Re: What should my next bike be?
 

Slightly. I want to see bigends bouncing down the road next!

What should my next bike be?
 

Obviously asking this question of the wider forum would bring a huge deluge, but I feel I know a bit about most of the regular contributors on here so should get a fairly representative response without getting swamped.

Went out yesterday with a CBR 1000RRRRRR blade and an X11. Was outgunned by about 100hp in both cases. Managed to keep up but was trying hard most of the time which made it a bit of a stressful experience.

I'm going to be spending a bit more time going out with quicker bikes as I get more involved in the advanced training stuff so feel it may be time to gain a bit more grunt. Question is which way should I go.

Don't really want a full sports bike so kinda rules out the blade, T675 etc. Don't want something that does not work below 10,000 rpm
Don't want to go the pipe and slippers FJR / Pan route either.

Like the idea of a naked but sometimes feel a fairing would be a great idea. So question is, what have you lot had experience of that is suitably grunty, not too extreme, but gives the lazy wide torque band of my trusty SV. Some candidates are:-

SV1000 - More of the same
XJR1300 - looks so comfy and retro-cool
CBF1000 - lots of grunt for you pound
VFR800 - Sports tourer bike of choice for most observers
Arpilia Tuono/Falco - Damn, should never have gone out with Gmonsta
Blade/ GSXr 750 with risers and lower pegs to make them a bit less extreme

Ideas, recommendations, stuff to avoid.........

Or just learn to ride the old 650 a bit quicker and save my money.

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

Keep the SV and persevere. You'll get much faster.

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

Hey Mark - dont forget the Speed Triple in that lot. Apart from the wind protection thing they are great bikes with loads of lazy power.

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

Check out an '02/'03 'Blade. (954cc one) I had to give up on my K4GSXR due to the riding position but my FireBlade is much more comfortable (and it's a nicer bike to ride too).

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Re: What should my next bike be?
 

Good question Mark, my first thought was the SV1000 with fairing, that is as you say more of the same but more grunt which should give you a boost.

If you were thinking along the XJR route maybe the GSX1400 would be an option, those are great bikes.

Thinking of other bikes that arent on your list the blackbird comes to mind as a good one that would fit in with that list.

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

Saw a nice one on here the other day: http://www.gumtree.com/london/12/9681712.html

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

I would say VFR in this case. Does everyting very, very well. Had 2 of them myself ('99 and '05 VTec). Oodles of grunt from that thumping V4 tops out at a nice 160 odd and also handles the twisties very well indeed. Plus, you get reliability of a Honda. For you and what you want it for I think it would best suit your needs. 'Tis my opinion anyways.:D

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

Had another thought and although i'll get shot down for saying it a BMW, the bmw F800, suppossed to be equal to the VFR but bound to be more expensive.

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

I would probably go for the vfr as dan said they're renowned for doing everything well

if you're looking at something a bit bigger cos you're uping the pace a bit might be worth avoiding the xjr/gsx as i think you may be limited on ground clearance?

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

pick slower friends

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

VFR's hold their value very well.

Another sports tourer you may want to look at is the ST3... or maybe a Aprilia Futura???

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

How about a 2nd hand Fazer thou, old style ones not the FZ1. They seem to be rated quite highly as fast all rounders.

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

Got a test ride booked on Saturday. VFR800 and CB1300. 30 mins on each. At least that should see if I'm looking for tech or pure grunt.

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

My IAM instructor was telling my how he kept leaving his Bikesafe pupil on his Gixxer 1000 for dust until the Gixxer boy realised he wasn't just lucky on his BMW1200RT? which he described as sluggish, but he used his enhanced observation & ability to keep up with the Gixxer. So one vote for persevere. But if it's time for a new bike, enjoy choosing.

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

Do not listen to Stu, there is always room for one more new bike!:smt077

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

Go for both mate - ask Infinity if you can borrow their Tuono :smt077

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

ground clearance not a problem....

the fact they handle (mine handles) like a wet sponge and stands up halfway around the corner ... is a problem...

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

I wouldn't. I had an ST2 - not a bad bike but wouldn't have one again due to Ducati reliability issues (and expensive, crap servicing). You could have problems finding parts for the Futura - which didn't really sell at all.

Try a Speed Triple before discounting naked bikes, unless you regularly do a lot of motorway riding. The Falco / Tuono are also worth looking at.

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

Falco would be better for touring, but I'd still be concious of reliability issues. They stopped making them before they really improved their reliability.

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Re: What should my next bike be?
 

did you have many problems with yours?

Its something i always keep coming back to as the tuono hold thier value a bit to well to make them affordable / insurable.

i really want a v twin again... :(

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

Well, went out for my test rides at Reading Honda, but they messed up the bookings so got to try out some others too while was waiting around. Bit of a long post but ended up testing 4 bikes.

CB1300 - Naked
Rode like the SV but more so. Loads of grunt then a nice progressive surge of power at about 5.5k rpm. Once you got above walking speed the size and weight of the bike seem to vanish and it just feels nicely planted. Oodles of torque, great overtakes, very comfy but seemed odd having virtually no engine braking. Got a bit of a bounce going on bumpy lanes, but the suspension was set up for a bloke about 3 stone lighter than me so should be sortable. Liked it a lot.

VRF not back from previous rider so have a go on this .....

600 Hornet. - Naked with a pointy bit onthe front. Looked v. Nice.
Felt tiny after the CB and completely gutless in lower revs. Then about 7k gets a bit interesting. Then about 10k really wakes up and gets a shift on. Felt very crisp. Can see why folk like them but to be honest it all seemed a bit too much like hard work at medium pace and given most of the time you are not hooning about do not think this is the one for me.

