Decisions decisions decisions....

[Bend-it]

Well, my boss said to take these few days easy while work re-enables my cellphone, internet, access etc... and seeing that the sun was out, I went bike testing!

Tested 3 bikes, a Suzuki DL650, Kawasaki KLE500 and Cagiva Raptor 650. The first 2 are adventure bikes, so can theorectically be ridden off-road as well, and will be fun around red rocks and that kind of thing.

The Suzuki is brand new and costs more than I want to pay, to be honest... It is also way too civilised! I never imagined bikes could be soooo comfortable! Easy to ride, stable, and boring. If I wanted comfort and boredom, I'd buy a car... ;P So the Suzuki's out.

The Kawasaki is also an adventure bike, good for touring, comfortable for rider and pillion, space to strap luggage on, basically a sensible bike. However, it retains a slightly raw, 'feel the elements' factor which is what motorbiking is about. Compared to the Cagiva, it's slow and not as exciting.

The last bike, really, the name says it all... Cagiva Raptor! Pure roadbike, great fun, fast, cool, high hoon factor, and RED! On the downside, it's less comfy, even worse for the pillion, no place to tie on luggage, so no touring. It's not that kind of bike.

So the real question is... am I still a hoon or am I growing old...

The last two are both 2006 bikes, with about 15,000kms, with the Cagiva costing $2k more than the Kwaka. Both pretty good prices!

Decisions decisions decisions...

Waddaya reckon?

[jim.cox]

Waddaya reckon?

That the Kwaka is one ugly bike

[Bend-it]

Yes... it'll win no beauty contests, but is nicer in the flesh and miles nicer than the hideous vstrom!

[Zuki Bandit]

mmm...me likes the look of the Cagiva!

[Stromble]

I had a DL650, awesome long distance, but big heavy and a little dull.. Swapped it for a Kawasaki Versys (KLE650) more road orientated than the 500, and better looking (though some would say ugly as..!)

The bike is fantastic, a great bike that sits between a sports bike and the likes of the V-Strom (DL650)..

Well, my boss said to take these few days easy while work re-enables my cellphone, internet, access etc... and seeing that the sun was out, I went bike testing!

Tested 3 bikes, a Suzuki DL650, Kawasaki KLE500 and Cagiva Raptor 650. The first 2 are adventure bikes, so can theorectically be ridden off-road as well, and will be fun around red rocks and that kind of thing.

The Suzuki is brand new and costs more than I want to pay, to be honest... It is also way too civilised! I never imagined bikes could be soooo comfortable! Easy to ride, stable, and boring. If I wanted comfort and boredom, I'd buy a car... ;P So the Suzuki's out.

The Kawasaki is also an adventure bike, good for touring, comfortable for rider and pillion, space to strap luggage on, basically a sensible bike. However, it retains a slightly raw, 'feel the elements' factor which is what motorbiking is about. Compared to the Cagiva, it's slow and not as exciting.

The last bike, really, the name says it all... Cagiva Raptor! Pure roadbike, great fun, fast, cool, high hoon factor, and RED! On the downside, it's less comfy, even worse for the pillion, no place to tie on luggage, so no touring. It's not that kind of bike.

So the real question is... am I still a hoon or am I growing old...

The last two are both 2006 bikes, with about 15,000kms, with the Cagiva costing $2k more than the Kwaka. Both pretty good prices!

Decisions decisions decisions...

Waddaya reckon?

[Bend-it]

Mmm, yes... the sales guy was showing me one as well, same colour as yours... abit too tour-ey for my liking...

[TOTO]

go the kawaka...

you can be a hoon offroad too

[FJRider]

Yes... it'll win no beauty contests, but is nicer in the flesh and miles nicer than the hideous vstrom!

Dont let Jantar hear you say that...you'll get red...

[rat biker 08]

red bike niiiice best bet take it out once moor and seeif you like it

[RnB Fan]

Go the Raptor! I have owned one for the last 18 months and love it. If you want to tour then there are pack racks availableand I have quite comfortably done 500km+ in a day. When I first went looking for a bike I too tried the likes of the Suzuki DL650 and the Kawasaki Versys but discovered i was too damn short (as in feet wouldn't comfortably touch the ground) and then once I rode the Cagiva I was sold.

[Bend-it]

Heya, fellow Welly brother! Just laid down the cash today, and Motorad are putting on some new tyres and handlebar warmers. We should go for a ride one day! :

[Hawkeye]

Heya, fellow Welly brother! Just laid down the cash today, and Motorad are putting on some new tyres and handlebar warmers. We should go for a ride one day! :

Unfortunately RnB Fan isn't able to go for a ride today. Not unless you are going to lend him some parts off your raptor. Ha! sorry RnB, couldn't resist it.

That raptor you have just picked up looks very much like the red raptor that a friend of mine traded in only last week.

[Bend-it]

Is your friend female and lives up the coast?

Oh noo... what happened to RnB's raptor?

[RnB Fan]

Thanks Hawkeye!!!!! RnB and his trusty stead (Cagiva) had a small altercation with The Centennial Highway whilst trying to avoid running over an errant pedestrian. The Centennial Highway won and now the trusty stead is in the process of being "fixed". Currently waiting on new handelbars from Italy I believe.

Once it is fixed I would love to go for a ride with you.

Cheers

[Crisis management]

So the real question is... am I still a hoon or am I growing old...

You need to find out what adventure riding really is....three weekends ago it was riding in snow & KTM990's at 170+ on the dirt & gravel....last weekend it was "Do GS1200's fly?" the answer to that one is, yes, briefly but they don't land well.

Enjoy the new bike tho, if it's got wheels and an engine its good.