GSF600 Bandit / SV650 / 650 CS / Comet 650 ???

[Bob]

Personally I think going from a 250 to a 600 is a big jump and you miss out on a lot of fun in between. MD

It is way worse over here in the UK/England/Pomland (delete as applicable). Our licencing laws restrict us to 125cc as a learner (with 2 years to pass full test - none of this "Oh it is about time I took my test after 10 years" stuff over here!).

It used to be 250cc like you guys, but then they cut it back to 125cc - with the result that 250s were suddenly something you couldn't give away.

And so no-one bought them. So the 250s largely disappeared. And we don't get the 400s officially imported either (I've always assumed it is a knock-on effect of the licencing change - to me a 400 makes perfect sense in the right conditions).

So... we pretty much go from 125 to 600 with nothing in between. In theory, you pass your test and are restricted to roughly 250cc for two years - but most people take Direct Access and then are launched onto the road with almost no experience.

They're talking about raising the DA age, so maybe we'll start getting some of the smaller capacity stuff over here again.

[Grumpy]

Something like a 400/4 or 500 would still give you a buzz and give you time to hone your riding skills before the next step up. I had a ball on my Suzuki GS500 twin. A safe bike because it's so light and had awesome brakes, cheap to run too.

I bought one of these to comute on but the bikes so much fun to ride I found myself taking it out of town as well. I've done some big trips on it and found it to be an excellent bike. I even took it out to a track day at puke for a laugh and found myself having a ball.
Probably not as good as a SV but definatly alot more user friendly. The new full faired model doesn't look to bad but is a little pricey.

[Bonez]

I bought one of these to comute on but the bikes so much fun to ride I found myself taking it out of town as well. I've done some big trips on it and found it to be an excellent bike. I even took it out to a track day at puke for a laugh and found myself having a ball.

Is'nt that what m/cs all about? Having fun. And you certainly don't need a so called REAL m/c to do that thank goodness. Or spend a fortune doing it.

[adamww]

I have a quick look around and not seen many 400 - 500 which is why I have been looking at the 600 range.
And yes having fun is what I'm after, with out getting something that to powerful and going to take all my concenration to ride, and thus removing the fun bit.
That's my aim anyway.

[bear]

I am keen to take them all for a ride.
At this stage I'm several weeks away from a full license so I stuck with looking, drooling and discussion.
ps Bear what is the fuel economy like on the Bandit, especially after the GN250?? (which is very economic)

Mileage is about 6 litres per 100km.

[Hitcher]

Has anyone here made the jump from 250 to 1000+?

Yes. Went from a Zeal to the Zrex.

[Hitcher]

The Kawasaki ER5 is a cracking good ride if you're keen on a 500. Priced very well too at the moment at $8995.

[jrandom]

The Kawasaki ER5...

Ah, the Industrial Cooking Motorcycle.

[Hitcher]

Ah, the Industrial Cooking Motorcycle.

Don't knock it until you've ridden it. One of life's wee surprises, is the ER5.

[jrandom]

Don't knock it until you've ridden it. One of life's wee surprises, is the ER5.

Oh, I'm not knocking it.

That's just how an ER5 owner I'm acquainted with refers to her steed. I always thought it was somewhat endearing.

[Groins_NZ]

Hi adamww

Have you thought about a CB600 Hornet (Honda)? I test rode one which had 28000ks on the clock a few weeks back and it was loads of fun - even with my partner on the back. We went up the para-paras out the back of Wanganui. Good, fun acceleration, good handling and brakes, a little bumpy but probably because of the sportier suspension which I wasn't used to. If think it was a 1999 model selling for 7k - not sure if your eyeing up second-hand bikes though.

I would have brought it if it wasn't for the colour (yellow) - each to his own of course.

[slob]

IMHO, I'd say that the SV650 is the one of all the bikes mentioned here.

It's got:
(a) reasonably new techonology in it (compared to Bandit/GSF600, GS600),

(b) nice user-friendly power delivery (compared to the fours)

(c) lowish weight (compared to Bandit, GS)

(d) good re-sale value (when you step up in a year or so)

Just be wary of locking up the rear during downshift though - unlike big bro TL1000S and SV1000S, it doesn't have a slipper clutch.

Also, If you want to go cheaper, there's plenty of IL4/400s like: Honda CB1, Yamaha XJR400, Kawasaki ZRX400. Try Red Baron for these.

[Hitcher]

(d) good re-sale value (when you step up in a year or so)

Good resale value? It's a Suzuki for goodness sake, foisted on the motorcycling public by Desperate Dan's Decidely Dodgy Discounters. If these are currently rolling out the door for a "summerfest" special, you can bet your daughter's dowry they will be rolling out even cheaper next year -- particularly when Desperate Dan secures an export overrun shipment from Kazakhstan (speedo calibrated in zlotys) or a "media event" in Paraguay. This, gentle readers, is why many motorcycle dealers don't do trade-ins on Suzukis.

[Bonez]

This, gentle readers, is why many motorcycle dealers don't do trade-ins on Suzukis.

Ok I'll bite-Seemed to be a lot of used Suzukis at the bike shops I had a look at from Napier down to Palmerston ,Wellington up through Masterton last week.

[adamww]

(b) nice user-friendly power delivery (compared to the fours)

What does user-friendly power delivery mean
How is an inline 4 different in power delivery??