Trying again. Serious advice please.

**James Deuce** · 28th December 2004, 13:58

To those of you that haven’t been paying attention I wrote the TRX off on the Rimutakas 3 weeks ago.

My Insurance payout is imminent.

I’ve been searching for a replacement in my price range, which is capped at $7.5k, and I’ve narrowed it down to the following bikes:

98 CB600 Hornet, 4800km, $6495 (I’ve negotiated), http://mastertonmotorcycles.bikepoin...nmotorcyclesNZ

97 GSX750F, 24,000km, $7995 (No way I’m paying that – I’ll start at $6k and max at $7k), http://mastertonmotorcycles.bikepoin...nmotorcyclesNZ

97 TRX850, 20,000km, On Trademe starting at $4300. I’d pay $7k max. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...n-20385137.htm

93 VFR750, 15,000km, On Trademe asking price of $6750. I’m happy with that. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...n-20307396.htm

97 GSF600S, 25,500km, On Trademe staring at $4500. I’d pay $5.5k max so had some case to upgrade the suspension. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...n-20377226.htm

94 YZF750R, 12,000km, Trevor Pierce M/Cs in Christchurch listed at $6995 and & $7500 (??? Weird listings). Lovely bike, but I’d pay $6.5k cash because of the age. http://trevorpiercemotorcycles.bikep...emotorcyclesNZ

The Issues!

I’m getting older (aren’t we all), and my knees can’t handle sports bikes as well as I used to. The TRX did everything I ever wanted in a road bike, but my knees would crap out after an hour. I’ve reviewed my bike choices with the thought in mind that I would like to cover 200kms without having to stop and stretch my knees out.

Hornet – Most of you know that I value good handling above all else. Every review I have read suggests to me that I would need to upgrade for springs and rear shock to get it to “Jim spec”. This would inflate the price to approx $8500, getting me into huge trouble with Heather.

GSX750F – I’ve bagged the GSX600/750 for years, but I am still interested in this one because of *gasp* the colour and the reviews I’ve read suggest that it would be more than the sum of it’s parts. However the price is excessive given age and mileage as they went out the door at $8995 a year ago. Needs serious negotiation, which I hate doing I hasten to add.

TRX850 – Knees. It has a custom 2 into 1 exhaust system made from Carbon Fibre which twins generally vibrate to pieces in short order. I would only consider this one if the dude has the original exhaust system, plus a service history. Oh, and Knees again.

VFR750 – It’s lovely, I have a "friend" in Auckland who is going to check it out. The only thing about it that makes me go hmmm, is the age, though that shouldn’t be an issue with the mileage and excellent service history.

600 Bandit – this would be, at best, a common sense purchase. While outright power isn’t an issue with me, asthmatic engine performance ticks me off eventually. I reckon I could only bear to keep it for a year. The unfaired version is $8995 brand new at the mo, so $4.5-$5k would be the most I would pay for this.

YZF750R – This is a dual seat YZF750SP – 6 piston front callipers, ohlins forks and rear shock, deltabox frame, and a slightly more spacious riding position than the TRX. Same plank of a seat though.

Whatever I buy I have to keep for 2-3 years.

I would really appreciate some advice. I know you’ll all have different opinions, but I respect everyone (except PaulinNZ who is just going to tell me to stop faffing about with nancy bikes and buy a Guzzi) I’ve met through this group and I think you’ll have stuff to add to my muddled reasoning process. I won’t be commuting on this bike. Whatever I buy will be a toy for weekend fun and the occasional tour.

Regards

Jim2

**White trash** · 28th December 2004, 14:49

Mate, not trying to be a kill-joy, but if you've already negotiated a price on the Hornet, from a salesmans point of view, you're buying it.

Unless you've told the owner otherwise, then I'll just shut my skinny trap.

I'd go for the bandit personally as they lend themselves better to stunting and tuning.

**James Deuce** · 28th December 2004, 14:52

Originally Posted by White trash

Mate, not trying to be a kill-joy, but if you've already negotiated a price on the Hornet, from a salesmans point of view, you're buying it.

Unless you've told the owner otherwise, then I'll just shut my skinny trap.

I'd go for the bandit personally as they lend themselves better to stunting and tuning.

Negotiation went this way - "It's listed on Bikepoint at $7495 and in Motorcycle Trader at $6495, which is it"?

I ain't bought it sunshine.

1 vote for the Bandit then.

