Help - which new bike.
 

Hello - i am hoping to update my bike this summer after i get a full years no claims. My naked sv650 has been my very first bike and i passed my test on it last summer.

I was hoping u guys could give me some advice on what to get next. I need something that can carry me and my luggage 250 miles on motorways once or twice a week, and carry me and the wife 50ish miles round trip to work 2 or 3 times a week.

Any suggestions of bikes that would be suitable would be welcome. Please don't just say 'get an R1 or a Gixer 1000 or some other silly track bike, as whilst these are undoubtedly great bikes they are clearly not comfy or practicle for long motorway comutes. or are they?

My current short list looks something like this:
1. ducati st3.
2. triumph sprint st.
3. Honda VFR.
4. BMW f800
5. fazer 1000
6. sv1000s.
7. cbr600f
8. honda dullville :oops:
I know the variety of bikes on there shows just how confused i am. so help me out please. Oh i am 6ft 1 and want something that will protect me from wind blast - so no nakeds.

Re: Help - which new bike.
 

I think thats a good list you have there, all of those should be suitable for your needs. Personally from what I've read I'd be looking for a Fazer 1000...

Oh and dont write off the GSXR-1000 etc as being to uncomfortable etc etc, I've long days in the saddle of my 750, TBH I find it more comfortable than my SV is. I can't remember the guys name ( Nick Sanders ) I think, who rode around the world on his R1...

Only way your going to know what you do and dont like, is to take a test on as many of those as possible and make your own mind up.

Re: Help - which new bike.
 

now want a new bike :(
so maybe you folks can help me too
cant really afford it though so would be another finance jobby
i wouldnt really choose those except the SV thou
im looking for either:

1.Triumph daytona 675
2.GSXR 600
3.GSXR 750
4.GSXR 1000
5.Some sort of ducati;)

But i'd get ramshanked on the insurance as ive only got 1 years No claims
i'd like a brand new bike that stays kwak clean and salt free, and my sv for pure fun and the commute.

Re: Help - which new bike.
 

grr grr:mad: :mad: :mad: grr grr.

;)

Re: Help - which new bike.
 

theres not really any point having two though is there really??
funny how we both decide to post @ the same time though but hats off you got here first lol,
to answer your question id go with the Sv thou fully faired twin yoshi system. insurance for me on that fully comp is just over £1k :shaking:

Re: Help - which new bike.
 

£1k?? :eek: :eek:

howcome? do u have lots of points on your license or something?

I haven't checked how much it'd cost for all those on my short list - kinda assumed it wouldn't be much more then am sv650. opps!

Re: Help - which new bike.
 

if you've got the cash i'd go for the the sprint st. fantastic engine, gorgeous bike and it'll eat miles. Like a more powerful, sportier VFR.
-VFRs are being slated for servicing costs, they're meant to eat cam chains. The faired f800 is very nice, very comfortable definately worth a test drive.

Re: Help - which new bike.
 

wouldnt you consider other tourers? or u lookin for a more sportier one? i knw kawasaki are bringin out a dulled out version of the zzr1400 nxt year for touring, should still be an awesome machine just not TOO crazy like the zzr lol

Re: Help - which new bike.
 

I used to own a Ducati ST2 and now own a Speed Triple 1050. The Ducati was a great motorway bike, when it wasn't broken down. The Speed Triple seems much more solidly built than the Ducati and the finish is pretty good. It still looks lovely even after being ridden through two winters in all weathers. So I'd definitely pick the Sprint from your list.

A couple of months ago, Bike Magazine did an engine test and concluded that the Triumph 1050 motor is the best engine for British roads. Also, Bike is reporting that the German Motorrad magazine did a 31,000 mile endurance test of 13 new bikes and proclaimed the Sprint ST to be the 'most durable motorcycle' with minimal engine wear, marginal oil consumption and no frame or exhaust corrosion.

Re: Help - which new bike.
 

although 1 years ncb.... i'd get some quotes before you get your hopes up!

Re: Help - which new bike.
 

You havent mentioned some trail bikes

A V-strom of the Valadero. ZZR600:smt045 :scratch: :smt109 Blackbird?Even a good old GSX750F:smt077 A winners bike....and actually fits your needs.

Buy an VFR800...not the Vtec one....That was just too easy.

Re: Help - which new bike.
 

I went from an SV-S to the Sprint ST 955i and now run a 1050 Sprint ST. It's all day comfortable (Braintree to Edinburgh the day I picked it up) and corners well. The tripple is a lovely engine lots of torque and smooth acceleration. The panniers are not the biggest in the world but they are ok, fit well and don't disturb the handling, with the baglux tank cover and bag its enough for a couple of weeks away for me.

