Quote from: baco99 on March 06, 2007, 08:22:36 PM
in my opinion, and from what i've read in reviews, you don't need bigger displacement if you have a good balance between weight, torque and gearing.  a Duc Monster 620 can probably cruise just as admirable as its bigger siblings for everyday use.

Do you believe everything the experts tell you, form an opinion of your own based on experience. The 600's are all really great bikes if you wanna ride around with the motor wound all day...I'd take any of em as a track whore, that's about it though. Why does everyone think Suzuki is so great go check out some other dealerships, want a twin try a Buell Great ride for a next step up. Nimble, agile, yet stable and forgiving Yeah the FJR1300 is nice, but, it eats roadtecs almost as fast as my 954 eats pilot powers.

And an MV Augusta for posing??? Christ no ride that bike.

Your never gonna get the tourque out of a 600 that I get. 68ft/lbs torque and 138hp at the rear wheel stock. Your gonna be doing good to get 38ft/lbs out of a 600 and it'll be higher in the rpm range, And until you buy a 2007 model your 600's dont weigh any less than my 954 does.

My intent is not to slam anyone, just to get people to think.

Quote from: makenzie71 on March 06, 2007, 06:31:59 PM
size of the engine isn't a reflection of how much bike we can use.  Often, it is a reflection of how much power we will use.

Not to mention ergonomics...

Throw a leg over an R-6, and then get on an R-1.
Or the DL-650 V-Strom vs. the 1000...BIG differences.

It'd be nice if the FZ-1 looked half as good as the FZ-6, but Yamaha screwed the poodle on that one.

[5

i'm willing to form my own opinions, but being new to the sport and also bieng in the dead of winter, i trust what the experts write is more accurate than my own assessments.

i see your point on having the extra power, but at the same time, my second CAR was 130 HP at the crank and still made it to 110MPH on the highway (Ford Contour 4 cylinder).  just from a numbers standpoint, i'm not sure anything more than 70-80 HP is really necessary on a vehicle weighing 1/8 as much...

Quote from: baco99 on March 07, 2007, 05:20:39 AM
just from a numbers standpoint, i'm not sure anything more than 70-80 HP is really necessary on a vehicle weighing 1/8 as much...

Never said it was necessary, but the way a big bike makes power compared to a small tightly wound engine is completely different. Don't want gobs of HP go with a Buell they make ton's of totrque and are a great riding platform without the huge high rpm HP numbers.

Anyone seen Wild Hogs? Did you think it was funny? Most reviews trashed it arent you glad you ignored the experts now?

I had a 12k budget when I bought the 954 could have bought anything I wanted basically.

my budget is more like $4k (if that!) and only once i sell both convertibles...

Quote from: baco99 on March 07, 2007, 09:08:01 AM
my budget is more like $4k (if that!) and only once i sell both convertibles...

Keep your eye's and ears open and don't be in a hurry to buy and you can come across some good deals. Locally a couple of guys have newer F4i's for sale in that range that would be a good deal. