Oh dear, a "Which Bike Thread"... I need suggestions

[Gremlin]

Well, I have decided that the zx10 is not for me, and while choosing a new bike can be fun, its starting to do my head in. Looking for some advice from perhaps those that have done similar, or ridden something they think suits.

Background: Had a road based background, last two bikes were zx7r and 04 zx10. Most riding is road, but I enjoy roadworks and gravel, except it would be on road tyres. Having lost my license once already, it was incredibly inconvenient, so the aim is to have the same if not more fun, with less speed. Unless I really go for it and top 250+, you usually wouldn't find me much over 120-130. Straights are boring anyway. I'm 6'3 and 100kg, so 600cc odd is a bit small. I want to drop hp, but not so much I'm left thinking walking may be quicker. :blink:

Requirements: I have found the hornet 900 a fantastic bike, offering almost everything you could want, wheelies, good riding position, luggage carrying, low down grunt, wheelies and ultimate reliability with cheap servicing. The downside of it, is that it pretty much has nothing left when accelerating at 120 odd, so a lack of hp and brakes could be sharper. It lacks that feeling where it has soul, perhaps a bit of an animal. ie... the 04 zx10 lacks nothing there :D The CB900 is brilliant around town, but not so great in the country.

So what options? The FZ1 was still too much like a naked sportsbike, not enough torque low down, and I suspect the Z1000 is the same along with others in the category. The CB1000R is possible, but its only available in a few months time, and will most likely not have luggage carrying options. Torque, no idea, but it looks more FZ1 than Hornet CB900.

I have ridden a KTM SM950R, found it a hoot, but the V-Twin was definitely something different, with the vibes, and I wonder if the novelty will wear off after a couple of months. The inline 4 is smoother, and much easier to do long motorway trips on. The 990SM would be what I buy, but I don't know how different it will be to the 950, with FI, rev counter and other stuff. One worry is that on slightly more open stuff, on a v-twin, I will be left feeling bored. Haven't been able to find a 990SM to ride yet.

The Aprilia Tuono was very good, lacks the luggage options again, seat was hard, and I don't think it looks that great. Shiver 750 is too small, power wise. The Tuono is a better choice than the FZ1 though. I think I will avoid Buell, most look ugly, the TT or supermoto version doesn't look too bad, but experiences with AMPS haven't been anything to write home about. The Ducati Hypermotard is a small bike, so not the ideal for me.

I think my main requirements are:
100+ ish hp. I think anything less isn't enough to be exciting in city and country
Long tank range of 200+km. This is where motards fall flat. The SXV550 Ape got 80km before R :crazy:
Low down power delivery. I am enjoying doing the odd wheelie, and handing mates their arses at lights because their zx10 takes a while to get the power down is funny :D
Able to take luggage. This means either softer stuff or ideally, givi top boxes and panniers
Probably not much more than 1000cc, as stuff usually begins to go over 200kg dry, meaning its not easy to throw through the twisties
Ideally come well equipped. I spent thousands on the zx10, and could have spent more. Aprilia and KTM are good here, with the likes of Brembo, Ohlins and White Power coming as standard kit.

Oh, and budget, the big factor... not too fussed, so probably set it at 25k, which covers the european options like KTM and Aprilia (but exludes the expensive RC8).

[mountainboy65]

Fazer.....a superb bike. I had the 1000 for 3 years in the UK...excellent!

[shafty]

R1200R ? Prolly down on power but many other boxes ticked...

[nodrog]

get one of these (http://www.apriliadorsoduro.com/#) then give me a turn.

[Dazza]

I'm alittle biased but I love my Super Duke, had her for 3yrs & 50,000k's & still in love (15ltr tank is a concern sometimes). A mate of mine has the 950 SM & it's a great fun machine (he's just covered 10500k's & has finally geled with her). Would like to try the new 990SM as I reckon that'd be a bloody awesome real world MC. Too many options to choose from so enjoy the test rides !!! ;)

[Quasievil]

Get a KLR you know you want one :Punk:

Nah seriously mate get a superduke or something like that, its got you written all over it

[sels1]

Triumph Tiger. Ticks your boxes.
Check out the Speed triple and the Spring ST while you are at it.
1050 triples are an awesome motor, torque plus revs
And Triumphs tend to be comfortable for the taller rider

[Devil]

So what options? The FZ1 was still too much like a naked sportsbike, not enough torque low down, and I suspect the Z1000 is the same along with others in the category. ..........
............Ducati Hypermotard is a small bike, so not the ideal for me.