Pulled into carpark to see VFR going out. Had a coffee and a chat then salesman said, why not give that a quick blast pointing at a....

CBR600RR. Eventually managed to fold myself into it. Nearly dropped it turning out of the carpark as it more or less stalled and with my knees round my ears I was less stable than usual. Took it out on the service road and found I was doing 60 before I could blink. Then got on the A33. 0-5k Quick. 5-10k V.V.V. quick. 11-15k ARRRRRRRGGGGHHHHH. I can not even imagine what the CBR1000RR goes like. This 600 was mental. I think I was in 3rd. It was raining a bit. pootling along at about 50. Wound it pretty much fully open. Felt all my internal organs shifting rearwards then looked down to see I was doing 140 about half a nano-second after I started accelerating. Why does anyone need anything quite that quick ? Brakes are also out of this world. I think I need to rent one of these once every few months just to see if it is possible to grin any more than I did when I got off of it. Salesman said my face was a picture when I got back. If you want something stupid quick and do not care about comfort, the fact you can not see anything around you, a turning circle of about 300 feet and have a huge bank of self control then go get one of these.

Got back and the VFR was ready for me.

VFR Felt very dull after the CBArrrrrgh but made a plesent change to be able to both breath and see where I was going. Below 7k it's adequate. At 7k the VTec stuff kicks in. The engine sounds like it is giving a huge burp and it goes like a bat out of hell. Seems very happy about 9k. Loads of protection and probably comfy when you get it set up right, but after 30 mins my wrists ached and I never got used to the clutch. I think I may need to try another one of these that has been set up by a rider rather than factory fresh to see if the set up can be improved. Real shame as I hoped to really like this bike.

Went back again and was offered a blackbird and a blade. Not wishing to overdose politely declined.

So of that lot, the VFR was disappointing, the Hornet too much hard work, the CBR600RR totally mental and the CB1300 something I will be keeping my eyes open for a used bargain.

Got on my old SV, felt comfy, sounded great, handled like a hovercraft, brakes seemed useless and I really started to miss the extra hundred or so HP. Then by the time I was half way home talked myself out of going back and placing an order for the CB1300 as the old girl gave me the opportunity to wind it fully open and feel like I was making progress without risking 180 mph incidents on every ride.

Need to see if I can do the same at local suzuki dealership, bandit 1200 should be similar to the CB1300, and if they insist I take out a GSX-R who am I to turn it down?

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

If you liked the CB1300, why not try a Speed Triple. Masses of torque, plus incredible engine braking plus mean attitude.

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

Shame you never liked theVFR, dull was not a word I associated with it. It was so torquey I had accidental wheelies all over the show but mine was a 99 pre VTEC version. Had a VTEC hire bike for 3 months so never really gave it beans after my big accident but it seemed less grunty low down.

The CB sounds promising.

Ah yes the CBR, what a machine but you soon get used to the power. :smt003 :smt101

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

I'd agree on the Speed Triple and, despite my opinion being slightly coloured having just got one, why not think of trying the z1000 - a real brute when you need it to be but also easy to ride at a nice gentle pace. Ok it's not quite a Speed Triple (and you lose that engine braking) but you can pick one up for bags less cash.

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

get an RD. Leave em for dust with a bad cough. ask me man. he got a raptor thou and a whole string of RD's. Raptor better than sv 1000

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

RD?

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

Yamaha RD350 YPVS I'm guessing. vintage loony 2 stroke.

http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/Bike%20...a-RD350-F1.jpg

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

THanks, hardly seems equivalent to the others being considered.

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

Taxi for that person! Good to see dizzyblonde living up to her name!

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

Taxi for me? :confused:

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

Is your name Dizzyblonde?:smt017

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

No, but you quoted me instead of her. hence me seeing the post as

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

Er, yeah....thanks for clearing that up Law!*

*bangs head against wall......

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

Read like a fun couple of hours. I took out a couple of Triumphs out a while back and remember getting back on the SV and thinking you know this thing is still nice, not as much grunt but was pleasant to get back on again. The bikes were the older Daytona and the ST.

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

Round 2

Got myself booked in another go on a CB1300, a VTR1000 (honda big twin) and just for a laugh a blade.

Anyone been involved in VTRs before?

And would I be being a bit of a girl (sorry ladies) if I let the colour of a bike put me off? I've seen a low mileage VTR at a sensible price but it's a dodgy greeny blue colour. Will clash with pretty much everything I own.

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

IMO if your bike is a toy then if is quite acceptable to be v fussy about colour etc, what's the point in having a toy that isn't pleasing to look at? It would upset me to have stuff that clashed but maybe that's just me.

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

I think if the bike is in good nick etc. but has an off colour you have to think A. I can get this cheaper because of the colour and B. how hard will it be to sell on. Much like those people who buy pink cars and the like.

But if its just because it doesnt match your biking attire its your choice. I have a yellow and black gsxr with blue and white leather jacket but its your money and if your not happy now with it then you probably never will be.

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

I think if the colour was not my favourite I would never be able to look at the bike and totally love it, so it would have t make up for that in the riding. I think a VTR would be interestin (see hooligan bike)....:cool:

Re: What should my next bike be?
 

if you don't like the colour it's going to bug you as long as you've got the bike and you'll not like it as much as you would if it was the colour you want

so if thats the bike youwant then hold out for the colour you want