Compare: Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Triumph Street, Moto Guzzi
Cool bikes for 8,000 euros
Do you know the movie "Bang Boom Bang – a surefire thing"? In the prologue of the 1990s strip, which some critics consider to be the German equivalent "pulp Fiction" , says Ralf Richter, aka gangster Kalle Grabowski, knowing what is important when looking for a vehicle for life …
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Cool bikes for 8,000 euros. Also included: Ducati Monster 696, Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 Iron, Moto Guzzi V7 Classic and Triumph Street Triple.
You need a vehicle that suits you! With style. One with character. Do you understand? … n’Baby … to love. You have to take care of it, stroke it, fill it up … and put money into it. Such a baby wants to be entertained. But it might stay with you until the end of your life …" Says Kalle Grabowski in the film. The way he brings it across, cooped up in the cell, atmospherically gloomy, with daringly tangled hair, in rancid clothes and threateningly raised index finger, it can only mean one thing: he means the ultimate mechanical lover. Sexy. Timeless. Charismatic. Unique. But also loyal. Solid as a rock for ever new temptations. A motor vehicle that accompanies you forever and always makes you feel elated. Guaranteed. Dead certain.
Compare: Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Triumph Street, Moto Guzzi
Cool bikes for 8,000 euros
V7 Classic and the Triumph Street Triple really great feelings for comparatively little money. But what triggers these great feelings in many of us?
Part one: view thieves
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The Italian monsters have been stirring up the market since 1993. Pleasant proportions, lasciviously displayed technology and a cool look have given the naked bike cult status.
There are motorcycles – sorry, if you do not agree with the author – that are less suitable as an accelerator for euphoria, but primarily as a means of transportation. Which are they? Matter of opinion. From an automotive point of view, we would be in a VW Sharan. Have you ever stood in front of a Sharan and reverently eager for the driving experience? N / A? I agree! With a Ford Mustang Shelby GT 500, the pulse will automatically be higher. He wants to be driven with the heart, Kalle Grabowski would say. Not with the brain.
Just like the four subjects in this test. When you open the garage door, your heart also opens when you stand across from one of these bikes. No quick dragging out, putting on a helmet and driving blindly on it. Take a deep breath. Circle reverently. Start wisely. A ceremony that will last for decades.
These four are anything but mainstream. They flirt with archetypal design elements. The clear proportions of the monsters, for example: wasp waist, potent elongated silencer, massive tank and the V2 dominated by the tubular space frame. Here the technology is not hidden, but lasciviously revealed. This also applies to the Harley, where everything is a bit more massive, by the way: screws, brackets, bearings, motor, frame.
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Cool bikes for 8,000 euros.
And increased the weight to 261 kilograms – it is around a hundredweight heavier than the competition. In addition to the original design, this solidity has its own, brittle, bitter charm of originality and durability. Something that also charms the Guzzi: the V7 Classic is as timeless as ice cream. With its continuous tank-bench line, the V2 built in lengthways to the direction of travel and goodies such as round headlights, quilted bench and the chrome-sealed wire wheels. Past goes future, as the English say. That sounds less nice in German. So let’s leave it. Triumph’s Street Triple breaks the mainstream with its two chrome-plated headlights that somehow look retrofitted – individuality ex works. Without waiting.
Part two: sound
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An eye-catcher: the exhaust of the Harley-Davidson 883 Iron.
Are you ready? Well. Helmet on. Start engines. It’s crazy, but anyone with gasoline in their blood knows who they’re dealing with after the first few turns.
This applies equally to drivers and listeners. Even the smallest air-cooled V2 in the Harley family flatters with wonderful asynchronous, bass-heavy, fast hiccups. With its full steamship-pounding rattle, the Guzzi-V2 takes on its work just as inimitably. And the tart, smoky creaking from inside the Triumph three-cylinder, which is accompanied by a whistling noise, is just as characteristic as the hard-metal, potent babbling from the Ducati-Vau.
You don’t need to have studied acoustics or worked in a specialist workshop for years to recognize these motors by their sound. They sound like they look. Individually.
Part three: driving experience
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Heavy metal, honest, unshakable: All 883 models, often referred to as girls’ Harleys, delight despite their small displacement with good vibrations, timeless design and moderate prices.
Have you ever explained the color blue to a blind person? It’s about as easy as telling a die-hard four-cylinder super sports driver the benefits of a Harley. Let’s put it this way: riding a motorcycle and riding a Harley are theoretically the same thing. But also Sigmar Gabriel and Vitali Klitschko. Both men.
From the very first seat contact, when your hands touch the massive Harley handles, the motor raps in its mount in the frame and you hope that nothing is bent in the gearbox when you put in the first one, you know that the US twins are in play in a league of their own. When idling at the traffic lights, the wonderfully pounding Vau offers the highest entertainment value. For people between 1.60 and 1.75, the sitting position is cool and relaxed. The 883, often called a girl’s Harley because of its comparatively small dimensions, is just as sensual as its fat American sisters.
