Recommend me a slower bike

[T0MMY]

I've currently got a CBR600 and I'm finding I'm riding it everywhere at 100mph as it's too competent to be fun at lower speeds. I really can't afford to lose my licence as I would lose my job too and I really miss my old Bros 400 as it was fun at legal speeds, in fact, if I'm honest it was more fun in general. Also I now have a 50 mile daily commute which is a bit pricey on a sports bike as the consumble parts are so expensive.

Basically I want something that is fun at sensible speeds, cheaper to run, relatively sporty (I prefer clip ons etc.) and ideally with a fairing. This has led me to considering an SV650 10 years after getting my licence I'm finally buying the ideal first bike Anyone got any other suggestions? I quite like the look of SVs and I think I can stand the derision from other bikes who will claim they're shit because they're popular, after all it's the same with the CBR6 I'm not keen on the usual GS,CB, ER 500 idea but my budget is only £1500 which precludes the more modern stuff. I did consider a supermoto but it needs to be more comfy really.
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[RS2MATRIX]

Theres nowt wrong with an SV



















It's telling your dad you're gay that is the hard part
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Reiju RS2 Matrix
Kawasaki ZXR400

[T0MMY]

Now you see, THAT'S what I'm talking about

If I bought a CB500 no one would bat an eyelid, despite the fact it's even slower and arguably doesn't handle as well. I reckon the SV has about the right amount of power to be fun, my dick is plenty big enough that I don't feel I need a bike that does 90 mph in first gear and I don't find acceleration and speed exhilarating anymore, I just like going round corners.
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[Charlie]

Not want another baby blade?

Why not go to a dealer and test ride some bikes, you seem set on the sporty look.

or you could try a speed four? Clip-ons, looks ugly yet lovely... I wouldn't mind one.
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Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[doggone]

You'll be bored silly after a month.
Build quality not that good on SVs either.

You're right to be looking at V twins though because you get more fun at low revs. It's more about spot on cornering and gear changes, and satisfying noises from the motor.

[MarJay]

Hornet.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Villers]

Hornet might be good middle ground, but wont have a fairing as such or a sporty position. Its fun to hoon at sensible speeds though and the lack of wind protection makes triple figures quite annoying

If you go from something as well engineered as a CBR6 to an SV650 you will be making a terrible mistake and you will regret it. Not even just because of the speed either, the CBR is a far better bike in every department. Trust me, I made the same mistake
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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[EddyJones]

ZXR 400?

Mines for sale

[400bandit]

Bros 650, very fun bike, sound the tits with a decent zost and handle pretty damn well.

https://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh258/JoeSnowden/12032009104.jpg

You know you want to...

Joe
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Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)

[Itchy]

If you can handle the vibes a big single , the Yamaha SZR660 looks like a sporty bike and has decent suspension , but its breathless above 90mph , but its great low and mid range but nowt at the top.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[T0MMY]

Was thinking about another CBR400RR and I was looking for one when I bought the 600. Just decided they're overpriced now for what they are, It was cheaper to get the 600. Same for ZXR400 really.

Considered a Hornet too, lack of fairing is a downside though and I hate bikini fairings and flyscreens and stuff. Same with a Bros 650, though I REALLY liked my 400.

SZR660...never considered that, good thought but I'm not sure 40 odd bhp is enough for cruising up the motorway to work and especially not the 300 odd miles I ride back up to sunny scotland every couple of months.

Villers...you are the man to speak to as you've done this change What was so bad about the SV over the CBR? I've heard they handle quite well, did you not find that? I suppose I need to try to blag a test ride on one
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[magpiemale]

[Clanger]

Ducati Monster
Yamaha MT-03
Zephur 750
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[hornetmike]

I have the same bike and problem as you, I came close to swopping for an 01 ER5, i used to have 97 ER5. I ride my CBR sensibly most of the then every so often I think I am ghost rider with 1/1000 of the skill .

