Motorcycle Group Test. Are there three more enticing words than Motorcycle Group Test? And in hushed tones, you can hear motorcycling journos, vloggers, and bloggers all muttering those wonderful words.
Production offices are attempting to wrangle the availability of the recently launched models from their counterparts in the manufacturer’s Press Office. Editors are salivating at the thought of double-page centre spreads, while journalists dream of a few days riding with colleagues and calling it work.
And to spice it all up, everyone wants to be first into print.
Group Test Fever
The cause of this fervent desire is the rise of the mostly 80 horsepower, mostly under £10K, and mostly parallel-twin powered motorcycle.
Some contend that the current spate of P-twins was started in 2019 by Yamaha when they released the Ténere. Still, given the time it takes to design a build a motorcycle – especially for Suzuki and Honda, who have developed new engines – it is more likely just timing and perhaps covid that has concentrated these releases into early 2023.
Others say that Aprilia and their gorgeous 660cc engine, as used in the Tuareg and the Tuono started it all. [See Road Test – May 2022]. Or perhaps it was the original KTM 790, both of which were through the £10K barrier when they were released.
However, Aprilia has now sliced £750 from the manufacturer’s recommended retail price (MRRP) to bring it under the £10K barrier.
The “new” CF-Moto built KTM 790 has the wonderfully worded base price of £9,999, which excludes “extra and assembly costs”, according to the small print on the KTM website. Keeping the headline price to just four figures appears to be an important consideration.
However we got here, looking at the performance, capacity and prices, a group test line-up is likely to include …
| Model | Quoted HP | Engine | Weight Kgs | MRRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yamaha Tenere 700 | 72HP | 690cc Parallel Twin | 205Kgs | £10,100 |
| Aprilia Tuareg 660 | 80HP | 659cc Parallel Twin | 204Kgs | £9,850 |
| Triumph Tiger Sport 660 | 80HP | 660cc Triple | 206Kgs | £8,945 |
| Suzuki GSX-8S | 80HP | 776cc Parallel Twin | 202Kgs | £7,999 |
| Honda CB750 Hornet | 90HP | 776cc Parallel Twin | 180Kgs | £6,999 |
| Suzuki V-Strom 800DE | 83HP | 776cc Parallel Twin | 230Kgs | £10,499 |
| Honda XL750 Transalp | 90HP | 755cc Parallel Twin | 208Kgs | £9,499 |
| All data manufacturers claimed weights and performance. Prices correct March ’23 | ||||
Never Pay Retail
On face value, there is a 20% difference between the most keenly priced and the most expensive. Trawling through the specifications, looking for the differences, shows that there is little to choose between them when it comes to extras.
No main stands or heated grips come as standard. All have rider modes with various levels of switchable options. There is no cruise control, which is understandable.
Only the GSX-8S and Hornet are naked, reflecting their lower on-the-road prices.
Whether the launch and MRRP are what you will end up paying is a good question.
There has already been a lot of talk of discounts on the Tuareg 660, but when you get into the weeds, there are on-the-road prices to add to the headline figures, and with Aprilia reducing the MRRP by £750, not all of the deals are what they first seem.
Launch prices are another consideration. Some manufacturers follow the high-water mark theory. Price the motorcycle at the maximum you can expect anyone to pay and sell a few before market forces level the pricing.
Other manufacturers wait to announce their price, letting the others go first and then coming in just a few quid cheaper and playing the “always quality – always affordable” card.
Strangely, Suzuki, usually the bastion of excellent value motorcycles, has the highest MRRP of the predicted group test candidates. Then again, of the off-road-oriented bikes, only the Suzuki 800DE has a bolt-on rear subframe.
Subframes and Insurance
Reportedly – you’ll need to ask an insurance underwriter if this is a fact – Yamaha’s Ténere commands a higher insurance premium than its rivals due to an increased number of them being written off after a relatively simple slide on the righthand side.
The issue (reportedly) is with the subframe and the exhaust. The Ténere’s upswept exhaust connects to the frame through an extended V bracket that is welded to the frame. During a low side on the right, the exhaust pushes on the V bracket and twists the subframe or breaks the welds, requiring the frame to be replaced.
Honda and Aprilia have both protected their integrated subframes by using sacrificial brackets. In the case of the Honda Transalp, the exhaust is supported by a bracket bolted to the rear footrest hanger, which in turn is bolted to the integral rear subframe.
For the Aprilia Tuareg, there is a little less protection, but again the exhaust is supported by a bolt-on bracket purposely designed to break before the lugs welded to the subframe take any damage.
Suzuki is the only manufacturer that decided to go with a fully replaceable rear subframe but then welded an extended V bracket to the subframe to support the exhaust.
Different approaches to the same problem. Yet talking with people whose passion is riding where there aren’t any roads, the subframe was one of the first things they looked at when I asked for their thoughts on the bikes.
I’m told that falling off is an integral part of serious off-road riding, so it is unlikely that the group tests will involve any of that. Calling a manufacturer to explain how their beautiful motorcycle now has an extra bend in it has to rank highly on the list of phone calls you never want to make.
Group Test Predictions
So … how is all of this likely to shake out?
The price of the V-Strom 800DE will be reduced at the dealers to around £9,500 on the road to bring it in line with the Tuareg and the Transalp. If there is an award for the best display, then the 800DE wins.
The Honda XL750 Transalp will be the bike of the year. Most of the launch reports have been effervescent in their descriptions of the handling and the responsive 90HP engine. Honda will also get the nostalgia vote thanks to their motorcycle naming.
With the same engine and main frame as the Transalp, the Honda Hornet will be the darling of the road-biased group tests, and if the price holds, it going to be hard to argue against. The weather protection the Triumph Tiger offers makes it the better option for everyday riding and touring.
Suzuki’s GSX-8S will have stiff competition from the Hornet and the bragging rights of ten more horsepower. Expect GSX-8S package deals to offset Suzuki’s higher price if Honda maintains theirs.
The Aprilia Tuareg, Triumph Tiger Sport 660 and the Yamaha Ténere will be largely overlooked as group test candidates because they are so last year (2022). However, the Ténere 700 has recently had a makeover and gained a few farkles, so maybe it will sneak in.
Me …? I wouldn’t kick any of them out of the garage, and as soon as I decide which one I’d take home, I change my mind. And that is the beautiful thing about Group Tests – you never have to choose.
The winner is based on the results that day, and days and tests change. I’ll take one of each, please.