Re: Help - which new bike.
 

Hmm, get one of these!

:cool:

http://img366.imageshack.us/img366/1...000sideds6.jpg

Re: Help - which new bike.
 

The Sprint is an interesting bike. Best mate has one, and like it was said it will eat miles. Trouble is being a triumph it may eat itself at the same time. Mates is fairly new and its rusted over winter despite not being out at all and being under cover. He's also had another letter about another recall. Think thats 5 recalls on this particular model now.

Lyle J, have you not considered a 636 as part of your line up?

Re: Help - which new bike.
 

Haven't ridden the Sprint St (but will!) although I have test ridden the F800S and F800ST with a mate for most of a day - we swopped around between the two and concluded that the S is the better bike. Was really thinking about buying an F800S but had taken out an SV650S from Rainbow in Rotherham before testing the 800s and was so impressed that I thought that the extra 3 grand (nearly!) over a discounted SV650SA was not worth it :smt119

Re: Help - which new bike.
 

i was very tempted by the bmw aswell. deifnately a better bike than the SV, but £3000 better?! i think not. I'm being turned towards the dark-4-pot-side slowly :smt100

Re: Help - which new bike.
 

I had a go on my mates 675 today, wow wow wow, It was at about 9 this morning and I'm still smiling.......I havent been on any of the others but he has been riding for yonks and really rates the triple. It's gotta be the next one if I can ever afford it, anyone got a balaclava and pumpaction i can borrow (need to visit the bank), or maybe I can sell a kidney :eek:

Re: Help - which new bike.
 

http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/9199/dsc00164ik7.jpg

Quite like this myself- although insurance will still be high.

Re: Help - which new bike.
 

Dizzy, it's interesting that we ended up with the same SV (colour etc) :)

I have a feeling that I will be tempted to try a 1250 Bandit; like the sound of a 4 pot that has some torque at under 45,000 arh pee emm and doesn't break the bank to buy or insure :rolleyes:

Re: Help - which new bike.
 

Trying to stay on track with the original post:

VFR would be my first port of call. Go try one, try it 2 up as well. I think it's a magnificent bike, it really is one of those "do anything" bikes. Good tank range and comfortable for touring/commuting, ride it fairly hard and it'll keep up with most SS600's.

Triumph ST is a very nice piece of kit but has a few shortcomings (IMHO). Firstly the pillion is set rather high, almost sport bike like, secondly the clocks are not briliant, and on the two I have ridden, the mirrors vibrated badly. Brakes were not great (comparing them to my 'Blade of course).

If you can get on with it, the 1200GS is a great bike - couldn't, I hated it, but that's just me. It is another of those do almost anything bikes, and it's mega comfy.

Honda Blackbird... Does exactly what it says on the packet. I scraped the pegs on the first decent roundabout I took, it was that easy to ride. I very nearly bought one but settled on my 'Blade instead.

If you can handle the size & weight, some of the BMW tourers are great at doing what they do, but they don't come cheap either.

Some of the modern larger sportsbikes are very good long distance bike (500 miles on my Fireblade is not a chore) but they're not great for pillions, so that really rules them out.

Make a list, narrow it down to about 4 bikes and test them all. If only one comes out as an outright winner, try one or two others, just to be sure.

Compare and decide, it's the only way to find out what is good for you.

.

Re: Help - which new bike.
 

loads of great advice there.

think i'm gonna test ride a st3, sprint st, vfr, and f800st. whilst i'm at the dealers i think i'll also have a sit on a blackbird and a gsxr 750 - just to rule them out really, but you never know.

i'm worried about insurance now though. i paid £130 for my sv650 (tpft)- and i was on an L Plate at the time. Looks like even with a full license and 1 years ncb i'm looking at 600-700 for some of these bikes. That would be fully comp though - whic would be a must given the value of the bikes.

Re: Help - which new bike.
 

At the Honda dealer, tell them of your dilemma, and ask if you can try the VFR and Blackbird back to back. The VFR is smaller & lighter with a more sporty feel, the 'Bird is larger but so, so clinical in everything it does, and more comfortable than the VFR.

Do the same at the BMW dealer, try the F800 and one of the others (R1200S maybe). Doing tests back to back helps you reflect on the good and bad points of each bike. I rode the 1200GS about 30 minutes after completing the VFR test and I think that's why I didn't like it.

If it wasn't for my love of my 'Blade, they'd be a VFR in the garage now (and they sound awesome with a set of cans).

.

Re: Help - which new bike.
 

gsxr 600 brand new at £6500 or so, but you can get a years insurance for 99bucks if your over 25 and the bike will be garaged! maybe worth a look into if you fit the criteria!!!