Newbie needing advice on what bike.

[trackep]

Hi. Just past my Mod2 and looking to purchase a bike in the next month or so. I have my heart set on a white FZ8.

Something iv'e been looking at is the weight of bikes. I noticed alot of sports bikes are around 170kg but then a few of naked bikes are just over 200kg. Is this a big factor? I'm not bothered about out right speed, i want something for nice weekend ride outs over the lakes and up hartside hence a naked bike.

So will the difference in weight on bikes make them ride much differently? i am a novice so doubt i would notice anything unless it was drastic, but some bikes have a difference of like 40kg which is quite an amount. sorry for the rant. cheers adam

[P.addy]

Once moving the weight is minimal to be honest.

A bandit weighs like 200kg, so you will have no real issues, I've ridden heavy tall bikes and light small bikes and never felt like it was too much

[Rogerborg]

Where it carries the weight is significant. My GS feels less than its 200kg because the tank is under the seat, the Honda NC700/750 will be similar.

That said, when it starts to tip over, you do notice it then. Solution: don't tip it over.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Slacker24seve...]

As roger suggests, don't drop it. And cover it in crash bungs just in case.

I really wouldn't worry, the best thing you can do is test ride a few to see which one you like (top tip, try a Street Triple if you're considering an FZ8).
____________________
Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
Banger rallies are ace

[angryjonny]

[trackep]

Thanks for the advice guys. Just getting the last of funds saved over the next month or so and then will definetly be test riding a few different bikes before i make a choice. thanks again.

[Ribenapigeon]

New or second hand? What budget? If new then why not look at an MT-09 if second hand then give a street tripple a go. Or get a cheap hack for a year then look at second hand MT-09s next year.

[Az]

I wouldn't worry about weight, i ride a bandit 600 that weighs 204kg dry and i'm 5'10 and 60kg (slim) and it's not too heavy to handle.

[trackep]

Will be buying second hand. budget about 4k ish 5k at the very most. Yeah read good things about the mt-09 but just really love how the fz8 looks.

[Ribenapigeon]

[Rogue_Shadow]

I'm a complete weakling and panicked about the extra weight of my next bike after my 125.
So I went for the SV650 one of, if not THE lightest 650 (to my knowledge).

I agree with Roger, to my surprise I've sat on bikes that felt the same weight or lighter than my SV despite the stats stating different. Each bike is different and you wont know what your comfortable with unless you try it out.
A bikes weight only really comes into play during slow speed manoeuvres and when you physically need to push it around. With the bike being powered by the engine, you'll have no trouble with balance and keeping it shiny side up
However if you give the bike no throttle input during slow speeds manoeuvres (such as U-turns), it WILL become a dead weight

IMO - Master slow speed control and weight doesn't become an issue ... untill you run out of fuel and you're pushing it

[Az]