Buyer's remorse - should I have bought a sports bike?

[Barts]

Hi,

I've been riding for just under a couple of years now and I am considering upgrading to a sports bike. My first ride was a '96 Hornet 250 (owned for 12+ months), I'm currently riding a DL650.

I should be happy with the V-strom however when I purchased this bike I only tested a couple of other bikes (a street triple and an explorer). I erred on the side of caution and chose the more conservative bike. I was relatively new to motorcycling (still am) and thought I didn't need all that power/torque.

Now I am left wandering did I buy the right bike? I bought the bike I was comfortable riding at the time of sale as opposed to a bike that perhaps would have been a steeper learning curve at first, but ultimately would have been a better longer term buy.

I really should have tested a greater number of bikes (and styles) before opting for my current ride. In particular I am left wondering should I have tested a sports bike? When I bought the V-Strom I told myself "I don't need a sports bike as these are too fast...too powerful...too sporty, I'll never go on a track day etc."

Now I have a bit more experience (10,000 KM or so) I am thinking should I give a sports bike a go? I am 90KG and 6'3" so probably not best placed for these types of bikes however I'll never know without trying..

So, is there a sports bike out there that's appropriate for me, or should I be looking more at a sports tourer given my height/weight?

I have sat on a GSX-R750 at my local dealer (TSS Red Baron) and I have to say the 'feel' of this type of bike slightly intimidates me. Maybe this will pass on the open road as experience what I am led to believe is a sublime ride.

I would appreciate any insight/experience with my dilemma. No matter what bike I own, will I will always be
wondering "what's my next bike...."

Cheers and happy new year guys,
Barts

[nzspokes]

Sorry but only you know the answer to this. I would say its time for some test rides.

Neither bike you've owned has been hugely powerful so try something different.

I had a sports bike but an older one with higher bars. Was much fun and I wish I still had it at times. But then I get back on the Bandit and realise why its the right bike for me.

[p.dath]

Sorry but only you know the answer to this. I would say its time for some test rides...

+1.

The feeling of intimidation you are experiencing is only because you haven't ridden on one of them before. That will pass quickly.

[DMNTD:Me]

First off....what do you need from a bike? Also, what do you want from a bike?
Solve the first two things and from there it makes the whole process fairly straight forward.

Remember that just because something has 160+ hp, it doesn't mean that you have to use it. In fact in some cases having more power can make it easier to simply cruise along with less effort.

Recommend that you ask yourself why you want an actual 'sports bike'. Are you aware that there are naked bikes out there that go at least as well in the corners?

[Corse1]

There a many powerfull naked bikes out there now if you are worried about the riding position. The speed triple, tuono, etc will have more than enough power. Plenty of dealers to test ride all sorts of different bikes.

If you are only planning on owning one bike you can bet your ass that no matter what you purchase, you will always be thinking what if? and/or whats next?

Iv'e recently changed from a naked to a sports bike thinking that I may as well own one before age dictates that the ride position can no longer be tolerated and then I will go back to a more upright ride position bike.

[haydes55]

Being a taller guy i'll just make a sugestion, try a few sport/tourers like the rf900 or triumph sprint (I think). Or if you only ever go for 2 or 3 hour rides at a time, have a look at a few motards.

[BMWST?]

get used to it,so many bikes and so little time...

[Ocean1]

No matter what bike I own, will I will always be
wondering "what's my next bike....

Probably. No reason you should expect to be any different to most other bike owners.

Like the man said, first define what you use the machine for, then make a list of suitable bikes and go test ride some.

One thing, horsepower is a buzz with a half-life of a month or so, and the more you've got the less time you're able to use it all, so I'd suggest you look on hp as a secondary asset. I've just changed bikes to one that's got about one DL650's worth of hp less than it's predecessor, but given it's other features it's got enough.

Edit: With big HP machines don't underestimate how suddenly the next corner arrives and the speed you're at when you get there, that combination kills more riders than any other single factor.

[sidecar bob]

I should never have bought my last sports bike (RSV1000r) I find my beemer GS to be at least half a dozen times easier to use than the angry bitch was, & far more suited to todays level of road policing.
Just my expierence, which will not nesacarrily be yours.

[James Deuce]

I should never have bought my last sports bike (RSV1000r) I find my beemer GS to be at least half a dozen times easier to use than the angry bitch was, & far more suited to todays level of road policing.
Just my expierence, which will not nesacarrily be yours.

Nice to see you can still type after that container incident! Blimey!

What he said. Despite being an, oooooooo, "1300" the XJR is relaxed and comfy at 100km/hr, but has substantially more torque than many other 1300s on the market. It goes around corners and exits them with more urge than a 14 year-old school boy with a Katy Perry picture in his grubby mitts. But, because it is "naked"...... Sorry, Katy Perry and naked in the same paragraph is a bit much, you are self-limited eventually, depending on fitness, to non-license losing speeds. Lazily flip flopping between corners and sometimes grinding things is huge fun. Lazily flip flopping on any sportsbike is so unrewarding. I just this month gave the RVF400 I had for a year back, and the last ride over the hill was substantially quicker than any ride on the XJR. It's some 850cc smaller than the XJR and is much faster on the right road, but not as much fun to load up and head to the Sth Is for a week. Unless you get someone to drive a car with your stuff in it, then it's better.

None of that helped, did it?

[slofox]

When I bought the V-Strom I told myself "I don't need a sports bike as these are too fast...too powerful...too sporty, I'll never go on a track day etc."

Just because a sporty CAN do the crazy thing doesn't mean that it always WILL do the crazy thing. It's all up to the rider. Nobody forces your wrist to turn all the way round.

[george formby]

get used to it,so many bikes and so little time...

Yup. I've ridden a wide spectrum of bikes & enjoyed them all but non have been perfect. Not only that, as circumstances change so does my preferred type of riding. I'm currently more interested in little bikes than big bikes.
Go do some test riding, buy whatever gives you a woody today.

Oh, who said you need a sprot bike to do a track day?

[mossy1200]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=541955278

[sidecar bob]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-509360121.htm

[carburator]

Im 6'1" and a wet 75kgs and throw a 08R1 around, once you get the suspenion settings
to your liking they are a good bike, most people do look strange at me when crusing
as i sit on the metric ton and wander along...

Its nice to have that boggie when needed.. and decent brakes..
long distance, meh better bikes for that out there but still i rack
up the km's and have a good time..