Sometimes I wish I lived closer to Canada

[makenzie71]

Mak - I can see what you mean about the functionality, but I think if you're building a bike you need to blend that with aesthetics too, even if it is a cheap bike. The 1st gen naked SV650s are gorgeous, but I am really sick of dealing with carbs now. I realize that the aesthetics do appeal to some, but they just don't work with me, unfortunately.

Performance, looks, low price ~ Pick two.  Unfortunately in the real world that's exactly what you have to do...pick two.  However, I do agree that the bike is ugly...I simply don't look at it for it's "looks", though.  You can thank Americans, in general, for it's appearnce.  If it weren't for our desire to buy full faired sports we'd have this:

There was a thread I started on here earlier regarding the 919 v. Z1000 v. SV1000

If it's of those three, get the SV.  Though I'm both suzuki and v-twin biased, it's really the BEST bike of the three...and that's not just from me.  That's from sport rider, sport twin, roadracer x, and half a dozen other publications.  Plus, you can get a MakBox from me to tune it...

[Onlypastrana199]

  Haha because of my dual citizenship/ban card through the reservation I can easily buy canadian vehicles and bring them into the US and if they're bought in Canada I don't have to pay NY sales tax.

[Alphamazing]

If it's of those three, get the SV.  Though I'm both suzuki and v-twin biased, it's really the BEST bike of the three...and that's not just from me.  That's from sport rider, sport twin, roadracer x, and half a dozen other publications.  Plus, you can get a MakBox from me to tune it...

My considerations thus far are: Honda 919, Kawasaki Z1000, Suzuki SV1000S, and the Triumph Speed Triple.

All of them are unique in their own ways, gonna look into them all some more.

[ninja_steve]

speed triple is the bomb.  why not make a road trip up to canada to buy this z750?  a buddy of mine did that on an '01 sv650s (they started selling the s model in '02 for us).  he even got the sexy honey mustard yellow color.  i always ended up getting speeding tickets following him since he couldnt convert kmh to mph 

[makenzie71]

....sv....

[Alphamazing]

speed triple is the bomb.  why not make a road trip up to canada to buy this z750?  a buddy of mine did that on an '01 sv650s (they started selling the s model in '02 for us).  he even got the sexy honey mustard yellow color.  i always ended up getting speeding tickets following him since he couldnt convert kmh to mph 

Because the bike is over $1000 more than retail in Canada, and I'd still have to find a gauge cluster that had mph.

....sv....

yes yes, we know! You just like the SV1000 because it's derived from the TL1000, huh?

[makenzie71]

No...because it's the closest thing to the TL you've got on your list...and it's the only one on there I can sell you goodies for..

It's half a business thing.

[TadMC]

why did they discontinue the TL they are gourgeous

[Alphamazing]

why did they discontinue the TL they are gourgeous

'Cause the SV series took over that market segment.

[makenzie71]

Sales, mostly.  Plus, the competing events Suzuki had no interest of pursuing.  They couldn't justify producing both the TL1000R and the GSXR 750 when they operated in the same events...thus the R died.

The S was replaced with the SV...the plan was to introduce a slightly detuned version and phase the TL out.

[mike_mike]

alpha do you like the honda 599?

those are nice bikes.

[Phaedrus]

Of course he likes the Honda 599.

Who doesn't? 

[makenzie71]

I don't.  It's uncomfortable, expensive, underpowered, performs poorly compared to other rides in it's catagory and it's got those two nutty extra cylinders.

[12thmonkey]

So, makenzie...anything greather than/less than two cylinders is no good?

[makenzie71]

no there's a lot of thumpers I like.

Actually I like Inline 4's and most I3's and I love boxers but if it's uncomfortable, expensive, underpowered and performs poorly compared to other rides in it's catagory then those two nutty extra cylinders become a problem.

[Alphamazing]

alpha do you like the honda 599?

those are nice bikes.

Like I said earlier in the thread, the 599s up to '05 are carbureted, which means I am not going to deal with them. They are also hideously overpriced, even in the used market. The 919 is a better choice all around, but I'd only consider one if it had a real paintjob.

no there's a lot of thumpers I like.

I think triples are the ideal motor for what I like. It's just hard finding a 1st gen Speed Triple.

[makenzie71]

Considering you live in a more urban area, have you considered a motard?  I want one...but I'd never really be able to use it.

[Alphamazing]

Considering you live in a more urban area, have you considered a motard?  I want one...but I'd never really be able to use it.

How are those more useful anyways? High seating position? Ground clearance? A motard would be awesome fun, but how good are they in the twisties? Would/should I learn to slide the rear?

[ajgs500]

Motards are ghey.....

[makenzie71]

IT's not the twisties you'd have any issues with.  Motards are beginner friendly.  Don't expect to hang with many sports on the highway unless you've got something bigger than a DRZ SM.  They tear it up in the corners...sliding the rear is pretty easy when you have that kind of tappable power in such a light package.

It's just an oddball suggestion...they're not very practical.  I want one but it'll sit besid my TL...not in it's place.

Don't we have an "ignore" feature?