First big bike recommendations needed

[khabel]

I'm about to get my full license shortly so need some help in purchasing my first big bike. I'm after a fully faired sports bike used mainly for commuting with the odd track day and long ride thrown in, I've been recommended the SV650S but I'm not fond of that.

I'm in my late 30's and my doctor tells me I'm a 'big unit' 6'3" 130kg and have ridden motocross for the last several years if that makes a difference.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

[Latte]

If you're capable of restraint get a big twin. You'll get used to it pretty quickly. VTR/SV Thou etc.

[Little Miss Trouble]

I'd take the VTR over the SV thou any day, chuck a couple of scorpion pipes on it :drool:

[khabel]

I've been looking at a few VTRs on trademe, only concern is comfort

[DEATH_INC.]

You don't mention your budget, or what mx bike you've got.
If you honestly think you're ready for the bigger stuff, try a ZX636. If trackdays are on the cards you'll really want a sportsbike.

[NighthawkNZ]

I've been looking at a few VTRs on trademe, only concern is comfort

It's all what you get use to, I use to have VTR and clocked up so big touring and huge days 800km days and feeling pretty refeshed. But it is also personal taste. I personally found the VTR more comfortable than the SV, but again thats all personal... you need to take both out for a decent ride and compare...

Many people also forget that they can adjust much of the the bikes little things to change riding comfort like, levers positions, gear and brake positions, adjusting the shocks to suit... etc

Add more comfort to any bike, sheep skin or Gel Seat pad, make sure your riding gear is comfortable, boots trou, and jacket even helmet... do you use ear plugs? no ear plugs you may get a head ache after a long ride and then blame it on the bike when ear plugs make fix the problem, or you jacket is a bit to tight and you cant reach the bars as easily as you should and makes the ride uncomfortable...

Riding conditions can also effect the comfort, wet weather gear leaking makes you squirm about a bit more, is it windy or is it just one those pure awesome of awesome days... as you need to add all these factors and have the same on both bikes to find out what is comfortable over all...

Add in all this and personal taste what you find comfortable and what every one else finds comfortable are two totally different things

Basically take as many bikes out for as along as you can to see which one mets your needs, wants and requirements, which is comfy for you, but also remember the little things you can adjust to suit once you have to fine tune that comfort

[khabel]

You don't mention your budget, or what mx bike you've got.
If you honestly think you're ready for the bigger stuff, try a ZX636. If trackdays are on the cards you'll really want a sportsbike.

Sorry forgot to mention budget, around $8kish, MX bike was a yamaha YZF450 as well as a Kawasaki KX250.

[NinjaNanna]

VFR800 would suit you well, its not a 1000cc rocket but has more balls than a 600cc to haul your 130kg arse around.

Triumph Sprint 900cc would also be a good option as would an older (pre 2000) Honda Fireblade or Kawasaki ZX9r

You should be able to get good examples of these for your $8000 budget

[White trash]

Come see me again on Saturday mate, I've got a couple to show you that may suit perfectly.

Cheers

Jimmy

[Bounce001]

I know of a nice 04 Daytona under what you want to spend. PM if you are interested.

[Banditbandit]

Go with something like this .... and you'll never regret it

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-329555057.htm

And spend the rest of the money on the lower fairing paerts (which are available) ...

[DEATH_INC.]

Sorry forgot to mention budget, around $8kish, MX bike was a yamaha YZF450 as well as a Kawasaki KX250.
You'll be sweet on a 6 hundy then.
Go see that wt character, he won't set u wrong.

[NinjaNanna]

I've never ridden a Bandit, but I did test ride the ZX12 which I'd assume would be much the same power wise.

I certainly do not recommend buying a 1200+ cc bike as your first big bike.

I personally passed on the ZX12 - everything about it was perfect for me except the power, it was too much, and that was after owning 2 VFR 800's and the ZX9. I ended up settling on an 04 R1.

I personally went from a ZZR250 as my first bike to the VFR800, I'm 6'2" myself albeit only 85kgs. The step up to the 800cc sports tourer was fine. 1200cc would not be. But of course thats personal opinion.

[ckai]

Sorry forgot to mention budget, around $8kish, MX bike was a yamaha YZF450 as well as a Kawasaki KX250.

Well before you said this I was gonna say go a Daytona 675 but the budget blows that up. They're great for a first real bike...and second :)

I reckon it depends on how serious you are about the trackdays. Most sports tourers (eg Suzzy GSX650F) will be sweet on the track and cool for commuting etc. If you really wanna focus on track days then you can get a more focused super-sport (ie. Daytona, R6's, top Ninja's) but you'll sacrifice a little comfort for the commutes.

Like what is said though, you get used to it. A mate commutes every day on his Daytona and wouldn't have another bike. Another loves his SV.

I've always loved sharp handling and torque, that's why I have what I have. My body gets used to anything.

See what you want it to mainly focus on (track or comfort) and like everyone says go ride some bikes that fit the bill.

I'm special, I only rode one bike before buying it :)

[khabel]

Ideally I'd like to test ride a heap but location limits that. Commuting is the first priority, followed by long rides followed by track days. (Order may change as I become a better rider)

If I dont find something suitable I'll start looking at naked bikes but my heart is with sports bikes.

[NinjaNanna]

well what have you seen that floats your boat. Maybe we can comment specifically on them instead.

Though I say late nineties ZX9r for the win.

