Best sports bike with little touring

[timboellis]

Been looking at the idea of getting a sports bike, but tossing about the idea of either getting a 600 sports with an old tourer been offered an old GT750.

Or get a 750 or up that will do the lot, the only one that has caught my eye was a ZX7R, will this do both?

I am only planing motorway runs 3 times a year if that of 500 miles or so.

Or suggestions on another bike all together?

[Bendy]

Any bike will do that, it just comes down to your personal comfort level.

[JoeDougieDoug...]

Presumably you mean that you'd like a sports tourer?

Suzuki GSX-F?
Yamaha YZF Thundercat 600?
Yamaha YZF Thunderace 1000?
Honda CBR 600 F?

Etc etc etc...

All good choices.
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CBT Passed - 22 / 10 / 11 >> Theory Passed - 16 / 02 / 2012 >> Mod 1 Passed - 07 / 03 / 2012 >> Mod 2 Passed - 18 / 05 / 2012.

[Jim Mc]

I doubt most sports bikes are a good choice for touring.

I've seen the videos about the cbr600f which did 100,000 in the states, but the range, lack of low down torque, a decent screen and lack of pannier fixings I'd bet would make the experience painful.

[Sam_Y_93]

If only 500 miles then I'm sure you will be ok with a sports bike and a few stops along the way.
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Bikes Past: Yamaha Aerox (sold) Yamaha R125 (written off)
Bikes Current: Honda VFR 400 (awaiting restoration) Honda CB600f F-4
Theory passed July 21st Mod1 passed August 3rd Mod 2 passed 26th August

[DrDonnyBrago]

I wouldn't fancy 500 miles on a ZX7r.

They quite widely regarded as a torture rack. Really long reach, low bars and high footpegs, my brother gets on with his well but the position isn't quite right for me.


A CBR600f would do all of that, certainly wouldn't own another bike just to do 500 miles a few times a year. There is a 2001 model on CBRforum that did 254k miles (in America) without a rebuild, the guy then crashed it and cracked the crankcase. However, he then stuck the vast majority of his original engine into new crankcases and is still riding it.

Givi do pannier racks and top box mounts for the CBR600f. I get 45mpg+ and a 150 mile tank range on my commute, double bubble screen chucks most of the wind out of the way and if you are capable of operating a gear lever, you wont struggle with the lack of bottom end either .


As a do everything bike I can't recommend them enough.

[moppy]

Throw in the ZZR 600. 18L tank, 160miles to reserve (about 50mpg) with 4 litres in reserve. Plenty power, comfortable enough for long trips, big enough to handle cross winds on motorways and low seat & fairly upright position (compared to sports bikes) means it's comfortable for around town too.

[Drake]

only one worth getting, mk1 blade or gsxr1100K
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was: derbi senda, aprilia sx125, nsr250 mc16, cagiva mito, cb600 hornet now: mk1 bandit, KR1S, landrover series 3 light weight 2.5 petrol, 5speed box

[Stonefly]

What moppy said...
PLUS.......stupidly fast for a 600 of its era, bomb-proof engine and very forgiving handling. You can still pick them up cheap-ish and plenty spares available (inc. DB screens)
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Current......Kawasaki ZZR1200 C2H and Kawasaki ZZR600 E7
Previous....Yamaha FS1E, Honda SS50, Suzuki AP50, BSA Bantam D14, Honda CD175, Honda CB250N, Kawasaki Z250A3, Yamaha RD250E, Kawasaki Z400, Kawasaki Z500, Kawasaki GPz550, Honda NTV600, Kawasaki GT750, Kawasaki Z1000R, Kawasaki GPX250

[Bubbs]

Got a zx6r, and I can ride for about 100 miles before my legs start to really ache, and just feel tired. Wouldn't recommend a 500mile tour until you have ridden a zx7r for a good while before the touring.

