Looking For Another Bike

[Mark65]

Heyas,
As much as I like my CBR300R and its mpg im not a fan of 7k rpm at 70mph on the motorway or the semi numb hands from riding it, this along with a bit of back ache even with its slight lean forward has me looking at other bikes. I have looked at and sat on a MT-07 (did my test on one and they still look good at the riding school with 13k on them, all thouth i got a sore arse and a bit of hip cramp when riding them), next up was the XJ6 and ER6N which both felt better just sitting on them in the showroom. The XJ and ER are about £5000 new, ive seen a nice 11 plate XJ6 at Raceways Fleetwood for £3700 with about 5k on it.
https://www.racewaysmotorcycles.co.uk/pages/used/used-bikes/2011-11-YAMAHA-XJ6%20DIVERSION-599cc/5811b2501466d83f68.htm
As I lack experience could i get some thoughts on these bikes before a test ride, im after sit up straight bumble along reliably, just waiting to see what I will get for mine.

Thanks
Mark
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07 Yamaha YBR125, 07 Honda CG125 , 15 CBR300R (Chocolate Crank, Deaded), 16 CB500FA, 19 Honda Forza 300, 70 Suzuki SV650

[ADSrox0r]

Nothing wrong with the XJ6 or ER6, pretty much a 'get you from a to b' type of machine but they are dull as fuck.
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Current bikes: '08 VFR 800 VTEC(yo) , '07 ZZR1400 Winter hack: '95 Aprilia 650 Pegaso Currently lusting after: RC30

[Polarbear]

Modern machinery (99% of the time) is so good and so reliable it really comes down to what you like.

Twin, or IL4?

Missus has an ER6N. Not my cup of tea but she loves it. Light, manoeuvrable and way enough power to beat 90% of cars when required. Personally I'm not a twin fan but others prefer them.

Of the 600, IL4's, as you don't want sports bike, Yamahas are great machines with a long history. That divvy you list, 5000 miles with topbox is fine and you could probably knock off a couple of hundred quid more waving reddies under the salesmans nose.

Get some test rides in
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Polarbear]

[Landy10]

Gsr 600 or 750 are good bikes. sit up style and bloody good fun

[Rogerborg]

Curious decision to get a 286cc single for motorway work, but I guess experience is the best teacher.

I'd be thinking ER6F for that task. Same riding position as the N, but a fairing and a screen (albeit one that I'd be wanting to enlarge ASAP). Or a Versys, or V-Strom for the adventurous. Or an XJ6S or GSX650F if you want IL4. Any of them will be absolutely fine, as will many other bikes. Deauville, even, that's what they're for.

The ER6 is dull? I guess that depends how you ride them. You could ask Ivan Lintin who won the TT Lightweight on one this year, averaging just 8mph slower than the Supersport winner.
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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

[Mark65]

Rogerborg, is was bought to commute on and nip about, it was only after a few motorway trips i realized it wasnt the best, I tried getting the 15t sprocket over here but even wemoto couldnt aquire them, that knocks the revs down by 500 in each gear.
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07 Yamaha YBR125, 07 Honda CG125 , 15 CBR300R (Chocolate Crank, Deaded), 16 CB500FA, 19 Honda Forza 300, 70 Suzuki SV650

[Loui5D]

Test rides before buying.


You'll also want to go through what type of engine do you want & then the variants of that engine.

Twins normally make their power low down in the rev range whereas an IL4 typically makes it at the top end.

[pompousporcup...]

500cc is about the minimum i'd want for motorway madness although my 500s still sits around 6k at 70mph or so

Are you restricted in terms of licence?

[Mark65]

[pompousporcup...]

[Beehive Bedlam]

I told you that you would be wanting moar powa sooner rather than later.

I predict the CBR300 won't get used once you get a bigger bike so I would just stop messing about sell it and move on to bigger better things.

[Loui5D]

Ninja 636, Fazer600, CBR600 etc

Lots of bikes to choose from, just a case of sitting on them.

[Rogerborg]

[Rogerborg]

[notbike]

I dont wanna be a dick, so please dont take offence at this but how are you getting aching hands and a tired back from an upright bike? The CBR300R isn't really a leany-forwardy bike.

If you call that leaned over I'd love to see you sit on the R6

My hands/feet went numb a few times (literally numb) in the first 2 weeks or so of riding it. Also nearly cramped my right buttock in some twisties, which was mildly terrifying.

Got used to it now though, so no numbness or tingling anywhere.

ER6/XJ6/CB1000/z800/Striple for some suggested uprighty bikeys that can do semi comfortable motorways. Motorways are always shit unless you ride a goldwing or are american.

[Copycat73]

[Rogerborg]

[grr666]

MT09 , my backs never been straighter & I don't get a numb knee either. ER6f wasn't nearly as comfortable for me.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[stevo as b4]

I'd favour a twin over a four unless we are either talking about a jewel like 400 with a better soundtrack than any big superbike, or a proper grunty four thats over 1200cc.

I think that people's problems with ER6's and XJ6's are the basic chassis, no bling, mearly ok handling, and styling, finish and componentry/brand names that won't drop girls knickers every 100yards.

The ability and delivery of a 650cc twin is perfectly good for a daily bike, make an ER6 look like an Aprilia RS125 with trick suspension, radial brakes, and a useless pillion seat, with lots of carbon tat, and an anorexic weight figure, and many more people would be spunking a river over them.

The all twins are dull and all fours are fun argument is Bullshit, and not all twins or fours sound good either. Some twins are very top endy and explosive as the Revs rise, some IL4's are dull lifeless, and don't like to rev near 5figures.

Oh and polarbear is right about bikes are generally good/reliable and in 2016 it's about buying what you like the look of best.

You'll get all sorts of opinions on BCF about what's a good/bad bike, what's dull/exciting etc.

Some have come on here saying everyone should ride sportsbikes, nothing else is worth buying, and that many riders are too fat for sportsbikes, so should go on a diet/training regime to get more fit and able and allow the bike to deliver more. Some have said if you have a bad back you shouldn't go for an upright bike, but train your core muscles to be stronger and hold your weight like a jockey on a sportsbike. They don't generally get the whole a bike is a tool for a job or an A-B for some. Just the whole you need to become a fit able skilled rider and train and increase your skills to make the rides more perfect in a scientific way etc.

You'll get people on here saying that 15000rpm race crouched 600's are all crap and boring as fuck to ride and pointless too.

You need to take in all the above and make your own decisions and opinions for what is good/bad and does/doesn't suit you.

There's no such thing as a please all bike these days, or a bike with a reputation that everyone will respect or admire. There's no right or wrong answer and because we have too much choice, there's alot of dissatisfaction as people want to drill down sub category's and demand far more than ever before.

[recman]

[grr666]

[chickenstrip]

I prefer seven. Best of both worlds
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Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[andys675]

[stevo as b4]

I like straight six shooters, especially with a large turbo and HKS SSQV bov fitted. I like the mini godzilla sound on two wheels. This proves we are all so fucking different and there's fuck all that's new or cool or a must have of the moment that everyone will love.

Look at the new Yamaha MT 10. Its by all accounts a great value rapid naked thou, with a great R1 based chassis.

Despite a balance of cost, spec, performance, handling and comfort to tick many box's, I think at least 3people on here came out and said it's not good enough for them, or doesn't have the right, forks/brakes/ amount of titanium con rods/ or power/weight figures to keep them happy.

Nothing off the peg these days will get a universal cool school approval that is as sure as night following day.