What shall I buy?????

[kerryg]

Hi all

I've decided to get a bike again after selling my bikes and my gear a few months ago in a moment of pissed-off-ness about not getting enough time to ride and always forking out money etc but found myself missing it so I've decided to buy a bike again and am thinking of a VTR1000.

The reasoning is that they seem a good compromise between sport and touring (could do both decently), they are not overly powerful but powerful enough for an old codger, would still be fun at a track day, are a v-twin (yeah!!!), don't have the crouched riding position of the TL1000, and are reasonable "bang for my buck" (I can get a decent early one for about $8k).


Anybody got any negatives about them? I heard they suck gas big-time and have an annoyingly small tank. Any other criticisms/downsides? Any comments appreciated. I'd kinda like a Ducati but $8k doesn't buy you much unless you go to old 2-valve aircooled stuff and I worry a bit about reliability and maintenance costs.

[vifferman]

I've decided to get a .... VTR1000.

Anybody got any negatives about them? I heard they suck gas big-time and have an annoyingly small tank. .

Ooh! Ooh! pick me.
I know summat.
I had one once.

It's not so much they suck gas, (they will manage 40 mpg), but they have small tanks. The later (post 2000) ones have a slightly bigger tank, but otherwise you're lucky to get 200km/tank. I got about 30-summat MPG commuting on mine, and about 150km/tank.

There are some 'funny things' they do, that V-twins like to do, like cut out if you blip the throttle coming to a stop, backfiring through the carbs, etc., but these are easily fixed without spending any money (adjustments).

They have the crap R/R that afflicted VFRs. Easily fixed.

They are subject to camchain tensioner failures, partickerly if you do a lot of engine-braking and/or idle them excessively on the sidestand. Easily fixed though.

The suspension is a bit budget - oversprung in the front, undersprung in the rear (or the other way round), but I found mine OK. More adjustments than on the VFR.

They don't like being pushed hard (probably due to the budget suspension).

The early ones had 'bars that were too low. I stuck GenMar risers on mine, which raised them about 19mm and made all the difference.

They're geared too high as standard. Easily fixed.

The stock mufflers are heavy and sound too wussy. Easily fixed.

They're lots of fun, easy to ride, etc. and OK for sport-touring, although my crappy knees started to scream after an hour or so, and I found the seat a bit uncomfortable too. Easily fixed.

[XP@]

Try this...
http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/l...001-0026-1255-

[kerryg]

Thanks vifferman. Some real good information there

[kerryg]

Try this...
http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/l...001-0026-1255-

Thanks for that xp. Lots of (confusing) choices there. Ah..what a problem...I wish all my problems were so good

[TonyB]

I reckon you'd love the VTR. Only had a brief test ride on one ( D....) but I thought "oooo yeh, this is me!"
I've got an FZR1000 (as you used to unless I'm much mistaken) and I can say that while the VTR may not quite have the legs up top, on a windy road they are bloody hard to catch.

[JohnBoy]

a good mate of mine had one once. it had two bro's pipes and he down geared it. talk about best fun sub 200k! but yeah it sure sucked the gas, but i reckon its worth it.
only thing i didnt seem to like was the fact that they had quite a high center of gravity which made it feel funny to me but i am sure once you got use to it you would have no worries.
only other thing i can add is that my mates bike seemed to go through tyres a bit quick, either though he ran dunlop 208's, weighed over 100k and rode like his ass was on fire. but i suppose its all down to how you ride.
best of luck mate and keep us informed!

[WINJA]

I THINK HONDAS SUCK , BUT ONE THING THE VTR DID WAS FIND TRACTION ON WET ROADS, PROLLY COMBINATION OF V TWIN POWER AND TUNED FLEX SWINGARM

[kerryg]

I've got an FZR1000 (as you used to unless I'm much mistaken).

You are not mistaken. Damn good bike too. Thanks for the input

[kerryg]

[QUOTE=JohnBoy....and keep us informed! [/QUOTE]

Thanks John Boy. I had a mint VTR at a good price all lined up but was a bit too slow off the mark and someone else bought it ahead of me. so I
ended up test riding and then buying a Ducati 900 Supersport on the weekend (had a sudden rush of blood to the head). It's an old one (1990) but only less than 4000kms on the clock, ex Japan but mileage "seems" genuine, and it'll have new belts, tyres etc when I pick it up on Wednesday. Rode it and was happy (I had an 851 until a few months ago and thought the Supersport would be disappointing, but no, it was GOOD!) . Good enough for an old fella anyway. Oh well......so much for commonsense

Anyway it's going to feel real good to have a bike in the gargre again! Cheers

[vifferman]

Congratulations, Kerry!
Hope you enjoy your ride - sorta similar to the VTR, but nicer looking and more classy.

[Coyote]

Post some pics soon

[skidz]

A mate just called in yesterday on his VTR1000, and he's lovin it to bits. It's an 04 and had done just 1200 ks a couple of weeks back. He's done alot more on it now.( Can't do anything at home now,never there.)

[Biff]

Winja - you had a bad experience once with a single bike you owned, the dealer and Bluewing. A bad experience sure, but hardly enough to form a constructive opinion on an entire brand mate.

I'm a try before ya buy kinda guy. Ride as many as you can. The VTR is great fun, although I question its comfort as a genuine tourer as it's prone to lots of vibration, as is the case with most twins. If you like your twins I'd suggest that you try and find an SV750/1000 to test, they're great bikes with strong engines. But the best bit of advice is - try as many as possible before making your decision.

[Zapf]

hay Kerryg,
I think Colemans may still have my copper SV650S.... go have a look. You'll love the pipe. Its a 03 model as well...

it usually does 230km before the reserve light comes on.

Cheers