Coming back to biking....HELP!!

[ash t]

Hi all.

Im now in a position to buy another bike after almost 2 years off 2 wheels.

Last bike was a TLR, which to be honest, made me shit myself alot due to its weight and the torque it had.....

Now I am in a dilemma and dont know what to go for now I am ready again.

Seen a nice 2005 CBR600rr, and a nice GSXR 600 K5...but, been told I would get bored of a 600 after a year and would want a thou...

Also seen a really nice 2005 Blade....

Question is, can I have another thou and not be worried about getting chucked off it?

I know I need to have a go on one but I thought I would ask your opinions....Can you ride something like a blade after so long away from bikes and not be at risk of getting chucked off it (obviously I wont be riding like a cock....) I just want something I am going to enjoy for many years.....

Many thanks for reading!
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When You're Starting To Choke, Take Some Pills With Your Coke, Its Hyserical

[shereen]

[ash t]

to be honest, theres not many 750's about that tickle my pickle
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When You're Starting To Choke, Take Some Pills With Your Coke, Its Hyserical

[Ariel Badger]

A thousand cc bike that will not chuck you off if you take the mick is not a 1000cc bike worthy of the name.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[shereen]

[MarJay]

Buy a KTM duke. Mega fun, don't need to be worried about it being too powerful though.
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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.

[Stonefly]

I had a 12 year lay-off from bikes and had no qualms about getting back on 2 wheels. I started off with a GPX250 Kwak but got bored after 6 weeks! I went and found myself a decent ZZR600 Kwak and am still loving it.
I am still not hankering after a thou yet. I quite fancy a ZZR 1100 or 1200 at some point, but i am not in a hurry as the 600 does everything i need, plus a bit more.........
Just think about what you really want from a bike and make a decision from there.
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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

[yambabe]

[MarJay]

So a TLR made you shit yourself, but you've been 'told' that you'll get bored of a 600?

Whoever 'told' you this, tell them to fuck off. To me, 1000cc bikes are boring. Its too easy to go fast and they don't feel fun unless you're really taking the piss in which case the fun is quickly displaced by fear. If you want to potter around at half throttle then a thou is probably for you, yet you didn't like the TL?

Smaller bikes are more fun. I think someone could draw a graph of fun vs bhp, and I suspect the graph would peak around 60-80bhp...
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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.

[salty21]

[kawakid]

I had more fun on my ER5 going over the tops than my Z750.

On the Z it's just too easy, whereas on the ER I had to totally thrash it, time ever gear change right and really ride the arse of the bike.

I can remember a friend trying to keep up, he was on a ZX7R . I was on the ER5, he was fine on the straights as soon as I got to the bends, he disappeared he couldn't keep up.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[MarJay]

This is an official graph from the international fun institute:
https://cdn.bikechatforums.com/files/obligatory_paint_diagram_190.jpg
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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.

[MrPink]

The most "fun" bike I ever had was a CBR 400 NC29. (Babyblade/Gullarm) Roughly 60 BHP, and handled like a proper little race-bike.
I have recently aquired a VTR Firestorm, and first impressions would indicate this may be a fun bike too.
"Fun" then, would indicate "flawed" in some way, but not so flawed that you can't enjoy compensating for whatever the bike is lacking. With the Baby-blade, it was horse-power that was lacking, I had a lot of fun trying (And succeeding) to keep up with mates on bigger and newer bikes.
As for the VTR... Well, where do I start? But every time I go out on it, I come home grinning like a loon.
Get an ER6, and when you stop having fun,swap it for something else.
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VFR 800 2000 (Pre-tec) daily commute of about 40 miles. Starting to get very tatty.
VTR 1000 Firestorm Bought so I can take the VFR off the road and sort it out. First impressions: Cheap, no manners and loud as hell. Fits me quite well...

[gorillaonabik...]

A CBR6 is all the bike you'll ever need. It's the perfect bike.

The fastest I ever went was on 600s. Sure, blades are great but you can't use the power 99% of the time. I was quicker on a 600 than a blade out in the real world.

I've owned a couple of 600s, a 750 and two blades. In my old age I've eschewed sportsbikes and settled for a CB1300 although hanker after a second bike - maybe a 'busa or something similar.

Having spent so long pootling around on tracks etc..., I always find it funny to tangle with sportsbikes around the twisties on my big ol' bus of a 1300. I don't think they realise it's a 1300 so it's a bit of a surprise if I end up hanging on their tail or occasionally blast past.
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FZR400 (blown engine), ZXR750 (blown engine), ZX6R (accident), CBR600 which had engine issues after which I learned to change gear..., CBR900, CBR924 (stolen), CB600, CB1300 (everything blew up), BMW K1300GT (written off, hit from rear while stationary), Bandit 1250 for a couple of months, Triumph Sprint ST 1050 (nicked) and somewhere in there, I wrote off a Ducati 748 at Cadwell.

[stevo as b4]

That's pretty good advice IMO.
People these days (but have historically always done the same) always want to get a sports bike no matter what. I think they think that they are the only bikes that look good or have alot of credibility.

TBH sportsbikes in many cases would bore the arse off me now, even a Panagale or something, as if you don't feel that your getting what you want from the bike, you will never have fun riding it.

Im into my 30's now and have for some time been more interested in bikes from my teens in the mid-late 90's, but like much older stuff too!