It beguiles the eyes if you like the design and the ears because it sounds full. The most important thing, however: it conjures up an individual feeling of freedom that cannot be copied. From the first meter this LMAA feeling arises, the past breaks away behind you and the machine unconsciously counts the advantages of life to you. The 883 is the ideal getaway vehicle after work. Because the one-time-around-the-block experience is almost as poignant on the Iron as when you ride it to the end of the world.
This also applies to the Guzzi with their old-school seating position: the driver sits completely upright and comparatively far back. Wide handlebars, pegs placed far forward – greetings to the 1960s and 1970s. None of the quartet manages to transport their pilots so well into an era that was marked by hope, new beginnings and rebellion. Let’s call it flower power feelings. Free love. No fear of the future. Campfire and joints. Speed doesn’t matter. OK then. Because the rather meager 48 hp are, besides the difficult-to-operate clutch, perhaps the only downer of the V7.
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The monsters’ fanfares.
Anyone who wants to pull off a properly motorized small car on the country road with the only five hp more powerful Harley or Guzzi has to squeeze the engines extremely hard. And still has difficulties. No matter. The two break a lance for slowness. On them, the experience of biking at speeds between 70 and 100 km / h is at least as gorgeous and entertaining as on a 180 hp grenade at 200 km / h.
Here is the small difference to the Monster or Street Triple, whose charisma is a skilfully constructed mix of sportiness and urban feeling. How, you can’t do anything with urban? The term comes from the Latin (urbanus) and means "belonging to the city." Be part of society. No foreign body. Just close your eyes. In better films, Triple and Monster stand next to blacks playing basketball in American backyards and in reflecting puddles next to English, red-brick department stores. But also fit well in front of every front door. "They are like my Olle", would say Kalle Grabowski, "hot, fast, rocking – you can be seen everywhere."
In contrast to the Guzzi and Harley, who love it more comfortably, Triple and Monster are fully in their element between 90 and 150 km / h and open to the brisk pace. Both actively position their pilots close to the handlebars, are sporty without being uncomfortable. Both drives love speeds above 5000 rpm. The Ducati-V2, however, hangs much more rough on the gas and hacks the chain below 3000 rpm. The British triplet, on the other hand, is euphoric at any speed. But to come back to the initial question: While on the Ducati you always have the feeling that you have just left the gym, on the Triple you cannot get rid of the thought that the world is a curve. Both machines transmitted dynamism and vitality to their drivers. Great. It’s a bit like eternal youth.
Part four: the myth
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Rarely has a motorcycle transferred light-heartedness to the driver as casually as the V7 Classic. The driving experience is flower-powerful, the technology manageable, understandable and reliable. And the design as timeless as ice cream
In the film Bang Boom Bang, Kalle Grabowski orders a Mercedes 500 SEC from his fellow inmate. Used, of course. 25 years old. Consumption does not matter. The main thing is cool. And befitting. How is it that some things are considered cool or iconic, but others are not?
A little digression: Which keywords come to mind about Honda? Reliable, durable, economical. You appreciate that. And about our four bikes? Triumph Street Triple: indomitable, classy, disarming. Or the Harley: freedom, jewel, worldview. The association with Ducati: grid girl, sport, adrenaline. That leaves the Guzzi: consistency, history, self-confidence. Notice what?
It is mostly intangible, not clearly defined advantages that establish a myth and make vehicles cool. The four manufacturers deliver their products with an intangible quality. However, to quote company founder Willi G. Davidson once again at this point: "With us you buy a lifestyle. You get the motorcycle for free."
Part five: hardware
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Hurray: Bikes like the Street Triple are wanderers between worlds. Beginner-friendly and yet extremely agile. Charming to everyone and yet somehow angry. Sporty but comfortable at the same time. Mass-produced, yet iconic.
Seen objectively, none of the bikes in the quartet is faultless. The Harley drive turns sluggishly, struggles with the weight of the machine, and the chassis of the 883 is hopelessly overwhelmed on third-order country roads. Despite its single disc brake, the Guzzi V7 surprises with enormous braking power, and it is easy to steer. However, their spring elements are underdamped.
Triumph did almost everything right technically with the Street Triple. Only the central spring strut is overwhelmed in two-person operation. And with the Ducati, the suspension elements could be a bit more sensitive.
Ultimately, however, there is no reason to warn against buying one of these bikes. Well, driving them can be addicting.
Part six: cast couch
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Which bike fits which type?
Which one would Kalle Grabowski choose? The Harley or Triumph would undoubtedly follow him. The Duc is too sporty for him, the Guzzi too crude. While we’re on the subject: which bike is right for you?
You anchor in the safe haven of life, Would you rather drink two espressos instead of four coffees, your garage is large but not yet completely filled, you comfort your partner with films like Titanic and Casablanca, with AC / DC your legs move automatically and you would like to swap three months with Robinson ? Then you are the right candidate for the Harley Sportster 883 Iron.
