New bike options for a mid-range novice?

[mattian]

I've starting thinking about transitioning from my Gladius 650 to a Sports bike.
Been riding "full-time" for about 4 years now. All v-twins.... Started on the trusty VL 250, then had a Kymco Venox 250 (google it) then got my first "step up" bike the Gladius 650.
I am still in love with this bike and its the perfect commuter, which is the majority of the kind of riding I do, but, I feel like I have been missing out having only ever ridden V-twins.
I will eventually get round to test riding some sporties. I love the look of the new CBRs and GSX's but, before I do that thought I would gauge some opinion about, what kind of differences I should expect from you more experienced sports bike riders.

cheers.

[mattian]

............................ wow, there goes the tumble weed wafting through my post.............................................. ......... guess you must all be out riding.....lol

[firefighter]

R6 in black is the sexiest sports bike I reckon. That or a GSXR-750, more for it's size than looks (not a 1000cc but still that little bit extra).

In all reality, the only real differences past looks are how they feel to you. The performance is so close that you won't really notice fuckall without being an expert.

If I had the money and was in a position to choose what I wanted and it had to be a Jappa, i'd go off looks to be honest, and for me personally it's the R6 for sure. They are all pretty similar comfort wise for me, i'm pretty adaptable though.

If I could choose any bike, it would be the 848 as pictured in my Avatar, I have never ridden one or sat on one, but I mean really, it's more performance than I need, and I love the look of it. I don't give two shits if I have to get used to the riding position!

[mattian]

Oh yeah and the R6.... beautiful machine. Over -all much more Hp than my Gladius. Am I going to be pulling accidental wheelies everytime I take off at the lights?...lol

[Ocean1]

"Sports" doesn't necessarily mean IL4 dude, and the SV's a tad porky but they’re not exactly a slug. May be just me but I find big V2's are usually better at the sort of fun you can have at legal speeds. Personally I find top-end sports bikes both boring and dangerous, they have such a narrow focus. A great deal of that focus is making sure it looks exactly like the current GP machinery and what genuine performance design intent exists is optimised for speeds well over legal.

Also, I don't particularly enjoy being bent permanently in half in order to wring an ounce of top end or lean angle out of the equation. So I’d try to define what you mean by “sports bike” a bit better and then make a concerted assault on the showrooms eh? And by all means take, say an R1 for a bit of a fang, just make sure you give it a protracted quiet trundle too, just like you do every day.

[firefighter]

Oh yeah and the R6.... beautiful machine. Over -all much more Hp than my Gladius. Am I going to be pulling accidental wheelies everytime I take off at the lights?...lol

Nah man definitely not. I rode my bros R6 when I was still on my learners, it had smaller and larger sprockets respectively, power commander-basically all the extras to get any extra acceleration out of it, and I had only ever ridden my ZZR250 and I could ride it around without pulling accidental wheelies. I was intimidated for sure but after a bit of riding I sussed out it is all related to your right hand. You don't have to be all that gifted to ride one safely. Fast and well, yes.

It's in your head that to be honest, you can definitely do them if you throw the throttle open and drop the clutch, but you can do that on a Gladius too.

You'll be ok mate. Just buy what you like.

[mattian]

My understanding of the definition of a sports bike is the fully faired (usually inline) tuned for high rev grunt. much more sutiable for open road speeds and racing tracks. Street bikes, like my naked Gladius, tuned for low-mid rev grunt, much more suited to commuting in start/stop traffic flows.

I have hardly ever had the occasion to use my 6th gear on my Gladius. I dont see myself commuting to work anywhere near 200 ks an hour.

[\m/]

Gsxr750, remove the fairings then install a gasmask headlight unit, barend mirrors and motocross bars.

[Corse1]

My understanding of the definition of a sports bike is the fully faired (usually inline) tuned for high rev grunt. much more sutiable for open road speeds and racing tracks. Street bikes, like my naked Gladius, tuned for low-mid rev grunt, much more suited to commuting in start/stop traffic flows.

