anybody fancy a harly £450

[tigler]

Done the Harley thing twice, won't be repeating it ! First was an 883 Sportster, horrible !!
Looked nice but was as slow as drying cement and vibrated worse then the '69 Bonny I had once ! Second was an Electra Glide Sport which was uncomfortable, slow, and had a number of quality control issues. Dealer support was dreadful in both cases despite both being purchased new. I spent quite a bit on the 'glide in an attempt to improve it but it was just a money pit. When you buy a Harley they rely on the image to blind buyers to the truth, if anyone wants a real American Cruiser get a Victory, they show Harley's up for the junk they are. All IMHO of course but backed up buy a friend who had had Harley in his veins for decades but is now a Victory dealer, so he knows both from the inside out.

Was at the bike show during the week and saw a machine that really caught my eye, for the second time, and it's British but not Triumph or that HORRIBLE Norton thing thats being punted around at the moment.

It's a Metisse, a Metisse with a genuinely new engine, designed and built by Metisse.
1000cc parallel twin, with 95 BHP straight out of the box with the potential to produce 150 BHP with relatively simple tuning.
It's impressively thought out and built with an eye to the motor being bullet proof.
Has fuel injection, oil/air cooling with a seperate oil pump for the heads, gear primary, massive alternator, etc, etc.
Not far from production now but unfortunately it's going to be expensive at just over £18k !! Will be available in two basic configurations, cafe and roadster but is tailored to suit the individual. I swear though, if I'd had the funds I'd have bought one on the spot !

 

[Fazed]

Was at the bike show during the week and saw a machine that really caught my eye, for the second time, and it's British but not Triumph or that HORRIBLE Norton thing thats being punted around at the moment.

It's a Metisse, a Metisse with a genuinely new engine, designed and built by Metisse.
1000cc parallel twin, with 95 BHP straight out of the box with the potential to produce 150 BHP with relatively simple tuning.
It's impressively thought out and built with an eye to the motor being bullet proof.
Has fuel injection, oil/air cooling with a seperate oil pump for the heads, gear primary, massive alternator, etc, etc.
Not far from production now but unfortunately it's going to be expensive at just over £18k !! Will be available in two basic configurations, cafe and roadster but is tailored to suit the individual. I swear though, if I'd had the funds I'd have bought one on the spot !

Really? Any more details on this?
Nothing on Metisse's website.

I almost bought a Buell once - but then I woke up. Sweating.

 

[chunkolini]

Fascinating stuff.
Bikes are cool is the main thing.
regards mega low revs torque how about the Yamaha mt01? my mate has one bonkers, mega torque and no revs.
But does it matter?
My Paneurothingy has a lovely torquey motor. But four cylinders?
Ladies stop fighting.
The new Norton? at least it exists for years they were just semi mythological things, a laughing stock. What happened to the V8?
But hell, I can remember when a builder bought the 'Triumph' name after he built a housing estate on the site of the factory. Look where it got them.

But this Metisse thing? Tell us more.
Hopefully not based on the Triumph 'Diana' engine.
But sounds cool, can I have a test ride?
Last thought.
The euro bike industry almost died out in the 80's. the las couple of years it has revived and kicked the Japanese in the taters.
Giant 'trailies'? tourers, sports bikes? people are buying bikes because of what they do and 'Oh they are made by triumph, ducati, Aprilia and bloody BMW just built the best litre sports bike for a fortnight' Fabulous, they are being bought beacuse of what they do not where they are made.

Amazing stuff, but what happens when the asian tiger revives?

Sorry for rambling, this Mettisse thing?

Chunko'.

 

[Fazed]

I know, I know... each to his own 'n all that. It just tickles me that Harley owners feel the need to justify the reason why they own one .

I like the new Norton. I've had the opportunity recently to have a good poke around one (although he drew the line at giving me the keys) and it really is lovely. Great details and well screwed together, but a frightening price.

 

[Shox Dr]

I don't need to justify anything to any one Fazed. It equally gets me that people pull down a product they more often than not have never used, and are basing their myopic opinion on what others have told them . And that goes for Welding set and well as bikes.

I've had loads of bikes and currently own a 750 and 1100 slabside. a VFR1100 and a Africa Twin and long with a Fatboy. So I know what many bikes ride like and while Harleys are not the fastest bike I have shown more than a few people the way home, who claimed they were slow to go and slower to stop. But that has more to do with the person riding the bike than the bike.

As for the price fo new bikes WTF has happened in the lasy few yrs. I was interested in a Ducati Multistrada about 3yrs ago. New they were £9.5k now they are more like £14k where the hell did that come from.


So each to their own.

 

[tigler]

Really? Any more details on this?
Nothing on Metisse's website.

I almost bought a Buell once - but then I woke up. Sweating.

What happened to the V8?


But this Metisse thing? Tell us more.
Hopefully not based on the Triumph 'Diana' engine.
But sounds cool, can I have a test ride?


Chunko'.

Metisse have been playing it very quiet, first time I saw it was at Race Retro earlier this year, I'd almost walked past before it registered in the show dazed part of my cortex !! Then I nearly fell over when I actually realised what I was looking at !
MCN saw it for the first time on press day of the bike show and their reaction was similar, having no previous knowledge of it !! So expect a big write up there soon.
The motor is a clean sheet design so no worries about it being based on some old boat anchor. It looks so visceral and with a hint of Ogri about it !!
Make no mistake, it's a bang upto date design, and will be manufactured to the highest standard. Materials and parts are all of the highest quality.
The rest of the bike is pretty standard Metisse so no worries there then !
Had a very long talk with one of the designers and he was able to answer anything I could throw at him ! He also said there is an open invitation to anyone wanting to visit the factory to see more and convince themselves.
So it will be a true English, bespoke motorcycle that will bloody some industry noses, this is not another Hesketh abomination !!

By the way Chunkster, the Nemesis V8 all ended in tears when the US based backer collapsed in a storm of money laundering and fraud charges !

 

[tigler]

YAY !! Found some pics of the Metisse from the bike show !!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32378122@N05/6393545595/in/photostream/

 

[Fazed]

Nice one Tigler. That mill is one helluva tall lump, reminds me of a Jota.

 

[chunkolini]

Weird, kind of ugly but maybe not.

 

[Robotstar5]

I like the look of the Metisse, definately see the "british" lines in it, not sure about spoked wheels though, maybe it's just me hates cleaning spokes!

 

[tigler]

The spokes are stainless though so just spray with degreaser and wash off ! As I mentioned though, the bikes are tailor made for the customer so the choice is theirs.
Also, that bike is really a show lash up, so by no means the final look. If I were having one I wouldn't have that nickle plated frame, that really is a maintenance nightmare !!