A few firsts for me.

[esullivan]

Yesterday, while getting the 32K service on my bike, I was given a 2014 CB650F (Honda's Hornet replacement) as a loaner. It was my first experience of an in-line four -- very revvy, very smooth. I did several errands, so had a good couple of hours on it. I liked it! Although after years on the NC (rev limiter at 6.5K), it would probably take me some weeks to stop short-shifting.

Emboldened for more new experiences, today I tried a litre bike for the first time: I took a Triumph Tiger 1050 Sport out for a couple of hours. I was on my tippy toes (the seat is 830mm) and had never been on a triple before, but it was surprisingly easy to ride. I could handle the high seat and weight better than I thought, since I could easily flat-foot it with only one foot down. I did some A roads, motorways and filtering in the city. The only dicy bit was backing it into my drive -- paddling backwards on tippy toes.

Neither bike was exactly what I'm looking for. The CB650F would make a great commuter -- very small and narrow -- but no better than my current bike at touring. The Triumph would be great at both, but my wife didn't like it (I was backing into my drive to show her). The pillion seat is very high and as hard as a plank of wood. She also wasn't as thrilled with the high exhaust as I was...

Now that I'm on a roll, what other kinds of bikes should I try? All of the big bikes I've tried (on DAS, etc.) have been very similar -- parallel twins, mostly. I've done in-line four, triple, and litre+. Maybe I should tackle a pan euro or an R1...
____________________
Current: '14 VFR800X Test passed 31/10/12.
Previous: '12 NC700S, '11 CBF 125, '04 SH 125.

[Fisty]

100cc v twin

Fireblade

Hayabusa.
____________________
Quietly and consistently taking the piss.
TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
Fatter and faster than Fret

[c_dug]

The bike that's really caught my eye as a bit of an all rounder is the BMW F800S, the old belt drive one though rather than the new (and clearly inferior) chain drive version. It's on my to test list.

Also the k1300r, but I think it's a bit ott for most uses.
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[esullivan]

The BMW F800 GT (BMW's current iteration with a belt drive) and Honda's VFR 800F are on my wish list, but they are both very pricey. At least £7-8,000, because they've only been out for a couple of years. I'm also looking at the F800ST (also pricey) and older VFRs, including the 1200 with the shaft drive. I like the new Yamahas (MT09, Tracer) too, but I'm trying to avoid buying brand new.

I've been looking for the perfect combination of commuter and tourer. I don't have a garage or room for two, so need a model that can do 80% commuting and 20% two-up touring with luggage. I haven't stumbled upon one yet, or at least when I have cash in hand. I was expecting to buy a recent-vintage pre-reg GT this spring, but an unexpected £3,000 expense scuppered that. Maybe in the autumn or next spring. I'm enjoying shopping for now.
____________________
Current: '14 VFR800X Test passed 31/10/12.
Previous: '12 NC700S, '11 CBF 125, '04 SH 125.

[chickenstrip]

Not that you can walk into a showroom and take one for a test ride, but a 2 stroke: RD400/350LC/350YPVS/750H2/RG500/RD500LC etc. Such a shame that many will never get the chance, a biking experience worth having.

For me, Street Triple and Tuono are top of the list. Street Triple will happen!
____________________
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!

[monkeybiker]

Have a go on a ducati diavel. I had a test drive at the NEC bike show and it rode quite well. I felt comfortable on it pretty quickly.

[Jaco]

https://www.themotorreport.com.au/content/image/1/7/17908_honda_monkey_2_thumb-4b77ab922de79-mc:819x819.jpg

[Pete.]

[monkeybiker]

[Supermoto_Fan]

The new CB650F is a parallel twin im afraid
____________________
Yamaha MT-09 - Triple powerrrr

[Carvel]

As dull as a parallel twin.

But it's a four
____________________
2002 Aprilia RSV1000R, Cbr600Fs, Mk1 B12, Vfr400 NC30...

Matt B: I can deal with crushed nuts to beat Ollie.

[P.addy]

You seem to like the NC, so at a guess you enjoy the dullness of the biking world.

I would suggest trying a new CB500X.

In all honesty, just try some better bikes, the 2 you tried are relatively gash. Try a street triple, you won't like it, its too frisky and likes to be spanked to the red line.

[monkeybiker]

[Supermoto_Fan]

My sincerest apologies for my mistake

But, on a serious note. Try an 09. Or even a tracer, but you could be tight and buy a secondhand 09 and stick a massive top box and tall screen on it.

Its a very different animal to an NC but it's capable
____________________
Yamaha MT-09 - Triple powerrrr

[-Monty-]

[esullivan]

[Supermoto_Fan]

The tracer is cheaper and arguably better, unless you want the offroad style XC tiger which i think is over £10K all kitted up

I would definately consider a triple, wont be the same as your half a honda jazz engine but wont be as strange to you as a IL4...
____________________
Yamaha MT-09 - Triple powerrrr

[esullivan]

[Pete.]

Depends on your route. You'll have a hard time filtering one on a gridlocked A4 through Chiswick but on the A2 or A13 it'd be a breeze.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[esullivan]

[-Monty-]

[Jerry B]

[haroman666]

Following my recent crash I had an NC750X as a loan bike and it was fecking awful.

It's awful for filtering due to the bars being wide and the same height as all car/van/lorry mirrors. And being as loud as a baby's fart meant no-one knew I existed until the pulled out on me.

The most excitement I got out of it was giving it full throttle in wet mud from stand still.

It didn't wheelie... Clutch just slipped.

The only redeeming factor was that it ran on fresh air. Was easy on the wallet for the time that I had it!

But yeah... I don't mean to slag your bike off. I was happy I had a bike to ride!

I would recommend, based on my own experience, IL4's like CBR6's or just any sports 600. Or maybe a 400. My Bandit 400 was a right hoot!

And a big V-twin. It's a scary ass feeling giving half throttle in 1st gear and the headlight ends up pointing towards the sky!
____________________
The mistresses: 2000 Honda CBR600f, 2000 Honda VTR1000

[Polarbear]