Getting a new bike

[JRW]

Sorry if you have seen this thread elsewhere! anyways, I have a question -
I currently have a tiny bike in both cc and height, and am looking to get something a bit bigger in the next 6 months or less. I am looking for the following:
Fuel injection,
Fuel guage,
at least 500cc, probably smaller then 1000cc (to keep the wife happy, though if it comes to it going higher wont be the end of the world)
big enough for a big person to fit on comfortably

I am 6'4" and hate having my knees in my stomach, so something with a fairly high seat and in a non racing position would be good. I like the "streetfighter" look, and in my travels have shortlisted the following bikes so you can see the sort of thing that catches my fancy:

ktm Super Duke 990
Yamaha Vmax
Yamaha FZ6N
Yamaha MT-01
buell lightning xb9ss
triumph speed triple
suzuki gsr600
Ducatti Monster
Honda CB900 Hornet
mv agusta brutale

looking at a 15k budget (pref new, but second hand is more likely what I will get)

I am not totally against modding the thing, but would like it to be good enough as stock so that I dont have to force the thing to fit me!

[Weaselman]

Not interested in a ZRX?

[scotty mac]

hey mate ever thought of a kawasaki Z1000? a few of the guys on here have Z1000 and Z750.

[pommie]

A few bike on you list don't fall in to the price range you have, if you sling a bit more at it you could get the new Triple, or The new Z750 is a great bike. The Buell is a good bike also but not for everyone.

[houdini]

mv agusta brutale nice bike

[BOHEMION]

From what ive been on.

New Z750/Z1000 is where id spend my cash. They have fixed so much up over the 04/05 models.

Ducati Monster.. Only if your wallet is full

Also KTM will be releasing the 690 Duke, so there should be a sensible price tag there.

Yam MT01 - You will get bored easily

FZ6N - Again you will get bored unless you get some decent mods goin and change the front end.

buell lightning xb9ss - Not quick But Fun! that is all[}:)]

Have you concidered the New Triumph Street triple 675??? $11,990.00 is there RRP? Looks like a FUN bloody ride. - Def wont be wasting ya dosh on this bike if NEW is what your after.

[Weaselman]

monsters are shit... I owned an 06 model and it was a waste of money for mine.

I agree with most of what Bohemion say about the rest. XB9R's are wild.
MTO1's are a bus and cost a mint to modify

[pommie]

I forgot about the Street Triple, we should have that soon in OZ, by all reports should be a top bike and only $11,000 ish

[zx12argh]

A Honda VTR1000 is good honest fun ;) and will commute, pillion, wheelie and go round a track pretty well.
But then again I am biased. I'm 6'2" and fit well on one.

Had a ZRX and would have one again - but you;d have to mod it to make it livable. Too quiet and too slow off the mark - but those are easy fixers.

I'll ditto the Z750/Z1000 they are great bikes.

[JRW]

I hadnt seen the 675 speed triple... looks worth while. and to be honest, I hadnt noticed the z750 either - nice looking bike, and exactly the sort of cc I want :)

[BOHEMION]

Well the New Z750 is a good thing, They feel alittle heavier over the 04/05 how ever, they have fixed up the issue with High rev vibration through-out by adding 2 extra extentions of frame over the Mid section of the motor. The new subframe and seat is also a big improvement but same as the 04 models, Get a gel seat if you gonna rock up some K's. For the price tag you cant ask for too much else. Put what you have left over into suspension or a sweet lookin slip on (New Cobra Cans from Stu)
http://www.streetfighters.com.au/forum/upload/8458975898037.jpg

[scotty mac]

quote:Originally posted by BOHEMION

Well the New Z750 is a good thing, They feel alittle heavier over the 04/05 how ever, they have fixed up the issue with High rev vibration through-out by adding 2 extra extentions of frame over the Mid section of the motor. The new subframe and seat is also a big improvement but same as the 04 models, Get a gel seat if you gonna rock up some K's. For the price tag you cant ask for too much else. Put what you have left over into suspension or a sweet lookin slip on (New Cobra Cans from Stu)
http://www.streetfighters.com.au/forum/upload/8458975898037.jpg

x2

[WATEVR]

i tell u what that 750 is about the closest bike a manufacturer has released to an agressive looking fighter i have seen yet. the cans sure help, tail eliminator and tubo and what else would you do!!!

[pommie]

Yes the Z750 IMO is a better bike than the 1000 i would just go for heaver springs in the front, as it was a bit under sprung for my 80kg, you can push the bike harder than the 1000 in the twisty bits.

JRW don't mistake the 675 speed triple with the street triple

[BOHEMION]

675 speed tripple
http://www.streetfighters.com.au/forum/upload/8459034016937.jpg


675 STREET TRIPPLE
http://www.streetfighters.com.au/forum/upload/84590340112855.jpg

http://www.streetfighters.com.au/forum/upload/8459034036186.JPG

http://www.streetfighters.com.au/forum/upload/8459034040932.JPG

http://www.streetfighters.com.au/forum/upload/8459034041693.JPG



Test ride , test ride, Test ride;)

ASF supports safe riding and does not condone the reproduced actions showin in these pictures

HAHAHAHA[}:)] [}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)]

[Tony Nitrous]

Mate, i'll say it again.....;)

You want Big, Solid, Reliable, tuneable (read Rapid)
Classic looks, fuel injection, after market goodies,
plenty of grunt, pillions no problem,
and a great rideway price for a brand new bike...
....go the GSX14.[8D]

If your 6'4" I would take a 14 over anything on the list,
most of which will seem small, gutless or fragile.

