2006 New Zealand Bike of the Year - Your Vote

[quackquack]

I would say the ER-6 just because it is probley the best all round bike. The honda for best sports bike

[Quasievil]

Funny, all the bike mags reckon it's a disappointment with insufficient bottom end.

Not all the mags I read, do you know how much torque this produces? it has heaps of bottom end, the bike however does have a restriction under 4500rpm this is so its not to much of a handful for the masses, I have put in a OEM T.R.E to override this and it has more pull low end than a 16 year old schoolboy at the playboy mansion, 9.14 sec quarter mile out of the box is a good result for the power curves.
its a winner

the suzuki's , whilst a good bike they are just another one in a boring line up with nothing particulary fantastic about it, certainly nothing amazing enough to be a bike of the year.

Bike of the year should be something new and inspiring, the 14 is all of this and more, handling like a 600, awesome looks, power of a 747 with comfort to boot, what else is there exactly

[imdying]

handling like a 600

Your dillusions get funnier by the minute

[imdying]

handling like a 1989 CBR600

Oh, my mistake, I misread your post and I apologise.

[SimJen]

Oh, my mistake, I misread your post and I apologise.

Nice. Haha,
Quasi, are you serious?.....if you are you need a doctors appointment or a trip to Henry Bennet's
ZX14 is a great bike for sure (performance wise), personally I hate the look of it - to me it looks far too big and bulky and the front end looks like something from the 90's.
But everyone to their own.

[Toast]

From that crowd, gotta be the Daytona, for taking it to the establishment, and winning.

[inlinefour]

rather limited choices there, so I chose the one Id want to most ride, even if its a Suzuki...
Bit hard to compare different cc ratings for me, especially being a 600cc supporter and ex rider Still think the 07 CBR600RR is the best, however the Fireblade was a real dog in the 05, hope they have got their act together...

[imdying]

personally I hate the look of it - to me it looks far too big and bulky and the front end looks like something from the 90's.

Sir, I take offence to that. The George Foreman Grill is the best looking things in my kitchen after my wife!


Ok ok, you're right, I just had the word... the 90s called and they want their RF900 fairing back

[Quasievil]

Your dillusions get funnier by the minute

Not dillusions at all, Ive pretty much steped of a 600 ZXR 2006 and on to a ZX14 , I think the ZX14 is very close to the handling of a 600, it is extremely nimble light and agile, I speak from actual experience having owned a 600 and a ZX14, the ZX14 feels very planted in the tight twisties even more so than most bikes I have ridden.
The actual wheelbase is something like 10mm longer than the ZX10, it is not actually a very big bike at all, 215kg , with the new light two bros pipes it would be nearer 200kg now and with the geometry and power it is exceptional in the handling department, surprisingly so.
Go ride one and get an informed opinion

[sAsLEX]

what else is there exactly

you missed a point......

[Mrs Busa Pete]

and witch one off these was made in new zealand to be the nz bike of the year as apposed to the jap or brit or italian bike of the year
ANY WAY WHERE IS THE BUSA OR IS THAT JUST BIKE OFF THE CENTURY

[grego]

Again, not bikes for mere mortals.

When are bike mags and bike manufacturers going to wake up to the fact that most people don't have $25-$40k to biff at a bike every year or two?

Where's the bike capable of touring two up in reasonable comfort, commuting, and going round corners in an entertaining way, for less than $15k new? The ER6n would have a stab at that, but with no fairing and little scope for adding a fly screen thanks to that headlight, touring might be a bit tiresome.

In answer to the chap who made the comment about DB9 or Corolla? Corolla's and their ilk DO win car of year awards. The Fiat Multipla won Top Gear's car of the year award in 2000. The car guys seem to get it. People want to read about what they can afford to own and run as well as the alpha dogs in each category, and they want them celebrated, not the usual desultory single page "review" that whinges about them not being as good as the flagship models.

Look at how many people own or have owned Hornet 900's in NZ for instance.

Actually I am surprised just how easy it is to sit upright on the Er6n and sometimes I wonder where the wind goes.
I remember testdriving a Kawasaki 650W and from 120mkh upwards it was a bastard to hang on. I had the Er6n up to (indicated) 185kmh and still was ok. (closed road officer) I think one could happyly cruise at 140 the whole day with either a Givi or the optional Kawasaki screen.
BUT: pretty it aint !!!!!!!

[Dodgyiti]

I have only ridden 3 on the list so it had to be one of those. Has anybody been on all listed?
Now that opinoin I would like to hear

[MVnut]

So.......why didn't you include the best bike in your Poll.......MV1000R

[James Deuce]

Actually I am surprised just how easy it is to sit upright on the Er6n and sometimes I wonder where the wind goes.
I remember testdriving a Kawasaki 650W and from 120mkh upwards it was a bastard to hang on. I had the Er6n up to (indicated) 185kmh and still was ok. (closed road officer) I think one could happyly cruise at 140 the whole day with either a Givi or the optional Kawasaki screen.
BUT: pretty it aint !!!!!!!

I wasn't talking about the ER6. I was talking about the bikes listed in the post immediately prior to the post of mine you quoted that had been left out of the poll. I had also already made the comment that the Er6 and KTM were the only bikes in the poll that "normal" folk could live with as transport.

The ER6 is the token "affordable" bike in a poll of rich bastard's bikes.