Well I go every year and damn I want to ride now but 2-4 inches today.  I hate winter more and more every year.  I also want to buy that pretty new sv650s damn it sure is pretty.

Now I'm off to buy.  Maybe.  The naked Sv650 tho.  650S is way pretty, but I'm too poor.

I went.  Had the specific desire to see what bike I'd like should I ever trade in my GS500.

I liked the seating on the SV650, but the lack of wind protection bothered me, especially when at least four months of riding (early spring & late fall) are in cold weather.  Thought the Kawasaki Z750S was nice, but too much power and again not enough wind deflection for me.  

The 650 V-Strom seemed too tall and bulky.  The BMW's seemed too wide, and wow, I don't have that kind of cash to throw into this sport.

Had pretty well resigned myself to drink in the rest of the show when I found the Yamaha FZ-6.  Its wide bars, tall windscreen, aggressive looks, detuned R6 600cc inline 4 motor and undertail exhaust made me think I was sitting on the GS500's big brother.  The reasonable price ($6500 MSRP) let me forget about the non-adjustable front forks (judged soft by many -- sound familiar) and plain double swingarm.

I suddenly felt like I was cheating on the GS500, waiting patiently under its cover in my garage back home.  Still, if I do decide to try something else, the FZ-6 may well be the next bike.  (The GS500 doesn't need to know.)

I went to the cycleworld show in Cleveland... I spent too much time drooling over the ducati 800 supersport... NICE.. and under 8 grand... Think I might trade up next fall..

Yeah I thought the FZ6 was pretty nice too.  The riding position on that looked very comfortable.  The all black sv1000s looked sweet.  I also like the yellow gsxr-600.  I also like the Triumph Daytona.  It's a really nice bike.  Too bad you can't test ride them.

I went Sunday morning.  There must be something about the FZ6.  I definitely thought it felt about right for me, too.

I liked the Honda 919 Naked bike.  The salesperson said they're popular in Europe, but I'd never seen one on the road here.

Did you look at the Buells? I definitely want to take a test drive someday.

I like the look of the buell but can't get past the silly ignition. Why is it on the side of the flyscreen? What were they thinking?

I love that show! just as its starting to get depressing around here and it seems like winter's never gonna end, what better than a bike show???  I was there Sun. afternoon for a bit.  I got my first look at the F and i have to say I'm a bit dissapointed...   the only views i had previously seen of it were profile shots, and i guess i was expecting a mini-GSXR fairing.  it seems some things were just meant to be naked.  did anyone see the cruiser with the 350 series rear tire?!?!? sickkkkk.....

damm i missed that one,and im ready to ride it keeps snowing.  any body out there neer muskegon?

Great to see so many snow monkeys in one message thread.  With all this white stuff around, it's great to know I'm not the only one that's miserable.  

Jeremichi, thanks for reminding me about the Triumph Daytona 650.  I also "put it on".  To me it was like I slid into that seat.  Something about the high tank -- it was like I was wearing that bike.

I also admit a sense of frustration in not being able to ride any of these fine pieces of metal.  Guess you have to be good friends with someone who has one in order to swing a ride around the block.  Truly sad state of affairs.

Hey, if any of you folks hear of a "test ride day" from any dealer in Michigan, please make it obvious.

Oh, and thanks for making me feel less guilty about thinking replacement thoughts of my GS500.  It's good that more than just me liked the FZ-6 package.

Time to pray to the patron saint of spring, if one exists.

Quote from: denmandamm i missed that one,and im ready to ride it keeps snowing.  any body out there neer muskegon?

Sorry, I've over on the prairie-side of the state, a 20 minute ride west of Saginaw Bay.  We've only got 14" to melt off before I see a blade of grass.  

It's March Mother Nature.  How about acting like it!!  Where's global warming when you need it...

Quote from: Stoobings... I got my first look at the F and i have to say I'm a bit dissapointed...   the only views i had previously seen of it were profile shots, and i guess i was expecting a mini-GSXR fairing.  it seems some things were just meant to be naked.  ...

I kinda agree with you.  If they filled in the space between the fairing and the bike with a useful pocket of some such plastic, I'd be a bit warmer on the "F".  I'm quite pleased with the looks of my "E" -- so long as it has a flyscreen or other wind deflection device.

I agree that the show took my mind off of the weather for about six hours.  Better than nothing, but wish I didn't have to shovel the stuff two days later.  Sheech...

