What bike to upgrade to?

[howdamnhard]

Well got my full so it's time to upgrade.Need something in which I can commute everday,go out for spin on the weekend with the missus on the back and the occasional tour.Needs to be have reasonable running costs and must be faired.I've narrowed it down to sport tourers:1)suzuki gsx750F
2)suzuki RF900
3)kawasaki ZX9R could anyone owning any of these bikes give me their feedback/thoughts of their pros and cons,fuel consumption,servicing costs etc.
Yes I know its a big step up and most go to a 600cc rating but I have a healthy sense of self preservation and don't want to be having to go out later and buying another bigger bike.
Cheers thanks.

[Gremlin]

3)kawasaki ZX9R could anyone owning any of these bikes give me their feedback/thoughts of their pros and cons,fuel consumption,servicing costs etc.Yes I know its a big step up and most go to a 600cc rating but I have a healthy sense of self preservation and don't want to be having to go out later and buying another bigger bike.
Don't know how old you are, but hell, thats a big step from a gn250. Don't let its age deceive you, they are deceptively quick and powerful bikes. They had more power and less weight (some years anyway) than the zx7r, of which the rr version was raced.

Big bikes drink gas, be prepared for a shock from your frugal gn. It doesn't matter too much how they are ridden, from my experience of riding big bikes. Yes, they drink more in country, but not by much. They also use more tyres, brakes, more expensive servicing etc.

You HAVE to test ride bikes as well... no-one will be able to give you an absolute, as you have to be comfortable on whatever you choose.

[Mikkel]

Congratulations on getting your full! :niceone:

Yup, go out to dealers around town and ask to try out some of their demonstrators. That'll give you an idea I reckon :)

Enjoy!

[0arbreaka]

From something like a gn250, something like a sv650 or something in the 600cc range would be ideal, then from there move up to a big bike. Thats just my 0.02c.

[howdamnhard]

Well went out and took all 3 for a test ride and still can't make up my flaming mind.Took a tidy RF900 out first.Found the ride uncomfortable(was expecting this after just getting off the GN).Nice linear power delivery.Then took out a ZX9R,expected this to be more uncomfortable but surprisingly it was better and the steering seemed lighter.Awesome power,oops thats not 100km/h but 100mph.Then went to another bike shop and tried out a new GSX750F.Comfortable but right wrist got pins & needles,seems a little buzzy.Power comes in at higher revs than the other two.Back brake a little vague as in if you used only me you probably won't stopping for quite some time.Took out a not so tidy RF900 out afterwards,clutch takes near end of travel and front suspension a little soft.This time however felt much more comfortable and I could have cruised down the motorway all day long.
I am fairly aged and whilst doing my testrides erred on the side of caution ,being on unfamiliar bikes with 4 times the power of my GN.Unfortuneately no clear winner so fellow KBers further imput welcome.Ps.Lots of cops out and about today saw one golden mufti and some more using laser.

[howdamnhard]

Don't know how old you are, but hell, thats a big step from a gn250. Don't let its age deceive you, they are deceptively quick and powerful bikes. They had more power and less weight (some years anyway) than the zx7r, of which the rr version was raced.

Big bikes drink gas, be prepared for a shock from your frugal gn. It doesn't matter too much how they are ridden, from my experience of riding big bikes. Yes, they drink more in country, but not by much. They also use more tyres, brakes, more expensive servicing etc.

You HAVE to test ride bikes as well... no-one will be able to give you an absolute, as you have to be comfortable on whatever you choose.

Took all three out for a ride today.The Zx9r and rf900 were both deceptively fast.I found the Zx9r the sportiest and nicest to ride but they are also the most expensive and the worst pillion seat.The Gsx750F is the smallest step up and I'm afraid I may get bored with it and its kinda buzzy and gave me a numb wrist.The Gsx will probably be the cheapest to run.

[Mikkel]

Good on ya.

Maybe you shouldn't limit yourself to such a narrow span of bikes. I'd say go try as many different things you can possibly get away with. Then let it sink in for a couple of days, narrow it down, focus on the things you remember as being good, etc. Then narrow your target down to one or two types of bike. Then try that type of bikes again. Then start thinking about make and model.

That's what I would do anyway. Enjoy your toy shopping!

[P38]

Good on ya mate.

Suzuki Boulevard C50T.

Cant go wrong.

Best bike out there for commuting, Touring and your missus will love it too.

Comfy as a couch.

Check out the Shadow or the Vulcan if you must but the boulevard will beat them all.

But then I'm pretty much one eyed.

Cheers
P38

[Edbear]

Good on ya mate.

Suzuki Boulevard C50T.

Cant go wrong.

Best bike out there for commuting, Touring and your missus will love it too.

Comfy as a couch.

Check out the Shadow or the Vulcan if you must but the boulevard will beat them all.

But then I'm pretty much one eyed.

Cheers
P38



Don't listen to him! He's obviously biased! :bash:I, on the other hand can be completely objective! :innocent:

The Suzuki C50T Boulevard is, after careful and unbiased investigation, the best bike on the road, currently...:sunny:

[jafar]

Good on ya mate.

