blue metallicPrice including additional costs 7762 eurosPrice of test motorcycle ** 8290 eurosMobile performanceMaximum speed * 145 km / hAcceleration0-100 km / h 7.4 s0-120 km / h 12.1 sDirection60-80 km / h 3, 0 s80-100 km / h 4.1 s100-120 km / h 5.5 s Consumption Landstrasse 4.8 l * Manufacturer information ** including heated grips, ABS, hazard warning lights

Technical specifications & Measurements: Harley – Davidson Sportster Custom 53

Air-cooled two-cylinder four-stroke 45-degree V-engine, transverse crankshaft, four underlying, gear-driven camshafts, two valves per cylinder, hydraulic valve lifters, bumpers, rocker arms, dry sump lubrication, a Keihin constant pressure carburetor, Ø 40 mm, transistor ignition, no exhaust gas cleaning, E. -Starter.Bore x stroke 76.2 x 96.8 mm, displacement 883 cm³, rated output 24 kW (33 PS) at 5300 rpm, max. Torque 29 Nm (3.0 kpm) at 2500 rpm Power transmission Mechanically operated multi-disc oil bath clutch, five-speed gearbox, toothed belt. Chassis Double-loop frame made of tubular steel, telescopic fork, standpipe diameter 39 mm, two-arm swing arm made of steel profiles, two spring struts, adjustable spring base, front disc brake, Ø 292 mm, four-piston caliper , Rear disc brake, Ø 292 mm, four-piston caliper. Tires 80/90 H 21; 130/90 HB 16 tires tested Dunlop D 402F, D401 chassis data Steering head angle 60 degrees, caster 117 mm, wheelbase 1510 mm, spring travel f / r 104/54 mm. Dimensions and weights Seat height * 688 mm, weight with a full tank * 245 kg, payload * 185 kg, Tank capacity / reserve * 12.5 / 1.9 liters Warranty Two years with no mileage limit Price including ancillary costs1 8453 Euro MileageMaximum speed * 150 km / h Acceleration0-100 km / h 9.6 s0-120 km / h 15.3 sDirecting60-80 km / h 4.8 s80-100 km / h 5.7 s100-120 km / h 8.3 s Consumption Country road 4.6 l * Manufacturer information, 1 single-color version

Technical specifications & Measurements: Suzuki GSF 600 S Bandit

Engine Air / oil-cooled four-cylinder four-stroke in-line engine, two overhead, chain-driven camshafts, four valves per cylinder, fork rocker arms, wet sump lubrication, constant pressure carburetor, Ø 32 mm, transistor ignition, secondary air system, electric starter. Bore x stroke 62.6 x 48.7 mm displacement 600 cm³ Rated output 25 kW (34 PS) at 9500 rpm Max. Torque 39 Nm (4.0 kpm) at 4300 rpm Power transmission Mechanically operated multi-disc oil bath clutch, six-speed gearbox, O-ring chain. Chassis Double loop frame made of tubular steel, telescopic fork, stanchion diameter 41 mm, two-arm swing arm made of steel profiles, central spring strut with lever system, adjustable spring base and rebound damping front, floating brake discs, Ø 290 mm, double-piston calipers, rear disc brake, Ø 240 mm, two-piston caliper. Tires 120/60 ZR 17; 160/60 ZR 17 tires tested Bridgestone BT 56 chassis data Steering head angle 64.5 degrees, caster 100 mm, wheelbase 1433 mm, spring travel f / r 130/121 mm. Dimensions and weights Seat height * 800 mm, weight with a full tank * 230 kg, payload * 210 kg , Tank capacity / reserve * 20 / 4.5 liters. Two-year guarantee with no mileage limitPrice including additional costs 6255 eurosDelivery1Maximum speed * 150 km / hAcceleration0-100 km / h 8.9 s0-120 km / h 14.2 sDirecting60-80 km / h 4.0 s80-100 km / h 4.5 s100-120 km / h 6.4 s Consumption Landstrasse 5.1 l * Manufacturer’s information, 1 measurement conditions: temperature 10 degrees, weak wind, measuring location Bandol, 2 measurements on the Dynojet 150 roller dynamometer, corrected according to ECE, maximum possible deviation + – 5%

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