Definately choose a bike firstly and formostly based upon what you need from it, and something suited to the kind of riding you do, and like to do, and also to the kinds of roads/surfaces that it's going to spend most of it's time on.

if you don't know what kind of bike suits you, or what kind of bike you would ideally want to buy, then you need to go and get a few test rides from dealers, otherwise your either screwed, or will have to go on magazine reccomendations or what a mate trys to pursuade you into buying or one that has a bike that influences you.

i.e, say a mate sell's his R1 and goes out and buys a KTM supermoto, it often follows that some of his riding mates will do a similar thing, it's how humans work, and they are easily influenced by thier mates actions, to the point of having their bike choice's made for them.

Lastly, it's so much more fun to buy and ride a bike that isn't razor sharp and has some flaws or issues than to buy something very clinical and precise.

The guy with the Firestorm above is a brilliant example. The VTR1000 is more than fast enough on the road for anyone, and has a great engine and is pretty easy to ride too. But it's suspension, brakes and tank range let it down quite a bit. If you buy a bike with known weakness's and can spend a few £££ or so on gradually sorting them out and improving them, then you can end up with a much more satisfying machine IMO. Spend a grand on the chassis and braking on a VTR and the improvement would be dramatic, as would the satisfaction of owning a well sorted machine, set up to suit you and your kind of riding etc.

[bodger]

If your gonna buy something do it quick.
After 2 years without bike insurance you will lose any no claim bonus you had and will have to start from scratch.

[stevo as b4]

Thats another very good point! I had 7yrs NCB on bikes, and have because i didn't insure anything for too long, i've lost the lot now and will be starting from scratch. Luckily the quotes i've had for my current bike are pretty low so im not that bothered.

[Tim..]

Just buy what you like the look of, it'll end up coming down to that anyway.

After 12 years biking on varing different cc's I'm still messing about with 400 nc30's, bloody love riding them.
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Project builds: My VFR400 nc30 build thread + Honda Britain Rep VFR + What? Another VFR +Project 'cos I want one' + V8 coffee table
www.marshallracing.co.uk
OCD - Helping to bring the standard of my bikes up and make me slowly go mad since 1999

[ash t]

Hi All.

firstly, thanks for the advice.....

I too had an NC29 and loved it to bits, best bike I ever had tbh, however its a bit too small for me and I do like to ride with my wife on the back which it wasnt great for.

I am going to be taking a tip to East Midlands Superbikes tomorrow, who unfortunately do not offer test rides due to the fact they have had a couple of binned bikes and a couple stolen, which I completely understand.

I want to go to a dealer as I feel more comfortable doing this, and have seen some nice choices...

2005 CBR6rr
https://pictures.autotrader.co.uk/ATD_web/servlet/media?id=2036281551
2008 636
https://pictures.autotrader.co.uk/ATD_web/servlet/media?id=2016216838
2006 GSXR
https://pictures.autotrader.co.uk/ATD_web/servlet/media?id=2061614339

All are standard bikes, except the CBR which has a scorpion slip on (I am biased towards a nicer sounding bike - but I am not sure of the blue)

Im guessing, as the previous poster said, its going to be down to my preference in looks and feel....

Im going to have a sit on each one and feel which one has the more comfortable riding position and hopefully going to get a deposit down on one of them

Thanks alot for your comments....really insightful!
____________________
When You're Starting To Choke, Take Some Pills With Your Coke, Its Hyserical

[yambabe]

Just a suggestion, but I wouldn't call any of those a comfy bike for a pillion! Might be worth taking the Mrs with you so she can sit on the back of it too.........
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[ash t]

Well, to be fair she hasnt really complained about comfort on any of the bikes shes ridden pillion on, so I dont think she will be too fussed....
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When You're Starting To Choke, Take Some Pills With Your Coke, Its Hyserical

[Rob W]

To be honest mate, I dont think sitting on a bike in a showroom will really give you a great feel of what the overall comfort will be like.

I could sit on any bike all day, you'll only be able to gauge comfort after I'd say a minimum of an half hour ride or so.
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TS50 > Senda 125 > ZXR400 > CB-1 > GSX-R1000 > Bandit 600 > ZXR750 H1 > GSX-R750 SRAD > '98 RR-W Fireblade > T595 Daytona > Hornet 900 > '04 Fireblade > GSX-S1000F (x2) > '23 XSR900

[Hyaon]

Where's the data for 170 hp? :<
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Mod2 Passed 30/03/2011!
CBF125>GSF650 Bandit K8>B-King 2008+R1 2002

[salty21]

dont get the ninja, Its not a 636 either and you will be dissapointed, especially if your taking a pillion.
Took a few people on the back of mine and they all complained about being uncomfy after 10 minutes and the bike literally dies power wise with 2 on it.
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04 NSR 125(sold) ---- 03 CBR 600rr(sold) ----90 pan euro ST1100 '' ----02 CG 125
94 CB400 Super Four ---- 2000 VTR SP1 (sold) ---- 08 ninja p8f(sold, meh) ----05 CBR600rr

[Seb]

Have you not considered a sporty sports tourer? Futura/Falco/Sprint ST etc? They tend to have much more predictable power curves which will help your confidence no end. Of my 3 'litre bikes', my Futura was the slowest by a fair way yet it was the only one where I could actually kind of keep up with the local sports bike nuts. My two true sports bikes were just too intimidating to comfortably ride at that kind of pace.

Plus something like a Futura will be a far more considerate perch for the misses than a CBR600RR
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST