Advice on 600cc+ bikes (Head vs heart)

[YourMumRang]

Well! What a pain and what a pleasure this bike-shopping lark is!

I'll keep this away from being TD;DR and break it down. Here's what I want in a bike:

- Comfort and reliability.
- Looks (sporty/sportyish)
- Price (is it in my range? <£1800)
- Real-life power (I won't ride at 80+ so don't want a bike where the power is all up the top end!)

I've been looking at bikes:

- Yamaha Fz6
I have a MASSIVE soft spot for this bike. I can't describe but I love looking at them. They're also comfy as hell. However, can I afford one and does it have the power where I need it?

- Kawasaki ER-6F
Amazingly comfortable but too expensive?

- Honda CBR600f
Nice and sporty, more comfortable riding position but doesn't wow me and feels a bit 'generic'.

- Suzuki SV650s
Within my price range and I like the look of it with a fairing but I hear bad things about build quality.

Any help and advice on these bikes would be appreciated!

(Fz6 mmmmmm.....)

[Minty]

Sounds like your requirements are all met by my bike.

Late 90's Fireblade.

You know you want to.

If you are down Sahf then you can take mine for a spin.
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My fingers smell of your mum.

[YourMumRang]

Ah I'm in the MiddLandzzzzz and not done the DAS yet. Pics?

I forgot to mention Insurance. Don't wanna get raped cos I pick a popular boy racer bike.

[rufusw]

My brother has a late 90's fireblade, awesome bike but uncomfortable... (Sports bike's pretty much always are though)...

The CBR600f's are more comfortable than a blade but your arse will still be numb after 100 miles or more, IMO the best compromise is something like a Hornet / fazer.

The Hornet has the same engine in as the 1988 - 1995 CBR600 with a different cam tensioner. The CBR6 is a nice bike to ride, havent ridden a hornet but my brothers got one as his second bike, he says it's like sitting on a sofa compared to his blade...!

I tend to stick to less than 80ish, my CBR600 has all the power I need and then some.., so assuming the hornet will be the same!

I'd say Hornet / bandit / fazer would be a great choice

[YourMumRang]

No love for the SV650? Seems the closest to my price-range.

For example I've seen this at the top end of my price range...
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260813178770&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[Sham]

I enjoyed my SV (fully faired K9), but it was lacking in places. Cheap insurance and if you ride like a saint it'll do 190 miles before the light comes on.

Budget bikes though, suspension being the biggest 'tell' for me. After testing a few quality sports 600's, it really becomes apparent. Build quality is ok, but make friends with ACF50. I never had reliability issues. Found it quick enough upto 80-90, but then the lack of power was making itself known, so some motorway overtakes were a little longer than you'd think.

I'd been told the SV is an excellent starter bike but that I'd be bored with it within 6 months. They weren't wrong.

So yeah there is love for the SV, but I think it's a short fling than a long term deal.

[P.]

Got bored of the SV quickly..

Maybe a GSXR750? I've got nothing bad to say power wise with the 750. Low down grunt and high end scream, does about 85-87 in first.. and if you really want to hurt it.. you can pull away in 6th But from 20mph 6th gear still pulls.

You might find the insurance is pretty cheap. (2000 model)

[Gerrard]

As been said an older Blade or ZX9 perhaps are great bikes, of the newer ones the FZ6 or Hornet would be my choice.
Good luck in finding the right bike.
____________________
Honda Blackbird the great all rounder.
Chillin near Malaga.
Marco Simoncelli 58

[YourMumRang]

May be dodgy but right by me....

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2001-SUZUKI-BLACK-SV650-S-K1-FULLY-FAIRED-15000MILES-/170666301927?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item27bc8119e7

[DrDonnyBrago]

CBR is the best of those; also complaining about the CBR being a generic bike and considering an SV650 is somewhat ironic.


If I were you, I'd get a hornet or Fazer - plenty of power for the road, reliable, good parts availability and the lack of fairing makes high speed uncomfortable. If you really are a <80mph fanny you can blame it on your lack of neck muscles rather than your small testicles .

[Jayy]

What about a ZX6R? G1/G2 ?

They can be had for that kind of money and they're fantastic bikes for the money.

[Gerrard]

[Paulington]

I have lost count of how many times I've said this, but just get what YOU want. If you sit on a bike and it feels much better than any of the others, with decent build quality and a nice price just get it. Asking our opinions won't do a lot.

As for "won't be riding at 80+", get over yourself. Of course you will. If you aren't going to ride above 80mph why are you looking at 600cc bikes? Go get a 250cc four stroke and enjoy massively improved fuel economy as they'll do about 100mph at the limit, so 80mph will be fine.

The best advice I can give is for you to go to some bike dealers/private sales, sit on them, see what feels best under you, what looks the best in your opinion and is just right in terms of price, then go and buy that motorcycle. Everyone is different and in motorcycle purchasing, sometimes you just have to let your heart rule your head for a little while.

HTH! !
____________________
"Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul."
Current Vehicles: '89 Kawasaki KDX200, '99 Yamaha XV535, '00 Honda ST1100 Pan-European, '08 Suzuki GSX-R1000, '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GS4 2.0 TDCi, '15 BMW 1 Series 116d Sport Turbo.
CBT: 27/08/08. Theory: 04/09/09. Module 1: 16/09/09. Module 2: 01/10/09.

[waffles]

[plugger147]

Pretty much agree with waffles, although if you find one in the right colours a zzr600 could fit your needs pretty well....
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Tristan the wrote: just whipped off my trousers to find a big bruise on my arse, caused by matt rear ending me...

[Rogerborg]

Well, what Paulington said, but let's pretend that it's a real question.

[YourMumRang]

It's the sitting on countless bikes that'd whittled em down to those few. I guess I haven't had the opportunity to ride at those speeds but still cant see where I ever would. Speed cameras everywhere!

And get over yourselves speedheads. I'd rather not ride like a twat.

[ThoughtContro...]

[temeluchus]

FZR1000, Thundercat/ace, FZ750, FZR750, GSXR750, GSXR1100, CBR600 (early one or later F), early CBR900, CBR1000F, CBR1100XX, ZZR600/1100, GPz 750/900/1000/1100S, BMW R1100RS/S, K100/1100/1200RS. Probably loads more to look at as well.

For 'real world' riding a bigger motor is better hence why cruisers/tourers etc tend to be 1000cc plus as the torque comes in earlier. Smaller engines need more revs, making them more frantic and leads to more speeding. Take it from me having owned everything from a 100cc to 1300 and most levels inbetween!
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Some shite cruiser. Now with guns and FREEDOM!

[YourMumRang]

See now I did wonder whether or not limiting myself to a lower cc bike is a good idea but can I get one for how much I want to spend?

Here's the skinny:

Got knocked off my CBR125 (paid £1050) by a Canadian rental-car driver who admitted full liability and as such rental insurance have. I'm getting £2380 for the bike as that's what they valued it as! I'll be getting a bit extra from loss of earnings etc.

I'm looking to get a bike and DAS for what I've got.

[james1988]

Just to add another option; why not a VTR1000? I find mine relatively comfortable, stupidly cheap to insure (£195 TPFT @ 22 in a rough area) and cheap spares. Tonnes of low down shove and sounds immense as it's a V twin. Fuel economy is a bit shit though.

James

[G]