Does anyone else have a love/hate thing with their bike?

So today I went out for a good blast on the ninja. I wanted to take it easy and just have some fun like i used to on the SV but the first 40 miles were awful. The bike hurts me neck, shoulders, wrists and hands and its sprung like a bucking bronco. So I picked up the pace a little and the result was the best 50 miles i've done in a long time. This leaves me in a real dilema with the bike, I tried to get a deal on a superduke but failed and feel I may need to replace it with something that doesn't completely kill me (Position wise). I don't mind taking a bit of a hit on a trade in (it was cheap anyway) but what do I get?

Will a street triple R, Z1000, sv 1000 etc handle as well or will I feel let down after having such a bonkers bike? I haven't got a lot of space for something massive like a big toury thing so it'll have to be no longer than a ninja or an SV....

What's the best plan here folks. Do i just keep the bike and enjoy the (very) good bits or is there something i'm missing that will be more fun?

I think I need something usable everyday that can also go like the clappers. But no sportsbike crouch and not stupid money....

imo you should of test rode more before buying this.

And as for love/hate of bikes, i love my SV but hate the state its in from corrosion and crap, appauling finish.

yeah well I would have probably bought it after a test ride because of the go like a clappers factor. At the time i doubt I would have thought "but it's soooo serious". Probably just "Woo this flies I want it" it's only about 2k in you start to question your decision, lol.

[the_lone_wolf]

have you had the suspension set up for your weight and road riding?

Having owned both the SV1000S and now on the Striple, the Striple is much much more fun, this is what i have found and many others, easier to throw around and comfier than the SV1000S but not that much down on power than the thou.

Test ride is in order me tinks. Dont rule out the standard Striple either.

Originally Posted by the_lone_wolf

have you had the suspension set up for your weight and road riding?

I have to admit that no I haven't had it properly tweaked yet. But there is very little pre-load to take off and all the other settings are pretty much standard so i don't think i can make it softer. I know it has hi and low speed damping etc but i dont want to make the bike worse. I'm 18 stone kitted up. Perhaps i'm too much for it!!

but is it not the case with all ninjas that to get the best out of them you need to ride it pretty hard, if your not gonna it is time for a change.

Aye when you ride it hard you feel like valentino rossi. It's truly fantastic, no complaints. I'm mainly suprised that you can't just go for a pootle. It doesn't like it. Perhaps I just miss the SV's all round jack of all tradesness. It seems to irritate an car crash neck injury i've had for years too, Doh.

[yorkie_chris]

Get a big streetfighter, crashed -10R with renthals on if you want to stick with a kwacker or anything like that. Probably have enough left over for a suspension rebuild/valve and some go-faster bits too

Well you have the Striple to try , Kawasaki Z750 or 1000 , have you also considered the SV1000 with an LSL bar kit on it , I have the ABM kit on my 650 and GenesisMike has the thou with the LSL on it , makes the SV a very enjoyable bike to ride

Also second hand KTM 950 Supermotos are dipping under 5k second hand and you could get a good trade in on your Ninja towards one of those ... damn good bikes the 950