*Update* Flame me. I didn't get on with the Street Triple...

[Silver_Fox]

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https://img8.xooimage.com/files/5/f/2/smiley_finger-195050.gif

I just couldn't get on with it at all. Beautiful looking bike, but I found it uncomfortable on my wrists and didn't make me feel secure in the bends. As a result my speed was right down. I thought they were viewed as reasonably upright. Oh well. 3 day tour of Devon and Wales complete

[someotherguy]

Each to their own!

I reckon it's the best bike I've ever ridden

[Silver_Fox]

I put it down to me being a new rider. I just didn't feel comfortable in the bends. Couldn't relax. I would have been faster on an FZS Fazer

Now to pick a first bike...

[someotherguy]

What sort of thing are you looking for?

[Silver_Fox]

I wasn't planning on looking for anything at all The plan was to pass my test for the trip, and have the licence for the future. That bloody bug bit though.....

On mountain bikes I definitely prefer the more upright position, and I learnt on a Gladius and an FZS 600 Fazer. I didn't even notice their riding positions tbh. Riding the Street Triple for 700 miles though it wore my wrists out, so I'm thinking perhaps I should stick to something more upright, at least at the beginning of my bike career?

Choices I have in mind so far:

Fazer FZS 600 (facelift)
Kawasaki GPZ500s
Honda Hornet 600
Suzuki SV650 naked (the S looks way more forward leaning)

I contemplated a CBR600 (F3) but riding a friends VFR800 briefly, I think it's still too far forward for me. He's 6ft 6, so it's reasonably upright for him, but I'm 5ft 6, so my reach is much smaller. I'm pretty slow in the corners, so I want something I can safely hone my skills on so I'm not always at the back of the pack through the twisties

[Albigularis]

Was it a new shape? They're fairly leant forward (more so than the original round-light models), they're on the sporty side of upright. More upright than a sports tourer like a VFR/CBR-F but not bolt upright like an adventure bike. That said, they're still upright enough that I don't think you should be having wrist pain... Are you gripping the tank with your legs and riding with the balls of your feet on the pegs (rather than the arch)?

[Silver_Fox]

Thanks. I've been using that site loads over the last few days to narrow down the choices. STRwise it was the original round twin headlight version, but no, I wasn't gripping the tank with my legs. My feet would have been on the arches/heel, ready to cover the rear brake etc, is that wrong?

Bikewise I'm looking a little older/cheaper than the MT09, at least for a first bike, until I really know what I want, + the increased chance of dropping one etc as a newbie

[grr666]

Round eye street triple is on my short list, must get a ride on one somewhere.
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[Albigularis]

[Matt B]

[struan80]

Had a brief shot and it felt a bit well...well lets say I don't own one. Felt too petit for what I wanted, wanted a bit more substance. I may add it goes ok but I didn't like the triple, or wasn't used to it maybe. Not enough experience to make an informed judgement at that time right enough......but meh it didn't grab me. Would like to try again now that I kind of know what I'm doing so could try it's potential a bit further.

Now literally 2 mins on the VFR1200F and that was a done deal instant. Horses for courses i guess.

Refreshing to see an alternative opinion from the norm from the OP. We are not all sheep after all

Oh and to add I preferred the Hornet I did my DAS on. infactIi preferred that old abused hornet to the new CBR650F I ended up being swindled into buying (swindled by myself).

TL;DR Test rode one, don't own one says it all for me. (don't own one yet anyway )

[Silver_Fox]

A Fazer FZS600 is top choice for now. When my skills progress perhaps I'll want something different

[Wednesday Biker]

The half faired z750s are pretty good too.
Comfortable, not too high, quick and the fairing really helps.

[Silver_Fox]

[Wednesday Biker]

Same as my girlfriends, except she has the bigger fairing on hers.
Nice pipe on it and its a fantastic bike.

[P.addy]

HOW CAN I HELP YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND



But no, what didn't you like? Unsure how your wrists can be uncomfortable unless you are gripping with them rather than your knees, same with the bends.

Unless you are rather large, the Striple is perfecto

[Silver_Fox]

I'm comparatively small, 5ft 6 and 12.5 stone. By the end of day 2 my arms were dead and I didn't feel I had complete control of the bike in the last half hour. I must have had too much weight on them due to riding position/inexperience. I never even considered riding position on the Fazer and Gladius I learnt on, so it never even crossed my mind. It felt twitchy in the bends too, so I slowed right down. It felt like a snappy dog, whereas the Fazer just glided through the bends

[P.addy]

Nah fair enough, it took me a few days to get used to mine, its very involving as a bike.

[Silver_Fox]

Yeah I'm sure when I have a bit more experience it would be wonderful, but I just felt too unsettled on it.

The search begins....

[P.addy]

MT09 is the next logical step

[Silver_Fox]

£4k+ over budget though

[P.addy]

[Silver_Fox]

[Polarbear]

My STR was the best handling, most fun bike I ever owned, and I have owned a shed load of bikes!

I loved every minute riding it until I went touring. Carrying capacity was utter shite even after I put Ventura luggage on it. Also two up it lost it's edge and that was with my youngest daughter on the back who has been riding pillion since she was 5.

a brilliant bike IMO but best of all as a Sunday afternoon hoon bike.

I don't think it's a bike you can appreciate as a new rider. My wife passed her test and took a load of bikes out for test rides. She preferred the Gladius to the STR. Two very little wheelies from the lights without meaning to frightened her.
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[Itchy]