[Rych]

Ideally I'd like to test ride a heap but location limits that. Commuting is the first priority, followed by long rides followed by track days. (Order may change as I become a better rider)

If I dont find something suitable I'll start looking at naked bikes but my heart is with sports bikes.
Get a sports bike if you want a sports bike, not a sports tourer. I commute 80km a day from Whangaparaoa into the city and I love the ride, lane splitting in traffic etc no prob. I haven't done more than 300km in a day but that wasn't too bad, little sore on the legs and wrists but I was still adjusting to the bike so some of that is just newbie to aggressive positioned bike pain with a long break from riding beforehand.

Haven't gone to the track yet but don't really need to to know an R6 owns the track, 100's of reviews out there.

I don't care so much about comfort as I like to enjoy riding what I'm riding and hang of the bike out on the open roads, so sacrificing a bit of comfort for a sports bike you like is all good!

Go sit on CBR, GSXR, ZX6R, R6 600's, test ride them, go sit on CBR, GSXR, ZX10R, R1 1000's, test ride them, see what you like and get get it! :D

Also don't forget the Daytona 675, may be bit pricey but I have seen a few nice ones for around 9k...

So many people recommend sports tourers, but if you got your mind set on a sports bike get one, I've only had a ZXR250 and my current R6 and I wouldn't want anything else, until maybe later in life when I want to settle down and get something a little more cruiser.

[NinjaNanna]

lot of bike here for the money (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-330795724.htm) couple of hundred to respray the rash on the side and you're away.

Mighty tempted myself, I've put it on the watch list.

[NinjaNanna]

So many people recommend sports tourers, but if you got your mind set on a sports bike get one, I've only had a ZXR250 and my current R6 and I wouldn't want anything else, until maybe later in life when I want to settle down and get something a little more cruiser.

And the million dollar question is how tall are you and what do you weigh?

The OPer is 6'3" and 130kg.

[Rych]

And the million dollar question is how tall are you and what do you weigh?

The OPer is 6'3" and 130kg.
hehe only 5ft9 80kg... That's why test them all.

[NighthawkNZ]

Commuting is the first priority, followed by long rides followed by track days. (Order may change as I become a better rider)

If I dont find something suitable I'll start looking at naked bikes but my heart is with sports bikes.


Get a sports bike if you want a sports bike, not a sports tourer.

Going by what he just said I would get a sports tour... Many of todays sports tourers are yesterdays sports bikes anyway... and will give most other bikes a run for there money through the twisties anyway.

As we have all said go sit and test ride as many bikes a you can... it may suprise you that the bike you thought would be comfortable and mets your needs isn't so comfofy and vise-versa

[khabel]

like the looks of this a lot
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-330810637.htm

[NighthawkNZ]

Going by what he just said I would get a sports tour... Many of todays sports tourers are yesterdays sports bikes anyway... and will give most other bikes a run for there money through the twisties anyway.

As we have all said go sit and test ride as many bikes a you can... it may suprise you that the bike you thought would be comfortable and mets your needs isn't so comfofy and vise-versa


If you do go for the VTR get any model 2002 or after (like the one here 03) as it has the bigger tank, fuel gauge and better dash, better shocks and a few other things have been upgraded...

[Toaster]

And the million dollar question is how tall are you and what do you weigh?

The OPer is 6'3" and 130kg.


Exactly. A 600cc bike will feel like waving a flyswatter in a bathtub of maple syrup at that weight.

750cc is a good balanced engine for those not up to the 1000cc+ mark with enough get up and go for the big lads carrying a bit more in the gravity department.

[DMNTD]

I'm inclined to recommend a naked Bandit 1200/1250, Z750, Hornet 900 etc styled bike....if you're going to be doing more pleasure riding than commuting.
Commuting...Hornet/Bandit/GSR etc 600 or similar.
They generate a load of torque (especially the first options) that you choose to use or not but piss all horse power (for their cc rating). As long as your right wrist is mature then you'll be absolutely fine.
I recommend that your first proper ride is 'open road' to get used to it.
I also recommend going to see Jimmy (White Trash) or Pete (Crasherfromwayback) and having a frank and open conversation with them.

[Brett]

For your size, budget and experience I think that something like a K4/K5 GSXR600 or ZX636 would be worth looking at. Both a very reliable bikes and the ZX636 has the advantage of a bit more up and go. I am about 6ft 3 and 100kg and have owned a GSXR600 now for nearly 4 years and still love the thing.

[Brett]

Exactly. A 600cc bike will feel like waving a flyswatter in a bathtub of maple syrup at that weight.

750cc is a good balanced engine for those not up to the 1000cc+ mark with enough get up and go for the big lads carrying a bit more in the gravity department.

Actually what you say makes some sense. GSXR 750 would be on the money. I took one for a 600km blat and found that it made up for the 600's lack of power quite nicely but was not nearly as brutal as many of the thou's I have ridden. Still need to be shown a bit more respect than a 600 though.

[Juzz976]

I like the thou twins, good low end torque with a reasonably flat torque curve.

Good for fast acceleration and touring, they sound awesome too.
I knew I'd be more likely to take push a 750 or 600.

The SV1000s is a good bike for the price but found it not as comfortable as my TL1000R.
Found the VTR a bit ugly but the SP1 SP2 are nice.
The RSV I got put off by people saying they're expensive to maintain, although no one with one has confirmed that for me.