Opinions seriously sought, please.

After the GP (and the expo tent) I have decided to finally
bite the bullet and invest in a brand new bike. I am a
"traditional" sort of guy, and like the naked muscle-bike
sort of look (although I would settle for a semi-faired
sports/tourer if it proved to be the "right" bike). I want
something in the 900cc to 1400cc range for daily commutes,
weekend rides and maybe the odd extended ride (I won't call
it a tour exactly, although this may not be out of the
question).

Aesthetically, I prefer the new CB900 over all other
offerings, with the GSX1400 and XJR1300 a not-too distant
(and equal) second. I suspect that I'll be looking at this
baby in my garage for at least the next 5 years so it should
appeal to my meagre tastes. Oh... by the way... a black or
black/silver bike would be my ultimate choice.

I am 6 foot tall in the old scale, but am a fat, unfit
bastard tipping the scales at around 125Kg in the new scale.
I want a reasonably upright riding style with smooth power
delivery and a stable ride... I.e. not "twitchy". I am not
(nor ever will be) a sports biker, and don't plan to get the
thing cranked over at 150Km/h through the twisties...

My 10 top requirements, in order of importance are as
follows;

1. Rider comfort
2. Overall Rideability (smooth acceleration, predictable
handling)
3. Braking
4. Purchase Price
5. Maintenance Price
6. Insurance Price
7. Looks
8. Fuel Economy
9. Gut-wrenching power
10. Pillion space/comfort

I am not interested in European offerings (this includes the
Poms) nor Yankee stuff. Bikes I am considering (keep in mind
that this list has not been narrowed down at all yet):

Top candidates;

Honda CB900
Honda CB1300
Yamaha XJR-1300
Suzuki GSX1400

And the unlikely, but still remote possibilities;

Kawasaki ZRX-1200R (maybe if it wasn't so damned ugly)
Yamaha FZ1 (a bit sporty for me?)
Yamaha TDM900 (I don't know why I put this in here)

I'd appreciate any feedback on any of these bikes. I'll
either be looking at 1n '03 model, or an '02 model still in
showroom.

This thing is bloody huge... so is my bike!
DR750, (CX500, KL, KLX, EL, XR, IT, GSX and XL 250s, CB360)
ICQ# 5662270 - http://www.baconplanet.com

 

I'm gonna hijack this thread - with some relevance - and ask what touring on
a naked bike is like? I'm starting to get tempted by an SV650, but I'm
wondering if extended periods at 100+ will be tiring with all that wind
blast?

Jules

 

In aus.motorcycles on Sun, 19 Oct 2003 22:40:25 GMT

Doesn't bother Big...

Me, I found that a bikini fairing was much nicer than without on a
fairly upright bike, but a more forward riding position was OK without
one.

Zebee

 

I did the Sydney -> P.I. -> Sydney thing about March this year on my old EL250,
Sometimes it felt a bit tedious due to the continual wind (i.e. when the hell are we gonna stop?)
but finding a good pub with good food and beer followed by a comfy bed soon rectified that,
and i was good to go the next day.
However I only really got that feeling when i was on the way home, that and when we were going
through the Mountain ranges prior to Falls Creek on the way there and nearly getting flattened by
loggin trucks coming the other way down the goat track paths.

But all in all, 'tis good, the only problem i had was the bike was so damned light it kept getting blown
around like a leaf.

Mike.S

 

Doesnt worry me, it can be tiring depending on the speed/headwind etc,
but if it gets too bad you can always crouch a little which helps.

Cheers,
Ash

 

He said serious opinions
touring on an el250 at high speeds is not serious.

 

You can get aftermarket flyscreens/windscreens like you see on a ducati
monster.
It does just enough to take the harshness out of the wind blast.

 

What did you think of the Kawasaki Z1000 ? (it was the only naked kwaka
there (the expo tent), with red seat/tank bits.)

it looks great on paper, and pictures i've seen. In the flesh it seems to
lack a bit of something.

It also seems to fit your criteria very well.

 

oh oh oh
"**** off Smee'ing Bitch!"

Mike.S

 

I'm surprised how tired I get, and how quickly, on the SV650. Moreso than I
expected, but I haven't been in fantastic shape, either. I didn't buy it
for touring, but I'd have to put an aftermarket bikini fairing on it if I
was planning any. It might be that a more streamlined person would find it
a lot better, of course.

The benefits will come in the warmer weather, when I'll be cool while the
rocket-riders stew.

--
Conehead
"Your credibilty along with all the other people arguing in this thread has
been totally distroyed... I am copying this thread and will send it... but
I'll send it not to the parents, but to a couple of magazines I know..."
kiwipete in a hissy-fit

 

*Snigger*

 

I am also looking at getting a bigger bike and my choice has sort of
like come down to a few bikes , two of them are the CB1300 and the
XJR-1300

I like the look of the XJR-1300 better over the CB1300, but from a
review in one of the latest bike magazines comparing these two bikes out
of a list of 4 bikes , the article says that the XJR-1300 is a bit of a
pig in handling at lower speeds and the CB1300 handles a lot better
overall at any speed.
I also , like you like the CB900 Hornet , but I don't really like the
rear mono shock , I like to have 2 shockies to keep things even.

The only thing to do is to go and test ride them all, especially if you
are perhaps over 35 because there are different riding positions as well
as different foot peg positions and some of these can be uncomfortable.



Sandgroper
2002 CB250

 

On 20/10/03 8:40 AM, in article

Your dick will fall off if you go touring on a bike that is under 900 cc,
and no fairing means that you will be tired 30 mins into the trip.

Though, if you buy a Black 2000 Model 600 Hornet, the screen will help with
the fatigue and people will believe its "at least a 900", so you wont have
to worry about pissing contests.

HTGH

Hammo

 

I have a copy of last months Superbike Magazine that tested all your top 4
contenders. See if you can search around and get a copy, it'l be good
reading for you.

Cam
'00 ZX6R

 

Could you scan me a copy? I've been out looking at bikes all
day today, and am now more confused than ever...

4:30:36 pm >>>
I have a copy of last months Superbike Magazine that tested
all your top 4
contenders. See if you can search around and get a copy,
it'l be good
reading for you.

Cam
'00 ZX6R

 

It's true, it happened to me^W a friend of a friend!

.... especially if you're a Wumman.

-----sharks

 

I tour a bit on the ZRX1200R, which has a little bikini fairing, and have
toured on other naked and semi-naked bikes. My experience is that legal or
close to legal speed touring in fine conditions is actually nicer on a naked
bike, but that cold or rain are much less annoying on a faired bike.
Having said that I've done the icicle ride on unfaired bikes so it isn't
that limiting...

OTOH if you tour at seriously licence risking speeds then you'll want a full
fairing.


Geoff and Jodie

 

It may or may not be serious, but it is certainly illegal. :-(

regards,
CrazyCam

 

I haven't ridden the nekkid SV, but the fairing on the S model doesn't
do shit as far as wind protection is concerned.
A bloke up the road also owns the S version but he's a short fella and
reckons the fairing helps him a great deal. I'm 186cm, he's about
165-170cm.

Salih
SV650s

 

Well, it depends......

Firstly, how big is the +?

Touring at 100 to 120 kph is perfectly possible and reasonable on a
naked bike, provided it is a comfortable naked bike for you.

In fact, in many parts of Oz, for much of the year, it is a better
alternative to a fully-faired (and hot) machine.

If, however, your idea of touring is blasing round the countryside at
speeds well over 120 kph, you'll probably want a faired beastie.

regards,
CrazyCam