Bikes like GS but...

[ivany]

Not sure if I've already asked but...

I'm looking to get another bike. Problem is, I really like my GS, and want the new bike to be in a similar vein. OTOH I will be keeping the GS so I want something that's different enough. I do like standards (had a sportbike for a while...no thanks!) so I'm looking for a standard/naked kind of bike. Maybe a little bit sportier than a GS but still upright. Definitely has to be light, no 650+ lb "sport" tourers here. I think the list is

SV650
FZ-6
Honda 919
Z1000
Z750
Ninja 650R
Speed Triple/Street Triple

Am I missing any other bikes that I should be considering? I would prefer something new...less than 10 years old, at the least.

[Jarno]

Try 650 GSX-F, if that's available at your area. I've had one for a year now, some 7kkm down and feels right fine after the ye olde GS, which is now for sale in southern Finland, in case someone's interested

The F's more sporty, more responsive, more... well, more of a bike with only some added weight, not to mention the 10 years newer design principles.

Just my 0,02€, but try it if you can get your hands on one.

-Jarno

[aaronjosephward]

MONSTER

[tripleb]

gheydius and the kawa er6n

[LimeyYankee]

Street Triple will be my next bike 

[simon79]

Not sure if I've already asked but...

I'm looking to get another bike. Problem is, I really like my GS, and want the new bike to be in a similar vein. OTOH I will be keeping the GS so I want something that's different enough. I do like standards (had a sportbike for a while...no thanks!) so I'm looking for a standard/naked kind of bike. Maybe a little bit sportier than a GS but still upright. Definitely has to be light, no 650+ lb "sport" tourers here. I think the list is

SV650
FZ-6
Honda 919 why not the 599? Natural step up from a 500
Z1000 hmm, maybe this is a couple steps from a GS
Z750
Ninja 650R
Speed Triple/Street Triple see Z1000
Kawasaki ER-6n as mentioned, and ER-6f too - new one gets nice fairings
Bandit 650 maybe? A bit heavy, but could do IMHO

Am I missing any other bikes that I should be considering? I would prefer something new...less than 10 years old, at the least.

[dmer]

+1 for the Honda 599.  I believe it's based on the old Honda F3 engine and it's quite nice.  I almost bought one but found the GS at a firesale price I couldn't refuse.  The only problem I believe you might run into is the availability in the US (2004 and 2006 only if I recall correctly) and they are usually pretty pricey costing more than the comparable 2nd gen SV 650s.

[ivany]

I think if I get a "smaller" bike like a 600/650 it will end up replacing the GS completely, which is NOT my goal. I want something similar to the GS ergo-wise, but different in character so that they are, well, different bikes. As such I think the SV650, honda 599, FZ-6 may be too similar.

Kawi 650 I think will be very very close to the GS. Hence why I don't want it. Bandit 650 may be interesting, if I can find one for sale.

Monster is a good suggestion...I will look at that one. They are pretty cheap but I'm not a fan of the maintenance on Ducs.

GSX-R is an...interesting suggestion, I will have to look at these. I saw one in person...they look pretty cool but fairing make me

I kind of want to try something big bore...I like winding out the GS and playing with my old 600 was fun but I think I at least want to try something with low-end stomp, I've not had a torquey bike yet.

[fred]

How about a nice supermoto bike? Perhaps a Ducati Hypermotard? Stupid name, but awesome bike. You could also go for a straight up enduro bike, perhaps a BMW FS800 or a KLR650... You could also go for something more classic like one of the Triumphs or one of the Ducati Sport Classic bikes, those are really cool and not to extreme like a more modern sport bike when it comes to riding position...

[dmer]

Honda VFR 750/800? 

[intergalactic]

I have only sat on one, but a Triumph Speed Four seems nice and allegedly is comfortable with different bars. And pretty cheap used. And 98hp and handles well, or so I read. Rare, and parts are probably not cheap, though.

[Bluesmudge]

You want torque? Thumper! Suzuki DRZ400SM!

Or how about an Aprilia Shiver 750

[Roadstergal]

Did someone say 'torque' and 'DR-Z400' in the same breath?   

