New bike options for a mid-range novice?

[Juzz976]

oh yeh VFR800 is a damn fine bike, I would very much like one of them.

If I could ever bare to part with my TL it may be for one of them, just for a while as an interim thing.

[imdying]

What's un-useable about an R6?

Compared to an R6S, the torque curve. Perhaps the OP is looking for a track focussed bike, but that's not what I took from the post.

Of Course. Men are supposed to be able to want the biggest, baddest, totally impractical for 95% of their riding, sprotsbike. You are a man, aren't you?
[/sarcasm]

[Little Miss Trouble]

I'm completely motivated by the looks. The performance is completely moot for me as they're all going to give far more than I could ever use. If I could afford it i'd sell my 750 and get a 06' R6, which is actually a downsize! It's just my favourite Jap bike.

You have me waaaaay wrong!

Haha I'm not picking on you, or anyone in particular, just taking the piss out of the usual neaderthalistic sterotypical attitudes.

Not necessarily, I would never get a 1000cc bike. And my dream bike is an 848

Giz a ride when you get one Mister?

[mattian]

Mattian should be used to me giving him shit by now, he does after all ride a girls bike[/SIZE]

My mangina aches from all the ribbing I've had since I got this bike..... lol

but yes! thanks for the advice and the VFR800 is a bike I have been considering too. I oggled at one when some joker pulled up next to me at the lights one day. Same height as my Gladius but much fatter with all the fairing, just wondering how it would manage while lane splitting. I would hate to accidently gouge some poor cagers paint job......

[jimbo_on_travels]

I ride my R6S to work and back, go food shopping (+large backpack), weekend blats over the 'takas and oh the track once in a while..

The beauty of the R6 (and other R6 riders will know this..) is it really shows you the technical mastery of motorbike riding.. if you're not in the power band (above 10,000 rpm) on a tight corner, you're pretty much dead or going nowhere. It also shows you how to take corners, what gear, when to shift, power, braking, road grip, weight distribution etc..

Going from a VTR250 a couple of years ago, I thought I knew how to ride.. but this machine has taught me waaaay more than I could have ever imagined.

[Thani-B]

I've starting thinking about transitioning from my Gladius 650 to a Sports bike.

I was in the same boat, wanting to upgrade from my ER6n. I started to test ride, and then spent a lot of time thinking about it and decided that my bike is perfect for what I need it for anyway. It's great for commuting, touring, it doesn't get left behind with the 250's, and I've even taken it on the track a few times. I'm still going to keep on test riding though, I just think I'll keep it for a bit longer.

My advice would be to test ride everything you can think of, and also take your gladius to a track day if you haven't already. It might change your mind about changing bikes.

[carbonhed]

There's a really good article in one of the latest Performance Bike mags about the K6 GSXR 750. I reckon that would tick all the boxes for you.

The 675's got the torque and lovely linear delivery but it's a torture rack tootling around in traffic. The 848 has a lovely motor but it's expensive and has an even more brutal ergonomic setup. The R6....? The least usable road bike of all the middle weights... but it is pretty.

[Luckylegs]

...The 675's got the torque and lovely linear delivery but it's a torture rack tootling around in traffic.

What's with that. Everyone says that but I commutue 20ks each way each day two up and frankly find it more comfy than my old 06 zx6r. .????

It's a mystery huh ? Maybe at 5'10 and change I'm shorter than ya average 675 pilot and hence don't notice it.

[carbonhed]

What's with that. Everyone says that but I commutue 20ks each way each day two up and frankly find it more comfy than my old 06 zx6r. .????

It's a mystery huh ? Maybe at 5'10 and change I'm shorter than ya average 675 pilot and hence don't notice it.

Well everybody is different and I'm a bit taller but I hate dribbling around on a trailing throttle in traffic on mine. All the weight leans on the front end. Done some big miles up around Gisborne and East Cape and it's fine when it's flying... just not so much fun when it's not.

Never had anybody on the back either but then it doesn't have a pillion seat at the moment. Don't imagine that would be much fun either.

Yer a hard man and no mistake.