Which should I buy?

**samgab** · 23rd December 2008, 21:21

Originally Posted by Clivoris

Get the Ducati Monster or Aprilia Shiver.

Are those in my price range?
I like the smoothness of 4 cylinders... I don't know that a monster is quite what I'm after?

And I imagine parts/servicing for anything Italian or European is gonna be much more than a Suzuki or Kawasaki? I don't know, might be wrong.

The cheapest Ducati is the monster 696 for $16G, which is out of my price range... If I was going to spend $16G on a new bike I'd get a Hornet 600 or a GSX-R600 or a ZX-6R, I think.

**samgab** · 23rd December 2008, 21:26

Originally Posted by Miss.L

Go the SV! but I would say that

I've only had mine since Saturday so haven't had a chance to see how she does on a long haul, heading up north tomorrow so I'll post up some more once I get back to civilization next week

Will be interested to hear how you get on with a longer trip on the SV... Is yours the older curvy SV, or the newer more angular one? How are you liking it so far? Do you like the V-twin?

**Clivoris** · 23rd December 2008, 21:34

Originally Posted by samgab

Are those in my price range?
I like the smoothness of 4 cylinders... I don't know that a monster is quite what I'm after?

And I imagine parts/servicing for anything Italian or European is gonna be much more than a Suzuki or Kawasaki? I don't know, might be wrong.

The cheapest Ducati is the monster 696 for $16G, which is out of my price range... If I was going to spend $16G on a new bike I'd get a Hornet 600 or a GSX-R600 or a ZX-6R, I think.

Sorry mate. I was being a touch provocative. Definitely stick within your budget and ride the ones that seem to suit your desires, but don't be shy to try something outside your expectations. If you are serious about naked mid range bikes, and have access to credit, You owe it to yourself to give the Street-triple a test-ride. People I respect rave about the bloody things. Good luck.

**Little Miss Trouble** · 23rd December 2008, 21:40

Originally Posted by samgab

Will be interested to hear how you get on with a longer trip on the SV... Is yours the older curvy SV, or the newer more angular one? How are you liking it so far? Do you like the V-twin?

Mines a K7 - the newer angular shaped fuel injected model, the pre 2003 curvy ones are carburated.
I've just come off of a Kawasaki GPX so I'm loving the instantly available power. Yep I definitely like the V-twins, looking forward to putting a non-standard pipe on mine in the new year to get more of a growl going

Originally Posted by samgab

Are those in my price range?
I like the smoothness of 4 cylinders... I don't know that a monster is quite what I'm after?

And I imagine parts/servicing for anything Italian or European is gonna be much more than a Suzuki or Kawasaki? I don't know, might be wrong.

The cheapest Ducati is the monster 696 for $16G, which is out of my price range... If I was going to spend $16G on a new bike I'd get a Hornet 600 or a GSX-R600 or a ZX-6R, I think.

I was looking at a monster 620, very nice bike but not what I need right this minute. 20,000km service quotes for that were between $600 & $1000+

Have you consided the Yamaha FZ6? It comes in both a faired and naked version.

**samgab** · 23rd December 2008, 21:43

Originally Posted by Clivoris

Sorry mate. I was being a touch provocative. Definitely stick within your budget and ride the ones that seem to suit your desires, but don't be shy to try something outside your expectations. If you are serious about naked mid range bikes, and have access to credit, You owe it to yourself to give the Street-triple a test-ride. People I respect rave about the bloody things. Good luck.

lol. Well, there is just one more bike I'm considering, that I forgot to mention, as it's kind of a last resort, and that's the MV Augusta F4R 312...
So it's either that or one of the Suzukis or Kawasakis previously mentioned...

**samgab** · 23rd December 2008, 21:50

Originally Posted by Miss.L

Have you consided the Yamaha FZ6? It comes in both a faired and naked version.

Thanks L, yeah, that is a very good suggestion, the FZ6. It's IL4, which I like; it's fuel injected, which I mentioned as a preference....

The only thing is that new those are going for 13 and a half naked or 14 with the half fairing... Again that puts it up in the slightly above what I wanted to spend bracket.

I think it will be worth a test ride though, because if they're really awesome, then it might be worth the extra 2 or 3 grand.

