MZ/MuZ Riders

*this is slightly off topic, but most of these bikes are around 600cc..

i am in boston, the roads are old, and have snow damage from the winters, so supermoto would be IDEAL.
but if you had the choice between mz baghira or any of the following bikes, which would it be? which is the most practical for my situation. i just want a nice bike that handles well and easy to ride in boston, reliable.

2000 ducati monster 900
2000 ducati supersport 750
2000 ducati monster 620
2001 yamaha r6
2003 yamaha 600rr
2002 honda cbr f4i
2001 Suzuki GSX-R 750



i have a budget of 4-5k dollars. i have just taken the beginner riders course, and still have much more confidence to gain.

comfort and noise are somewhat important issues.

thanks guys
alex

Well as I dont particulrly like sports bikes I would go with the Baghira. Much easier to control and on the sharp twisties will give the other bikes a hard time.
The Baggi is not about top speed though.
On the plus side, the other bikes you mention will have a tough time if the roads are bad, and this could reslut in regular replacement of suspention componants.
Me, I'd go for the Baggi, but then I'm biased

Keith

You have the BEST MZ dealer in Boston- http://www.bikeworx.com/

only bike on your list i like is
2000 ducati monster 620

my choice is
baggie
mastif
1995 mz saxon tour
125SM
RT125
the saxon tour and 125 cc bike i have now and they make very good
daily drivers

my choice for Boston would be a baggie with a upgrade of a mastif
front fender with mud flap and yes some kind of faring
do to the weather and the car wars on the freeways(power to keep up with traffic)

also bmw f650st see link
http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcbmw/97f650st.html
but many of these have very high miles when you find one for sale
if you find one test drive it some of them viberate badly some do not ...
ar dave

ps the best daily driver ever made is a 1976 bmw r60/6 gets the job done
and you can do all the work on it at home
i have a friend that has 2 of them and he is doing 160 miles a day
from mid april to mid nov then he switches to a car

The Baghira will be the best, then you could check out a used KTM Duke.

Well that's kind of a baited question considering this is an MZ board. But as the owner of 3 Ducatis and just coming off a Z1000 onto a Baggi...get the Baggi. What a friggin hoot. I ride nothing but twisty mtn roads that sometimes degrade into twisty mountain sh*t roads, gravel roads, etc. This bike excels at just bombing along any type of road really (just what you'd expect with 11 inches of suspension). Plus side is it absolutely rocks on roads such as Deal's Gap. Can't tell you how many R6/CBR/xxx whatever's I passed last time I was there, so yeah you can haul ass if you want to. And you'll get lots of "what the hell kind of bike is that?" unlike dime a dozen Jap sport bikes..

A Monster would be a great city type bike, but Duc's aren't known for their supple suspension, and the new style supersports are just down right uncomfortable.

I agree, the bike will perform as well as any on the list, except in the HP dept. but you dont need more than 50 to have fun, and scare yourself.

there are some drawbacks though, like the lack of much stateside support. But you can get a NEW Baghira for less than $4,000 these days, and used ones are reasonable. I f you have some mechanical skils though, then it is not an issue.

FWIW, my 2001 has 15,000 miles on it. I ride it Very hard! I do the oil changes at 3,000 miles, and have adjusted the valves once. I have had to replace 1 brake light switch, 1 turn signal flasher, 2 chains, front and rear brake pads, and 1 battery. it has been very reliable, and a HOOT also. I have ridden a KTM 625SMC, it is cool, but very uncomfortable. The DRZ is fun, but underpowered. If I had to do it over, I think I would still buy the MZ.

how do you guys think the 620 and the 900 compare?
the 620 seems to be pretty mild as it weights 370 pounds and has 62hp.
they say it has a very even power band.
anyone have first hand experience?

I wouldent buy any KTM except fot the 640 and 950/990 models. The others tend to have suspension set ups more inclined towards compitiion and have really small fuel tanks.

Keith

I have only ridden a 900. it is fun to ride!! what about the cost issue? with 6-7k, you coould buy the mz, then spend 2-3k on mods and have a wicked bike big bore kit, head pipe and exhaust, maybe some poting, and flatslides, and you have 70+ hp.

I think you need to ride them all and make your own decision for sure. all I can say is I am happy with mine.

if you live close to a member, you coould probably talk them into a ride.

My origianl post disappeared!!


In summary I said that the Duke 750SS is the nicest bike, next to the Baggy - but the Baggy will be easier to ride in town!!

I hope this post doesn't dissappear as well!!

i have an '03 with almost 13,000 kilometers on her (about 8,000 miles)...she has an m4 pipe (nice & loud) and set of PIRELLIS scorpions...ive broken (1) clutch cable and had (2) oil changes (since i bought her @ 5000 km) - but ive had NO other problems...

i ride the hell outta the thing and shes VERY reliable - shes been on one 4 day road trip and tons of day rides (naturally)...shes chased too many r6's up the canyons to count - shes been down the beach @ OCEANO and shes been scratched by bushes and covered in dust from the being out in 'the nowhere'...its truly been a love affair.

naturally i cut the rear fender and removed some other junk - and now shes probably gonna get a set of black excel rims for her birthday...AND - to this day - i have NEVER seen another one on the street besides mine - EVER. and thats kinda cool too!!

drj


ps - hey PHLAT - whatsup?!! hope all has been well!

pss - whats the info to get in touch with the BSA guy for parts (i need to pick up an extra clutch cable) and i could not find it in my old posts...thanks.

Hi Alex

The bikes you list cannot be ridden through the winter - the Ducatis will dissolve (I am a Ducati lover of old - 1971 450 desmo, 1964 250 Monza etc), you will fall off the superbikes and hurt yourself if you are as old and wobbly as me.
I ride my Baggy all year round on London and the South-East of England's roads which are not all that good either. I have not fallen off for years, touch wood. The finish on the Baggy is good in that it has almost no chrome to corrode, just the aluminum wheel rims and the electrical connectors need greasing during salt times and it needs a wash occasionally.