Middleweigh mile munchers

[Whosthedaddy]

I'm getting a little despondent at the moment, the new bike was bought purely to get a form of transport back and to be used on the commute to the big smoke. Its not quite, but in time its killing me. After an hour in the saddle my right had is numb through pins and needles, not like the uncomfortable ZXR or 7 feeling but through something else. I walk like John Wayne after an hours riding and dread the return journey. Cruising at 80+ is awful due to the amount of buffering, the screen may as not be there.

What middleweight cc bikes would suit? I'm thinking sports tourer in style but have no real insight into them or what's what.
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[J D]

zzr600?

Not ridden one myself but most owners on here cant fault them.
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m0l0t0v wrote: Chris, just so you know, JD is a nutter

[T0MMY]

Yamaha Thundercat? Cheap and comfy.

Triumph TT600? Also cheap, also comfy.

If you wanted to save some petrol money a GPZ500S is a great cheap long distance bike and economical too. I used to travel from Bristol to Edinburgh on mine as a student, well the 400cc grey import version anyway.

Is this to replace the TRX? PM me if you want to sell it
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[Mudskipper]

CBR600F?
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CBR125|||GSXR400|||CBR400|||CBR400|||CB250RS|||GSXR750|||CB250RS
"You're clumsy, you eat too much and you behave like a 12 year old boy. But you know what? Every once in a while, you find a thumb."

[stinkwheel]

VFR750 or first 800.
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I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Hornet S? (Fuck ugly)

Fazer 6 / thou?

SV650S?
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[G]

TRX8... oh, wait .
I never had any of these problems on my TRX, though usual long commute I was doing was half hour mostly doing 80-near the top (kph, of course ).
First of, have you considered seeing if there's any reason for vibes? And maybe considered a double bubble.
After that, I think some decent test rides are in order to make sure you don't get another bike that does the same.

Oh and rather than a VFR, personally I'd always consider a Blade/ZX9/Thunderace etc, then add some more comfortable bars if that's an issue.

[Keir]

I use a 99 fazer. Cheap as chips and goes quite well. Shame it's ugly as hell. I'd reccomend one.
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Current : '08 Yamaha FZ1s
Previous: '99 Honda CBR 600FX, 03 ZX636 B1H, 99 Fazer 600 (red), 02 GSX-R 600 K2, 00 SV650s (red), 2008 ZX10R, 97 Bandit 1200N, 04 ZX6RR K1H, 04 GSX-R 1000, 98 Fazer 600 (gold), 05 Madness 110 Pit bike, 04 CR125R, 00 SV650s (black), 06 KTM 625 SMC, 99 SRAD 600 track bike, 03 SV650, 98 Bandit 1200N, Bandit 600SY, 03 GSX-R 600 K3, 01 GSX-R 600, 01 Fazer 600 (black), VFR 400 NC30 x3, 78 Honda Dream, 00 Speedfight 50

[T0MMY]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Not sure how tall you are. Both the ZZR600 and the GPZ500 are fairly small bikes. They might well be too cramped for your legs if you are over height.

As to the TRX, have a check for what is causing the vibration. Missing bar end weight for example. Could be loads of things, even a worn chain or loose engine mount bolt. Possible that moving the brake master cylinder a few mm in / out along the bar would change the vibration and help.

All the best

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

[wizzzard]

zzr600

It's got a big comfortable seat, a fairing that works very well and still has a bit of go about it above 6000rpm.
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Zeitgeist / Addendum / Moving forward

[thewildblue]

I changed my commuter from a ZX7R to a versys back at the end of March this year. Now on 8k miles and a lot happier. Its a bit gutless but I get in from a 60mile trip and dont ache anywhere, Im not worried if Ive been done anywhere for ton up riding and it does shit loads to the gallon. Im on an average of 59.8 over nearly 5k miles and I cruise at about 80-85 on the motorway. Its also cheaper to service as only 2.4 litres of oil and 2 plugs. Im 5,11 and the versys is good for me and no leg ache,where as the ER6F gave me leg ache as its designed for dwarfes.

There is a slight bit of wind noise from the screen but I wear plugs now anyway so Im good to go !

[temeluchus]

ZR7? GT550? Diversion? GSX750F? K75? R80?
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Some shite cruiser. Now with guns and FREEDOM!

[Faldo]

Man the fuck up and get another 7R . I was able to do 300 miles a day on the 7 without aches or pains, but with ZXR L1 the numb bum sets in after about 40 miles . Everyone's different I suppose.

As others have said, a ZZR sounds ideal. I had the 400, and it is easily the most comfy bike I've ridden. I found it to soft (and gutless) to have fun on though, but I used it to commute (not far) everyday and it was more than capable of that. I paid about £500 IIRC for the 400.
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Current: ZZR1400
Previous: ZXR 400 L9, ZX-7R P5, ZZR 400, ZX-7R P6, Bandit 600, GSXR 750 Slingshot, DRZ400, DR650, ZX10R C1H, ZXR 750 L1, ZXR 750 L3, '99 ZX7R P4, KTM 300 EXC, ZX-9R E1, TDM850

[The Shaggy D.A.]

[temeluchus]

The 600 is a good motorway commuter, decent fairing. Engine is a bit lukewarm but good for cruising at 90.

All day comfy.
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Some shite cruiser. Now with guns and FREEDOM!

[SlimRick]

I'm 6'1, and do a 60 mile round trip commute daily varying between triple figure dual carriageways to back-road twisties on my zzr600. It's just tipped 60k on it, and does the job perfectly. Plenty of protection with a double bubble screen and a comfy seat

[Whosthedaddy]

Not really sure on the hand to be honest. Riding home today I was trying to pay attention, not really vibrating any more than any other bike or worse on one side than the other? Maybe its just me that's a little anxious causing a grip of death on the bars.

The Jone Wayne syndrome was still there though! People must think I've shit myself when I get off it.

I mentioned 'middleweight' sports tourers as the shape is more pleasing to the eye than an Enduro styled bike. Saying that though, they may be more than capable of fitting the bill other than the seat height and wind protection as standard. I am a bit of a stickler for the sports shape and riding position but quite taken with the semi nakedness of the TRX. Saying this, I don't need a sports bike as the commute is purely A and urban roads, its my mode of transport, car for the family, but deep down a sports would give that tingle in the back of my mind when getting on it that maybe a Fazer wouldn't?

A note on peoples suggestions, mostly from the 90's? Does this mean that the '00' bikes are less capable of delivering the comfort, ease and practicality of their predecessors?

Oh, and I'm only 5'9" so leg room isn't much of an issue.
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[hornetmike]

triumph tiger , just rode one , now i am in love with it
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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

[Harold_Shand]

Join the anonymous ranks of ZR-7S owners.
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Harold_Shand's theory might be the best explanation.