P plate 916 bip so what will it do? dilema!
 

I'm still ummin and RRRin what to do !
here is the dilema

I have a Left hand drive Gixxer 750 that i use out in Germany!

I need another bike because I have some serious miles to do in 2007!

upto date I have at least 4 euro trips booked
these are trips where previous customers of the ring have asked me to organise a biking holiday"monte carlo or bust" is one of them and the organisation of it is allready well under way with a good bunch of guys from here.

my initial thought's were to sell LHD gixxer and buy a nice Duke
problem is I dont want to have 6/7/8 grand sitting in a hotel garage in Germany, and I would have to leave the car in Germany or trailer the bike back to the uk, or run the 4 trips from Germany (not possible really)


so
my thoughts are Buy a older Blade or older duke and run 2 bikes !

Q is the 916 capable of doing long arduous milage?

Q what is the performance difference l of the 916 to a 996 like?

I know an old Blade is well up for the job but I do fancy another Duke especially as 2 of the trips are down the N75/85
the road built with Dukes in mind LOL

Honest answers pleas

mav

Yeah the old 916 is OK if it's looked after, watch the Reg/Rec issues carefully.

POwer and performance isn't really that different to be honest mate. I rode Crusts a few times and power was smoother, but the old 916 felt gruntier.

cheers steve!
I'm in a right dilema over this .

mav

TBH mate, if it came down to an older Blade as you were showing the other day, RRT etc, then i'd go for the 916. If you were talking at least an RRW, then i'd be thinking more on the blade... if you were talking a 99 R1, then it's the R1, if you're talking a 2001 R1, i'd be racing in DD ;)

steve I have had all the above bikes and I have owned no fewer than 7 blades,, TBH
It took me 4 months of mile munching on my Duke before I learnt to ride it properly... I cant explain really, but the Duke just feeds back all the rider input you give it !
what i am unsure about is "WILL" the duke be reliable enough at it's age for me to take Groups of bikers on tours of europe ?

I know the blade will !!!!
But I so desperatly want to get back in the FOLD !

MAV

Just parted with a lovely 996 which went Senna3's way and I got back in the deal my old Trusty 916Bp, which apart from one problem with the connector joining the alternator wires to the reg/rec it has been very reliable and knocked up some sound mileage.
The 996Bp is torquer and felt a bit smoother around town and only a month or so a go Crust did 3000 miles on his 996 riding down to Italy and back using the scenic routes.

£4k can get you a decent 996Bp if in the right place at the right time rated around 112bhp
£2300 can get you a used & abused 916 with a measured 105bhp
with about £6k or so you could lok at a 998Bp Testastretta engined version around 123bhp

Spent a nit of time this summer swapping between my 998 and my 996, chassis feel fairly close in setup but the engines are distinctly different but I couldn't choose one over the other, each different to the other in character but both as enjoyable to ride as each other

nice one kev !
I have seen one on here that is forsale
spose i need to go look at it !

cheers mav

Dave996 has his er 996 (no suprise there) up for sale, seen it a few times and its well looked after, he got the 5-spokes off me and the price isn't bad at £4250 ono

My mate Dallas may have a nice Bitsa going if the current interested party doesn't come through with the dosh
996SPS engine, in a 916Bip frame, alloy subframe for the P8 computer, Ohlins forks and shock, 45 to 50mm termis, genuine 996SPS seat and immaculate 996Bp fairing and tank
he was talking around £4600

I rode my 916 to Poland, through France, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia. Through some serious rain. It never faltered and I found it more comfortable on long journeys than other bikes I've owned.
Catherine

Mav i managed 2400 miles in a week on the old 916. ended in tears after cooking in 90 degree heat though with a failed rectifier.
saying that it will hold 90 all day long and is quite happy. cycle cat bars look daft but sure are comfy.