I think my main requirements are:
100+ ish hp. I think anything less isn't enough to be exciting in city and country
Long tank range of 200+km. This is where motards fall flat. The SXV550 Ape got 80km before R :crazy:
Low down power delivery. I am enjoying doing the odd wheelie, and handing mates their arses on someone elses bike at lights because YOUR zx10 takes a while to get the power down is funny :D


The FZ1 is known for still being a revvy bike, so still try the Z1000.
The Hypermotard is small? Go try one, it looks cool and has cool toys.
100hp is plenty, hey, my 63hp is plenty in town and country, it's the way it delivers it!
Fuel consumption, it's where the mega motards fall flat :P I can do 250km on 12L round town. 300km on the open road!
Fixed your power delivery comment :D

[The Stranger]

So what options? The FZ1 was still too much like a naked sportsbike, not enough torque low down,


Whilst it is true that the FZ1 produces peak torque higher up in the rev range, you can quite easily pull a lot more HP from the low - mid range. Mine is +5hp at 3,500 rpm and +20hp at 7,000rpm.
Also, the FZ1 is over geared, Yamaha advertise that they went longer on 5th and 6th as a tilt toward touring. However this is easily corrected too, -1 on the front.

The 01-05 model is widely regarded as the better tourer, better low to mid torque and can be made to pull the same sort of power with a few tweaks.

[James Deuce]

You've talked yourself out of every bike that meets your criteria.

Challenge yourself and buy something you wouldn't normally. $25k gives you massive scope to buy something and add extras to meet the touring requirements.

[Jerry74]

Aprilia RSV, GSXR, R1, Duke the choice is yours.

It comes down to budget and what is the best for you

[Gwinch]

Had a look at the Speed Triple 1050? Lugguge options could be dubious though.

[McJim]

Forget looking at the spec sheets - go and TRY a Ducati 1000 ss ds.

It's got the low down torque and it's big enough for you to be fairly comfortable on. The flat torque curve will make you feel as though you have more ponies under your arse than you actually have but the real lack of ponies will be evident in the lack of top end (which is where you said want to lose it from your post).

It's fine for touring but no too upright and has a short enough wheelbase that you can still carve the twisties when you want to. Stock hp is only 93 but with a power commander and some mods to the exhaust you should be up to 100 in no time at all. AND you'll still have some change left over from your $25K.

Get over the twin vibration thing. Rev the nuts off it and it gets smoother as the revs climb :devil2:

[jrandom]

What McJim said! God, I want one of those things.

<img src="http://i38.tinypic.com/2v7z0p4.jpg"/>

Obviously there's one or two things that'd need sorting, suspension, ugly mufflers, but, meh. So sort 'em. Makes the bike more personal dunnit.

I'll put in the obligatory plug for a GSX1400, of course - ride one, you might be surprised. But it's more of a "do all of the above two up" kinda machine.

And please, do us all a favour - take an XR1200 out for a ride and report back on what you thought of it. I doubt you'd buy one, but, well, still...

And, personally, I loathe Aprilias. No, that's not right. I don't loathe them; I just have an utter absence of emotion toward them. I'm not entirely sure why. But if I'd never met an Aprilia, I'd have never realised that a V-twin Italian superbike could be so milquetoast.

[jrandom]

it's big enough for you to be fairly comfortable on...

No it's not.

But that's not the point, really.

[Gremlin]

get one of these (http://www.apriliadorsoduro.com/#) then give me a turn.
The 750 fails on tank size, at 12L its about the same as the SXV550. Wait for the 1200 version as well... should be a ripper... ETA unknown, but its coming. iirc, the dorsoduro 750 hasn't actually landed in NZ yet either.

