Which one from these three?

[beyond]

Haven't ridden any of them. But having ridden with Beyond, I really wouldn't bother with the Yamaha or Honda - and apparently he's a shit rider too, so it must be the bike that makes the difference eh.

LOL Bang on mate... it's the bike. Turns even a shit rider into a reasonable one

[AllanB]

Bandit 1250 - add to the list.

Can you get them naked in NZ?, I've only seen ones with screens.

[Bumblebeeman1150]

After 20,000 absolutely trouble-free and always entertaining kilometres on my CB1300 I say you can't leave it off the list. I didn't mind the GSX1400 when I tested it (several times, as I worked part-time for a Suzuki dealer) but the Honda is better finished and super strong. None of them are race bikes and all benefit from having the suspension set up just right. Truth is, all the big four nakeds will give you what you want but the Honda gets overlooked for reasons that have nothing to do with how it goes or how it compares. If any machine can have character, it has it, Honda badge or not. Some bikes you just connect with. That's my CB13.

[phred]

I want one.

[SPman]

XJR for a nice big comfy warhorse. Very easy to release another 15+ hp and lots of bits available. Handle fine - I have no trouble keeping up with sporties up to 100 mph, partic. in the twisties. Over that , who cares.....
Trouble is - they all have their good points - I prefer the looks of the XJR, even though I was after a ZRX at the time. In Europe, the XJR is king, in NZ it's the GSX14. The Hondas are more modern, the XJR's pure old school - air cooled motor and all. It just depends on whats available at the time, I guess.

[Maha]

After 20,000 absolutely trouble-free and always entertaining kilometres on my CB1300 I say you can't leave it off the list. I didn't mind the GSX1400 when I tested it (several times, as I worked part-time for a Suzuki dealer) but the Honda is better finished and super strong. None of them are race bikes and all benefit from having the suspension set up just right. Truth is, all the big four nakeds will give you what you want but the Honda gets overlooked for reasons that have nothing to do with how it goes or how it compares. If any machine can have character, it has it, Honda badge or not. Some bikes you just connect with. That's my CB13.

I would agree, albeit with a pinch of bias thrown because I own one.
Can only comment on the CB1300 in that, it does all that I ask of it. We took it on tour last year, loaded with a double back pack/tank bag and two-up, never moaned once. A week away/solo or a day trip for two
The only thing I have done is replaced the can.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

... 300KM trip to see how it runs in long distances.

300km's a long trip... bwahahaha

[YellowDog]

The GSX1400 has to be the best value 'NEW' bike around at the mo.

Great looking muscle bike, but would need all the expensive luggage extras.

[martybabe]

All are pretty similar on paper, All comfy, reliable, quick and good looking, in my opinion.

I've owned an XJR13 and ridden A cb13 quite often, good as they are, in the real world, the GSX1400 is in a different class for performance, character, usability and fun.

Having got to know all of these bikes on a personal level, I reckon the Yam and the Honda are really good bikes but the suzy is simply outstanding. There are a few niggles, no bike is perfect, finish is marginally down on the Honda and the suspension does take a bit of fiddling to get right, no better or worse than the other two as far as quality goes but definitely quite sensitive to minor tweaks.

All three are good bikes but, for me,Once set up and on song the GSX14 makes the others look worthy but ordinary. In reality I wouldn't kick any of them out of bed and I doubt you will be disappointed with any of them.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[Jantar]

...Style of riding using either one of these bikes would be weekend riding, say 300kms or so in one go...some fanging but no wheelies or any of that stuff. Has to be good at 2 up with gear and have good seating. Good power in low to mid range and also sound good .....

All 3 are great bikes, but my choice would be the GSX1400. Great value for money and reliable as hell.

However for the short distances you're planning on you should probably be looking something in the 400 - 650 cc range.

[YellowDog]

All 3 are great bikes, but my choice would be the GSX1400. Great value for money and reliable as hell.

However for the short distances you're planning on you should probably be looking something in the 400 - 650 cc range.

300Km is a pretty good round trip.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

300Km is a pretty good round trip.

thats just our first coffee break...

[slowpoke]

However for the short distances you're planning on you should probably be looking something in the 400 - 650 cc range.

My pisstake-o-meter is off the dial............but it's not telling me which way you are taking the piss! Given that Manfeild is 3.3km's long I wouldn't consider riding anything less than 600cc..........but a day(s) trip is all about dawdling all day(s), so something from the Lifan range is prolly a fair choice of transport. Ideal really, you can blow hours, days or even weeks and never be far from home.......

[Jantar]

My pisstake-o-meter is off the dial............but it's not telling me which way you are taking the piss! .........

No piss take here. Its 420 km round trip for me to join in with the dunedin crowd, add on an average 300 - 400 km ride with them, and my average day's ride is 800 km.

A trip "around the block" is 400 - 800 km depending on which block I choose, and 300 km is just a short ride I'd start mid afternoon to be home by dinner time. I was about to suggest that distances are a bit relative to which Island you live in, then I think of GIJoe and his wee pootles.

[clauds]

Interesting topic, it is keeping me logged on this friday night!