I have hardly ever had the occasion to use my 6th gear on my Gladius. I dont see myself commuting to work anywhere near 200 ks an hour.

And if you are going to commute on it why do you then want a sport bike?? How about a triumph triple

[Little Miss Trouble]

My understanding of the definition of a sports bike is the fully faired (usually inline) tuned for high rev grunt. much more sutiable for open road speeds and racing tracks. Street bikes, like my naked Gladius, tuned for low-mid rev grunt, much more suited to commuting in start/stop traffic flows.

I have hardly ever had the occasion to use my 6th gear on my Gladius. I dont see myself commuting to work anywhere near 200 ks an hour.

From that description of your riding, you don't need a sportsbike, and would be better suited to one of those ghey 400cc scooter things that MarkH has

[puddytat]

Good step up I reckon would be an R6...but the S model. Cheaper than an R6 or Gsxr & more user friendly. Will do 260 kmh if desired yet put around town all day.
Having owned one I would say that eh.

[mattian]

From that description of your riding, you don't need a sportsbike, and would be better suited to one of those ghey 400cc scooter things that MarkH has

hahahaha... you're quite right too.

[mattian]

And if you are going to commute on it why do you then want a sport bike?? How about a triumph triple

I have always loved the Triumphs..... just price wise, a little out of my league.

[firefighter]

And if you are going to commute on it why do you then want a sport bike?? How about a triumph triple

From that description of your riding, you don't need a sportsbike, and would be better suited to one of those ghey 400cc scooter things that MarkH has

Um, because that's what he wants.....the only thing you really need is a 250cc for commuting, so your arguments are moot, you don't even need a 250 even.

Don't listen to the haters bro.

I've commuted on a CB900, a perfect sit up style bike for commuting, and my GSX-R 750 which to be honest is'nt as good, but certainly no complaints in the slightest. I actually like it better because I think it's cooler (personal opinion here), it's more fun for spirited weekend rides and i'm all round happy with it. Unless you commute an hour+ each way, any sports bike is fine.

Go get your R6 if you want it bro, you'll get used to it, and shit you'll be fine commuting on it. Not the best bike but you've probably already got the ideal bike for that - if what you are wanting is a sports bike, get one! I was in a similar situation when I had my Hornet, absolutely nothing wrong with it, but I wanted a sportsbike, so I bought one. No regrets here.

[HenryDorsetCase]

I've starting thinking about transitioning from my Gladius 650 to a Sports bike.
Been riding "full-time" for about 4 years now. All v-twins.... Started on the trusty VL 250, then had a Kymco Venox 250 (google it) then got my first "step up" bike the Gladius 650.
I am still in love with this bike and its the perfect commuter, which is the majority of the kind of riding I do, but, I feel like I have been missing out having only ever ridden V-twins.
I will eventually get round to test riding some sporties. I love the look of the new CBRs and GSX's but, before I do that thought I would gauge some opinion about, what kind of differences I should expect from you more experienced sports bike riders.

cheers.

Google the specs. your gladrag is what, 65hp? A modern 600 has nearly twice that, and weighs less. Your bike is designed for the type of riding you do, but a sprots bike is designed to lap Ruapuna as quick as possible. Everything else is secondary to that: rider comfort? fuhgeddaboudit. user friendly? not so much. a three year life cycle and living on the edge of the world means parts are hard to get and expensive. (that probably applies to the Gladrag too). Servicing costs are more expensive. You need four of the consumables. Tyres for these bikes are hell expensive and they chew them up pretty quick.

Not to mention the fact that you go: Waaaaaaa (first gear) waaaaaaaaaah (second gear) -thats 120kph, (third gear) waaaaaaaah (thats 180) and dang, who needed a licence anyway?

fun though. oh yes. but keep the Gladrag for commuting.