Fixed your power delivery comment :D
A certain someone on a yella 06 zx10 also had issues, until we both tried launching with revs. He got it right... I put the bike on its rear end... no loop, but he was laughing his arse off as he pulled away, as he saw my front shoot skywards :weep:

Challenge yourself and buy something you wouldn't normally.
Yep... hence this thread. Having laughed at bikes before because of preconceived notions, and then enjoying them, I'm trying to be very open minded.

Aprilia RSV, GSXR, R1, Duke the choice is yours.
depending on the Duc... they are all sportsbikes

I'll have a look at the triumphs and I want to demo a superduke (apparently the tank has grown to about 18.5L now)... but at this rate, I'm in half a mind to say fuck it, and just buy something :whistle:

[James Deuce]

Yep... hence this thread. Having laughed at bikes before because of preconceived notions, and then enjoying them, I'm trying to be very open minded.


Seriously mate, you don't need us for that. All we're doing is lumbering you with our preconceived notions (Buy a Buell XB12STT with the pillion kit (extra $650) from Wellington Motorcycles for $13,999. Go mental getting it painted, and the Ulysses luggage kit fitted. Go on, I dare you!).

[slowpoke]

BMWK1200R: 163hp naked bike with stacks of luggage options, all day comort, super smooth and a lil' bit different.

[Dazza]

milquetoast[/I]. Ya what :gob:each to their own I spose. I've owned 2, certainly don't know where your coming from :shifty:and stop using big words I'm unfamilar with.

[Colapop]

Aprilia Falco. Same donk as the Tuono but in sport tourer config. They stopped making so you won't get a new one. Value priced at less than 10k. That or a BMW K1200R

[jrandom]

Ya what :gob:each to their own I spose.

Yup.

I've nothing against Aprilias. They're fine motorcycles.

They just leave me stone cold for no real reason whatsoever. I'd never try and argue anyone else into sharing that opinion.

[nodrog]

The 750 fails on tank size, at 12L its about the same as the SXV550. Wait for the 1200 version as well... should be a ripper... ETA unknown, but its coming. iirc, the dorsoduro 750 hasn't actually landed in NZ yet either.

the svx has a 7.8 litre tank, 12L is a decent sized tank for what it is, i was told they were turning up in NZ in september.

[Dazza]

Yup.

I've nothing against Aprilias. They're fine motorcycles.

They just leave me stone cold for no real reason whatsoever. I'd never try and argue anyone else into sharing that opinion.Fair nuff :apint:

[Jerry74]

Forget looking at the spec sheets - go and TRY a Ducati 1000 ss ds.

It's got the low down torque and it's big enough for you to be fairly comfortable on. The flat torque curve will make you feel as though you have more ponies under your arse than you actually have but the real lack of ponies will be evident in the lack of top end (which is where you said want to lose it from your post).

It's fine for touring but no too upright and has a short enough wheelbase that you can still carve the twisties when you want to. Stock hp is only 93 but with a power commander and some mods to the exhaust you should be up to 100 in no time at all. AND you'll still have some change left over from your $25K.

Get over the twin vibration thing. Rev the nuts off it and it gets smoother as the revs climb :devil2:

Could not agree more... Duke all the way

[homer]

sounds to me like you need to test ride a bandit 1250
low down grunt , great power down low , luggage already on it if you buy the touring model .
more than enough horses 100hp
and they will happily run in top gear from 2000 rpm and on up .
mostly i like the fact that you dont normally need to go about 6000 rpm .
and thats passing . mind you 6000 rpm is about 170 km
If you dont want a new bike theres lots of really good second hand ones and still a few of the k6 models about as new for aprox $11500 + on road costs . still a cheap new 1200cc road bike at under $12k

[avgas]

The 01-05 model is widely regarded as the better tourer, better low to mid torque and can be made to pull the same sort of power with a few tweaks.
Yep - i ride round town on mine round 2500-3000, likewise i cruise on motorways at about 5-6000. On my dyno-sheet im still getting a good 70+hp at 6,000

[avgas]

If i had no money problems, there would be no dobt what bike i would have in the garage.
Speed triple - perfect for NZ twisties, good grunt anywhere in the revs......and looks NOICE

[nosebleed]

Ya what :gob:each to their own I spose. I've owned 2, certainly don't know where your coming from :shifty:and stop using big words I'm unfamilar with.

hahaha, so i'm not the only one that had to Google 'milquetoast.'

turns out its italian for... do i make you horny baby, yeaah. :shifty:

[honda929]

HONDA VFR, silky smooth V4 power, decent tank range, comfortable riding position, and still a very quick bike.

