Need Your Advice On A New Ride....

[space_weazel]

UPDATE: See below, I found a New bike! Not what I was thinking though.......


Hello all,
I have been away a while, life happened, finally actually graduated, three jobs, career shift, got engaged, traveled, its been busy.

I am selling off my 97 Magna (keeping the FZR/CB550) and I want to get in to a newer sport/tour/street bike.
I am trying to get to fuel injection and other modern amenities.

First about me and how I ride
About 6ft(1.8m) at 180lbs(82kg)
I have been riding mostly fair weather for 9ish years, wow has it been that long? First two years were year round in NW Oregon, then I got a car.....
I am a proactive driver, perhaps aggressive at times, and enjoy the nimbleness, freedom, and speed of motorcycling, I like to take the bike when I need to run across town and when I just want to disappear for a few hours in to the hills, and also when I need to go downtown because parking is easy and you get to roll in like a bad ass and that is fun.

What I am looking for in a bike
First is handling, I'm looking for a bike that becomes predictable and intuitive, like an extension of my mind, I am at this place with the FZR we are like peas and carrots.
Second is comfort, I don't mind the sport position but it does wear and like I did with the FZR I will likely put GP bars on any sport like bike if I can. A more upright but slightly forward position seems to allow me the most flexibility with my back and comfort for my arms and shoulders.
Third I would like it to have a little more power than my FZR and especially in the low to mid range as that is what I use most. At the age of the FZR I think more than a few of the horses have wondered off or been shot.....

What I have been looking at [Haven't been able to ride anything yet]
-Ninja 650r I like this bike and the more I look at them the more I want to LOVE this bike, the specs say it less HP and torque than the FZR did when it was new, but I know thats not the whole story, and I understand what it gives up in top end power is made up for in low end grunt, which is what I'm after. Reviews seem good and seems to have a loyal following, seems to also have a few shortcomings(brake pads, front suspension) but these things I feel are fixable to make a better overall bike.

-Suzuki 650 this bike has more "power" but lacks any wind protection in the upright naked model, while its not needed on those summer days its nice to have for the occasional spring/fall sprinkle and even those summer nights can get a little chilly. Also has a loyal following, and seems to be a more ready to roll bike from the reviews, though not as "refined" I guess.

- Inline 4, there seems to be about a thousand options here and at times it feels like choosing which vanilla ice cream of all the vanilla ice creams, something middle weight (every 1000cc I have ever sat on felt a little to "fat" or heavy) and I likely will never need that much power, some have options with upright seating, But I don't know if this is what I'm after, could go with an R6, FZ6, CBR, GSXR, ZZR, or VFR(I know its a V) But none of them have that twin sound, and that is a sound that makes me happy inside ( have a buddy with a VTR1000, that sound makes my soul sing)

The Crux of it all.....
I ask you because you all are, in my past experiences, a well rounded and grounded group, who wont patronize my thoughts as being newbie crap bikes (you need a litre bike son), and it seems like a lot of you have owned a lot of bikes.
I ask you because I don't know about all the various bikes from the past decade, so I likely missed a gem.
I ask you because you will tell me if I'm missing the mark, or forgetting something important that I may not have considered.


Thank you

[ragedigital]

I have ridden my friend's FZ6 and although it doesn't have the V-twin sound, it certainly has the power. I wouldn't hesitate to own one. You could also go with an SV1000 for power and the V-Twin sound. That is a very popular bike.

[delvryboy]

SV1000. V-Twin has lots of bottom end, more upright rider position, full front fairing.

[delvryboy]

I have ridden my friend's FZ6 and although it doesn't have the V-twin sound, it certainly has the power. I wouldn't hesitate to own one. You could also go with an SV1000 for power and the V-Twin sound. That is a very popular bike.

haha. Didn't even see your post.

[ragedigital]

haha. Didn't even see your post.

No sweat... that's 2 votes for the SV1000.

[space_weazel]

Ha ha I have looked at those, though they are not that common around here.
Is stepping up to a litre bike really the way to go?
How is the handling on the sv1000's?

[sweekster]

Two bikes that were on my list when I was looking to up the comfort level and replace my FZR600 were the VFR and the SV1000S. Of the two the VFR has the higher comfort level (in my opinion) and even then it's only slight. I could ride that bike all day-twisties and all. And the sound it makes, especially when the right exhaust setup is on it, is heavenly. That can be said for the SV as well. I found the SV pretty nimble in the curves. It's less bulky than the VFR. Doesn't have the power like the TL BUT it's no slouch either.

I can't say that you'll be happy with a Ninja 650. They labor on like the rest of kawasaki's parallel twins. If considering a kawi take a look at the Z750 or Z1000. At one time I owned a 06 Z750. My father in law now has that bike and loves it. Has a bit of a flat mid range but low end and high end are awesome. The flat mid range is fixed with a bigger rear sprocket but the old man is fine with how it is Goes through the curves really well too. I would only suggest the Z1000 if you were looking for more power.

Bit of a toss up to me but i have the feeling the SV has your attention more than any others you're considering.

Hope that helps at all.

[space_weazel]

Can you elaborate on this? "They labor on like the rest of Kawasaki's parallel twins."

[sweekster]

Can you elaborate on this? "They labor on like the rest of Kawasaki's parallel twins."

Meaning there's a lot of effort and not much pay off. Not exciting. More bark than bite You've gotta be high in the rpm range to get them to move and end up just making noise. Almost an anemic feeling. At least that's what I've gotten from them.

[space_weazel]

Thanks, not what I would have expected after reading the magazine reviews....

[space_weazel]

Well I sold the magna around 3pm on Tuesday and by 9pm on Tuesday I owned this..... (even money)
http://i.imgur.com/xeOuf.jpg
1995 BMW R1100RSL with bags, blinker kit, exhaust, chip, full service history, corbin seat, and some other stuff....
Not what I was expecting but after an hour test ride, I was hooked and decided that for now the fizzer was good enough for a sport bike, I now have an understanding of why people who do long rides get BMW's.

I think though, that when I go to replace the fizzer I will be looking hard at the SV1000's.

[RoadDogma]

Have you considered a Triumph 675 Daytona, or Speed Triple? Might be a nice compromise between a twin and a four cylinder with the low-end that you are looking for. I've not had an opportunity to ride one, but they are said to be very good in the handling department.

[Ice Queen]

A very good friend of ours has just bought a new FZ8. Good looking, upright with tidy screen and PLENTY of grunt. Might be worth looking at???

[sweekster]

Have you considered a Triumph 675 Daytona, or Speed Triple? Might be a nice compromise between a twin and a four cylinder with the low-end that you are looking for. I've not had an opportunity to ride one, but they are said to be very good in the handling department.

I've read the same as well. Still haven't ridden one yet but it's said to be the same effect as a v4. The torque of a twin with the ability to rev like an I4. Might be something else to consider.

[space_weazel]

Thanks guys but check out the BMW! I spent yesterday evening tearing out the old oil filter, and then changing all the fluids.... The old one was really stuck in there, I'll post pics later.