Litre Bikes

[Speedy3]

Just out of curiousity, would these be hard to ride day to day? ie:

CB1000R

ZX10R

z1000 etc
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Current bike: 2005 Triumph Speed Triple 1050 :: Previous Bikes: 2001 Kawasaki ZZR-600 E9 (Sold) 1996 Yamaha Diversion 600s (Sold),1997 Honda CB250 Nighthawk (Sold), 1988 Honda VFR 400 NC24 (Written Off), 1987 Honda CB350 S-G (Sold), Yamaha DT125 (Sold), Honda X8R-S 50cc (Stolen)

[Villers]

Theres going to be a mile long list of answers as to why you shouldnt get a litre bike, how you will never use its potential on the road blah blah. If you want one, get one. If you like it then fair enough, if its a pain in the arse get rid. I ride a 1300 day to day, its fun, its comfortable and I'm not a stuck up elitist and don't care if I may only use 10% of its potential some days.

You may get used to the power and become a lazy rider but as it happens you aint going to be lapping Rossi at Mugelo anyway so dont worry about it.

Me personally due to popular misconception would think the honda would be the most comfortable sedate best bet as they alledgedly 'take all the character out of them'.

I'll leave the floor open now to the nay sayers and elitists to tell you why you shouldnt buy the bike you want.....

Take it away guys
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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[Skudd]

I ride a Varadero for many of the rasons other people would not want to ride one.
I don't think there is a right or wrong answer to what ever bike you are looking for, it is down to what you want.
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[cyberglass]

i hope not i just bought an R1 to go to work on

You only live once so do it with a smile
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DL650 Vstrom 2004
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Yamaha R1 2005

[Alex A]

The ZX-10 is rather mental and focused as a day to day ride, though I know a couple of friends who use one for exactly that purpose (and a lot of track stuff too).

Naked 1000s make more comfortable all rounders unless you're planning to spend lots of time on the motorway where a fairing would take the strain (and weather) off riding.

At town speeds most litre sports bikes can get rather straining on the wrists and uncomfortable in terms of posture, but some people don't mind and just get used to it. Just look at Nick sanders taking his R1 around the world, much of that off road.
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Current: Ducati Panigale R / Ducati Streetfighter S / Suzuki GSX-R1000 L5

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Depends, what's your day to day route and traffic like?
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[smegballs]

I quite like the idea of something big, old and comfy like a CBR1000F. Mainly just to be able to sit at 80/90 or so with the engine barely working. Although its my understanding that it will still go like fuck too, just not to todays standards....

[G]

I got a GSXR1000 for commuting. It is supposed to have the most comfortable of riding positions compared to the others, seems to be ok to me.
Plenty of low down and mid-range power for 'lazy' riding, which I like for my commuter.

While I do find Hondas overly-sanitised, that doesn't always mean the riding position is and often means a lack of mid-range, rather than excess.

Most of the year have commuted on a tuned/down-geared zx9, which I've decided I prefer to a big single trail bike, which is the other bike I've spent a fair bit of time on.

Note that I got the GSXR for going slowly easily - I find it does feel a bit 'soulless' and will go stupidly quickly very easily, so wouldn't choose it for a bike to actually try and go fast on the road, as I'd be bored and lose my licence far too quickly!

[LeeR]

I ride a DL1000 on my daily commute 40 miles each way, 15 minutes are filtering through dual-carriageway traffic and town centre roads until I reach the M5 for a 30 minute ride to Avonmouth.

The DL1000 offers good wind protection, a high up riding position offering a great view over the traffic, and an un-stressed engine which never reaches it's potential giving me a very relaxed ride, so I don't arrive tired or vibed to death.

I used a Z1000 courtesy bike last summer and although lower, faster and not offering anywhere near as much wind protection, it was also a fairly relaxed ride once on the motorway. The only real problem I found (and this was my first ride) was that I struggled to keep the front wheel down in the first 3 gears. And short tank range aside (my commute would mean filling-up daily to avoid running out mid-way), I think I would struggle on my commute to use the Z1000 all year long.

I also rode a semi-faired Bandit 1250 and although a bit low (compared to the DL) I think this could well be my next bike: comfortable position, adequate tank range, good wind protection, and once again an un-stressed engine up to the job.

If you get the opportunity try them and see, but I'd say consider all the parameters and pick the bike that suits the intented purpose as closely as possible.
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[27cows]

[Damon]

I too am on a R1 as my day to day bike. The power isnt really needed, but is great fun

I dont think the riding position is too bad and if im honest, I actually quite like it. Even around town and on long journeys its never a problem.

If you want a thou, then get a thou

[evoboy]

CB1000R is boring to ride. Its a 1000cc that feels like it has less oomph than a 600! Well done Honda Position is awkward for anyone tall and it has some nice saggy standard suspension.

Took one on a test ride, got bored after 30mins, jumped back on the zx6
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Suzuki GT250 x7------- Fazer 600------CB250RS------Aprilia Rally 70----- Bandit 600

APT Motorcycles

[chris-red]

I all depends what you want it for, I ride a TDM900 as my daily run around I feel it is the perfect commuter for somebody if they are fairly big.
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[Villers]

Well you lot have really let me down, wheres the patronising 'you're not good enough' posts?
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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[Moonie]

This isn't patronizing, and you'll do what you want anyway in the long run, but I'd say get something smaller first. The biggest thing you've had so far is a VFR400, which although fast would still have been about 20 years old, and small. A modern ZX10 etc. is a very very different experience. It's entirely possible to get on a thou, and forget how to take corners, or get too scared of taking corners at a decent speed because they're so much bigger than a 400. I'm just saying it's worth considering that you could scare yourself off riding.

And remember, just because you can afford a ZX10 now does't mean you can ride one.

okay that last bit was patronizing
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[G]

Yea, it should be noted you do need to be more careful in more situations - if you ride a litre sports bike like you might ride a 400cc bike, you can easily find your self in all sorts of trouble if you're not careful. If you're careful and take it easy, should be fine.

[Speedy3]

Thanks for everyones replies so far - Been helpful.

I understand that there's a huge difference involved, it would be a learning curve to say the least.

One of the main reasons i was looking at the thou, was purely so i didn't have to work the bike to get anywhere - I don't like bikes where you have to rev them hard to be at any sort of speed, Motorway riding etc if i could sit at 3-4000 revs in 6th gear and just cruise along, would be ideal as it would be more relaxing ride.

Are they suitable around towns or are they harder to ride?
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Current bike: 2005 Triumph Speed Triple 1050 :: Previous Bikes: 2001 Kawasaki ZZR-600 E9 (Sold) 1996 Yamaha Diversion 600s (Sold),1997 Honda CB250 Nighthawk (Sold), 1988 Honda VFR 400 NC24 (Written Off), 1987 Honda CB350 S-G (Sold), Yamaha DT125 (Sold), Honda X8R-S 50cc (Stolen)

[G]

The issue with towns for the sports bikes will be the riding position, otherwise the litre sports bike engines are ideal for what you want it seems.

[Moonie]

[Deckx]

Dunno, was talking to a guy yesterday who upgraded to a to K6 Gixxer 1000 from Kawasaki ZX 250 (the one with the fairing which looks like a sportsbike)

Anyway turns out he's selling it because it too powerfull and looking for 600... which I think is a mistake.. a 600 is more than enough if you want to scare yourself shitless, probably more so because you get addicted to readlining it which is a more difficult on a liter bike

[temeluchus]

Ive commuted on GSXR1100s, ZZR1100s, FZR1000s. All have been easier and more civil to ride than the 600s I've tried down to the fact you dont have to give them the berries to get them to move forwards.
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