Next Bike - discussion.

So next year I am going to get another bike (hopefully). The SV is great, but I would like something thats easier to get along with (something FI, something more comfy, something better suited to 2-up riding with luggage). I've decided I'd like a 1000 cc bike...a big engine with lots of power and torque means it'll be pretty under-stressed with the way I ride, hopefully ensuring reliability. The bikes I'm considering are:

Yamaha FZ1S (2007 onwards), Triumph Tiger 1050, Triumph Sprint ST 1050. I had read some good things about Honda CBF1000's, but they look quite bland. However, as a day-to-day machine they would be really awesome aswell. I would also consider a pre-V-tec VFR800i, if I could find one with sub-10,000 miles on it (not likley)

Is there anything else I should be considering? The cheapy option is to get another SV650s, perhaps 2005 onwards.

Does anyone have any experiance with the bikes listed (its ok, you dont have to discuss the SV650 option ), and is there anything I should be aware of? With regards to the yamaha, its my most favored option; service interals are quite large (6000 miles between oil services, 24000 miles between valve clearance checks), there are a whole host of accesories for them and they look really nice, really inspiring to ride (would have to get rid of the humungous end can though!). The triumphs are very atractive, although the smaller service intervals (12,000 miles between valve checks) might be a pain, and I have no idea about their overal build quality. Insurance for all the 1000cc bikes is between 600 and 1000 for tpft.

Matt

Have you thought about the Aprilia SL1000 Falco? and £600-£1000 insurance wow, that's a high from the quotes I got at an average of £350 full comp.

The tiger is really nice.

[Gazza77]

Sprint ST review as per linky.

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=114680

[the_lone_wolf]

Originally Posted by SUPERSTARDJ01

Have you thought about the Aprilia SL1000 Falco?

Has "The_Gr33k" changed his username and avatar?

My other half has a 03 Sprint ST.

Absolutely loves it . Very good for extra storage and although I aint ridden it i've wheeled it about for her and it seems balanced on the weight side etc.

Its good for pillions too as i've been on the back. Plus its fairly quick, she beats my 09pointy in a straight line though i've got her into the bends .

[the_lone_wolf]

Matt, why are your premiums so high?

Even with a recent claim to my name I'm only paying £300FC for the ADV

[JamesMio]

I test rode a pre V-Tec VFR before buying the Blade and would own one now if I could have found one for a sensible price. All the ones I found were either really tatty or (in most cases) grossly overpriced for a bike of it's age & mileage.

Prime example was a V reg one, at the Honda dealers in Carlisle - 35k+ miles on it, in great condition but they wanted £3995 for it! I paid (quite a bit) less than that for my 02 plate Fireblade, which has less miles on it and is in just as good, if not slightly better condition.

The pre Vtec VFR is a great, great bike though - I'm still holding out for one if & when I have some spare funds!

The V-tec ones are good bikes too mind, I just don't really get the idea of holding back the power until you kick it's ass?

I'd recommend testing some of the bikes you're looking at, although a 4 cyclinder 1000 may have plenty more top end the low down power may not be as good as you think. I can recommend the SL1000 Falco as a very good 'grunty' bike although there doesn't seem to be so many around. What about the SV1000 they seem to go cheap enough?

Also, if you are looking at the CBF1000 what about the CB1000R this has been properly reworked (different head) to re-distribute the power lower down the RPM range rather than simply chopping the top off, so feels more like a twin and when you park it up it draws more of a crowd than an RTA.

Originally Posted by the_lone_wolf

Matt, why are your premiums so high?

Even with a recent claim to my name I'm only paying £300FC for the ADV

+1 im paying £600 FC on a brand new striple..

I went from the SV to the 955 Sprint and now have a 1050, as standard the suspension is soft; you can just about make the forks bottom out by hand. Stiffer springs, spacers and heavier oil sorted that out, it's all day comfortable and deals well with a passenger and is reasonably ecenomic.

I've only carried a pillion a couple of times and the young lady who rode on it with the panniers in place said that they got in the way of her legs, so if you look seriously in this direction then a test ride with Maria and the panniers is a must.

The 3 cylinder engine has lots of torque and low levels of vibration and is not at high revs at national speed limits here or in France