Suzuki Boulevard C50T.

Cant go wrong.

Best bike out there for commuting, Touring and your missus will love it too.

Comfy as a couch.

Check out the Shadow or the Vulcan if you must but the boulevard will beat them all.

But then I'm pretty much one eyed.

Cheers
P38


Don't listen to him! He's obviously biased! :bash:I, on the other hand can be completely objective! :innocent:

The Suzuki C50T Boulevard is, after careful and unbiased investigation, the best bike on the road, currently...:sunny:

As the man would like a faired bike RF900 etc you guys are :Offtopic::laugh:

A Honda CB 1300s or a Suzuki 1200 bandit may suit him better :bleh:

[howdamnhard]

Don't listen to him! He's obviously biased! :bash:I, on the other hand can be completely objective! :innocent:

The Suzuki C50T Boulevard is, after careful and unbiased investigation, the best bike on the road, currently...:sunny:

HA,HA very good guys :clap: Not to sure how well it will handle the twisties and I would like a fairing to reduce the wind blast at higher speeds.

[howdamnhard]

As the man would like a faired bike RF900 etc you guys are :Offtopic::laugh:

A Honda CB 1300s or a Suzuki 1200 bandit may suit him better :bleh:

HMM a CB1300 or Suzuki 1200 may be a bit big and heavy on the gas.

[jafar]

HA,HA very good guys :clap: Not to sure how well it will handle the twisties and I would like a fairing to reduce the wind blast at higher speeds.

They handle the twisties ok, the screens will take care of the windblast :whistle:


HMM a CB1300 or Suzuki 1200 may be a bit big and heavy on the gas.

RF900 weighs in around the same as a 1200 bandit or a cb1300, the bandit & cb have a bit more power obviously.
My cb 1300f is averaging 18km per litre & I don't ride for economy. Hope this helps :blink:

[howdamnhard]

My cb 1300f is averaging 18km per litre & I don't ride for economy. Hope this helps :blink:[/QUOTE]

Thats pretty good for a 1300,will have to add that to my list of testbikes.Whats the other running costs like.What year is it?

[P38]

HaHaHa true I am biased and one eyed too.:bleh:

Edbear on the otherhand has carefully considered the requirements and is totally neutral.
Yet he also came to the same conclusion.

Go Figure!.:msn-wink:

Jafar:
It's never off topic when encouraging another motorcyclist to see the light and step on into the "Brotherhood of the Cruisers"

Besides Mum will get a bloody sore ass riding up back on a RF900.
Then you'll hear grizzles.
Before ya know it the bike will be traded on a little blue Echo and that will be that.

Ride em all,
Flip a coin,
Sing Eany Meany,
Or whatever else you need to do to choose
What ever you do at the end of the day your spoiled for choice.

Just remember this.


Be Bloody Carefull Out There!!!

[
CENTER]Ride like everone is out to get ya
Cos they ARE!!![/CENTER]

[jafar]

[QUOTE=howdamnhard;Thats pretty good for a 1300,will have to add that to my list of testbikes.Whats the other running costs like.What year is it?[/QUOTE]

So far just the usual services, rear tyres are averaging around 10,000k & fronts over 20,000k. Still on original chain. Seat to peg distance is good for both rider & passenger, all day touring is a common use for the 1300. In short is it comfortable enough to use all day & fast enough to keep the sprots bike boys honest. The only thing I have changed is to put a 'rider' seat on it. The old one was a bit hmmm after 25,000k. Bike is a 2005 model, first registered in 2006. Currently has 27,000k up & no problems (except the seat).

[williamxf650]

Suzuki xf650 nice to ride commute and long haul. I can sit on mine all day and then go off rd. Good in traffic as you are up high I have found it to be a good entry level bike although I have been riding for years and had everything from a cruizer to a sports I find the xf650 freewind to be the most fun.

[howdamnhard]

So far just the usual services, rear tyres are averaging around 10,000k & fronts over 20,000k. Still on original chain. Seat to peg distance is good for both rider & passenger, all day touring is a common use for the 1300. In short is it comfortable enough to use all day & fast enough to keep the sprots bike boys honest. The only thing I have changed is to put a 'rider' seat on it. The old one was a bit hmmm after 25,000k. Bike is a 2005 model, first registered in 2006. Currently has 27,000k up & no problems (except the seat).

looked it up surprisingly good fuel consumption for a 1300cc.Seems like a nice bike but still too pricey.$8000 is my ceiling which I guess counts outthe Zx9R.

[howdamnhard]

Suzuki xf650 nice to ride commute and long haul. I can sit on mine all day and then go off rd. Good in traffic as you are up high I have found it to be a good entry level bike although I have been riding for years and had everything from a cruizer to a sports I find the xf650 freewind to be the most fun.

Can't find anything on a xf650,do you mean DR650?:mellow:

[howdamnhard]

Good on ya mate.

Suzuki Boulevard C50T.

Cant go wrong.

Best bike out there for commuting, Touring and your missus will love it too.

Comfy as a couch.

