Next bike after 500

[Derivative]

Hokay. So, the CB500 is nice and all (and cheap!) but I'm hankering for something bigger and better. Primarily the appeal would be to have a bike that's a bit less 'vibey' and has proper fairing now that I'm not _as_ worried about dropping the thing. And a bit more go.

Not having ridden anything bigger, narrowing it down is quite difficult. Price range would be lower than £2k and it needs to have a Wingrack kit available (most bikes do so that's not a big deal really). Might be able to push it to 2500 if needed.

The 600 commuters and SV650 strike me as a bit pointless. Not enough of an upgrade. The new SV has 20% more power than my bike.

CBR600F appeals but again - 60hp to 100hp seems like it's not that huge a difference (having gone from 10hp to 60hp previously).

So really it's between a sports 600 and a litre bike (or something like the Blackbird, but that might be a bit heavy for little old me).

Thoughts? Would going from a CB500 to a 929RR or similar be daft? One half of me says 'come at me bro', the other says that I'd be scared of spinning the rear every time it rained. It'd be quite convenient to test ride a few but realistically I'd have to put on my poker face and lie to dealers to manage that.

I ran the quotes, BTW. £250 for a 929RR (next year with 3 years NCB, age 23). May change a bit when my address changes but it's definitely reasonable. This would be at least a year off so it's wishful thinking for now but gives me loads of time to make up my mind instead of impulse buying.

What I want really is a bike that I'd be happy sticking with until it fell apart. The CB5 isn't quite that - it always has that sort of 'I'm a cheap mode of transport' feel. Great while I'm a student, not so great when I don't need to rice and beans it.

I guess what I want to ask is this - for someone who (will have been riding) a big bike for two years, are litre bikes mental in the 'you're going to die' sense, or just in the 'this is fast as fsck' sense? I don't want a bike I'm scared of, just one that demands respect.

[Aspire]

I went from cb500 to Triumph speed four.

The Triumph is A LOT better.

- Suspension
- Brakes
- Handling

All sooo much better!

You will notice the difference in speed.

The triumph has 97bhp and its way quicker !

They are like chalk and cheese. Get a test ride mate.

[Az]

i think a 60bhp to 100bhp will be a bigger jump than you think, brother went from a gsxr600 k3 (101bhp) to a gsxr750 k2 (140bhp) for a few months (until he got hit off and went back to a 600) and he said he really felt the difference in power even though the gixxer 750 was only 39bhp more powerful.

If i was you i'd test ride the cbr600f and see for yourself if it feels a lot quicker or not much of a jump.

[Ste]

You need a litre sports bike.

[Derivative]

[bladerunner]

A 929 is a good bike in your price range. Comfy enough for day to day use and enough go to keep you happy. Same with a 750 srad good suspension brakes and speed both dead easy to ride fast and well mannered and plenty of good ones about for sub 2k. But be prepared for either to bring the hooligan out in you from time to time! Cbr 600 is also going to be a lot quicker than what you have now to a pleasing degree but will cost a similar amount to run as the bigger bikes. As far as riding skills required they are all on a similar par and easy to live with day to day......they only go as fast as you ride them after all and you've got to be pretty hard on any of them to spin the rear even in the wet with good tires.
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Current bikes...cbr929, KDX200's, Rd125lc mk2, RGV250's

[phillyctr]

I went from a street triple to gsxr1000 l1,depends how you ride it tbh,ok so its a hell of a lot faster but not a massive jump as you would think,i also found the gsxr handles better and more comfy,as where i was perched on the triple,i actually sit in the gsxr and feel more connected,ive ridden a k7 750 too,that would be idea for you i think.

[Wonko The Sane]

I went from a 125 to a restricted ZZR600, and did occasionally feel like I was going to spin the wheel up at any moment.

It's happened twice, once on a smooth drain cover in the wet, mis-judged setting off out of the junction, the other time when I knocked it into gear instead of putting the stand down, thankfully I had the front brake and was on gravel, so just pebble dashed my neighbours shed.

the ZZR600 in standard trim has about 100bhp so a fair jump up from the 60hp you quote for your current bike.

Having said this, the ZZR1100 is really really nice...

[Tungtvann]

Go and ride some 100hp 600cc bikes, see what the difference is like. You might be surprised.

[The Tot]

929 is a bike of 2 halves. It's an absolute civilised pussycat the majority of the times, but snapping the throttle in the first 2 gears can get your smiling pretty rapidly! It's roomier than a CRB600F-S which I rode back to back and weighs the same (170kg - dry quoted weight), BUT you have all the oodles of torque. Quite practical too! I've toured and commuted on it, and it's quite a roomy, comfortable bike. Chassis and brakes are where it's at with this bike! I'd need to test ride an R1 and a Gixxer from the same era to have a fair comparison, but I've found that it's perfect on A-B roads. Steering damper? Nope, don't need one even when riding swiftly.

But beware though. These bikes, when well used or stored outside, WILL experience their fair share of electrical issues.

I don't need to say do a search for the issues I've had with mine!

Mechanically, it's a peach, but when you've had to spend up to and over the current value of the bike diagnosing and fixing electrical issues over the years, it makes you think "is it a honda or a ducati!"

Any 929 riders who have experienced OR will experience RR/Alternator issues know that feel bro! My bike was off the road for a week whilst my speedo got repaired! Tach and LCD readout would fail, but idiot lights would function. Looking over at fireblades.org, you'll see its a common problem with 929ers.

Saying that, they're peanuts to insure! £130 per year for me, so it pays to keep it!
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[P.]

I went from a GS500 to a Daytona 600, the jump feels similar to that of the 125>500. Not as big of a rush, you never really get that but definitely noticeable

A litre bike, well, again it will feel like an improvement, it has as Tot says, fair amount of pull in the bottom end, 6th gear at 30, crack throttle open and its just pulling away.

