Best 4cyl bike out for the money?

pantablo · July 25, 2003, 11:39:47 PM

gixxer 750 is my vote. classic, lots of power, lots of aftermarket, gixxxer.com very active forum. Get a used one-say pre 2000 (I prefer the styling of the slightly older ones...okay, I have a soft spot for the first gen ones!).

CBR is an exceptional bike though-high build quality, reliable as hell, comfy for a sport bike.

kawi ZX-7r is a good bike too...bit heavy though but very managable (John's wife Anne has one now).

Why do you need/want a full fairing? Can you get away with a half fairing? Or is it just looks?

JasonB · July 26, 2003, 12:19:49 AM

Mainly looks on the fairing, I havent seen a half fairing bike I really like. Most all have that ugly radiator like the SV650s or ZX7R. I dont need a real powerfull bike I dont weigh enough to need anything over 600cc or so and I want to keep the insurance rates reasonable. Its gotta be reliable of course and fun to ride. I'd like it to be decently confortable for longer rides but I dont need a concours or goldwing, I prefer the GS with drag bars and would even like to be a little lower. Might have to test ride some of the bikes with the seat down low and the tank up higher where its sorta a chest rest I forget which ones but I do know the BMW's are like that. (Prob wont be affording one of those)

john · July 26, 2003, 08:36:56 AM

Ridden many modern 600s. Gotta say:

1) 2000 - 2002 Kaw zx6R (comfy and smoothest of all)
2) Yam yzf600 (not R6) (more comfy, still quick)
3) Suz GSXR 600, 750 (seat very comfy,bars too low, takes a beating)
4)Suz Bandit 600/1200 (cheap and comfy -1200 hauls ass)

Black Snowman · July 26, 2003, 06:19:31 PM

I sat on a Kawi ZR-7S and I liked it. They dealer was asking $6000 new and I've seen them for around $4000 used. Nice simple motor, DOHC, 2 valves per cylinder, air cooled, much like the GS.

Not extremely powerful bikes but that helps keep insurance down. Considered a compeditor for the SV650 for people who like I4 motors.

Now lower faring, but no radiator. I think they look pretty snazy.

Arpee · July 26, 2003, 10:24:20 PM

CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR CBR
:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

I think you get where I'm heading. That 's the only bike (besides the GS) I'd definately buy again given the chance. What a motor! What balance! What workmanship! IF I wanted an I4 that'd be what I'd get again...F2, F3 or F4.

Kerry · July 30, 2003, 04:54:44 PM

Quote from: JasonBJust wish there was a way to remove my hand from the throttle to shake it a bit without slowing down.

Not exactly the main gist of this thread, but since you mentioned it....

See my Throttle Retainer page for a homemade solution:

EDIT: Changed links from sisna.com to bbburma.net

JasonB · July 30, 2003, 04:59:45 PM

Wish I could do that but my mirrors are there. I think I am gonna get one of those palm throttle things.

smp · July 30, 2003, 06:22:19 PM

I've got a soft spot for the pre 2000 ZX-6rs .. I hear they are very comfy on longer rides.

Black Snowman · July 30, 2003, 09:18:44 PM

The Kawi ZX-6 / ZZR600 (same bike, just renamed for the new model year and ditched the Ninja badge) have always been made to be street friendly sportbikes comfortable for extended riding. They're not anywhere near as ugly as the Katana too which is a big plus in my book

JasonB · July 30, 2003, 09:28:09 PM

Yeah saw a Katana this weekend boy was the front end work on that thing fugly, didnt look as bad in the pics but in person it was terrible.

I also got to see a SV650 in person and sat on it. Loved the tank and the knee cutouts for it. And that headlight looks tons better than the GS one. I am thinking my next bike might be the SV650S with the lower fairing. Kinda covers that single pipe on the front that looks odd and has the SS full fairing look. Almost had my dad buying a SV650 but he went with a cruiser instead. Got a Honda Shadow Spirit 750 instead.

July 30, 2003, 09:56:24 PM

If you can afford it go with a 2001+ Honda F4i.

I had one and loved it for the following reasons -

1)165kg (less then the GS500)
2)Fuel Injected (unlike the R6 :nana: )
3)0-100km/h (60mph) 2.6 seconds
4)Fully adjustable suspension
5)Honda quality - including anti-theft system
6)F1 sounding motor!!!

There are heaps more reasons I could keep going, like the digital display that looks awesome at night, easy to mono, beats most things in the twisties!

I wish I had the money to get mine back! :x

Stay Safe

octane · July 31, 2003, 11:54:28 AM

Quote from: werase643
Quote from: Rashadid go with the gsxr. Plus the suzuki is just a better built bike, no question.

i see we got up early and started smoking crack!!!!

where shall we start with the cheap engineering flaws of the beloved 2000+ gsxr

According to some of the other WERA guys I talked to who run gixxer 600's, they also have a tendency to break the small end of the connecting rods under constant race conditions - which in turn can bust up a whole lot of other stuff.

96gs · July 31, 2003, 02:02:52 PM

if you want a naked 4 cyl. sportbike, i would go wit hthe Kawasaki K 1000. i hear its a pretty dame good bike. but it might be out of the pricing range. i think its like right at $10,000 with tax. well thats just what i saw on a trip in talledaga, al other places might have different prices.

JamesG · August 01, 2003, 02:20:06 PM

You mean Z1000.

And yeah they look tasty. Naked, excellent suspension, powerful motor.

Down side is no wind protection, funky looks, too much motor, very big price tag for what you are getting.

Pam G · August 03, 2003, 03:34:07 PM

I haven't seen any votes for a Triumph TT600 yet.

I have one and love it, although the seat height is a bit high for me. I don't feel quite as comfortable riding it (or rather coming to a stop & putting my feet down) as on my GS500.

Pro's for the TT:
Nice, comfortable riding position.
Great brakes.
Great handling.
Fuel injection - no carbs to screw with.
It's NOT the same ol' dime-a-dozen Jap bike.

The earlier models did have a fuel-injection glitch, but a tune upgrade should take care of that. I took my early 2001 TT in for a tune upgrade, and it runs better now. I have a Power Commander III that I have not installed yet.

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Best 4cyl bike out for the money?