Just my 10c..... ask Des..;)

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/2605/des14rq3.jpg

[JRW]

Hey tony - is that bike for sale? I just saw one that looks VERY similar on bikesales for 10k... which seems like a good deal! Its a 2006 with 15000km on the clock - which is nothing for a big bike imho. very tempting indeed! Has a yoshi can slung on the side - cant see whats on the pic above.

just a question - I assume that the bigger the engine, the higher the rego and fuel usage will be? having said that, my 250 used noticably more fuel then a heap of 650-1300 that I was riding with which seems a little odd. having said that I had to flog the living daylights out of it to even get close to keeping up!

Might have to go and test one of those GSX1400's... and a bandit... and probably a yamaha xjr 1300 too - though I would rather have no bike then to buy one off tmoto!

[WHO-NIN]

you can see where the rego plate can go quite easily, add surface mount indicators or integrated tail light on the rear.

But may be too small for someone 6'4.

go the ZRX12 or GSX14. my 2c

http://www.streetfighters.com.au/forum/upload/8459086780924.jpg

[Tony Nitrous]

quote:Originally posted by JRW

Hey tony - is that bike for sale?

just a question - I assume that the bigger the engine, the higher the fuel usage will be?


The bike belongs to Des from Brissy, dont think he's selling.
I only posted it as an example of a nice 14.

Yeah, big motors get thirsty when you turn them up, but injection
is pretty smart and having lots of horsepower means using less rev's
a lot of the time. Busa's can suck the fuel, but if i cruise to work
at the speed limit on the freeway, 20k/ltr or 400k/tank normal.

Springwood Suzuki have a demo 14.

[HOS]

Hi JRW,

Being a tad on the large side myself, but only 6 foot 2" tall compared to your 6 foot 4" !!! I would ditch the Buell and the Duke Monster from your list, they are very small.
I have the XB12S Buell, same chassis and I have been called a gorilla on a BMX bike by a few mates [:I] But its OK, because they`re all FUGLY :D

A coupla others to add into your list :

Bandit 1200.
GSX1400 as what Tony Nitrous says :D
Honda CB1300
Prilla Tuono
Benelli TNT 1130
Duke motocrosser thingy is mentelly good !! and very tall.
KTM for sure.

[HOS]

http://www.streetfighters.com.au/forum/upload/8459111564846.jpg

[HOS]

http://www.streetfighters.com.au/forum/upload/8459111568978.jpg

[HOS]

http://www.streetfighters.com.au/forum/upload/8459111553520.jpg

[HOS]

They do make a tall Buell, its called the Ullesys or summat like that?
More your big trailie type of bike...

[JRW]

my shortlist now is:
Z750
Z1000
GSX1400
Bandit 1200S
CB900 Hornet
XJR1300
and maybe FZ1N...
I am also eyeing the whole Vstrom / Ulyses etc types... but they arent really my style I think!

Might be time to get out and test ride some over the next few weeks.

[HOS]

There is another bike manufacturer whos bikes would fit the bill for a tall rider. I just can`t bring myself to say the name.
They make the worlds ugliest and heaviest, executive/corporate style motorcycles of German origin, costing an arm and a leg.

I think you know who I mean ? [xx(]

[JRW]

Ya - but just too expensive, and too german. not really my thing in bikes. I am going to go take a Z750 and Z1000 for a fit/ride and see if they stack up OK. otherwise will prolly head teh way of the Bandit... Got a few months to decide anyway, so no rush.

[WATEVR]

what about coughing up a couple of extra grand and getting VENOM.....

[JRW]

Prolly making a right fool of myself now....

wtf is a "venom" ?

[latheboy]

haha ... Its a factory model Suzuki based off a TL ... This factory just made the TL better ...
http://www.streetfighters.com.au/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4510&whichpage=14

[BOHEMION]

If its any food for thought I know 2 ppl abit over 6foot tall on the street tripple and the Z750 and they dont have any problems or complaints.

[Groomey]

Mate im 6'4 and change, and found the zeds were one of very few bikes that i felt comfortable on. Mt01's were most comfortable but the weight didnt do it for me.

[JRW]

Thats the sort of info I am after :) The venom looks nice... I will check out the Z's and the trumpet.

[jock]

FZ1's are a freakin hoot once you spend a couple grand on em to get em to run right

pipe at a minimum

PC111 for full effect

theres also a lot of fuel injection stuff from "Ivans" ??? in the US which apparently is the stuff to get as well

I reckon front braided lines and piss off the pilot roads and get pilot powers as well

second hand there around 12-13k now (only 15 new) so within your budget

if and MV is still on ur list - price a few parts first - you'll soon change ur mind

[JRW]

dropped the MV...

Basically I am going to look at the Z's, cb900, gsr600, and maybe the fz6/1... oh, and the trumpets.

[WHO-NIN]

a friend picked up a brand new '06 model black ktm super duke for $13,000 plus on road, he's bout 6 1 - 6 2' n fits nice, me 5 8 so it's a bit too tall [V] it could be said to be lacking in power but makes up for it EVERYWHERE else, but V twins arn't usually high HP anyway.... good torque n power delivery!

[JRW]

nice. I certainly havent ruled anything out, including the ktm... its just a matter of getting out there and testing some.

[Learnatic]

Now for the fun bit!When you do decide what you want make sure you play the salesmen off against each other,its amazing how much they can drop the asking price,particularly at the end of the month.When I bought mine I still had salesmen ringing up a week later offering to drop a grand of their supposed best price.I think I got a good deal but I could have got a lot better.I will be very interested to see which way you go,good luck.