Why is choosing yer next bike so bloody hard?

**rogson** · 25th May 2006, 13:59

Originally Posted by iwilde

Its a 99 with about 6600miles

The 98 (C1) and 99 (C2) were the best of the ZX9R models IMO.
The earlier ones (up to 97) were fat/ponderous. The later ones (2000 on) were sanitised - nice, but.......
The engine in the C1/2 is wild - an absolute hoot!
Carbs ice-up though - there is a factory mod that comes fitted standard on cold climate bikes (UK, northern Europe, etc), but not the NZ market bikes.

**Squeak the Rat** · 25th May 2006, 15:31

I love my new bike. It's a great compromise on all counts. circa 100hp, good riding position, half fairing, corners well, sounds good, doubles up well.

-Deciding is half the fun===

**Macktheknife** · 25th May 2006, 16:45

Take a bandit for a ride, sarge has a nice silver one with full fairing at present, try the rf900, or the hornet.
Other than that, just go ride everything you can, you will know when you have got it right. And dont worry about the multiple test ride thing, you are gonna blow some serious cash, you need to make sure you are comfortable with it.
Its called good service.

**SARGE** · 25th May 2006, 17:35

try this...

or this....

or even this...

heres the faired Bandit...

**grego** · 25th May 2006, 19:47

I thought last year that the BMW r850 r could be me.
I sat on a late model one ( me thinks 2002) and I had to lean forward too much which wasn't a nice posyfor an old shorty with arthritis in every joint and when I tried the older model (99 me thinks) I found it to be the most crammed seating posy ever experienced. It was like sitting between the 2 humps of a camel. Ye could not move further forward because of the tank and not a cm more backwards because of the upwards slope of the seat. weird isn't it ???
grego, 5'6 82kg so much for ergonomics.

**Colapop** · 25th May 2006, 20:51

That's the beauty of having a resident site bike tester who's my size(ish). Thanks BD!

**Jantar** · 25th May 2006, 21:07

I had no trouble deciding on what my next bike should be: It had to be able to cruise all day two up with full luggage at the legal speed limit in Germany; Keep up with most sports bikes except when they are in race mode; have good fuel consumption; Be comfortable to sit on irrespective of road conditions; And not have to slow down when the seal runs out.

On the Southern Cross last year I discovered just the bike that met all those criteria. Its the DL1000 V-Strom, and I ordered one for delivery this winter.

Well winter has arrived so I called in to the local Suzuki shop today to check that one is on its way, only to be told that they are expecting delivery in August. Oh well only 10 weeks to wait.

**myvice** · 25th May 2006, 21:59

Looked at and road a shit load of bikes, everything from big single motards to sports bikes to tourers and commuters...
Read every mag I could get my hands on and had them open all over the house doing compares...
Prefer a naked bike, maybe with a fly screen, for my budget of around $12k.
Had what I wanted in mind tho, it had to be able to commute every day, carry a pillion with a bit of comfort, do a little bit of touring, not too bad on gas, and some fun on weekends.

675 arrives in about 6 weeks...

It can do the last one really well!
Might need another two bikes to do the rest tho?

**Nitzer** · 26th May 2006, 00:27

Did you have a look at the Kawa Z750? I was seriously tempted by one of those before i got the SV, I hear they are pretty good holigan tools!

The Fazers look good too.

Anyway pop round when you finally get the new bike, would love a gander at it, don't think I will be getting a new bike anytime soon!

**pritch** · 26th May 2006, 08:48

Originally Posted by Nitzer

The Fazers look good too.

The Fazers do look good, shame about the bike though.

Basically when choosing a bike you have to decide what you want to do with it. Then look at the bikes that appear to be designed to do that job.

The more accurately you can do that, the more successful your final choice is likely to be.

There are very few bad bikes on the market (the Fazer being one exception) so you really can't stuff up too bad... :-)

**Devil** · 26th May 2006, 08:54

Originally Posted by Jantar

I had no trouble deciding on what my next bike should be: It had to be able to cruise all day two up with full luggage at the legal speed limit in Germany; Keep up with most sports bikes except when they are in race mode; have good fuel consumption; Be comfortable to sit on irrespective of road conditions; And not have to slow down when the seal runs out.

On the Southern Cross last year I discovered just the bike that met all those criteria. Its the DL1000 V-Strom, and I ordered one for delivery this winter.

I know exactly what you're saying. Rode the 650 the other day and thought it was the perfect bike (but I'd have to have the 1000).

**Bytor** · 26th May 2006, 09:23

Originally Posted by Nitzer

Did you have a look at the Kawa Z750? I was seriously tempted by one of those before i got the SV, I hear they are pretty good holigan tools!

The Fazers look good too.

Anyway pop round when you finally get the new bike, would love a gander at it, don't think I will be getting a new bike anytime soon!

A mate had the Z750 but had loads of fuel injection problems so dumped it.

**Bytor** · 26th May 2006, 09:25

Originally Posted by myvice

Looked at and road a shit load of bikes, everything from big single motards to sports bikes to tourers and commuters...
Read every mag I could get my hands on and had them open all over the house doing compares...
Prefer a naked bike, maybe with a fly screen, for my budget of around $12k.
Had what I wanted in mind tho, it had to be able to commute every day, carry a pillion with a bit of comfort, do a little bit of touring, not too bad on gas, and some fun on weekends.

675 arrives in about 6 weeks...

It can do the last one really well!
Might need another two bikes to do the rest tho?

Ha Ha that is soooo me probably. If I was sensible then I know that a Bandit/CBR1300 is right, but then I sawa GSXR750K5 on Trademe last night

**James Deuce** · 26th May 2006, 09:37

Originally Posted by Squeak the Rat

I love my new bike. It's a great compromise on all counts. circa 100hp, good riding position, half fairing, corners well, sounds good, doubles up well.

-Deciding is half the fun===

The charms of our choice of bike escape most people mate.

Most people look at it and go, "neither fish nor fowl", and a good many won't even consider it, as it's a "girl's" bike, whatever the hell that is.

When I bought me Z most people I showed it to went, "huh", with maybe one conditional positive comment, and good deal more negative ones.

I don't like Hornets (weird ergos) or Bandits (no logical reason), and I've moved on from sprotsbikes, mainly because of ergonomics around town, which is where I do most of my riding now.

With the mods I've done (and more to come) the Z is now that rare beast that does all that I want.

**Deano** · 26th May 2006, 09:44

Originally Posted by 2much

You can pick up a K3 GSXR1000 for that price now days. You'll never get sick of it and it's like popping 5 tabs of Viagra every time you twist the throttle.

It's common knowledge that Suzuki riders need Viagra.