If you prefer "MOTORCYCLE" instead of "The mirror" read, If you secretly adore the King of the Course, David Belle, are open-minded about fashion beverages, know at least six design labels and always come in the top five when selecting teams at school, you should definitely test drive the monsters. She could be the right companion for you.
On the other hand, if you are a Lenny Kravitz fan, (Can) repair your lawnmower yourself, you prefer a cool white man to a dry red one, you wear hip gold but dream of a six-pack, maintain contact with your oldest friends, have read Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy and you have a cold beer gives you more pleasure than five lukewarm whiskey, the Guzzi will give you hellish pleasure.
You are seriously considering attending night school, are always on the pole at the traffic lights, have motorcycled to Italy for a cup of coffee, could get used to the fact that coffee shops based on the Dutch model are opening in Germany, or watch the film "Snatch – pigs and diamonds" Seen at least two times and standing at the motorcycle meeting point to enjoy and be silent? With the Street Triple, the Triumph dealer has the missing piece of the puzzle for their everyday lives.
Finally, a tip from Kalle Grabowski: Treat yourself to a break and have fun with Bang Boom Bang. It is worth it .. Dead certain.
Technical specifications
Ducati Monster 696
| Engine: |
Air-cooled two-cylinder four-stroke 90 degree V engine, ohc, two valves per cylinder, desmodromic actuation, bore x stroke 88.0 x 57.2 mm, 696 cm³, 75 hp at 9000 / min, 69 Nm at 7750 / min, injection , Ø 45 mm, hydraulically operated multi-disc oil bath clutch, six-speed gearbox, O-ring chain.
Composite frame made of steel / cast aluminum, upside-down fork, Ø 43 mm, two-arm swing arm made of aluminum, spring strut, directly hinged, tires f / r 120/60 ZR 17/160/60 ZR 17, double disc brake at the front, Ø 320 mm, rear Ø 245 mm.
Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 Iron
| Engine: | Air-cooled two-cylinder four-stroke 45 degree V engine, ohv, two valves per cylinder, hydraulic valve lifters, bore x stroke 76.2 x 96.8 mm, 883 cm³, 53 hp at 5900 / min, 70 Nm at 3750 / min, Injection, Ø 45 mm, mechanically operated multi-disc oil bath clutch, five-speed gearbox, toothed belt. |
| Landing gear: | Double loop frame made of steel, telescopic fork, Ø 39 mm, two-arm swing arm made of steel, two spring struts, tires 100/90 19; 150/80 16, disc brake front, Ø 292 mm, rear Ø 292 mm, single-piston floating caliper. | Measurements and weight: | Seat height * 740 mm, weight with a full tank * 261 kg, payload * 193 kg, tank capacity 12.5 liters. |
| Price: | 7990 euros (excluding additional costs) |
Moto Guzzi V7 Classic
| engine: | Air-cooled two-cylinder four-stroke 90 degree V-engine, ohv, two valves per cylinder, bucket tappets, bore x stroke 80.0 x 74.0 mm, 744 cm³, 48 hp at 6800 rpm, 55 Nm at 3600 rpm, Injection, Ø 36 mm, mechanically operated multi-disc oil bath clutch, five-speed gearbox, cardan. |
| landing gear: | Double loop frame made of steel, telescopic fork, Ø 40 mm, two-arm swing arm made of steel, two spring struts, tires f / r 110/90 18/130/80 17, front disc brake, 320 mm, rear Ø 260 mm. | Measurements and weight: | Seat height * 810 mm, weight with a full tank * 210 kg, payload * 191 kg, tank capacity 17.0 liters. |
| Price: | 8135 euros (excluding additional costs) |
Triumph Street Triple
| Engine: | Water-cooled three-cylinder four-stroke in-line engine, dohc, four valves per cylinder, bucket tappets, bore x stroke 74.0 x 52.3 mm, 675 cm³, 106 hp at 11700 / min, 68 Nm at 9200 / min, injection , Ø 44 mm, mechanically operated multi-disc oil bath clutch, six-speed gearbox, O-ring chain. |
| Landing gear: | Bridge frame made of aluminum, upside-down fork, Ø 41 mm, two-arm swing arm made of aluminum, central spring strut with lever system, tires f / h 120/70 ZR 17/180/55 ZR 17, double disc brake at the front, Ø 308 mm, at the rear, Ø 220 mm. | Measurements and weight: | Seat height * 830 mm, weight with a full tank * 190 kg, payload * 191 kg, tank capacity 17.4 liters. |
| Price: | 7990 euros (excluding additional costs) |
The measurements
TRILLION
Cool bikes: performance chart.
TRILLION
Cool bikes: the measurements.
Engine technology worlds collide: from the agile, revving Triumph three-cylinder, for example, to the low-speed Harley-Vau. While the engines of both
If manufacturers produce their performance in a completely harmonious manner, the Italians have to admit difficulties in coordination. Neither the Ducati nor the Moto Guzzi V2 generates its performance without small dips. You can feel it while driving, but you can live with it and ignore it.
MOTORCYCLE conclusion
48 Pictures
Images: Comparison: Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Triumph Street, Moto Guzzi
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