Advice on my next bike please?

[Kawasaki_Ninja]

Im going to get another bike once i get outa school, i want something with alot of power, looks good, and the actual bike not to big, something slim yet racey looking, heres what i was thinking of:

1) Kawasaki ZX6-R
2)Suzuki GSX-R 250-750
3)Aprilla RSV 250
4)Honda CBR600rr

Anyone got opinions one these or any other bikes that fit my criteria? please help me out.

[SPORK]

Hmm...

What's your

a) Skill
b) Mechanical abilities
c) Price Range

[Coyote]

What price are you looking at?

[justsomeguy]

Hmm.... so what should someone called Kawasaki Ninja buy??

A CBR or a Gixxer or an Aprilla?? How bout a harley??

[Coyote]

Hmm.... so what should someone called Kawasaki Ninja buy??

A CBR or a Gixxer or an Aprilla?? How bout a harley??
Don't listen to him. His arse is up is head

[Coyote]

ZX6-R new will be about 15500
CBRRR new 16500
Think they have discontinued the RS250 but there are still a few around that are new, they're 15000
GSX250 - Ask Ramius
GSXR750 new are about 18000 aren't they?

Any of the 600 supersports (CBR, ZXR, Daytona, etc.) are practically the same and it's up to personal preference

RS250 would be awesome, its one of my dream bikes, only it might need a few rebuilds if you keep it for a while

Don't even think about a GSX250

[unhingedlizard]

I had an RS125 and it was FAB. Just like blotting paper for money though. an Aprilia in the UK were a pack of tosspots to deal with. Sent a powervavle back (80 pounds and a three week wait) cause it was faulty and broke (got and engineers report on it). They claimed thier was nothing wrong with it. Then when I asked for it back they said it wasnt thier policy to returned returned parts!! So i had to buy another. Fuckwits.

The bike itself was magic.

[magnum]

one word,ninja

[Biff]

I'm a big believer in getting as much experience as you can before going for anything resembling a sports 600cc, especially from a 150-250cc machine. I see from your profile that your current ride is an FXR 150cc. If it still is, I wouldn't recommend making the leap to a sports 600cc, yet. They're totally different beasts to an FXR150, and much less forgiving if you're not used to their power/weight mix, and the sudden increase in the speeds in which things happen, like that car pulling out etc.

Hone your skills on something less powerful/light. A sporty 250 like the Aprillia or Suzuki would be ideal introduction into the sportier world. :ride:

[bugjuice]

depends on your riding skills and prefs for the next bike..
I've got a '95 ZX6r if you want something quick n dirty (and a bit cheaper than new)..

[marty]

wouldn't spend $15k on a 250. there are 02 models about for $8-$9k, and are really .
no different to the 04 models. my shiny 02 one looked better than the matt 04 ones, i reckon.

i see you live in darfield - probably the larger cc bike would be a better pick. the RS250 is awesome if you commute 50k of windies every day, but it gets a bit tiring on straight bits.

[JohnBoy]

after i finish working on my ZXR 750 you could buy that... will be finished in a few months and i am not in a rush to sell it.

bike: 1993 ZXR 750RR (M1)
Power: 108 HP (at the wheel)

best of all it was called a ninja over in the states so it would fit your name perfectly!!

[Sensei]

[QUOTE=Kawasaki_Ninja] i want something with alot of power,

Don't we all !! . A good 400cc Bike would be a good start . Not only for power but to get some more skills so as to make moving up to something bigger later that much more easyer .

[marty]

this RS is just way too much - brembos are standard, a full tyga exhaust is only $1000, an engine rebuild is squat (plenty of race (engine/gearbox) bits around for them) and a standard y2k one is only worth about $7k - i paid only a little more than that for a 2001 model with 5000kms on the clock, in mint condition.


http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports-tourer/auction-31115258.htm

[unhingedlizard]

this RS is just way too much - brembos are standard, a full tyga exhaust is only $1000, an engine rebuild is squat (plenty of race (engine/gearbox) bits around for them) and a standard y2k one is only worth about $7k - i paid only a little more than that for a 2001 model with 5000kms on the clock, in mint condition.


