Got my full, sold my 125, what should I get?

[zav]

Looking for some recommendations on what bike to get. I had a GN125 and loved that, but I'm looking for something a bit bigger now. Around 400cc to 600cc. It will have to be a used bike as I can't afford new. I don't like the bikes where my legs are directly below or behind my bum.
The main use for it will be commuting from the North Shore to work in Ponsonby each day in peak traffic.

So yea, any recommendations on what I should be looking at would be great!

thanks :yes:

[Blinkwing]

Visit a few bike shops and ride a few, to get an idea of what's suitable for you?

[The Stranger]

The main use for it will be commuting from the North Shore to work in Ponsonby

A Honda. You'll fit right in.

[Eyegasm]

A Honda. You'll fit right in.

:buggerd::killingme:lol::nya:

[Banditbandit]

Looking for some recommendations on what bike to get. I had a GN125 and loved that, but I'm looking for something a bit bigger now. Around 400cc to 600cc. It will have to be a used bike as I can't afford new. I don't like the bikes where my legs are directly below or behind my bum.
The main use for it will be commuting from the North Shore to work in Ponsonby each day in peak traffic.

So yea, any recommendations on what I should be looking at would be great!

thanks :yes:

Clearly, you're talking about a cruiser if you don't like your feet under or behind you.

Unfortunately, I'd say look at Honda - they make good smaller cruisers .. if your talking about bigger cruisers (800 cc and upwards) then you probably can't go past Boulevards

[Berg]

Other than the foot position I would recommend the step up bike I went to being a Kawasaki ER6N. Nice upright position, good manners, good power, good brakes, great reliability, great fuel economy.
234998
Mrs Berg has since upgraded from her GN250 to the ER and I have updated to it's big brother

[HenryDorsetCase]

used triumph bonneville A1?

I would have said VFR400 but you dont like sports bikes.

SV650?

used Harley Sportster?

[HenryDorsetCase]

did I miss the part where you tell us how much you have to spend? (though if you live on the Shore and work in pon pon pon ponsonby, money's no object, right?)

[Elysium]

Get what you feel happy with.

[mattian]

Other than the foot position I would recommend the step up bike I went to being a Kawasaki ER6N. Nice upright position, good manners, good power, good brakes, great reliability, great fuel economy.
234998
Mrs Berg has since upgraded from her GN250 to the ER and I have updated to it's big brother

I agree with this guy. You can pick up a used ER6 so cheap these days!!!!
treat them well and they will go forever. Much like your beloved GN ......
go you mighty mighty :scooter:

[Old Steve]

Get a Honda Shadow 750. It's big, reliable, and isn't overpowered (it has the power-to-weight ratio of a 250, eg. my Hyosung GV250 - 0.19 kW/kg). For some reason, maybe the power-to-weight ratio, there's tons of them around on TradeMe

[boman]

Buy my SV1000.....

:innocent:

[The Pastor]

gsxr 1000

[ukusa]

did I miss the part where you tell us how much you have to spend? (though if you live on the Shore and work in pon pon pon ponsonby, money's no object, right?)

yep, no point in hearing all these bike suggestions without some sort of price indication. A ginny 125 will need a fair bit added to get most of the sugestions so far.

[zav]

did I miss the part where you tell us how much you have to spend? (though if you live on the Shore and work in pon pon pon ponsonby, money's no object, right?)

:killingme: :facepalm:, i live in G-field as my partner is going to AUT Akoranga. So money is definitely limited. Looking to spend around 3k to 6k. Might be able to stretch to 7k if I really have to.

Know I know I said I was looking for a 400cc+, and I still am primarily looking in that region, but been looking at the Suzuki Intruder VL250cc. Any one owned one? How does it run? Any times where you found it wasn't powerful enough?

I also do like the Boulevards, but with the smallest one being a 650, I end up being in the most expensive registration bracket which I'm trying to avoid.

Only bike I've ever owned and ridden was my GN125, so my bike knowledge is very limited, and hence I'm asking here.

[HenryDorsetCase]

:killingme: :facepalm:, i live in G-field as my partner is going to AUT Akoranga. So money is definitely limited. Looking to spend around 3k to 6k. Might be able to stretch to 7k if I really have to.

Know I know I said I was looking for a 400cc+, and I still am primarily looking in that region, but been looking at the Suzuki Intruder VL250cc. Any one owned one? How does it run? Any times where you found it wasn't powerful enough?

I also do like the Boulevards, but with the smallest one being a 650, I end up being in the most expensive registration bracket which I'm trying to avoid.

Only bike I've ever owned and ridden was my GN125, so my bike knowledge is very limited, and hence I'm asking here.

ignore the registration thing. Seriously. If you ride year round, the difference is not much: the figures are for anything 61 to 600 (how fucking stupid IS that... anyway) $477, which is what your 400 will cost you. Your 650 will cost you $591. so the difference is $114 or $2.20 a week.

