Moving down in power a good way forward?

[T8]

First things first, I have been a long time lurker and reader of the forums but never actually posted before. So Hello

I am looking for some advice and insights in what bike I should move onto next, hopefully some of you will be able to assist or give some input. Long and short of the story is that I want a new bike. Not that I do not like or trust my current machine; there is just something about having a machine from new that makes it more special (not to mention I would be getting something more modern).
As for my bike history I have went from playing about on 125's to doing a DAS course a number of years ago then got a 1993 Suzuki GSX600f and from there my current machine a 1994 Kawasaki ZZR600.

I always thought I would use the Sports 600's then move up to a super sport 600 or prehaps something bigger. However I have been slacking in getting the bike out and using it the last few years. After taking the bike out a couple times in the last few weeks I am starting to feel that my previous thoughts on a super sports may have been overkill.

The bike itself will be more for weekend use than commuting (which is a cycle I am looking to break into and occasionally take the bike to work). I like the look of the Sports type bikes rather than the cruisers or naked machines.
The main problem that I have is am a bit of a short-arse. The ZZR has the lowest seat height of any Sports bike I have been on and I am still on tiptoes. Being able to flatfoot is not really needed, it does add a lot to confidence tho. I have been looking at a lot of bike specs online and most seem to have a higher placed seat than the ZZR which would make balance getting on and off the machine a real problem without modification. To add to the above issue heavier bikes can be a pain to steer/move with the ignition off for me.

Two of the machines I have been looking at are the Kawasaki 250r and the Suzuki sv650 Sport. They both seem to have a low seat height and dry weight. (The kawa is a fair drop in power but I live in the far north east of Scotland so will only see single carrageway use so I was thinking it might be a good all round choice).

Any input in bike choice or suggestions on what way to go with this is appreciated.

[Noxious89123]

How about a CB400 SuperFour? Or another 400?

How much of a short-arse are you? I'm 5' 7"' and find i can cope wih most bikes that aren't silly-tall.

My other half is about 5' 1", so she's going to struggle when she wants something bigger than her fs1
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'06 Honda CBR125RW-6 ~ '00 Honda CBR600F-Y ~ '07 Honda CBR600RR-7 ~ Bikeless
'53 Ford Ka 1.3 ~ '03 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8 ~ '52 Vauxhall Astra SRi 2.2 ~ '53 Vauxhall Astra GSi

[bacon]

gsxr 600 or 750 for that matter k6/k7 dude

i tip toe my B1, with the gsxr i can get the balls of my feet down, not flat foot, but a hell of a lot easier for moving the bike backwards without having to get off

[T8]

My inside leg is 28"-29"
I did have a go on a friends R6 and I was having some issues with it.

When at uni there used to be a number of 400cc 'race replicas' going about but none of the major brands seems to make any new 400cc sports type bikes?
Would another option be getting the dealing to lower a machine for me once agreed to buy it? (Not sure if this is an option)

[Kickstart]

Hi

I only have a 29" inside leg (well, for trousers) and have no issues with most bikes.

The ZZR600 is very low. The SV650 feels quite a bit taller and has a wider seat.

The Bandits are pretty low as well.

The 400s were made for the Japanese licencing limits (and at new prices they cost more than the 600s of the time). The Japanese sports bike market has collapsed so the makers see no reason for them anymore.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Bendy]

CBR600F. Any of the pre-2005 ones. It does everything really well and will eat up Scottish roads with relish.

Don't lower a bike, raise yourself. Google Daytona M-Star boots - although I've got the same length legs as you and the CBR was fine, I got the boots for the bigger, heavier Sprint and they're very good.

Just out of interest, how does a higher seat make getting on and off more difficult? It's on the sidestand so it doesn't really matter if you're wriggling about or clobber it whilst swinging your leg over (unless it's got one of those stupid self-retracting sidestands )