But if I look at it that way, then the Kwakka ZX-6R is only 15G, and that's only another thou... But then the GSX-R600 which I REALLY like is only another thou on top of that... And then the CBR600RR which I really REALLY like is only another thou on top of that...

Aargh! Have to draw the line somewhere!

**zeocen** · 23rd December 2008, 21:56

I have a beautiful ER6F/Ninja 650R for sale, if you are keen to have a look at it you're more than welcome to, I'll go the extra mile for a fellow KB'er. Quite a few things done to it, but all done for comfort.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=88716

I've talked up this bike far too much on KB that it's become a bit of a broken record so I will just link the initial reaction and 1000k reaction of the bike I've had the most fun on.. read down a few posts for the 1000km review: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ghlight=zeocen

**James Deuce** · 23rd December 2008, 21:59

Originally Posted by Miss.L

Mines a K7 - the newer angular shaped fuel injected model, the pre 2003 curvy ones are carburated.
I've just come off of a Kawasaki GPX so I'm loving the instantly available power. Yep I definitely like the V-twins, looking forward to putting a non-standard pipe on mine in the new year to get more of a growl going

I was looking at a monster 620, very nice bike but not what I need right this minute. 20,000km service quotes for that were between $600 & $1000+

Have you consided the Yamaha FZ6? It comes in both a faired and naked version.

24,000km service quote for the FZ6 will be exactly the same as the 620. Your K7 will be similar when it hits its first major service, provided you don't need chain and sprockets or tyres at the same time.

The 26,000km service on the Zed cost $875. That wasn't tyres or chain or anything, it was mostly exhaust valve shims and the time spent checking and replacing them. There's little difference in cost between a V-Twin Ducati and an IL4 Japanese bike when it come to major services.

**James Deuce** · 23rd December 2008, 22:00

Originally Posted by zeocen

I have a beautiful ER6F/Ninja 650R for sale, if you are keen to have a look at it you're more than welcome to, I'll go the extra mile for a fellow KB'er. Quite a few things done to it, but all done for comfort.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=88716

I've talked up this bike far too much on KB that it's become a bit of a broken record so I will just link the initial reaction and 1000k reaction of the bike I've had the most fun on.. read down a few posts for the 1000km review: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ghlight=zeocen

Buy his. It's very nicely done.

**samgab** · 23rd December 2008, 22:04

Hey, what happened to Flame's post about the MV Augusta 312? I hope I didn't delete it by accident?? I was just going to reply to it.
Was just gonna mention that I just might not be satisfied with the F4R 312 and might have to specially import the F4CC "Claudio Castiglioni", but what with all the hassle, I think I'll just get a Suzuki after all.

**Little Miss Trouble** · 23rd December 2008, 22:08

Originally Posted by James Deuce

24,000km service quote for the FZ6 will be exactly the same as the 620. Your K7 will be similar when it hits its first major service, provided you don't need chain and sprockets or tyres at the same time.

The 26,000km service on the Zed cost $875. That wasn't tyres or chain or anything, it was mostly exhaust valve shims and the time spent checking and replacing them. There's little difference in cost between a V-Twin Ducati and an IL4 Japanese bike when it come to major services.

I do realise this, I didn't go Jap over Italian because of servicing cost, there were a few other things about that particular bike that didn't add up, then my SV came up at the right price

**samgab** · 23rd December 2008, 22:11

Originally Posted by zeocen

I have a beautiful ER6F/Ninja 650R for sale, if you are keen to have a look at it you're more than welcome to, I'll go the extra mile for a fellow KB'er. Quite a few things done to it, but all done for comfort.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=88716

I've talked up this bike far too much on KB that it's become a bit of a broken record so I will just link the initial reaction and 1000k reaction of the bike I've had the most fun on.. read down a few posts for the 1000km review: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ghlight=zeocen

Hi, your bike looks pretty sweet. It's got shocks, pegs... No flag though. Anyway I don't think you want to wait 7 or 8 Months for me to buy it, so good luck with the sale. But interesting to read about it. The panniers would probably come in handy for commuting.

**zeocen** · 23rd December 2008, 22:16

No worries mate, happy to help out a fellow KB'er as I've received so much help from KB myself. Good luck in your purchase! They're all great bikes really, depends on the character you like in each of them.