New Bike, er6f vs Street Triple? Update!

[Tracer1234]

Ok, so Im back after a bit of a sabbatical, new job etc etc.

After riding the ybr for over a year now, time for a step up. I have done loads of research on-line and looked through the forums. I thought i would post the new bike question that would be specific for me:

At the moment I am leaning largely towards a post 2008 er6f, (prob 2012)

The deets:
-budget £3500
-Im 5"10
-I will be using it to commute 15 mins each way to work every day.
-I want a bike thats good for that, but loads of fun for the weekend.
while top speed riding will be fun, i will be more looking for a bike thats agile and pulls away fast in the smaller a and b roads.
-there will be the odd weekend of the mrs jumping on the back for weekends away.
-looking for the newer models ideally, but not brand new.
-reliability is key.

Suggestions would be fantastic, any reason not to get the er6f?

Thank you

[Jaloopa]

I had an older ER5, good first big bike IMO. I imagine the 6 will be similar but a bit nippier.

It's a good commuting bike, comfortable upright seating position and all that. Nice and easy to ride (there's a reason a lot of bike schools use the ER models for DAS).

Had plenty of performance for me, I could get to 40 in second before realising it if I was gunning it. I wasn't comfortable going above about 90, but that was mainly because it's a naked bike and the wind gets very noticeable around that speed. I think the f stands for faired? In that case you'll probably be able to comfortably beat that.

The ER5 was fine 2 up, but noticeably more sluggish. Not a problem for me since the missus wasn't keen on too much acceleration
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mattsprattuk wrote: but at least the lifan could do like 104mph in 3rd gear

[Polarbear]

It's very much a matter of personal choice. My wife has an ER6N and loves it, I find it a bit vibey and dull but I am used to bigger bikes.

Personally I would prefer an IL4 to a twin but again that is purely personal choice and many people prefer a twin, especially in a bike of that size.

So my choice withing your budget would include..

XJ6 Diversion
Fazer
Newer Bandit
ER6

Just try and test ride to see what you like.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Matt B]

[grr666]

If you stretch your budget a little bit further you can buy my 2013 plate ER6F. In green of course
and with approx 3200 miles on it, with Stompgrip and R&G bobbins fitted already. Renewable Kawasaki warranty
until June (can't renew after then because 2 years old.) for the sum of £345 for a further 2 years
manufacturers warranty.
PM me if interested. I've done my first year on it and am ready for something bigger.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[struan80]

There's always a CBR650F? Bit out of budget maybe but 2014 ones at £5500 have taken their big hit and would imagine hold there price pretty well from now, will have had first service etc.

I was like you a few months ago and was looking at all the usual suspects for 'first big bike' and liked the ER6F, considered cheap new SV650 etc and possible MT-07. Sat on the CBR first and that was it, all thoughts of anything else went out the window....Take my money, take my wife I want that bike! :/

Do I regret it? No I think it's a great all rounder fun easy bike but second hand would have been better, instant £1500 loss is hard to stomach!

Mind you was parked up next to an ER6F the other day. CBR650F is way nicer and classier looking IMO (hehe runs and hides).

Edit:what about the FZ6R? wins in this motorcycle.com shootout.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwwXYYH6ToE

[wots]

15 minutes on an ER-6F, it will barely be warm. What sort of roads?
Both my big bikes take about 15 minutes to come up to full operating temperature.
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Currently: Yamaha DT 125 LC2,Repsol Fireblade, and Bumblebee MSX 125

[cdlxxvi]

I had an older Kawasaki twin, very reliable. ER6 owners I know like them a lot.

[SofaBear]

I went from a YBR to an ER6f.

I like it, its a good jump up imo. Plenty of grunt for where its important and is very versatile.

Im 5'11" and find it can be a little cramped on the longer runs. It does get very vibey as mentioned above. Ive put nearly 8k miles on it since september and its doing fine.
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Yamaha YBR125(gone) -> '12 Kawasaki ER6F in pearly white mmm

[alex965]

I used the naked version of the er6 for 5 days when I did my A2. Must have put a good 300+ miles on it in that time. Absolutely loved it. I am 6 foot and it seemed a good fit.

If I remember rightly the one I used was a 2011 model. It felt quite smooth and although mine was restricted to 47bhp, it accelerated quite rapidly, especially from a standstill and felt at home doing speeds in excess of 70mph.