Insurance on the R1 is cheaper than that of a ZX9R for me, but for you, may be the opposite.

Finding a nice ZX9R for 2k though would be a decent challenge

[Musketeer]

Buy any bike you like, don't restrict yourself. If 929 is what you want then get it man!

After years on 500cc I imagine you're a competent rider and will have no problem with any bike. Just test ride it first to ensure it suits you
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Current Bike: Yamaha XSR900 Previous bikes: Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade, Kawasaki ZX-6R Ninja, Aprilia RS125 2-stroke

[stevo as b4]

not a full fairing, but loads of bike for peanuts these days, and very different to the CB500, Honda Firestorm. You can pick up a minter for £1500 notes especially the ones with the small frustrating 16L tank. It's closer to a VFR750/800 than a big sports bike, but do you really want to use a full on sports bike for everything seeing as you don't drive a car?

The mk3 VFR750 and the Mk1 VFR800 would also be a great shout well within your budget.

Things like the ZX9 (fatty B-series), Thunderace, and RF900's can all be picked up in excellent condition, often with extras fitted for plenty under your budget. These bikes aren't exciting razor sharp sports bikes, but very raved about and respected really sporty all rounder's and sports tourers.

Any of the above will be simple to find for under £2500, and you can get minter's with some models at £1500-2000.

If you saw a tidy 98-99 Blade in your budget then I'd definitely have a look at them too. Insurance will probably be more than the others, but these Blades should be coming up for classic insurance soon?

[Hetzer]

Getting in a Tornado jet fighter would be like "ooh...da fuk...?!"

Then you get used to it. :yawn:

Until you crash.
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"There's the horizon! Ride hard, ride fast and cut down all who stand in your way!"

[Gazza M]

I went from a gpz500 to a zrx1100 to a massive grin.

seriously though I wouldn't worry about getting something 'too' powerful - it's only going to put down as much as your right wrist asks for!
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Past: '07 YBR125, '00 GPZ500S, '99 ZRX1100, '98 CBR600 track bike, '97 ZX9R
Present: '05 R6 track bike, 140 pit bike

[Hetzer]

You really do need as many horses as possible connected to your right wrist.

Don't be a faggot, die in glory.
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"There's the horizon! Ride hard, ride fast and cut down all who stand in your way!"

[Sload]

You will probably find the jump to a 600 100hp plus bike pretty much like the jump from a 125 to your 500. They are distinctly different animals, especially the fuel bills

I'm in a similar boat, I want to change, want some fairing for wind protection and a little bit more punch up top. Not to say the one I have isnt stupidly quick when you open the taps fully, can still make that corner approach way too quickly.
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Honda Varadero >> Triumph Speed Four >> Honda CBR1100xx

[Sako]

How much experience do you have?
Are you a pretty decent fast road rider?

The answer to those questions will tell you whether or not to go for a litre sport bike.

[UnspeedySam]

I would go for the 600 myself. I love my ZX6R...ridiculous amounts of power for the road, great handling and it's comfy. It'll also do 60mpg if you behave. Same could be said for the ZX9R (ridden a 2002 before) but with a bit less effort for the speed, a bit slower handling and a bit worse fuel economy. Your money, your choice!
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Riding: BMW R1150RT `02 bought mildly crashed
Fixing: Also the BMW as I get less broken bits
Gone: ZZR600 '00, TRX850 '97, RXS100 '93, JS125-6B '07, BMW R1100RS '93, Kawasaki ZX-6R-J2 '01, Honda Bros NT400 NC25 '88

[Aff]

Remember not to fool yourself with peak power figures. Compare the whole curves.

A peaky 100hp 600 will feel way faster than a cb500 with it's flat steady power curve.

Anyway I vote 929, completely unbiased.
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Current Bikes:Honda 929RR Fireblade, Honda CD200 Benly (Project), Stomp Z2 140
Electric Bike Project

[thelamoth]

In 4 years of ownership of a 929's said electrical problem has probably cost me £350 quid, thats two stator rewinds out of my own pocket, reg/rec and two batteries.

How the hell does its inherent problems outweigh the value of the bike diagnosing them?

A 5 quid multimeter does the job for you?

[totalllama82]

[_Iain_]

[Derivative]

[The Tot]

Not being funny Iain, a bandit isn't even in the same league of a 600 sports, let alone a litre class! More weight, less power... it will teach you NOTHING about how track-developed bikes fare on the road, i.e. with their light weight, comparatively hard suspension, peaky delivery/oodles of abusive torque (IL4 6 vs litre) and sharper steering geometry. Not least the vast differences in the ergonomics and anthropometry between nakeds and supersports.

One thing you will notice with 600/litre sports bikes is that despite being lighter than nakeds, a lot of strain will be put on your wrists and elbows if you're not used to it. If you try and ride it like a naked bike, then you might as well get off and walk. If you're not happy about body position, irrespective of 600/1000, how a bike handles will be insignificant.

Rac3r bought a ZX6R B1 having had a ducati monster and was having all sorts of issues with getting comfortable with the race 3/4 tuck. Despite seeking our advice, he wasn't happy with himself trying to ride the bike the way he wanted to ride it. Sold it and got another monster.

So to go full circle, you need to get a test ride on a type of bike that you are intending to buy. My own personal experience after having a blade for 4 years now... I'm itching to get back on a 600. But then again, I'm the sort of rider/driver who loves going up and down the box to focus a lot on mid-corner and corner exit speed.

But saying that, the blade's power delivery is like a 600 but with more grunt at the top end. It wont surprise you with a mid-range kick that you won't be expecting, so you can get on the throttle a lot quicker when exiting corners.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism