Looking for an economical, 600cc-and-under bike

**Icemaestro** · 10th March 2010, 18:40

Originally Posted by theblackstig

do you mean the gsf600(bandit 4cyl) or the gs500f(twin)? its all about how you ride it. ur weight will make a difference, as will city/highway riding

suzuki reckon
bandit 600.......20km/litre
gs500f.............24km/litre

Thanks, i was meaning the gs500 :-) I'm 64kg, I don't throttle it tooo much...well, not when commuting (motorway + streets every day), which is what the majority of it's km's will be.

Anyone know the fuel figures for the gb400?

**blackdog** · 10th March 2010, 18:47

Originally Posted by Icemaestro

Thanks, i was meaning the gs500 :-) I'm 64kg, I don't throttle it tooo much...well, not when commuting (motorway + streets every day), which is what the majority of it's km's will be.

Anyone know the fuel figures for the gb400?

at 64kg you might get dam close to that 30 km/litre mark

a gb400 certainly wont be any cheaper on gas, and older bike=increased maintenance costs. unless u REALLY have to have the look of the gb, its a no brainer for me

**Thani-B** · 10th March 2010, 19:08

Originally Posted by Icemaestro

Also love the look of the kawasaki ER6n/f but don't want to pay the extra rego $$ for the added 50cc!

That's something I thought about, and then decided "nah screw it" and got the bike I wanted anyway. With my commuting lately I've been getting 25km/L. Normally I'll get around 21-23km/L on it. And it's a lovely bike to ride.

**Silage** · 10th March 2010, 19:35

Originally Posted by Icemaestro

Does anyone know what kind of economy the gb400 gets?

I sold my GB400 last year with 80,000k+ and it was getting around 70mpg and did for all the time I had it (20yrs). In the last few years most of that was around town.

**Icemaestro** · 10th March 2010, 19:41

Yeah, my mate has the er6n, ridden it a few times, it's nice :-) don't really have that kind of cash though, not keen to spend over about 4500 or so...hence why the gb seems so attractive, plus my first bike was a honda single :-D but I will definately check out the gs500! I didn't overly enjoy the forward riding position on the cbr when I was commuting on it, so not terribly keen on the cbr's despite their looks and speed

**SMOKEU** · 10th March 2010, 19:57

Originally Posted by Maha

Economical?

Aren't all bikes more economical than any other mode of powered transport?

Not if you buy an economical diesel car and wind back the odometer on that so you don't pay RUCs.

**ukusa** · 11th March 2010, 11:02

Originally Posted by Ender EnZed

And quite apart from any fuel usage point of view it's still retarded as (as far as I'm aware) there is not a single 650cc motorcycle on the market in NZ that is anywhere near as quick as the 600cc supersports. The CBR600RR, ZX6R, R6 or GSXR600 will all pay less ACC than a GT650(R), SV(F)650, ER6, F650, DR650, KLR650 or GSF650 while making far more power. If a line must be drawn somewhere it is utterly illogical to draw it at 600cc rather than 550cc or 650cc and shows just how out of touch the lawmakers are with the reality of motorcycling.

Damn right. And those 600cc supersports will also cream my 1600cc cruiser!

btw, 1 up on the highway I can get 20km/litre from by Thunderbird. Bloody economical for a 1600.

**The Pastor** · 12th March 2010, 08:08

Forget the fuel ecomoy, get the gb400 (or if u can the gb500, or a bored out one to 600) simply amazing bieks!

**vifferman** · 12th March 2010, 08:32

Originally Posted by renegade master

Forget the fuel ecomoy, get the gb400 (or if u can the gb500, or a bored out one to 600) simply amazing bieks!

Really?
I test-rode one before I bought my VF500, back in 1994.
Was I amazed? No, not at all.

**blackdog** · 12th March 2010, 08:36

Originally Posted by vifferman

Really?
I test-rode one before I bought my VF500, back in 1994.
Was I amazed? No, not at all.

imo, they are great looking retros. more likely to spend a lot of the time in the shed and the shop now'days instead of on the rd commuting. keeping 20+ year old bikes going can be a labour of love.....

**Urano** · 19th March 2010, 06:15

uhm...
are so much more taxes on 650 than on 600?
what's this "acc" you are talkin about? i've googled it and it seems to me something like a mandatory insurance... is it so penalising?

consider also that a twin is cheaper to mantain than a four: less oil, less sparks, less mech time to pay...
with my er6f i can confirm Thani-B averages: 20-25 km/l, and not "sleeping" on it

more than that, a 4 that is less than 600 has maybe more "power" as sheet data, but remember WHERE this power is: it's a boring way of driving, unless you are always on a track.
the new diversion has a 4 600cc, and it's pretty good at low rpm (that means that from 5000 is fair four a 4 and from 7000 becomes alive), but the er6 start pushing at 3000 and goes up to 10.000...

**Quasievil** · 19th March 2010, 07:03

Now for something completely different. Why not great commuters and a awesome road touring machine, not to mention a good trackday weapon
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=271380336

**ckai** · 19th March 2010, 07:11

Originally Posted by Quasievil

Now for something completely different. Why not great commuters and a awesome road touring machine, not to mention a good trackday weapon
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=271380336

not getting out on it as much as you wanted ah? Stop spending so much time with the missus then

**The Pastor** · 19th March 2010, 07:13

Originally Posted by Quasievil

Now for something completely different. Why not great commuters and a awesome road touring machine, not to mention a good trackday weapon
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=271380336

was it raced?