Test rides

[ausgs]

I'm thinking its about time to move the GS on although she's been good to me its time.
Have done a few test rides lately and here's a brief opinion of each
2014 Yamaha MT09. Massive fun, huge amount of pure grunt any gear, any time.
I really liked the riding position and bar placement but the seat was way too hard
The throttle is super jerky in A mode and not much better is std, smooths out in B mode but drops a fair bit of power
Suspension and brakes were fine, handled nice and good ride. But crazy throttle control ruled it out for me.

2014 Triumph Street Triple 675. Cant really say any thing bad about this one, except it felt quite gutless compared to the Yamaha but other than that loved it!
I was surprised the riding position wasn't as upright as I imagined it to be but a really nice bike, felt super light, comfy,great brakes and suspension just cant afford it!

2014 Kawasaki Versys 650. This was a big disappointment for me, why is the seat so high with a 17" front wheel?
It had decent torque but no real top end power and was not as smooth running as my 2010 GS500, similar engine character just larger displacement but felt  more primitive
Ride is hard and uncomfortable, wind protection is poor, gearbox very clunky. Could not consider one.

2009 Suzuki GSX650F Really nice one owner, felt at home straight away. Couldn't feel the weight issue people complain about at all.
Reasonable power but no rocket (no restriction model) did everything well but ride was very firm.
Needs frequent gear changes but a very nice bike to ride anyway.

next and hopefully last will be a 1 owner 2008 Suzuki 1250 Bandit S haven't ridden one but a friend has one and loves it, will find out soon!

[ReedMan]

I agree that the MT-09 is going to be a fantastic bike. I would love to test ride one to see if it really does produce the amount of torque that they say (87nm?). Is the seat really that hard?

Personally, I'd go for the bandit. Can't hear anything bad about it other than the weight and somewhat soft suspension.

For a real treat, see if you can find a used B-King!

[Suzuki Stevo]

2009 Suzuki GSX650F Really nice one owner, felt at home straight away. Couldn't feel the weight issue people complain about at all.
Reasonable power but no rocket (no restriction model) did everything well but ride was very firm.
Needs frequent gear changes but a very nice bike to ride anyway.

The biggest mistake people make when they start compairing the GSX650F is...they compair it to Sport bikes and forget that it's a Sport Touring bike, where having a bit more weight makes for a better ride. It's no rocket but every bike beater magazine that tested them in '08 was getting low 12's in the 1/4 mile bone stock, mere mortals where getting mid 12's right out of the box, I love mine...all day rides are it's thing, passenger amenity's are not as good as my Wee Strom though.

[cWj]

no SV/SVF?

[ausgs]

no SV's around here except for LAMS restricted versions

[cWj]

Ah. Is it much trouble to de-strict them or is that against regulations?

[Janx101]

MT09 .. A mode.... jerky?!? .. i must protest!! ... when i went for a test ride... i got used to std mode to start with .. played with b mode VERY briefly... found a nice open stretch of road after some lights .. switched it into A and opened the floodgates!! .... huge surge of speed and power, it redlined before i remembered to click into 3rd ... eased it off ... smiled the whole rest of ride!!  ...

A mode is for GO!!!! ... you want to select that when its gonna be WOT and blasting.... its just savage!!... other modes are for if you in traffic and wet....



when i finally have the funds for a MT09 ... i will have to remember the A mode posture though.... you gotta lean forward before you launch the sucker!!... it was pulling me backwards on the seat and making it hard to keep my unprepared grip on the bars!! ... 

[ausgs]

I didn't find std mode much tamer than A mode.
It is a beast either way.
If you restrict a LAMS bike could end in tears with insurance ect
also when a bike is first registered by the manufacture as a  learner approved motorcycle scheme (LAMS) is cant ever be re registered as unrestricted.
Cant wait to ride the Bandit 1250, will probably be that or GSX650F non-LAMS