Help me decide???

[bombadillo]

I am not ready to upgrade yet, but (and its a pretty big but) i'm trying to start saving up for the next bike.  I want at least another year on this first and then move up but I figure a year will help save enough for my next bike.  I am looking for a bike that will do everything I want.  I want it to be nimble, have enough power to ride 2 up comfortably.  Be able to hang with the supersport 600's in the twisties, yet comfortable enough to ride a 500 mile day.  Is there such a bike that really exists, or is it a trade off somewhere.  I tend to like v-twins.  I have short listed it as this:
sv1000s
sv650s
daytona
superhawk
yzf600r
cbr f4i

and thats pretty much it.  I know there are more but I can't think of them right now.  Also, other requirements are ease of maintaining this thing.  I can't get a ducati on there because the maintenance requirements suck and are really expensive.  most triumphs are the same way it seems.  The parts factor is huge because I'm definitely going to upgrade things and I always do most of the work myself.  Smaller things are gas mileage, trick toys on them, luggage, and a few other little things not worth mentioning.  Any help would be great.

[pantablo]

the F4i is it.

[GeeP]

SV650!  Cheap bikes and parts everywhere, it's a twin, and they're simple.  What more is there to say?  Oh..   Yeah...  RIDE NAKED! 

(The GS500 will blow past the 600's in the twisties if there's a good rider on top of it.)   

[groff22]

Daytona. Yeeaaah!

There's a fellow on this board who is selling a 2004 Daytona in great condition. As far as I know this is still up for grabs... http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=34690.0

Cheers,
J

[bettingpython]

stay away from the 1000's if its your first upgrade.

that leaves you with 3 choices.

of those I would throw out the twin. Big displacement teins are kinda cool but really in a middleweight I don't see the point.

Since I am a huge honda fan boy you cab forget the yzf.

F4i for the win. I have a blast riding my wifes bike.

As much as triumph protests that all it's 955 issues were ironed out in the older series I know of one guy locally with the 955i and it was in the shop more than it was ridden the last year.

[jserio]

before i found this message board i actually thought i would buy a F4i for my first bike.  i've read numerous reviews that just rave about this bike. they claim it's a comfy touring bike yet a decent track bike and also a nimble enough bike for in town riding as well.  i can't find a recent year model past 2006 though. does honda not offer them anymore?

[gaspy]

I've read and overheard that the high-revving inline-4 supersports are tricky for less experienced riders as they require high RPMs to access all that horsepower. Allegedly, the torquier twins are more beginner-friendly as you can tap in to the horsepower at low and mid revs. Now forget all that seeing that like me you're still fantasizing. Brain cells aside, I drool over the Daytona 675. When they kick in I'd go with the SV650s. Plus the japanese bike's are cheaper to maintain!

Now I'll cede to the experts for criticism of my post...

[gaspy]

before i found this message board i actually thought i would buy a F4i for my first bike.  i've read numerous reviews that just rave about this bike. they claim it's a comfy touring bike yet a decent track bike and also a nimble enough bike for in town riding as well.  i can't find a recent year model past 2006 though. does honda not offer them anymore?

honda replaced the f4i with the 600rr.

[jserio]

but did honda not offer both the F4i and the 600rr at the same time for awhile? 

[jserio]

honda doesn't offer the rc-51 either? bummer

[pantablo]

the f4i is still available, the rc might have had its last model year last year. plenty to be had used.

[TragicImage]

(The GS500 will blow past the 600's in the twisties if there's a good rider on top of it.)   

only if the skill of the 600 rider is lacking....  You just try to hustle a GS500 around Pablo in the canyons... it ain't happening.

[Oklahoma_Mike]

Might I add the ZZR-600

If not then deff the f4i

I have found the ZZR rides two up more comfi than the f4i, but that is a small factor.

[bettingpython]

The last model year for the F4i was 2006.
They did offer the F4i and RR concurrently in 04 thru 06.
Sorry GeeP but the F4i will smoke the GS in the twisties.
You must be expeiencing the typical non riding fool that gets a 600 for their first bike.

[97gs500e]

SV650 (naked)  - most comfortable and very fun to ride

[bombadillo]

python, I figured with a good rider, an F4i would spank on a gs most days.

[bettingpython]

It all depends on the rider.

[bombadillo]

still looking at a zzr-600 vs f4i vs sv650s.  Buddy just got a faired sv and its a sweet looking bike from 20 feet.  He dropped it first thing though.

[ohgood]

the zzr-600 and the sv are both great rides. is insurance lower for the sv ? got me.

the zzr has nice smooth power, but the sv grunts. i'd go for the sv myself, (i have very limited riding time on either, mind you) just because it doesn't need as much revving to putz around.

commuting, touring, all that jazz, sv ftw.

there are two zzr's i can remember seeing lately. one on a local ride, another 700 miles away, and it's for sale. (shrug)

sv's are freaking everywhere. parts a plenty, nice torque, oomph, etc.

good luck with whatever you decide to play on. you can always re-sell it, no big deal. 

[vtlion]

I recently sold my SV650S and bought a ZZR600.  After only one long ride I can say that the ZZR is far more competent for long-hauling.  wider, better cushioned seat - nearly identical ergos - wider chassis (which means less flickable in the twisties, but more stable on the highway) - better suspension.

Its a simple issue of intended use.   City riding SV, highway eating ZZR.