Time to upgrade from the GS... what do you think of these choices...

[CentralCoaster]

My gf wants to move up to my GS500, and it doesn't really get my blood pumping anymore anyways.

Yesterday I test rode a Honda Superhawk vtwin, and man, I think I need a torquey bike.  They tend to be more commuter friendly and comfortable too, except for the crappy gas mileage.

I don't want to spend more than $5K on a used bike.  I'm going to check out a Honda VFR800 (V4) on Sunday, and also need to try the SV650 since I can't seem to find anyone that doesn't like it.  I might try out a CBR600F4i and YZF600R, as they claim these to be a little more comfy than the CBR-RR and R6, with more low end torque.

Any other suggestions?  I have 6 months riding experience, mostly want something for commuting and the occasional long trip with and without a passenger.  Gotta have torque, both my cagers both have V8s, and I can't bear to own something that can't pass other cars at will.

[SIKDMAX]

Off topc, but what Central Coast are you from? 

[CentralCoaster]

SLO.

In fact I just rode up there last weekend from San Diego on the GS!  Boy that was a long, tiring ride.

Spend the weekend in SLO and Morro, cruised some winery roads, Hwy 229, Turri rd, and took sidetrips through Santa Barbara and Mulholland hwy on the way back, then split lanes for 1/2 hour on the 405 until the freeway was closed from a fatality.

Logged 800 miles, gf rode about 200 of them with me on the back.

And yup, it was 110F for most of Friday/Saturday.

[SIKDMAX]

HAHHA nice!  Im from SLO and just did 58/229/41/Turri today on mine!  Great area for riding!

So do you live here in SLO or SD?

[AFMO]

I've heard nothing but good things about the VFR 800...seems a worthy upgrade, and much better for long trips than the SV(no wind protection) or the CBR/YZF(hunched over riding position).  And the single sided swingarm is just cool...

[mach1]

the f4i is a great all around bike great motor comfy and good power for an upgaqde

[CentralCoaster]

HAHHA nice!  Im from SLO and just did 58/229/41/Turri today on mine!  Great area for riding!

So do you live here in SLO or SD?

I moved to SD about 3 years ago.  I tore up all the roads in SLO in my 'vette before I had a bike.  Boy did I miss out.  Peachy Cyn, old creek, 58, Pozo loop, ferg-nacimiento, I miss that place, especially hwy 229 and Turri which I had memorized.


San Diego isn't too bad for riding, but you have to get out of town first.

[facepants]

I like the Honda 599... a lot.  Hard to find though.

[ohgood]

I like the Honda 599... a lot.  Hard to find though.

Ya, it's sooooo pretty. Finding a naked bike is like asking to see a salesmans wife nude or something. They just move directly to the gsx-r 1000 and start talking about a 'real bike'. Guess that means they don't ride, or just can't find them.

My gf wants to move up to my GS500, and it doesn't really get my blood pumping anymore anyways.

Yesterday I test rode a Honda Superhawk vtwin, and man, I think I need a torquey bike.  They tend to be more commuter friendly and comfortable too, except for the crappy gas mileage.

I don't want to spend more than $5K on a used bike.  I'm going to check out a Honda VFR800 (V4) on Sunday, and also need to try the SV650 since I can't seem to find anyone that doesn't like it.  I might try out a CBR600F4i and YZF600R, as they claim these to be a little more comfy than the CBR-RR and R6, with more low end torque.

Any other suggestions?  I have 6 months riding experience, mostly want something for commuting and the occasional long trip with and without a passenger.  Gotta have torque, both my cagers both have V8s, and I can't bear to own something that can't pass other cars at will.

Hmm, you are twisting the RIGHT grip, not the LEFT, correct ? Even the lowly gs500 can easily pass and/or out accelerate modern V8 machines. Just gotta let her rev a little.

OK ok, you said you wanted torque...

FZ1
Concours
FJR1300
F4i
919
Street Triple (maybe find a wrecked one?)
Nighthawk

Your MPG is going to suffer on those bikes though, the only downside. 

[Shinka13]

I've got a YZF00R and can't say enough great things about it.  Granted, I'm a little biased, but oh well.  Plenty of torque, the HP is really good too (actually has more than an R6 up until about 10,000.....then the R6 wins to 13,000.  The riding position is pretty good too.  Kinda bent forward, but not like an R6, Ninja 636, GSXR600, or any other race bike you can think of.  It weighs about 60lbs more than the GS so it's pretty darn stable on the highway.  It's really comfy for being a bike that you can take to the track and be competetive.  As far as some of the other choices, I love the VFR800, but have you seen the price on those lately?  Kinda pricey, good luck finding one for the amount you're looking to spend.  I've heard the F4I is pretty comparable to the YZF600R.  Also, the only complaint that I've heard about the SV650, is that they aren't torquey enough for everyday street use, and they're light, therefore getting blown around on the interstate.  If you have any questions about the Thundercat, feel free to PM me or check out www.YZF600R.com, click on the forums link, and have fun browsing.  It's a great group of people over there.

[spc]

*ahem* Find yourself a nice FI 750 or 900ss.  great torque, with the stock seat they're pretty damn comfortable and EVERYONE loves a Duc.  Oh, yeah, and my race prepped 750ss can blow the f%$king doors off an Aston Martin Vanquish and that's a V12

[mikedrees]

vfr 800 (pre-vtec) motorcylist mag had it their smart money section a few months back. they pretty much said that is about the best all-rounder & will pretty much last forever. if my gs ever gets stolen or self destructs that would be my next bike.

[commuterdude]

I like 'em all but the Yamaha FZ 6 and the Buell XB9sx are my current faves.

[CentralCoaster]

I took the VFR800 for a spin, nice bike, very quiet stock pipes as expected.  Just a little too much for a bike with 23K needing tires.  The whole bike felt wider and heavier and tamer than the nighthawk.  I could feel the vtec kicking in around 6K.

I still need to find a SV650, the dealers don't do test rides.  But there's  a beautiful dark blue '08 with full fairing there.

I'm afraid to get on my GS now after riding these newer bikes.  It's in real nice shape though and it'll stick around if the g/f is riding it.