Advice on a new bike please

[johns.swifty]

1st bike was a Suzuki GS500F K4. (Up until it was written off last week)

95% of the time is spent on the Auckland Southern Motorway to and from work. Keen to up grade to a bigger bike but still want it to be a comfortable ride on the motor-way. (Approx 30min ride to and from work)

I have in mind a Suzuki GSXF Katana 600 or 750 / GSF Bandit 650 / SV650 but I have not ridden any of them. (Open to other brands of bikes)

I have ridden a '01' R6 and loved it, but it is a bit too sporty for the type of ridding I do every day.

Most important for me would be.
Price - 5 - 9K
Low Maintenance Cost
Comfortable upright ridding at low speeds
Comfortable seat and position for a pillion

Suggestions and comments welcome. TIA.

[Renegade]

suzuki gsxf650 was a great bike to ride, had it all, fuel gauge, shift light, gear indicator etc, would be a great commuter and could easily ride it all day just a little boring for me.

suzuki katana 750 apparently is a little older technology than the new gsxf650 hence the price difference, so i left it, i want efi in my next bike.

i had a look at both, couldnt ride the sv650 tho cos they didnt have a demo.

still looking for my next ride leaning towards the er6n/f

[TimeOut]

The GSXF 750 Katana is only $9995 new at the moment

[AllanB]

Hit trademe for a pre owned Honda Hornet 900.

Sweet.

[johns.swifty]

still looking for my next ride leaning towards the er6n/f

Thanks to you I have started looking at the er6 now. Not a bad looking bike either. It has easily just removed the bandit off the watch list I think.
There is one on trade me now if you are still looking for one?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=160581465

[kickingzebra]

GSXR s rule the world, buy one that can do mean as wheelies bro... you'll never regret it...

If comfort is your thing though have you considered cross bikes? eg KLR 650, paris dakar 650 etc etc... Just a thought.

[Pwalo]

GSXR s rule the world, buy one that can do mean as wheelies bro... you'll never regret it...

If comfort is your thing though have you considered cross bikes? eg KLR 650, paris dakar 650 etc etc... Just a thought.

Or you could have a look at a Suzuki DL650, or the Kawasaki Versys. Provided you're a bit taller.

[HornetBoy]

Go for the Katana 600 mate ,Really low maintance ,Cant get much worse than 8,000kms out of pilot powers so just think of what ya get out of pilot roads (18,000kms easily ) doesnt use much gas (18ltr tank gets me 300kms + on the commute ) and they are oil cooled so no worrying about exploding radiators or coolant leaking when your sitting in traffic

I have riddern the latest 650f and I personally would not even bother trying to expand the budget for it ,they cost approx double what you can get a good low milage 600/750 for,and are essentially just a tarted up katana 600 :shift gauge ,fuel injection and they are not even close to the touring comfort of the katana.
Althought they do look good!

[Nasty]

Heya John

I absolutely love my GSX750F .. I use it for commuting and for touring ... its a comfortable ride for both. The technology suits me fine ... it handles like a total dream and the cost was exceptional ... In fact as I went for a test ride within 200 metres I was saying to grub that this was the bike for me and I was gonna buy it come hell or high water ... the sit position is great and it is extremely smooth .. .I took it up the Rimutakas on the test ride and it was the first time that I didn't scare of panic break

[johns.swifty]

It would be a much easier decision if I had won Lotto

Any thoughts on the Hyosung GT650?? With financial restraints that sort of looks like the style I am after but within the budget, unless of course someone knows where I can pick up a Katana under 7k

[HornetBoy]

It would be a much easier decision if I had won Lotto

Any thoughts on the Hyosung GT650?? With financial restraints that sort of looks like the style I am after but within the budget, unless of course someone knows where I can pick up a Katana under 7k

Got mine for less than that from the local dealer (2005/20,000kms)
Had a look on trade me for katanas lately ? im sure ive seen a couple that you could haggle for that price


GT650R's sell for about 7k and under on trademe aswell,with relately low amounts of kms .But im personally staying away from Hyosungs for a few more years till they correct some of their issues.