Just got back from Barnes and Noble, and T.W.O. has an extensive review and test of seven middle-weight nakeds this month including...
SV650
FZ6
Z750
Monster620
Speed 4
Honda 599
The test was broken down into categories based on type of use including track and town.
The SV didn't score so well at the track mostly due to its irritatingly underdesigned front suspension :x I totally agree, and I get more frustrated every time I see the SV lose to other bikes purely by virtue of its crappy front suspension... oh well....
The surprise of the review was the Speed-4. It got rave reviews in all environments... wow
There is some great data on fuel economy, weights, etc for those having trouble deciding among these rides.
anyway, I thought the bikes reviewed constitute those that many of us are considering for future rides. Check out the article if you haven't already. Its great to see a review that considers different needs of each rider and isn't biased heavily toward track and twistie use like so many of the sport-rider mags are.
the speed 4 is a great bike and really isnt in the same class, being a tt600 stripped of bodywork. its a huge value for what you get. Its known for being a great handling bike. If I went the naked route I'd get that one, and was considering it seriously. I had one dealer offering it to me at $5600 NEW.
Cycle World did the same type of comparison and removed the speed 4 from the test, giving it its own article, because it was head and shoulders above the other "budget" bikes. The only thing that makes the S4 a budget bike is its price. Everything else is top notch.
Thanks for the heads up! Those are the list of bikes I would like to move on! Hope I can find the magazine in local Canadian bookstore. (the magazine is just TWO?? , any website? )
edit: just found another comparison http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/roadtests/7k/
http://www.haymarketgroup.com/products/index.cfm?fuseaction=showProduct&productID=76&regionID=0
I can't seem to find an 'official' website for the mag. It's produced in england. I've only ever seen it at Barnes and Noble, but then again, I've never looked for it anywhere else.
Quote from: etamedit: just found another comparison http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/roadtests/7k/
Hehe, and yet the YZF600R snuck into that article too...