Check out the Shadow or the Vulcan if you must but the boulevard will beat them all.

But then I'm pretty much one eyed.

Cheers
P38
Out of my price range.My ceiling is $8000,also to much chrome to keep clean.Looks nice and comfortable though and has got good reports.

[jafar]

A cruiser will make cornering
tricky in the twisties and at tight roundabouts.

No it doesn't ,Cruisers corner fine & they are far superior for taking a pillion than anything else .It is harder to get a sv 1000 through a tight roundabout than it is to get a cruiser through . :laugh:

SV 1000 IS a race orientated bike!!!!!!!!!

Mabey you should try riding a cruiser before you make such uninformed statements:oi-grr:

[jafar]

I have test ridden a Harley and while I did not scrape anything when
I cornered I have heard of others who have. This is due to the long
wheelbase and low centre of gravity. I did not take a passenger
when I rode it so cannot comment on that. The SV1000 is made in
2 versions 1 is naked with upright H Bars the other has a fairing with lowered
H Bars. I was thinking of the upright naked H Bar model. They perhaps have
the same power motor though.

You have to be going fairly hard to get most bikes to scrape anything.
The long wheelbase makes the bike more stable into a corner, it also has the effect of making it harder to chuck into a corner, in other words a sportsbike will 'flick' into a corner where a cruiser takes a bit more effort.
The lower centre of gravity helps with the cornering & smoothing out the bumps on the highway but has bugger all to do with the bike scraping, that is entirely to do with the fact the lean angles are not as generous as on a sports model.
SV 1000 s is a royal pain @ anything below 100k, clipon bars, knee's up round your earholes & a seat that is made by a sadist. they are a physiotherapists dream, & the pilloin seat is worse ..... I don't recall seeing a naked version of the sv 1000.

[howdamnhard]

They are not race orientated bikes so no sore wrists. Sounds like you
are not freaked out by the higher power. A cruiser will make cornering
tricky in the twisties and at tight roundabouts.

Just sitting on the Faired Sv1000 I could feel my wrists tingling.The unfaired version would have a more comfortable position but I'm after something thats faired.

[sweetp]

Hi, I am looking for a step up bike myself and the general advice I have been given from the multitude of bikers I have asked can be summarised down to - try heaps of bikes (you will get less nervous the more you ride) and you will know it when you find it. Don't settle for a bike that you don't love, keep trying to you find one and say "this is it", cause you are riding it regularly so you have to love it.

[homer]

rf900s are a wicked bike i had wanted one since id first seen them .
but there not getting any younger and the price you ll pay for a minter you may as well look for the same money something about 4 or 5 years newer
Thats just my opinion ....and i was looking at a couple about 6 months back and to higher km for the money

[Edbear]

HaHaHa true I am biased and one eyed too.:bleh:

Edbear on the otherhand has carefully considered the requirements and is totally neutral.
Yet he also came to the same conclusion.

Go Figure!.:msn-wink:

Jafar:
It's never off topic when encouraging another motorcyclist to see the light and step on into the "Brotherhood of the Cruisers"[QUOTE]



Ahah! A man wots knows things!!!:niceone:



[QUOTE=howdamnhard;1297986]Out of my price range.My ceiling is $8000,also to much chrome to keep clean.Looks nice and comfortable though and has got good reports.


Hmmmm! Mebbe the previous VL800 Volusia, then...:msn-wink:



No it doesn't ,Cruisers corner fine & they are far superior for taking a pillion than anything else .It is harder to get a sv 1000 through a tight roundabout than it is to get a cruiser through . :laugh:

SV 1000 IS a race orientated bike!!!!!!!!!

Mabey you should try riding a cruiser before you make such uninformed statements:oi-grr:


Well I do have to say the C50T is more than happy to scrape the warning knobs in the twisties! But it can still hustle!!!:rolleyes:

[McJim]

I got my missus a GSX750F for her step up from an RG150. It's nice and comfortable and will have cheaper running costs than the other two mentioned (narrower tyres, less fuel etc.) The engine is understressed too so should last a while with care.

As for getting bored - 240kmh is quite quick dontcherknow :rofl: the GSX750F puts out about 90hp and weighs about 180kg so shouldn't be too shabby unless you're talking about 10 year old ones.

A seriously underrated bike in my opinion but it's your taste at the end of the day....and as for 4 times the power of your GN....nearer 5 times for the GSXF nd 6 times more for the 900cc bikes. The ginny pumps out a whopping 20hp...and that's if you're on the redline all the time.

[MidnightMike]

As for getting bored - 240kmh is quite quick dontcherknow :rofl: the GSX750F puts out about 90hp and weighs about 180kg so shouldn't be too shabby unless you're talking about 10 year old ones..


And coming from a GN, thats a fairly big jump really.

With what your looking for, it seems that you have found the right models though.

[homer]

they will get away on you
i had a 750 years ago got a 600 2 years ago, and the sv1000 i test rode wanted to get away then the bandit 1200 near got away.but i did want the inline 4 , now a few more kms on the clock and it still near gets away.

[williamxf650]

prob too late for reply freewind xf650, should be able to find