I do around 80miles a day and it's comfortable now, however it wasn't when I started. Strengthen your core and get loads of miles in the saddle and I don't see why you couldn't do that sort of distance.
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Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

[Benson_JV]

I'm with Donny.
A CBR600F is perfect for this!
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Willson - "If you go out on that CBR600 in the winter, you're going to do more miles on your side than on your wheels."
Riding: CBR600FW Driving: Audi A6
Previous Bikes: '96 Bandit 600, '96 GPz305

[Reid]

Not sure how nobody's mentioned the VFR750 - its built exactly for this.

[Vincent]

[vt6]

Another plus 1 for the cbr 600 f - not the latest and greatest but a cracking all rounder.

Another possibility -zx6? I've just bought an 02 j2 and it's suprised me how comfy it is (I'm 6'3) for a sports bike.

[WULFSTAN THE 2nd]

[crazyjoyce]

late zx-9r. proper fast yet pretty comfy

[chestermick]

Well, you have 2 choices, either a VFR750 or a pre-VTec VFR800.

That's it................................thread closed!............

[Vincent]

I bought an old CBR1000F a few years ago to munch some miles and it worked out fine. Some of those for sale have been really well looked after and look mint. Only thing I had wrong with mine was a noisy camchain when cold which can be fixed with a later tensioner apparantlly. I rode it back from Kircaldy to Cambridge in one day - effortlessly. You can get a good one for £800ish.

https://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j71/Drewskovitch/aMCBR11997S3A-01.jpg
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Space Is Deep

[chestermick]

Vichenzo [quote]You can get a good one for £200ish.[/quote]

Hey Vinnie, l'll give you 350 quid for it, no questions asked!!!!!!!!

[timboellis]

THanks for the feedback so far.

As for the touring its not touring as you know it as such just a few times a year my house to my mothers 400 miles away then back a couple of days later.

99% of the time it would be used for work and play

I have had a good look and seen a few bikes i like the look of :

CBR600
GSXR 600 SRAD Not too sure of this
ZX6R
ZX7R
GSXR750wn

Also would the jump from 600 to a 750 make that much of a difference?

[chestermick]

[quote]Also would the jump from 600 to a 750 make that much of a difference?[/quote]



I got my calculator out & it rounded it off @ 150cc...................

[groovylee]

Mick, i have to say that you aren't really doing yourself any favours around here. so do everyone else a favour - quit posting crap like that in general threads without posting a NSFW tag, or kindly DO ONE.

if it is your intention to troll and piss people off, you're doing a good job, well done. you must be soooo proud.


https://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/20655194.jpg
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Past - 1988 honda revere 600, 1996 kawasaki gpz500s, 1999 Yamaha R6

Current - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000R & 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R

[G]

[c_dug]

I'd expect any non competition road bike made in the last 20 years to be able to do a 400 mile trip no problem, bendy hit the nail on the head with the first reply, whatever you find comfortable will do the job
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[robbieguy2003]

What Bendy and C Dug have said. I'd happily do 400 miles on my RR in a day. but I wouldn't want to do that every day.

It's what you find 'uncomfy'

Any of the sports bikes before they got too track focused would be good, many have been mentioned - ZZR600, CBR600F and that sort of bike are spot on.

If you really wanted, you could keep a lookout for a comfy seat and a big double bubble would be good if you were looking for additional comfort on motorways.

Personally, If I was doing this trip ~3-4 times a year, I'd just be saying I'd want a bike with a screen and at least 600cc, the rest I'd pick on what I wanted.

Remember, you can always Yodel a bag of clothes ( I've used www.parcel2go.com) (small holdall 15KG, 70cm, 60cm, 30cm) relatively cheaply (<£10) to family so you're not carrying it up on the bike, I've done that a few times before, send it the day before you go, arrives the same day you do.

It can make your ride more fun/comfy if you're not loaded with a massive rucksack.
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Current Bikes: Honda CBR 600RR - '07, Suzuki GSX1250 FA ST '11
Old Bikes: Suzuki Intruder 125 LC - '2001, Honda CBR 600F - '92, Honda CBR 600RR - '03