Once you're a motorcyclist, and assuming you wish to participate in the registration ripoff, then there is no realistic difference in paying for a 250 or a 600.

Its not fair, its wrong, but thats the way it is.

the truly truly retarded thing is my AN125 costs $477 a year to register, my Scrambler (865cc) is $591. A Harley Ultra glide (1760cc) is $591. BMW S1000RR (1000cc, 200+ hp) is $591.

a 75cc Honda Chaly is $477.

a 50cc Honda cub is (get this) $444.

IT MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL!

[Old Steve]

:Know I know I said I was looking for a 400cc+, and I still am primarily looking in that region, but been looking at the Suzuki Intruder VL250cc. Any one owned one? How does it run? Any times where you found it wasn't powerful enough?

Theres a lot of Intruder VL250 in the Hyosung GV250 - Hyosung made Susukis under license in korea for 20 years or so. Right down to the difficult to find neutral when the motor is running Intruder glitch. I fitted a Susuki VL250 clutch lever when I broke one on my Hyosung GV250.

I've done 15,000 km on GLORIA (my Hyosung GV250) in 11 months, I'd buy her again knowing what I do now, and I'm keeping her now I have my full. Top speed 120-ish, I keep up with the Ulyssees Sunday rides now, do fall back going up the Kaimais on the way home but have kept ahead of Honda CB600 (?) and Honda Shadow 750 - towards the top she's doing 9000 rpm in 3rd gear, nudges up to 80 km/hr. When I announced I had passed my full but was keeping my 250, a Harley rider said he'd have never guessed my bike was a 250. The Gv250 is a big bike for its engine size. Look at 2007 or later, should be something in your price range.

[SPP]

Dr-z400 sm?

[YellowDog]

As has already been said, go to a bike shop and ride some bikes.

The foot position issue sounds a bit daft. Don't limit your choice with such nonsense.

Just try some bikes and see how they fit :yes:

BTW: Most cruisers don't make great commuting bikes.

[Mystic13]

ignore the registration thing. Seriously. If you ride year round, the difference is not much: the figures are for anything 61 to 600 (how fucking stupid IS that... anyway) $477, which is what your 400 will cost you. Your 650 will cost you $591. so the difference is $114 or $2.20 a week.

Once you're a motorcyclist, and assuming you wish to participate in the registration ripoff, then there is no realistic difference in paying for a 250 or a 600.

Its not fair, its wrong, but thats the way it is.

the truly truly retarded thing is my AN125 costs $477 a year to register, my Scrambler (865cc) is $591. A Harley Ultra glide (1760cc) is $591. BMW S1000RR (1000cc, 200+ hp) is $591.

a 75cc Honda Chaly is $477.

a 50cc Honda cub is (get this) $444.

IT MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL!

Saving $114 won't make sense when you have to get a long straight to pass a truck. It won't make sense when you want to ride two up. It probably won't make sense after a month or two when he finds the 250 just doesn't cut it anymore.

[Metastable]

As has already been said, go to a bike shop and ride some bikes.

The foot position issue sounds a bit daft. Don't limit your choice with such nonsense.

Just try some bikes and see how they fit :yes:

BTW: Most cruisers don't make great commuting bikes.

I agree with the above statement. Typically speaking the bikes you see for long distances have the feet under the rider.... think of a Goldwing, R1200RT etc have a very neutral position. As a commuter you might want to look at something like a GS500e/f or BMW F650GS.... I think the latter option is kinda neat because you can do dirt roads and light trails as well. Plus that bike sips fuel... it is unbelievable how little gas it consumes.

Personally I actually prefer a more aggressive riding position, so I would look more along the lines of an ER-6, SV650 etc.... but if you want something more relaxed check out the two bikes I mentioned previously.

[Maha]

Looking for some recommendations on what bike to get. I had a GN125 and loved that, but I'm looking for something a bit bigger now. Around 400cc to 600cc. It will have to be a used bike as I can't afford new. I don't like the bikes where my legs are directly below or behind my bum.
The main use for it will be commuting from the North Shore to work in Ponsonby each day in peak traffic.

So yea, any recommendations on what I should be looking at would be great!

thanks :yes:

If you got a few spare dollars you can buy my Yamaha XY600 Radian for a reasonable offer.

[zav]

Thanks everyone for your advice so far. I think that it is probably best to stay away from the 250s, as I do want to do the occasional weekend ride.
With the feet thing, I guess it is more to do with having a position where I am not leaning forward. My GN125 was perfect position wise, so I guess I'm really looking for something that has a similar position.

Will be going round some bike shops this weekend as recommended. Which ones in the Auckland region have a good range of used bikes?

[ClutchITUP]

GSXR 1000 4 sure:woohoo: