Losing my Sports Bike Mojo

[Stiffler]

I've had my ZX-6R for 4 years and up until recently always thought I'd own it until it falls to pieces. I love that bike, it suits me and my body and it's great fun. I've in the past toyed with the idea of changing up to a blade et al but after riding one realised they didn't really offer enough for me to change. I ride all year round and my Ninja has always been my main form of transport. I've done a few track days and loved them and in my mind are the only place a litre bike makes any more sense over a 600.

Over the last couple of weeks something rather strange has happened. I got myself a crappy little Yamaha YBR125 for 'cheap as chips' commuting (last fill I measured it's economy at 101mpg) but despite it's bouncy suspension, small stature and emancipated engine I've really enjoyed riding it. In fact it seems to have reignited my passion for bikes. However, at the weekends I've been going out on my favourite local roads on the Ninja but coming back feeling underwhelmed. It seems almost cold and clinical and soulless! I never thought it'd happen but I think I'm falling out of love with it. It's crazy I look forward to my commute so I can have fun on the stupid 125! Something amazing about how you can throw it around, chuck it at corners... Though I can't really put my finger on what it is exactly I love about it.

One last thing has been playing on my mind, "If I'm not enjoying sports bikes at the moment, what should I get instead?". I've started throwing around the idea of a supermoto. I don't know why, it occurred to me a supermoto was a bit like a bigger more powerful, edgier version of the YBR. Anyone got any sensible advice or recommendations? All ideas about my biking future welcome.
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Current Bikes - Kawasaki ZX-6R (636) | BMW G650GS

[carlosthejack...]

New Tiger? Best of both worlds? Sportsbike guys at work who've bought 'em are raving about 'em.
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Responsibility. It's a difficult reality for some. I'm running the 2014 Sheffield Half Marathon on behalf of Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice. Please sponsor me, even if it's just a quid.
DonnyBrago: "I think you may be confusing rain and napalm..." Paulington: "It's not what you ride, it's how you ride it."
Current rides: '05 VFR800 VTEC, '57 Mondeo 1.8 TDCi #58LEGEND

[P.]

I've got the supermoto bug... not sure why. Would prefer one right now

Maybe nip down the local dealer, try a KTM or DRZ, worlds apart but still see if thats what you want?

[Pete.]

[Daimo]

KTM 990 Superduke
MV Brutale
Benelli TNT

There are others like this too. I honestly think you have far more fun on these types of bikes than a sportbike on the road. If anything, you can ride them faster too.

[Nai]

I get horny for little 70's scramblers if it makes you feel any better about not liking sports bikes anymore...

[swiftb]

Very often I get this myself but not enough to warrant giving up the gixxer. I will add something from the following to the garage to keep it company tho:

Hypermotard
690 supermoto

or maybe something like a z750/street triple etc

basically something more upright, with softer suspension and around 80-100bhp.

[jamesrs250]

i bought a drz 2 months ago and have not used my sport bike since..

its more comtherbal

and i dont fell like i have to blast it up every long road

[carlosthejack...]

My next bike will be either:

CB1000R
Z1000
Speed Triple
Monster 1100
FZ1

I keep looking at sportsbikes, but big nakeds will always be my thing.

More suggestions welcome.
____________________
Responsibility. It's a difficult reality for some. I'm running the 2014 Sheffield Half Marathon on behalf of Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice. Please sponsor me, even if it's just a quid.
DonnyBrago: "I think you may be confusing rain and napalm..." Paulington: "It's not what you ride, it's how you ride it."
Current rides: '05 VFR800 VTEC, '57 Mondeo 1.8 TDCi #58LEGEND

[base]

spent most of my biking life on sports bikes 600 to 1000cc until last april when i bought a ducati monster S4 great smile factor reinvigorated my passion for biking that i thought i had lost, i have a itch for a drz400 or similar for the winter.......................

[colin1]

The sports bike is really designed for the track, the little bike is designed for a commute, so it's not surprising that the little bike is more fun on a commute.

If you haven't already, what you need to do is take the sportsbike on a trackday. I've only done a couple, but suddenly sportsbikes seem fit for purpose doing what they are designed for. If you arent too fussed about trackdays, and you arent enjoying it, you might as well sell the sportsbike.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[sidewinder]

tuano

[Nai]

Wonder if Colin1 read any of the OP or just the thread title

[Bike Bunker]

started on a 50 then 125, now a 400 , next will be 600...(all sports bikes)

then once im bored somthing like a bandit, and then a supermoto

by then ill be 50 and will be non safe to ride any more

[swiftb]

[colin1]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Another vote for getting something which you can use much of its performance on a regular basis but which provides some interest.

Eg, YSR50 is useless as a form of transport (does 50mph flat out), but is silly, usable performance and fun.

Supermoto might well do it, but also consider a small 2 squeak road bike (although other than the 125s the prices are going up rapidly).

All the best

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

[G]

I do find modern sports bikes too capable and too powerful to be fun on the roads.

You could consider doing a trackday - might bring back that spark you're finding lacking.

Consider looking at some advanced riding stuff too - might introduce a different 'challenge' to enjoy.

However, yes; for fun on the roads I definitely prefer low power and supermoto will give you this. My preference is for a 250cc or so 2 stroke road-race bike.

[Adamantis]

I took 2 weeks off from my Mille (commuting to central London on my DR350 with RGV250 wheels, and one 250 round trip to Gloucester on multijoy's CB1000F [heated grips ftw at 5am...]), and when I got the Mille out, I struggled to even fit my body on her! It was really weird, and took me a good 10-15 minutes to get my head back into "sports bike" mode.

Not sure I could give up my Mille, but I am sorely tempted by some kind of supermoto mental bike

I didn't really get the "clinical" feeling from it, but it is strangely satisfying to have to "work" at a bike, rather than being able to treat it like a giant twist 'n' go at times...
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Rides: '91 CG125 (Sold), '00 CB500S (Sold), '97 Thundercat (Sold), '99 KTM EXC 300 (SOLD), '99 RSV Mille (stolen. Thieving SCUM!!!), '94 DR350 (sold), '10 Vstrom 650 (hated it so much I gave up riding), now on the OH's CBF1000 until I can afford another Mille...

[yambabe]

Um folks, Stiffler has done several trackdays, read again........
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[G]

Oops, my bad.

If you think the litre bike makes sense over the 600, need to turn the throttle more on the 600 .

I actually like a 1000 on the road for laziness (not fun), but prefer the 600 on track because I can (ab)use it a little more.

[0l0dom0l0]

[G]

[WannaBeDude]

Would love a hooligan mot 2, 450 / 600 odd cc. I'll have to settle for a new carb and lose some weight on my 2T 125 ...

Theory test dvd is gathering dust ..

[0l0dom0l0]