[dwnundabkr]

What McJim said! God, I want one of those things.

<img src="http://i38.tinypic.com/2v7z0p4.jpg"/>

Obviously there's one or two things that'd need sorting, suspension, ugly mufflers, but, meh. So sort 'em. Makes the bike more personal dunnit.

I'll put in the obligatory plug for a GSX1400, of course - ride one, you might be surprised. But it's more of a "do all of the above two up" kinda machine.

And please, do us all a favour - take an XR1200 out for a ride and report back on what you thought of it. I doubt you'd buy one, but, well, still...

And, personally, I loathe Aprilias. No, that's not right. I don't loathe them; I just have an utter absence of emotion toward them. I'm not entirely sure why. But if I'd never met an Aprilia, I'd have never realised that a V-twin Italian superbike could be so milquetoast.


beauty is in the eye of the beholder now some people think Buells are ugly but that bike sorry is not a good looker at all

[nallac]

get yourself a Buell xb12x uly ticks most of the boxes you want.
power
weight
luggage
good low down grunt for wheelies
awesum fun in the twistys..

Just ask Big Dave

[McJim]

What McJim said! God, I want one of those things.
.

Actually I meant one of these but it's the same engine. this one is less retro in styling and has more space on it for tall buggers like Gremlin.

[henry]

Face it, you want a car.

[Gremlin]

Actually I meant one of these but it's the same engine. this one is less retro in styling and has more space on it for tall buggers like Gremlin.
ah... fairings... no... it mustn't look fast :whistle:

Face it, you want a car.
You take that back!! :girlfight:

Besides, I only have a learners car license, and can count the number of times I have driven on one hand.

homer: bandit is too big, aka heavy, at almost 230kg dry

[Devil]

How bout a Moto Guzzi 1200 sport? (i'm quite serious here. dont go and write these bikes off by preconceived notions or by figures on paper!)
http://uk.motoguzzi.it/Nuovi_modelli/1200sport/ph_gallery.asp?modello=1200sport&pagina=gallery
Sexy naked bike.

Although with that budget i'd get a Moto Guzzi Griso. Yum.
Good fun bike.

[Devil]

http://uk.motoguzzi.it/Nuovi_modelli/1200sport/gfx/zoom/30.jpg

[sinned]

If i had no money problems, there would be no dobt what bike i would have in the garage.
Speed triple - perfect for NZ twisties, good grunt anywhere in the revs......and looks NOICE
I can't agree more - it is a fantastic bike.


Had a look at the Speed Triple 1050? Lugguge options could be dubious though.
It takes a pack rack real well and still looks okay. With an Rjays pack you have all the room you need. Check out my profile pic

My next bike could be an ST Sprint :clap: or the latest model Speedtriple - I want both :rolleyes:

[Rob Taylor]

What about a Yamaha MT-01:woohoo:.Now that is a bike to behold.One of my mates has one. It handles ok,comfortable,and more pull than a school boy;),and very well priced new:scooter: Go test ride one, & with after market pipes what a sound!!!!!

[Gremlin]

How bout a Moto Guzzi 1200 sport?

Although with that budget i'd get a Moto Guzzi Griso. Yum.
Coming from someone who hassled the 990sm for being heavy at a little over 190kg... hmmm both are 230kg ish, and given the blackbird is around that, I know how heavy it is. Wide bars and positioning of mass can make a difference... but it only goes so far. Sort of like the CB900, with wide bars, ohlins rear shock, it hides the 200kg quite well, but you are still reminded it weighs 200 dry on a regular basis


What about a Yamaha MT-01
Saw a couple in Waikato Yamaha... why do you need 1700cc? :mellow: Big bike tho, but still around 230kg I think. I believe a certain Trashman had no problems getting it up on one wheel tho (not that that show off ever has trouble doing so)

[ritchtheitch]

Take all the fairings off the ZX, instant naked bike, and if you go too fast, the wind will stretch your arms and give you a major buffetting to remind you to slow down..:laugh::laugh:

[MentalFacility]

I have the new blade. Love it. There is a demo available at Botany Honda. I think its worth the try.

