Is your bike overkill?

[Whosthedaddy]

Is your bike fit for the purpose that you intended it for?

Would you change it for a more user friendly one from lessons learnt or go straight down the dealers for an even more impractical one?

I've have and have had sports bikes.

I like the sports bike look, sound and general inside fuzzy feeling that it gives me when not just riding them, but the idea of it just being sat outside in the garage waiting for me.

However, the riding position on the clip ons makes filtering in town a little more problematic that another style of bike. Its heavy and cumbersome at slow speeds and has a pants mpg for the commute.

Although the cc provides more than enough power to get out of trouble of needed, it doesn't provide the same safety and level of protection to the clean licence.

With a lack of bendy bits almost negates any sort of speediness and sportiness that the 7 offers.

Is a 170mph sports bike a little overkill for a 30mile commute everyday, yes. Would I get another sports bike, a bigger sports bike next, hell yes.

[bazza]

Which one?
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"That's it. You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to clown college."
'98 Ducati 750SS, '08 Suzuki GSX650F ©2004-2014, Bazza's Harmless Banter

[Kickstart]

Hi

I did try a sensible bike for commuting. A 600 Divvy. I got bored and picked up a tatty old FZR600 to replace it.

99% of my riding is on the road. But I will quite happily put up with some impractical feature for something that feels better for me. However there are limits. My (once a week commute) means carrying a ruck sack and a laptop tank bag. The tank bag is high which means anythign with too low bars leaves you locked in a position that compromises control. ZZR600 is OK and the FZR600 is just about OK, but suspect anything more extreme would be out of the question.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[panrider_uk]

I guess a Pan Euro for a 13 mile each way commute is a bit overkill but its nice and comfy, quiet and more than quick enough

Mark
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Current bikes: Honda ST1100 Pan European. Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel

[chris-red]

The TDM is perfect for me, thin and tall and good for the commute and handles well enough to have some fun. Would like a bit more power, just enough to leave a supersports 600 in a straight line.
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[Aka Matt]

Ive currently got a 600 bandit for my 30 mile round trip to and from uni and doing the odd 200 mile trip to visit my close school friends at their unis. It's enough to do the job but something like a 1000cc v-strom would probably be better suited for me as i'm currently planning to tour the uk and could probably do with the better wind protection along with a bit more grunt in the bike.

[Zen Dog]

Nope.

Well maybe a little, i don't need to do 150+mph, but that's bikes for you. But the VFR has done everything i've ever asked of it, and never let me down. Of course i'd like it to be lighter, faster etc. but only if that didn't compromise anything else about it.

Zen Dog
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Current - '94 VFR750FR (Dead), '00 VFR800FI, '11 600 Hornet - Previous - '11 CBF125, '10 Street Triple R, '92 MZ ETZ301, '05 TTR250, NSR125R, KMX125, "Honda" Win
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[SonicTheHedge...]

[Wil]

My bike probably has more power than I need. Its comfy, handles ok (its more stable than flickable) and gets up to the ton without me really noticing. That's the bit that worries me, I think for my next bike I'm going to consider a naked to preserve my license. I'd prefer a twin as well, I have to rag the nuts off my bike to make it take off, I'd rather have power low down.

There must be something wrong with me, I'm 23 and looking at Moto Guzzis for fucks sake
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[Ben.]

no its horribly impractical expensive and a ball ache.
but i love every minute of it, and will no doubt buy something even more impractical at a later date.
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Race bike - R6
Road bike - sv650

[JsyBoy]

1300cc nah


I bought something more practicle to slow me down, it didnt work the CB is a fucking rocket. If anything I'm faster DOH

Someone said it already, but even if i got a commuter bike it still would need to excite me or i might as well get in the car.

[Demonic69]

ZX-12R for a 10 mile commute to work? Not overkill at all I'm a big lad and like to go fast so the 12's perfect. It's pretty comfy but the seat's a bit hard. The fuel economy's a bit arse at no more than 35 mpg but who cares, insurance was only £240 fully comp
Couple it with a £40 stubby blue-flame can and it's plenty fun too.
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Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

[LuckyDip23]

im contemplating this exact same question myself.

my last bike was a thundercat but now its been written off id love something a little bit more sporty, but its still need to be practical as i commute about 15 miles a day on it and have a need for bits of work stuff to be transported too (nuffin too big, a tailpacks worth would be fine).

id love to be able to afford (and have the sapce for) 2 bikes, but it just aint gonn haappen so i need something thats a nice compromise between the 2 - thinking of going for a GSXR750 (prob be an older one - will prob be able to stretch to a 200 / 2001 model) if i can get the funds together as the reviews ive read have said its probably the best compromise between super sport and commuter (plus i want a bit extra grunt from it too . )

does this seem like a sensible suggestion?

anyone got any other suggestions for fsomething that can be fun and sporty for the weekend but aint gonna be a total crippler for commuting during the week.
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I have misplaced my pants.........
Derbi GPR 125 Nude (sold) ~ Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat (written off) ~ Suzuki GSX-R750 K2 ~ Triumph Speed Triple 1050 ~ Ducati Hyperstrada 821

[Method]

No, not a single bit.

