Hypothetically, what?

**Hitcher** · 12th June 2006, 18:37

If Mr Insurance Assessor writes off the STeed, please provide your opinions on the following choices. Not necessarily for yourself, for the purposes of this exercise imagine you are a fuller-figured gent of mid-years, with a penchant for big distances (250km trips and about 35,000km a year), looking for reliability, versatility and general user-friendliness. Oh, and no spokes.

**Edbear** · 12th June 2006, 18:43

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Oh, and no spokes.

Well, that certainly narrows it down!

Gonna be hard to go past another ST based on what you require. After all, why did you buy an ST in the first place? HAsn't Honda got a deal going on them? Mebbe a Blackbird for a change?

**Madness** · 12th June 2006, 18:46

ZZR-1200. The shops don't seem to be able to shift 'em. Pick one up cheep cheep and use the difference to build a garage.

/edit: Why not a Beemer? Certainly reliable enough and most models have ABS don't they?

**inlinefour** · 12th June 2006, 18:48

Test pilot the lot and make your mind up from there...

**Clivoris** · 12th June 2006, 18:49

Yeaah man. Its gots to be the ST agin. Maybe with a few personal touches.

**Coyote** · 12th June 2006, 18:51

Kawasaki ZX10R

**Hitcher** · 12th June 2006, 18:51

I use the terms "tourer" and "touring" a bit differently to some. By my yardstick a Blackbird/Hirebus/ZX14/ZX12/Triumph ST aren't tourers -- they're just bloated sprotsbikes with marginally better comfort. Would I want to do a Grand Challenge on one? I think not.

Oh, and luggage. For "touring".

**Coyote** · 12th June 2006, 18:56

Suzuki FXR150

**Hitcher** · 12th June 2006, 18:57

Originally Posted by alarumba

Suzuki FXR150

And your rationale for this stunning choice?

**Coyote** · 12th June 2006, 18:59

Originally Posted by Hitcher

And your rationale for this stunning choice?

Cheaper to replace

**Madness** · 12th June 2006, 18:59

Originally Posted by alarumba

Kawasaki ZX10R

Is that with or without the stage 3 turbo kit?

**Coyote** · 12th June 2006, 19:02

Originally Posted by MAXIMUSDEMERITUS

Is that with or without the stage 3 turbo kit?

Fine example of a rhetorical question. Well done. Rep coming your way

**Ixion** · 12th June 2006, 19:05

Buell, but not the big Harleys? Beamer? Moto-Guzzi? Ducati ST4 ?

**MSTRS:Me** · 12th June 2006, 19:18

Take a (long) look at a GSX1400

**Big Dave** · 12th June 2006, 19:20

The Buell.

IMO the best single motorcycle on the market for NZ conditions.

More comfortable for a passenger than the ST - Triumph or Honda (ask co-pilot - she rates it 'best ever')
Great luggage
Tours wonderfully - sealed or dirt roads.
Delightful engine full of character that doesn't need terminal speed to be enjoyable.
Outrageous cornering ability.
and just a barrel full of monkeys worth of fun to ride - best fun of any bike i've ridden - ever.

You need to 6'1" to get the best out of it - ?
For an ST rider, not much in the way of protection.