Well, by 'similar,' I assume you mean 'comfortable and practical standard, reliable, and easy to work on.'  For that, I'd rec 2nd-gen SV650nekkid or 2nd-gen FZ6, just from positive personal experiences.

SV650:
-Suspension is utter crap.
-V-twin grunt.
-Easy to find, plenty of them used.
-Tons of aftermarket (which can be used to fix #1).
-No wind protection on the naked (and the S, although the seating position is much milder than a SS, is still not as upright and comfy as the GS500/SV650N/FZ6).

FZ6:
-Very long valve check intervals.
-I-4 smoothness, not as much low-end.
-Suspension is dandy for the street unless you're on the heavy side.
-A little rarer than the SV, less aftermarket.
-Great wind protection.

However - these are bikes that do what the GS does, only better.  IMO - sell the GS, then get one of these and a dualsport.

[The Buddha]

I'd pitch in for a SV1000 seeing as how R'gal threw it under the bus ... by endorsing the chick's SV. SV650 = chick SV so ... obviously R'gal likes it.
But I aint pitching for nothign ... Ninja 650 is OK, but that frame looks like its been sprayed with metal ... get one for dirst cheap, sand the frame smooth as butter and paint it with POR15 ... Maybe an idea.
Ghedius ... same craappe, different flavor.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Roadstergal]

   To be fair, the SV1000 isn't just an SV650 with a bigger engine - it's got a previous-gen GSX-R suspension, which is good, and it's an overall bigger and heavier bike, which is not, IMO.  When I rode m'boy's on the track, I had to hang off like a monkey to get the damn thing to turn (although he does have an aftermarket damper set to full-stiff, to be fair).

The 650R is a parallel twin like the GS, so it might be 'the most like,' but IMO it doesn't have the grunt of the SV or the smoothness of the FZ.  YMMV.  It didn't move me.

[bombadillo]

fz1.  more torque, inverted forks, undertail sexiness, and a great all around bike.

[Jughead]

I kinda like the gladius.

[Rickyz80]

fz1.  more torque, inverted forks, undertail sexiness, and a great all around bike.

+1 on the fz.  I saw one on the street over the weekend and drooled over it, took some pics too. 

Wish it had an underseat exhaust, but you must be thinking r1 or fz6.  I knew someone that took an fz1 to the track to learn how to learn on(not exactly the ideal bike for that), and with the fz1, he was keeping up almost with the 600ss's and definately the liters on the straits.  Scapped the crap outta the footpegs too I saw.  We guessed he was at about a 20 degree angle with the ground on the fz.   

[s0crates82]

I'm in the same boat.  I've got the bug and want more torque.  the bandit 1200 and z1000 are toward the top of my list.

[tt_four]

Hmm.... I used to have a Triumph Speed Four, and that thing was fast. I can tell you that the Street triple is probably the fastest bike on that list. Some of the bikes like the 599/919/Z1000 are based off old sportbike engines, and built up to be streetbikes. The Speed Four I had is literally the same bike as their tt600, with the engine slightly tuned different, the older ones even came with clipons. The Street triple is the same way with the Daytona 675.  It's basically a naked sportbike with risers and an engine with slightly better midrange. It is still a fun bike, and a blast to ride, but it depends on how you ride the GS as to whether that'd be a good step up. I guarantee you're going to be flying around back roads and doing wheelies away from every stop sign. That bike is a big a hooligan bike as they come. I love the Z1000, but again it depends on how you'd want to ride it, as it's also not in quite the same category as others on that list.

As much as I love the Z1000, I can't say I'd recommend the Z750. It weights more than the Z1000, and has less power. It's basically the same frame, engine, and everything else, just with some cheaper parts and a smaller displacement. The whole benefit of smaller displacement bikes is that they're lighter and more fun to toss around, so I'm not sure where they're really trying to go with the Z750.

Which GS version do you have? If you have the naked version, and want something a little different, maybe try something like an SV-S. Same kind of bike, less aggressive than a sportbike, but you get the quarter fairing to make it a bit of a different bike than what you have.