I mostly used it around Cornish A and B roads, and it was great for that purpose. It swept through the corners. It was a really pleasant bike to ride. It was really agile as well. I did my mod 1 on it and it was easy to chuck it around the course as if it was a little 125.

I loved the parallel twin engine so much that I bought an old gpz500 as my first 'big bike'.

Regarding vibrations, yes, as others have said, it does get a little vibey at high revs. I suppose it's all subjective, but I never really found that to be an issue.
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Passed A2 licence 19th Dec '14.

[barrkel]

I like my GF's ER6f, although the vibes get annoying, they are more pronounced at certain revs than others: E.g. 4k, 8k.

It lacks drive coming out of corners on the open road, I prefer my VFR for country riding. But I think it's a better town bike than the VFR, much more flickable, light and reasonably agile.
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Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ

[RedPanda]

So an ER6F wouldn't be much use on track days, and I'd be better off looking at a 4 cylinder 600 if I want to commute and push it at Brands Indy? I'll hopefully be fully qualified next month (touching wood).
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CBF125 (2013) -> CBR600F (2001) -> 'Ninja' 300 (2014)

[Polarbear]

[wr6133]

I greatly disliked the ER6N I rode (think it was a '09 or '10). I thought it was uncomfortable, really bad for squashing testicles on the tank, sounded like a wet fart (when paired with the "look at me" lurid orange paint this becomes inexcusable) and the power delivery seemed a bit too linear it didn't have a spot where shit kicks in and makes you grin. I'll admit though I may be nit-picking as it's a bike I never wanted to like due to it being fucking hideous.

The kitten friendly sound and the power delivery could be construed as good points though if used as a commuter.

[Beehive Bedlam]

Was not overly keen on the very brife time I spent on a training schools ER6N felt cramped and just awful probably because it was the first time in nearly two years I had sat on a bike different bike to my Varadero.

Didn't get to ring its neck at any point or with the failed examiner instructor in the mirrors but I did conclude I wouldn't buy one.

Fazer 600 would be my choice it is a lovely bike and does everything well IMO.

[RedPanda]

[Matt B]

[RedPanda]

[Tracer1234]

Thank you for your advice everyone. All points taken.

At the moment my short list includes the ER6-f, mt-07, or if by budget can stretch, the street tripple

Points that are in my mind are:

I will be commuting, and i like the fairing on the er6f, but worried about the corrosion issue of the kawi'. (only commuting for 20 mins too and 20 mins back from work)

street triple looks like a winner, but the price and fairing?

and mt 07 is in the mix also.

Ok so question for you all, are there any model/years of these bikes that should be avoided, or considered above the others. e.g. i am aware that the 09 the er6 had big improvements.

Thank you all again.

[DrSnoosnoo]

[Rogerborg]

15-20 minutes suburban/urban filtering is not the same as 15/20 minutes leathering it along the bypass or motorway though.

You can add a screen to just about anything, mind.

You're not going to get an MT-07 for £3500. What you could get is a newish SFV650 / Gladius. If you're thinking about an SV650, I'd point at the Gladius as a more sitty-upright equivalent.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Nexus Icon]

[weasley]

In the summer, with good weather and light traffic, a 15 minute commute home can easily take a couple of hours.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[Rogerborg]

[djrikki]

Last year I went from the 125 and was looking for something bigger. I didnt like the ER6N which I learned on, felt it was quite brash so when I passed I went to test an SV650 and found it lacking They had a Yam XJ6 Diversion F sitting and I took that out and loved it. Kept it for a year and only replaced it last week. I found the I4 to be smooth and far more forgiving on throttle errors (of which I made many), the Divvy was also quite progressive and linear which I liked a lot.

https://i.imgur.com/DOPzkru.jpg
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CBF125 (Rusty Bin) -> CBR125R (WeeBR) -> Yamaha XJ6 Diversion F -> Suzuki GSXR750 L1 -> Suzuki GSXR750 L1 (Mark2)
CBT: 01/11/13 - Theory : 01/05/14 - Mod 1 : 11/05/14 - Mod 2 : 14/05/14 - Yam Div F : 16/05/14 - Gixxer : 02/04/2015-15/07/2015 RIP - GixxerMk2 : 16/08/2015