Full License, Upgrading from 250cc to 600cc. Which is the best bike?

**simfish** · 19th September 2010, 00:02

Hi, I have been a member for almost a year and really enjoy hearing peoples thoughts on this forum regarding bikes. I presently have a Honda VTR 250cc. I am getting my full license soon. I would love to upgrade to a 600cc bike. I only have less than $10000 to spend. I want to get a sports bike. I have less than 15km to travel to work. I am a teacher so I have access to change room facilities. I would like to get a 675cc Triumph Daytona. It may be out of my price range. I also am concerned with it being European, the cost to maintain it. What about the other 600cc Sports bikes, the Suzuki 600 GSX R, Yamaha R1, Honda CBR600RR and the 600cc Kawasaki ninjas. I want a bike that's as young and low milage as possible.

I would really appreciate some advice on a suitable upgrade to a sports bike. I am a husband and a father, therefore always responsible on the road. I just love the look and sound of the newer sports bikes.

Can you help me, by sharing some experience or advice? Thanks...

**Gibbo89** · 19th September 2010, 00:22

Originally Posted by simfish

Hi, I have been a member for almost a year and really enjoy hearing peoples thoughts on this forum regarding bikes. I presently have a Honda VTR 250cc. I am getting my full license soon. I would love to upgrade to a 600cc bike. I only have less than $10000 to spend. I want to get a sports bike. I have less than 15km to travel to work. I am a teacher so I have access to change room facilities. I would like to get a 675cc Triumph Daytona. It may be out of my price range. I also am concerned with it being European, the cost to maintain it. What about the other 600cc Sports bikes, the Suzuki 600 GSX R, Yamaha R1, Honda CBR600RR and the 600cc Kawasaki ninjas. I want a bike that's as young and low milage as possible.

I would really appreciate some advice on a suitable upgrade to a sports bike. I am a husband and a father, therefore always responsible on the road. I just love the look and sound of the newer sports bikes.

Can you help me, by sharing some experience or advice? Thanks...

sit on as many as you can, some won't feel as comfortable as others and that will rule some out.

you only have around 10k to spend?? that's alot of bike you'll be able to get...
good luck

**emerald** · 19th September 2010, 01:05

Hi , i goot my full licence in June. Purchased a new street triple $12,995. Great bike 675 cc and comfortable to ride. Relaxed upright position, lots of power but safe and not as crouched foreward as the Daytona. You could get a second hand one. AMPS in Grafton road have some. The new one was on special reduced by $2,000. Trademe has some as well.

**davebullet** · 19th September 2010, 07:59

Do you like the upright naked riding style of the VTR? The Street Triple would be my recommendation. Same engine as the Daytona but detuned (like all nakeds). Getting a second hand one should get you under $10k. As far as maintenance / cost - Triumphs have a 10,000km service interval so shouldn't cost you anymore. (I am hoping they are more reliable).

The other option is the Honda CB600F Hornet (inline 4). They have them apparently discounted to $11,995 in the latest bike rider magazine.

Nothing wrong with all the other jappa inline 4 600s. My mate had an R6 - bloody brilliant bike - 16,000rpm redline! (although I'm not into full on sports position bikes).

**rie** · 19th September 2010, 10:29

Does the bike have to be new? If you buy second hand, 10K is plenty. Does this budget include say, extra reg and upkeep (basically more expensive petrol, servicing, tires, etc)? Actually that's a bit presumptuous, purely based on what a cheapskate I was with the 250. NB: The gsxr 600's true displacement is 599cc so you won't suffer the increased reg. I'm not sure about the R6.

Good luck.

**simfish** · 19th September 2010, 14:04

Originally Posted by rie

NB: The gsxr 600's true displacement is 599cc so you won't suffer the increased reg. I'm not sure about the R6.

Good luck.

Can you please explain this a little more? The bike definately does not have to be brand new. I definately do not want another naked bike. I definately want a sports bike, basically and "R". As I am travelling short distances I am not too concerned with riding stance, however a little comfort is not too bad. All things seem to point to a Triumph Daytona 675. I am just concerned with cost of servicing and anything else that I may be ignorant off.

Thanks in advance for all the advice...

**ellipsis** · 19th September 2010, 15:14

....sounds more like you need a commuter....do you intend to ride the bike more than the 30ks a day you mention....or do you just need to do them 30ks really fast and lookin good...serious question...