I am feeling a kawisaki versys if i spend money or a 250 superdream if I don't.
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87 Honda CG 125 - 97 ER5 - SR 50 -81 Z250- 96 CBR 600 F- 94 GPX600R 88- GPX 400R- 87 GS 125 - 2006 Honda CB600F- 2003 ER5 - Honda CBF 1000 2009 - Honda CBR 600 RR 2011
Current BMW R1200GS 2010

[colin1]

I'd suggest just taking the fairings off the cbr600, and riding it naked.

Wind blast makes things feel faster, and makes you less likely to ride fast all the time.

You'll need to be creative about attaching the front indicators, and it will look a bit untidy, but it works well.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[vt6]

I'm fairly bored of my cbr f too, I find its too stable also bland. Easy just go balls out. I'm booking a test ride on a z1000 as I think something completely different could be fun.

[Villers]

[Noxious89123]

[G]

[colin1]

[craigs23]

I think I'm in a similar boat.

I took both bikes out today - RR mainly, a tank full and a bit. Took a little while to re-adjust going from something with 10bhp to something with 110. But after I disconnected my sanity and plugged my brain into the bike's CDi, it all became clear. I ended up riding like a twat, going way too fast pretty much everywhere and fooling around with like minded riders I found along the way.

It was good to thrash away the cobwebs from traveling at 50mph for the last couple of thousand miles, but I'm still questioning whether or not I actually found it fun. For the most part, I was unsatisfied with any work under a ton.

Time to move on as well, and that means something slower, crapper, with boing-gy suspension. After the recent debate on 400s vs SVs, I might be in the market for something just as crap as one of those Suzukis. Hmmm...might also consider a CB500, Superfour, Monster, TRX or maybe an MT03. Or an FMX.....but I'm not sure whether one would leave my XR.

[T0MMY]

All the comments about crap brakes and suspension is sort of the point in a way, especially the fact that it starts to feel dangerous at 80. The problem with the CBR is it doesn't feel dangerous until much faster. Really this has come about through 2 things:-

1. Coming round a corner at ***mph today with the bike banked right over and seeing a white taxi coming the other way that looked for a split second like a police car. I shit myself and thought is this really worth it? My job relies on me having a driving licence as I do site work and I have previously lost my licence when I was 19

2. Hooning around on it and just somehow being slightly bored the whole time, I seem to enjoy ragging my car more at the moment and I don't know why

I really should just turn the CBR into a track tool but I can't afford to do track days at the moment


EDIT: Actually, what about the TRX850? Don't really know anything about them but they seem a bit more characterful than the CBR6?
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[Kickstart]

Hi

Depends on what you want really. You could easily buy a bike that is supposedly slower but which encourages you do ride it harder (eg, maybe something like an Aprilia RS250) which might not be a good idea. Opposite end of the scale something like a Ducati 900SS would be slower than the CBR, but on a fast A road would cruise rather faster with far less effort.

SV might be a decent choice.

All the best

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

[Clanger]

I ride a naked sv, and yeah I agree at top speeds it can feel a bit wobbly, but changing the fork springs, and adjusting the suspension makes a big difference. Plus I reckon they are best ridden by a 'not so lardy person' they are built for the tiny Japanese market afterall.

If you are happy to pootle along at no more than 90mph and you are of svelt build and are happy to make a few changes, you couldn't go far wrong with one. There are parts everywhere...

It really does depend what you want from a bike.

Best to get out and do some test riding. Taking in corners, hills, motorways and country lanes...why not consider hiring a bike for a weekend?
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[G]

I liked the TRX (had one before the SV, got the road SV as I was racing them at the time), however while it's suspension is better than the SV, it's not amazing stock. Ok for me riding on the roads, though.
It would hit an indicated 140mph on the motorway.

I'm not sure a bike with poorer suspension will stop you going faster, or just make it more scary when you do!
Saying that, I think having a really knackered rear tyre on my '9 helps me not taking corners too fast .