New bike!

[Bob]

Just swopped the ER6-f for a brand new GSX650F (see new photo)

A review will follow in a couple of months (I can't write one for the internet as yet, as I originally got to test ride the bike I just bought for the bike paper I write for... and they have to publish first before I can put something different together for anywhere else).

What I can say is it has THE smoothest engine I've ever experienced. The power just builds in a wonderfully smooth, linear fashion. And it is so balanced.

The other thing - always worth getting your timing right, being friendly with the dealer and trying to do a deal. Timing? One week before end of month - and getting some cash going into their bank account (in time for monthly sales commission) will be very welcome. And I like to try swopping over in Winter - bike sales are lower, so again dealer will be keen to push a deal.

In addition, they'd seen the ER and new it was in good condition (and had FSH etc).

Finally, it was their demonstrator, so they'd knocked the price down to £4.4k (from £5.0K) - so when I chatted to them, I got a price for the ER (higher than average miles on the clock, so that affected the part-ex price) of £2.0K, so said to them "I can't quite stretch to £2.4K... any chance of a deal?"

So another £0.2K dropped from the price!

So I've bought a bike with just 500 miles on the clock, for 15% off list price - and of course, it has already got plates and tax, so that saves me money as well!

Which is nice...

[pritch]

Enjoy! And may you have enough decent weather in the next few weeks to try it...

[Hitcher]

With decent brakes and suspension, the GSX650F may well be the ultimate motorcycle. Dangerously close to perfect straight out of the box.

[bane]

be interested in your "comparison thoughts" once you've spent sometime on the new bike - most people are very complementary about the er6.

[Edbear]

Goodonyermate!

Looking forward to the write-up!

[BugSmasher]

Just swopped the ER6-f for a brand new GSX650F ...

Hi Bob,

Just got mine last week and am absolutely loving it so far. Having been away from bikes for over ten years I can't believe how smooth the modern engines are, and this one seems exceptional. The ER6-f was on my short list as well, but the GSX just seemed more comfortable to sit on and somehow more substantial.

In case you haven't found it yet, this website has a lot of good info: http://www.gsx650f.biz/ Seem to be a lot of very happy GSX650f owners there that's for sure.

Look forward to reading your review. Cheers...

[Manxman]

You know what's missing? The dealers' name.

We so often see name & shame threads...what about a name & praise?

[Gubb]

I was a Gnat's cock away from buying a GSX650F last week, but then I tried the Street Triple.

Sensational bike though, it was such a smooth ride.

You know what's missing? The dealers' name.
We so often see name & shame threads...what about a name & praise?

Probably won't those of us over here. I imagine that if the price is in pounds, and mileage in miles, I suspect he may be a foreigner.

[Pussy]

Congrats on your new bike, Bob! The GSX650F seems to get good press, looking forward to your impressions of it

[Manxman]

I was a Gnat's cock away from buying a GSX650F last week, but then I tried the Street Triple.

Sensational bike though, it was such a smooth ride.

Probably won't those of us over here. I imagine that if the price is in pounds, and mileage in miles, I suspect he may be a foreigner.

D'oh. Didn't spot the pound sign there...

Nevertheless, worth mentioning just outta gratitude perhaps? You never know who's watching.

[samgab]

A review will follow in a couple of months.

I've as good as decided that the GSX650F will be my new bike in about 6 months time when I get my 6F (fingers crossed), so I'm interested in reading a more thorough review too...
Post a link when you do it, won't ya!
Cheers.

[Bob]

I've as good as decided that the GSX650F will be my new bike in about 6 months time when I get my 6F (fingers crossed), so I'm interested in reading a more thorough review too...
Post a link when you do it, won't ya!
Cheers.

As promised, here is a link to the road test

[Renegade]

great write up, i test rode one myself and i felt that i could ride it all day, loved the fact it had a fuel gauge too.

I did find it a little boring, mostly cos it did every thing so well and was so easy to ride.

I bought a monster instead.

[Edbear]

As promised, here is a link to the road test

great write up, i test rode one myself and i felt that i could ride it all day, loved the fact it had a fuel gauge too.

I did find it a little boring, mostly cos it did every thing so well and was so easy to ride.

I bought a monster instead.

I agree, a good write-up and I like that you addressed the inevitable criticisms that come with such bikes.

Statements that the bike is bland or boring because it just does everything well puzzle me. I like a bike that does everything well and if I were in a position to have two or three bikes, the GSX-F650 would be my choice of "sports bike" and the DL650V-Strom my choice of adventure/city/hoon/play bike!

Let's face it, there are very few bad bikes these days and too often people place too much weight on image and peer-pressure and buy things they don't really need or want if they were truly honest. No criticism of anyone buying an R1/GSX-R/ZXR/CBR-R/Hyabusa/ZX14, etc. buy whatever you want, but don't put "ordinary" bikes down due to the fact they suit what most "ordinary" rider's want in a bike.

My old "89 GZX600F/Katana was fantastic for my riding and skill level and it was only after three years with it I was beginning to think I was able to out-ride it. Still had more than enough power, though. My Hyabusa-riding mate was very impressed after a ride with him and two VTR1000's!

[KiwiKat]

A good choice for a do everything bike. I bought one of the last 750F's and they are very similar. Extremely reliable and very comfortable for a midrange tourer. When you push it you will find it handles very well. Watch the Dunlop Sportmax tyres though, if they still run them, they are hard, slippery in the wet on our roads and will skate slightly.