[The Stranger]

I have the new blade. Love it. There is a demo available at Botany Honda. I think its worth the try.

Yep, that first post was a long read alright.

[Gremlin]

Take all the fairings off the ZX, instant naked bike, and if you go too fast, the wind will stretch your arms and give you a major buffetting to remind you to slow down..:laugh::laugh:
I rode a mates streetfightered zx... sure was scary... at ummm... illegal speeds (but they were private roads of course). Without the extra weight on the front, the little bugger overtook me (he was on my zx7r) when I was doing around 240 ish, and the front was trying to lift and shake etc. :wacko:

Nakeds down the motorway for a stretch of 2 odd hours sure are good exercise though. A trip down to Hamilton and back using SH1 (I know... bad :dodge:) and I was fair buggered after fighting the wind the whole way north.

[Bytor]

Triumph Tiger or Ducati Multistrada?

[McJim]

Triumph Tiger or Ducati Multistrada?

You need to read very carefully Bytor - he has already eliminated all the bikes that would suit the needs described in the first post! :rofl:

I think he would love the change to a circa 1000cc Twin once he got used to it.

[Bytor]

this is what i'd have given $25k. Think it fits your criteria perfectly

[James Deuce]

Apart from looking good.

[Gremlin]

You need to read very carefully Bytor - he has already eliminated all the bikes that would suit the needs described in the first post! :rofl:
:Pokey:


Apart from looking good.
Its not even on the positive chart, even neutral, its so far ugly... I'm not exactly a poser, but at least I have to like it!!

[Bytor]

:Pokey:


its so far ugly...

Yeah, but ugly chicks always give you a better ride :msn-wink:

[Jerry74]

What about a Ducati 1000 SS or Aprilia RSV 1000 Mille???

[saltydog]

Why not a 08 R1 in black, with all the ohilins fruit on it?
Huh?

[Gremlin]

What about a Ducati 1000 SS or Aprilia RSV 1000 Mille???

Why not a 08 R1 in black, with all the ohilins fruit on it?
Huh?
Sportsbikes... not wanting one of those... High speeds are not very far past a turn of the throttle, and stuff the nonsense about controlling the wrist, I like to demand large amounts of throttle and then have fun handling it... without seeing 2xx kph on the speedo. :shit:

[Kirill357]

How about ZX12r but 2003 upwards only, wider and better design of air intake. Do have a similar problem, started to search myself, want to upgrade from 600, a bit small. Pretty much similar requirements, plus pillion friendly.

[McJim]

Okay Gremlin. So now you have told us all at length what you don't want what DO you want?

How about a Wakan?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3926353421031744667

Yum!

[Gremlin]

How about ZX12r but 2003 upwards only, wider and better design of air intake. Do have a similar problem, started to search myself, want to upgrade from 600, a bit small. Pretty much similar requirements, plus pillion friendly.
12 is pillion friendly... but don't be fooled by the physical size of it, it has serious grunt, and loves eating miles at serious rates, with a LOT of torque

So now you have told us all at length what you don't want what DO you want?
I don't know... thats why I started the thread... :bleh:

Had my nose to the grindstone for a while, so shopping for a bike has been put on hold. The CB1000R only comes out in October (or later) and initially I thought it would be too late... but at the rate time is racing past, meh, may as well wait, see if I like it.

10 hasn't sold yet either, so no big rush.

[Quasievil]

12 is pillion friendly... but don't be fooled by the physical size of it, it has serious grunt, and loves eating miles at serious rates, with a LOT of torque



No it aint, I did a measure up and the leg room for the pillion is about the same as a 636.

