Bike suggestions wanted!

[RichA]

Hi folks,

Will be doing my DAS sometime soon. I'm 6"2 and probably 16-17 stone, though I tend to hover between 15 and 16.

Basically, I'm looking for bike suggestions. I'm wanting to do some fairly comfortable touring and spontaneous blasts - I'm not out for maximum thrills, I just have a hankering that I need to attend to . I don't think I'm goign to be very comfortable on a 400, so I've been thinking along the lines of an early 90's CBR600, ZZR600 or VFR750. But I do have an open mind - I'm 25 so insurance isn't all that bad on most things. I'd like to spend £1000-1500 though this is fairly flexible. I realise I'm likely to drop the bike or have a slow speed slide, so I'm happy to get one with a less than perfect fairing(just scratches, nothing major). So...

Please give me some suggestions.

I've not really given it any great thought, but I'm guessing it would be a very silly idea to get something fairly old and large - CBR1000/ZZR1100 - these have a certain appeal because many are owned by what appear to be sensible, middle-aged guys who seem to do longer, less-spirited journeys. I know they make stupid horsepower for a first bike - but it doesn't mean I have to use it all the time . I've driven and owned some fairly rapid cars without a single incident(I appreciate this doesn't mean anything when it comes to biking) - I'm pretty good with self restraint and can't see me nailing a big bike for a long time.

But I might be very comfortable on one, whereas I may be too big for the 600/750 range?

Thanks for your time, all suggestions and points of view are very welcome. Will listen to anything from anyone .

--Rich
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Nice VFR750. Written off by an old dear who "didn't see me" as she drove onto the roundabout via the side of my bike. Pah... Now looking for something new.

[iCraig]

Well the 3 bikes you've picked out there are very good bikes, my favourite of them the ZZR600, but the other 2 are good too.

You should be able to pick an early ZZR600D for about £800 in reasonable condition with some and insurance will be cheaper as its group 13 unlike the other 2 which are 14, though saying that there won't be a major difference.
CBR600's and VFR's are great bikes too and both my favourites, what your better off doing though is going out after you have done your DAS and test riding some of them as you may find they aren't for you.

And yes, going onto a CBR1000 or ZZR1100 as a first bike would be a little stupid IMO, it not just the power you'd have to contend with its the massive weight as both are around 550lbs/250kg.