**jrandom** · 28th December 2004, 14:56

I have no idea, so discount everything I say, but I'd go for the Bindit too.

Because it's almost as bulletproof as the Hornet, yet a little less ghey.

How about a back-to-back Hornet/Bandit ride comparo? Have a think about it, and post some comments. Might help to clear that question away.

In fact, why don't you just round-robin *all* the bikes under consideration, either mentally or by doing back-to-back rides, until you come out with a clear winner?

Nobody can tell you what *you* want.

**jimbo600** · 28th December 2004, 15:00

In light of your wants and needs I would go for the VFR. 10/10 comfort, reasonable handling, reasonable pace, Honda build quality a bit of a do everything bike. Always got good ratings the VFR. I'd never own one, but I look for something else in bikes.

**James Deuce** · 28th December 2004, 15:01

Originally Posted by jrandom

I have no idea, so discount everything I say, but I'd go for the Bindit too.

Because it's almost as bulletproof as the Hornet, yet a little less ghey.

How about a back-to-back Hornet/Bandit ride comparo? Have a think about it, and post some comments. Might help to clear that question away.

In fact, why don't you just round-robin *all* the bikes under consideration, either mentally or by doing back-to-back rides, until you come out with a clear winner?

Nobody can tell you what *you* want.

That's a nice idea, but half those bikes are private sales so no test ride. Of the dealer ones one is in Christchurch. There isn't a lot in my price range hence the questions on here.

Oh, and I really hate bandits.

So now we have 2x Bandit votes. *sigh*.

I'll have to say it as you lot are hopeless at reading between the lines - there will be no performance upgrades, as I really don't have the money to do it. Suspension upgrades if I keep the initial purchase price low enough. Having dealt severly to a Bandit 600 on the Rimutakas on the TRX I am loathe to buy one quite frankly.

**jrandom** · 28th December 2004, 15:04

Well, buy the VFR then. You won't be unhappy. I'm sure Jimbo speaks troof.

Are you sure that Bandit was slow because it was slow, or was it just being ridden less-than-enthusiastically?

**White trash** · 28th December 2004, 15:07

Originally Posted by Jim2

Having dealt severly to a Bandit 600 on the Rimutakas on the TRX I am loathe to buy one quite frankly.

Oh mate, you're leaving yourself wide open here!

Wouldn't be tha same Bandit that tootled past as the tow truck was picking your raggarty arse broken shit up was it?

*ducks and runs*

**James Deuce** · 28th December 2004, 15:09

Originally Posted by White trash

Oh mate, you're leaving yourself wide open here!

Wouldn't be tha same Bandit that tootled past as the tow truck was picking your raggarty arse broken shit up was it?

*ducks and runs*

Ahahahaa

Hence why I'm not even looking in the window of WMCC.

Where are you moving to next, so I can avoid there too?

**Mencius** · 28th December 2004, 15:12

VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR

My *rider* had a VFR 400. Loved it. Bitch to get in the pillion seat, but loved it :cool2:

Ang, buy the VFR.......

**White trash** · 28th December 2004, 15:12

Ohhh, don't be like that mate.

Really, I like TRXs too, see. I just like Suzukis better.

I mean, if I was getting as round in the midriff.....ah ah ah I mean well rounded in life as you, I'd go for the VFR.

**James Deuce** · 28th December 2004, 15:23

Originally Posted by Mencius

VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR

My *rider* had a VFR 400. Loved it. Bitch to get in the pillion seat, but loved it :cool2:

Ang, buy the VFR.......

I've had a Vfr400 and an RC30 in the past, hence the interest in the VFR.

Thnaks for that.

**aff-man** · 28th December 2004, 15:50

don't know how good the yzf750r is but i did notice in your write up it has full ohlins suspension

. Viffers are quite heavy but hell with the tank i ride how would i know.
Sorry to throw a spanner in the works but have you seen.
http://www.bikepoint.co.nz/DesktopDe...as=bikepointnz
http://www.bikepoint.co.nz/DesktopDe...as=bikepointnz
http://www.bikepoint.co.nz/DesktopDe...as=bikepointnz
http://www.bikepoint.co.nz/DesktopDe...as=bikepointnz

**Teflon** · 28th December 2004, 16:28

Logical to buy another TRX.

VFR, nice and smooth to ride, but really, really boring.

YZF, you might get sore knees.

Bandit, does nothing for me, have the 1200 thou.

So my vote is the TRX, because sounds like twin, goes like twin, and a ot more chracter than the rest.