[Gremlin]

No it aint, I did a measure up and the leg room for the pillion is about the same as a 636.
I assume thats better than the 04 zx10... its very unfriendly for pillions. They spend their time sliding into me and around the seat... (not so bad for chicks ;))

[Gremlin]

Well, thanks to Dazza mentioning in passing, AMPS have just got their KTM 990 Supermoto demo available now.

Booked in to ride it and the 990 Superduke on Saturday morning... lets see how they go :ride:

[Gremlin]

Sucks arse if you have an adult sized cock though mate :bye:
well... thats kicked this thread straight into the gutter, hasn't it ya homo? :girlfight:

[Dazza]

Well, thanks to Dazza mentioning in passing, AMPS have just got their KTM 990 Supermoto demo available now.

Booked in to ride it and the 990 Superduke on Saturday morning... lets see how they go :ride:Bugger it, you might aswell round it off with a strop on the RC8 aswell :apint:Which one to ride first, go SM first I reckon !

[Gremlin]

Bugger it, you might aswell round it off with a strop on the RC8 aswell :apint:Which one to ride first, go SM first I reckon !
nope, staying well away from the rc8, don't need to be spending that much on a bike, and its a sportsbike

Don't care which one I ride first... been waiting since december last year I think to have a go... :soon:

[Dazza]

nope, staying well away from the rc8, don't need to be spending that much on a bike, and its a sportsbike

Don't care which one I ride first... been waiting since december last year I think to have a go... :soon:I know where your coming from on the RC8, neat bike but not where I'm @ either,done my sportsbike thing for a long time me thinks.
I think Bruce offered me the good deal because he realised I wasn't going to take an RC8 off his hands :innocent:
Once you've ridden both new LC8's go back in another day & take my traded 05 for a ride to see where it all began (on the road that is),certainly can tell all the refinements,your one very paitent man waiting soo long :rockon:

[Gremlin]

Once you've ridden both new LC8's go back in another day & take my traded 05 for a ride to see where it all began (on the road that is),certainly can tell all the refinements,your one very paitent man waiting soo long :rockon:
I've ridden a 950 smr, but its carbed, no rev counter (you suddenly want to see them when riding a very foreign bike) so I struggled to tell where I was in the rev range. Early on I thought I kept hitting the end of the revs, then one time I thought, bugger this, gave it a handful, and then it picked up, came alive etc.

Handling wise, the smr was amazing, it just drove out of corners sooo easy, when loose stones on the road, really rough tar etc. Very fun. I'm hoping the 990 is mostly more of the same, but with improvements. Was almost disappointed at the 950smr. Reading up on it, you would think it wanted to wheelie every second, but I didn't get one out of it? :pinch:

With the superduke, its similar to the supermoto in changes. Larger tanks, very slight changes to geometry/suspension etc. Role on Saturday :2thumbsup

[Dazza]

I've ridden a 950 smr, but its carbed, no rev counter (you suddenly want to see them when riding a very foreign bike) so I struggled to tell where I was in the rev range. Early on I thought I kept hitting the end of the revs, then one time I thought, bugger this, gave it a handful, and then it picked up, came alive etc.

Handling wise, the smr was amazing, it just drove out of corners sooo easy, when loose stones on the road, really rough tar etc. Very fun. I'm hoping the 990 is mostly more of the same, but with improvements. Was almost disappointed at the 950smr. Reading up on it, you would think it wanted to wheelie every second, but I didn't get one out of it? :pinch:

With the superduke, its similar to the supermoto in changes. Larger tanks, very slight changes to geometry/suspension etc. Role on Saturday :2thumbsupI hear yeah,certainly don't be afraid to rev it,these LC8's love rev's (ok maybe not inline with the inlines,but hey I'm not telling ya nuthin)I took my mates 950SM for a thrash the other day as he reckons the new carbon fibre front guard was making a horrible noise @ near the revlimiter so I tried my hardest to find it,but talk about wheelie under power, nice one wheel action @ 170 clicks (on a closed circuit of course). Look forward to your reactions.:woohoo:

[ohakune]

Hi everyone I'm new here. This is a good thread.