How do you find dealing with Aprilia? Parts prices and times etc?

[zadok]

You're only a 17 year old student, so unless you have rich parents I'm assuming you can't spend a fortune on a bike.
Buy to what your riding experience will allow and to what you can afford. Also, not forgetting insurance will be the real killer (so to speak).

[MSTRS]

The guys are right. There are quite a few steps between crawling & sprinting. Ease your way to a 600/750 via a 400 first.

[marty]

i forgot to add - the aprilia is not a cheap bike to run - needs good oil ($20 a litre at least), and is not miserly on $1.50/litre gas....

insurance was good though - $350 for full cover vs $800 for the TL

[DEATH_INC.]

A vfr/cbr/gsxr/fzr 400 or an sv650 or similar. Work your way up,the 600s are bloody too fast for someone still learning and fresh of a 150 four-stroke. :weird:

[Slingshot]

Go for a ride on as many as you can and then decide...at the risk of receiving bad rep...people on here will always tell you to go with something less powerful. If it was a litre bike you were looking at then I could understand, but a 600 should be fine (assuming you're not a retard).

Personally, I wouldn't go with the RS cause I couldn't be bothered with the 2-stroke maintenance requirements and it's a heap of money to spend on a 250.

If I was you I'd go for a late '90s 600, in the CBR/ZXR/GSXR etc range they're all fairly similar in terms of performance, it's the look/feel that you need to decide on.

[Jonty]

You could try a CBR600F, they look sporty enough and a cheaper (second hand of course) than the RR. I am happy with mine and I came from a ZXR 250. They are a little more forgving than a supersports but you will still have fun. Look to pay between $6 - 9K for a 1996 - 2000 model.

[Zapf]

FXR150... 25hp?

Newish 600cc.... 100hp+

SV650S.... 78hp.... power more usable than a 600 multi in everyday...

GSXR750 .... 148hp.


Its best go to a 400 or a SV650 as well I say. Also, it'll be a good time to find out if you like twins better or multi's better. I have had SV650S and now a CB400, both great bikes for what they are designed for.... And my R750 is still giving me shivvers at how fast it is.

[Pathos]

Get a cheap 4 stroke 400cc. Some of them are cheaper than their 250cc equivalents and you won't be risking as much money as with a brand new 600. When I upgrade I'm going to get a reasonally powerful 250-400cc in pretty scrappy condition and thrash it, thats the only way to really learn the full potential of a motorcycle.

NOTE: fxr150 = 20bhp

[White trash]

Buy whatever does the best wheelies. There's far too few squids on here.

[Coyote]

Buy whatever does the best wheelies. There's far too few squids on here.
Get an 80 :eek:

[NinjaBoy]

You could try a CBR600F, they look sporty enough and a cheaper (second hand of course) than the RR. I am happy with mine and I came from a ZXR 250. They are a little more forgving than a supersports but you will still have fun. Look to pay between $6 - 9K for a 1996 - 2000 model.


Have to agree. Came from a '96 ZX6R and power delivery was raw and less controllable. Now have a '99 CBR 600 FX and the difference in spec's and equipment makes it a much more forgiving bike.

[onearmedbandit]

If you are, as slingshot said 'not a retard', I'd agree with an mid to late 90's 600, ZXR6R or CBR600 would be fine...if you are not a retard. If you're on a farm out Darfield way, or know anyone with a farm and you have a love for bikes you've no doubt been on farmbikes, so should know the basics of the controls. That you ride a roadbike now suggests you have a licence, so are deemed capable of operating a vehicle on public roads in a safe manner. So yes you might be ready for one of the above bikes, but whatever you do do not overestimate your abilities on anything you buy.

[NhuanH]

...my R750 is still giving me shivvers at how fast it is.
does that mean it's on the road again? I guess it was real fast when you had the broken brake lever eh!

You haven't decided you prefer the CB400 now, since the Gix has been off the road for so long?

[mikey]

mate dont fuck around with 600s, straight to a 1300 busa for you. make sure you pre pay your coffin though, an ready for all the ole timers wanting half price fairs o nthe back.

[NinjaBoy]

And my R750 is still giving me shivvers at how fast it is.