Quote from: RedShiftWe've only got 14" to melt off before I see a blade of grass.  

It's March Mother Nature.  How about acting like it!!  Where's global warming when you need it...

I've got at least 3 feet of packed snow/ice to melt before i can get a place to park my bike in the yard.  I was hoping to bring my bike back up here with me after spring break (next week), but it doesn't look like that will happen.  I guess it's my fault for going to school where we get 200+ inches of snow a year :dunno: I suppose i'll just have to wait it out by going skiing some more

Quote from: manofthefield

Quote from: RedShiftWe've only got 14" to melt off before I see a blade of grass.  

It's March Mother Nature.  How about acting like it!!  Where's global warming when you need it...

I've got at least 3 feet of packed snow/ice to melt before i can get a place to park my bike in the yard.  I was hoping to bring my bike back up here with me after spring break (next week), but it doesn't look like that will happen.  I guess it's my fault for going to school where we get 200+ inches of snow a year :dunno: I suppose i'll just have to wait it out by going skiing some more

Thanks ManOfTheField.  I no longer feel as sorry for myself since I'm 22" ahead of you in the snow melt.  I'm no closer to riding than I was yesterday, but you did made me feel a wee bit better.  

Yeah i was there. The FZ6 was ok, I guess. I sat on the FZ6 (which i was strongly considering as an upgrade as well), but for one i was disappointed by the upright seating. I want aggressive dammit! What really got my reptilian brain clicking away was the Kawa ZZR600. Wow that thing was hot. The comfort was great for a supersport type bike. And simply put the bike looked mean!

The highlight of the show for me however had to be getting a picture of myself with my girl sitting pillion on that red Duc 999. *DROOL*

Quote from: WAPYeah i was there. The FZ6 was ok, I guess. I sat on the FZ6 (which i was strongly considering as an upgrade as well), but for one i was disappointed by the upright seating. I want aggressive dammit! What really got my reptilian brain clicking away was the Kawa ZZR600. Wow that thing was hot. The comfort was great for a supersport type bike. And simply put the bike looked mean!

The highlight of the show for me however had to be getting a picture of myself with my girl sitting pillion on that red Duc 999. *DROOL*

If you liked the Kawasaki, how about the two bikes the FZ-6's were facing -- the Yamaha YZF600R??

I sat on both the ZZR600 and the YZF600R and thought both were very close in feel.  If I had to choose between the two, I might just pick the ZZR600 as well.  Competitively priced.  Both are faves of mine.

It's nice to dream -- more expensive to act but doubt you can go wrong with any of these choices.

To finish up, I'll say that the FZ-6 felt more like home -- my GS500.  If you want aggressive, you can always hug the tank, but it's a lot harder to sit upright on the other bikes.  

As for a pretty girl on the back -- you're on your own...  

am i the only one that works out side?

Quote from: RedShiftI sat on both the ZZR600 and the YZF600R and thought both were very close in feel.  If I had to choose between the two, I might just pick the ZZR600 as well.  Competitively priced.  Both are faves of mine.

It's nice to dream -- more expensive to act but doubt you can go wrong with any of these choices.

What i liked about the ZZR is that apparently its tuned-down for city use. It's still fuel-injected, but overall it seemed like the 600 sport bike that would be easiest to live with every day. I have no business whatsoever trading up to a "proper" 600 supersport bike.

And you did say it best RedShift, this is all dreaming. But it IS nice to dream!  

WAP, I agree.

Hey -- speaking of dreaming, while I'm waiting for the snow to melt (the last two days of sun have brought us down to only 8" on the lawn), I was going through my grab bag tonight and noticed how the BMW and Yamaha accessories "books" out weighed the bike product info for both brands by a country mile.  I mean, the BMW Riders' Apparel book is 142 pages!!  It had a companion B/W booklet of 52 pages that was the price list!! The bike brochure was a 8-page fan-folded poster for the K1200LT.

Is there anyone else who thinks this is a little back-asswards?  Are these guys building bikes so they can sell clothing, boots & gloves?  Guess I can't knock it if there's a profit in it.  

Back to deaming that this is the month I get back on the road.  It's what, 16 days to Spring?  

I saw three bikes on the road in WI on this beautiful saturday as I drove home for spring break.  More snow down here than I expected, but the roads are clear.  Gotta get mine back together before it gets cold again!  Alas, I'm going to the milwaukee auto show tomorrow, and I think it will be getting cold the day after that