**tigertim20** · 19th September 2010, 15:18

Originally Posted by simfish

Hi, I have been a member for almost a year and really enjoy hearing peoples thoughts on this forum regarding bikes. I presently have a Honda VTR 250cc. I am getting my full license soon. I would love to upgrade to a 600cc bike. I only have less than $10000 to spend. I want to get a sports bike. I have less than 15km to travel to work. I am a teacher so I have access to change room facilities. I would like to get a 675cc Triumph Daytona. It may be out of my price range. I also am concerned with it being European, the cost to maintain it. What about the other 600cc Sports bikes, the Suzuki 600 GSX R, Yamaha R1, Honda CBR600RR and the 600cc Kawasaki ninjas. I want a bike that's as young and low milage as possible.

I would really appreciate some advice on a suitable upgrade to a sports bike. I am a husband and a father, therefore always responsible on the road. I just love the look and sound of the newer sports bikes.

Can you help me, by sharing some experience or advice? Thanks...

10k gives you alot of options, just look on trademe, for sports bikes, 500-750cc between 6 and 10k, you might be surprised at whats available.
Its good that you already have some idea of what you want, thats always a good start!
Heres a few pointers. strat by looking on trademe at whats available in your price range, this will give you an idea what bikes of each year, make and model are worth, accept that dealers will be more expensive, but youll get warranties etc.
secondly, ride at least ten different bikes. if youre getting a 600 for the first time, youre probably going to keep if for at least a couple years, ride heaps of different bikes. If you find one you like, try and compare it to one the same thats a year older and a year younger, personal taste will dictate what you prefer, e.g., some people prefer the 05 R^, over the 07 or 08 R6.
The obvious, make sure you take someone mechanically inclined to look at a bike, check oil, water and brake fluid colours, ask for receipts or proof of servicing, check bearings in the headset, swingarms, wheels etc. look at chain and sprocket condition. make a list and make sure you check EVERYTHING. you dont want to have to buy a bike for 8k, then have to soend $500 on a new chain and sprockets 6 weeks later.
Lastly, if you are serious on a particular bike, make sure you take it for a good LONG ride, about an hour or so should be sufficient to let you see how it feels. For the first ten minutes riding a bike that might be your next one, all youre thinking about is how fuckin cool it will be to have it. You need a longer distance to see how it responds to different roads, terrain and conditions, twisty B roads, highways and city riding. This will also let you know if it will be a suitable bike for you for longer roads.
Good luck in your hunt, and come back with photos when youve made your purchase!!

**rie** · 19th September 2010, 15:41

Originally Posted by simfish

Can you please explain this a little more? The bike definately does not have to be brand new. I definately do not want another naked bike. I definately want a sports bike, basically and "R". As I am travelling short distances I am not too concerned with riding stance, however a little comfort is not too bad. All things seem to point to a Triumph Daytona 675. I am just concerned with cost of servicing and anything else that I may be ignorant off.

Thanks in advance for all the advice...

Lol it turns out I was acting on outdated information!!! I thought that 600cc bikes had to pay the increased rego along with litre bikes, and that a 599cc bike got to pay the same as the 250s. But it turns out the rego fees go up to AND including 600cc. So as long as you buy any bike up to and including 600cc you will pay the same rego as the VTR (I know, minor point, since you're saving mere pennies.)

**rie** · 19th September 2010, 15:43

Originally Posted by tigertim20

...
Lastly, if you are serious on a particular bike, make sure you take it for a good LONG ride, about an hour or so ...

and if you are a serious buyer they sometimes let you take one for even longer. like, overnight.

**simfish** · 20th September 2010, 00:29

Thanks Guys,

I really appreciate all your feedback. As I am absolutely not mechanically inclined. Can you please let me know where I should take or call for a bike inspection. E.G. like how one does a "CAR INSPECTION" by a qualified service centre.

Does anyone know if a "Triumph Daytona 675" costs more than the japanese preferred bikes to service and maintain. I read somewhere this bike only needs to be services every 10 000 km, is this true?

Thanks once again

**Rych** · 28th September 2010, 20:52

Originally Posted by simfish

Does anyone know if a "Triumph Daytona 675" costs more than the japanese preferred bikes to service and maintain. I read somewhere this bike only needs to be services every 10 000 km, is this true?

bump I'd also like to know this as I'm very interested in the 675 and would like to know if it's going to cost much more than a jap 600 to own, cheers.

**Gremlin** · 29th September 2010, 01:14

From my point of view, having Triumph NZ being responsible for the stuff like warranty etc, is the biggest turn off, to the point I don't even look at the models. Heard some absolute shockers about them...

Best bike? Depends from person to person. Two people can be absolute opposites on the exact same tyres... the same is true for bikes. What one person loves, another hates, so because its your first big bike, you'll need to test ride a few, instead of riding one, and thinking its awesome.

You'll soon figure out what you do and don't like.