But that is why i have it.

Ive had upright, naked bikes for a long time now, and they were perfect for everything that i wanted. My SV650 was the bike ive always needed.

However, the gixxer. That bike is not made for a 800mile mini-tour, it is not made for 3 mile commute into work. But thats why i bought it!

I wanted something that was completely rediculous, something that would make me hurt in places i never knew existed
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Full Test Dec 04... Suzuki GS500 Jan 05... Suzuki SV650 Mar 07... Gixxer 6 K5 May 08... Oh and my 'Rado
My Bikepics.com - No Brakes, No Gears... No Fear.

[Kal]

With its' mighty 24bhp? I bought it as the CB500 was overkill and I was risking my licence regularly.

My misses has never had a speeding ticket, there is no way I was going to tell I'd had my licence revoked.

Mind you the CeeGee always put a silly smirk on my face and I can't ever remember not enjoying riding it.
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[craigs23]

I'm not sure, and it depends which bike I'm riding for what reasons.

I went through testing and owning a fair few different shapes and sizes of bikes before I narrowed my search down to the RR8, which seems to be able to do anything and anything I want to do on the black stuff. But if it was all roses, surely I'd ride it all the time. Yes, it's intended as daily transport and is very capable - carries myself and small luggage with ease to and from work, as well as rideouts at the weekend with ease. It's performance will always be way above my ability, but I appreciate the way I can adapt my skills on it. Whether that be from speed or roadcraft, doesn't matter - the bike's a good base for further development. I also like the fact I can thrash it a little more than my old Blade - it's far more confidence inspiring and a competent road tool.

But it's not as good at chilling me out as my little CG. Honeymoon or not, it's ideally suited to plodding along quiet winding lanes, humming tunes and enjoying the view. But it also carries me and the same luggage to work, as I've been using it as a commuter too. It gets me to my destination about 15-20 minutes later if I ride the same route; but I rarely do. Its capabilities extends to a little exploration of unknown routes - much the same as I did when I first started biking in fact.

My NC30 fulfills my needs as being a project bike, although I aim, to some day, get the thing out of the garage and on the road. Whereas before a 400 would have been a pure thrashable rider's bike, as its performance, for the sake of limb and licence, makes more sense than the CBR on the road and to my level of riding. But I doubt I'd ride it with aggression any more. It's a half way measure between CG and CBR in the way I intend on riding it, but with added garage tinkering.

[Whosthedaddy]

[Kickstart]

[Whosthedaddy]

I feel kind of guilty that the Monkey was 'pimped' a bit and not ridden as its no longer the main bike. Its easier, quicker and more practical to take the 7 even if its to pop across the road to the shops.

It needs fixing after the wife crashed it so needs money spending on it but as its not being used its just sitting there, waiting and wanting more. It was however accumulating NCB and with the new quote through the post its cost me a grand total of £20 a year on top of the 7's renewal to have it as a multi bike policy.

£203 (inc tax or VAT or whatever the hell they add to the premuims) for 2 bikes including European break down and home start aint bad I suppose.

[LuckyDip23]

Id love a bikeful of partly used bikes - only problem is id have to sell m flat first to get a garage lol

Well either that or kick the missus out then id have an extra bike parking space.

(only jokin hun - she reads the forum)
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I have misplaced my pants.........
Derbi GPR 125 Nude (sold) ~ Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat (written off) ~ Suzuki GSX-R750 K2 ~ Triumph Speed Triple 1050 ~ Ducati Hyperstrada 821

[JsyBoy]

[Coxyzxr]

Mines overkill for commuting, it's my only transport so it's all I have. It's not difficult to ride or a pain around town I would just like something with better MPG and lower service costs (tho I service myself, it still eats back tyres etc)
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[Kickstart]

Hi

It isn't so much the running costs (once you have a few bikes the extra insurance is nominal, and no need to tax or MOT something if you don't fancy riding it), rather the amount of capital tied up in them.

I am a severe hoarder. I hate getting rid of things. But currently the main use for my bikes is a once a week ~200 mile journey, occasional playing silly buggers on a runway and the odd local trip. At most that would justify 3 bikes. But equally could be covered by one bike ('busa or a ZX12R would cover all 3 jobs reasonably well). Add to which if you want something for a quick run into town, having something that is a bit better for a short journey is rather counteracted by the hassle of moving other bikes to get at it.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[_Will_]

No........
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[Kal]

Time for an extension on the garage Keith?

You should see what my next door neighbour put up for his Harley... It's bloody huge, could doubleas a small dealership!

I'm tangenting - must be Friday afternoon...
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S