Is Gixer back on the road again?? Give us a ring next time you go out. Haven't seen it since the trackday in early April !!!

[Kawasaki_Ninja]

Hmm...

What's your

a) Skill
b) Mechanical abilities
c) Price Range

well, this is my second bike and ive been riding for a few years and had to deal with a few problems so:

a) moderate skill
b) reasonable mechanical understanding
c) something below 10,000

[Kawasaki_Ninja]

im really into sprorts bikes, my dad is the harley guy

[Kawasaki_Ninja]

ZX6-R new will be about 15500
CBRRR new 16500
Think they have discontinued the RS250 but there are still a few around that are new, they're 15000
GSX250 - Ask Ramius
GSXR750 new are about 18000 aren't they?

Don't even think about a GSX250


O, lol well with those prices i guess it wont be the latest year, to make them a little cheaper i dont mind if its a few years older, thanks for the heads up. im looking around 10,000, thats why i was considering a decent 250

[Kawasaki_Ninja]

I'm a big believer in getting as much experience as you can before going for anything resembling a sports 600cc, especially from a 150

Hone your skills on something less powerful/light. A sporty 250 like the Aprillia or Suzuki would be ideal introduction into the sportier world. :ride:

Yeah thats something i will have to be careful of, and a sporty 250 would have more than enough power for what i want and alot cheaper than the likes of a 600.

[Kawasaki_Ninja]

[QUOTE=JohnBoy]after i finish working on my ZXR 750 you could buy that... will be finished in a few months and i am not in a rush to sell it.

bike: 1993 ZXR 750RR (M1)
Power: 108 HP (at the wheel)
QUOTE]

Hmm, i would consider that, although what i wanted to do was get my bike asap once out of school by putting a finance plan in place with a small deposit. 108 hp is a big upgrade from my bike lol, i heard that mine has 15??

[Stroker Girl]

I agree with some of the other posts re upgrading to a 400 (not biased of course :whistle: ). I went from a 2stroke 150 to a 400 and absolutely love it. I am a bit of a nanna rider, but my confidence has increase 2 fold on the vfr. In the right hands they will give some of the 600's a run for their money especially in the tight stuff :Punk: KwakaKid has a good write up somewhere on the site about his VFR400.

But as said, just go out there and have a blast test riding all those beautiful machines till you find the one that clicks....

[Sparky Bills]

400's are great fun, but I think you would get sick and bored of it too fast.
A 600 is the way to go. Enough power to pass everyone, but still very usable.

I used to have a GSXR400, I had to thrash the living tits off it to keep up with everyone. Was fun, just not fast enough. A bit small (pysically) too.

[Zapf]

does that mean it's on the road again? I guess it was real fast when you had the broken brake lever eh!

You haven't decided you prefer the CB400 now, since the Gix has been off the road for so long?

Ermm... broken brake lever? yea I think so... :weird:

CB400 is good for going to work and back on, don't have to worry about it getting nicked. But CB400 isn't too fun on long trips... althou I have done it... (coro loop) reving it out to 12k red line every gear it won't stay together as a communter for long

[Zapf]

Is Gixer back on the road again?? Give us a ring next time you go out. Haven't seen it since the trackday in early April !!!

Well its back in one piece. just waiting for a set of frame sliders before I take it back from the shop...

[Teflon]

400's are great fun, but I think you would get sick and bored of it too fast.
A 600 is the way to go. Enough power to pass everyone, but still very usable.

I used to have a GSXR400, I had to thrash the living tits off it to keep up with everyone. Was fun, just not fast enough. A bit small (pysically) too.

I agree, i was sick of my VFR within 6 months.

[unhingedlizard]

My 2cents as well:
Agree with sparky, I went from a RS125 to a GSXR400. Very nice to ride fast on a twisty road but anything resembling distance was a pain. Went from the 400 to a 250 2 Stroke. Miss the torque (gonna get a TL1000S at some point) but it is as fun as any 400/600 in the twistys and comfortable for longer trips. Just misses out on long trips as you have to change down to overtake, and you can only do 160kph, downhill, with the wind behind you. I think you should get a 600 (maybe an older one) and watch the right hand.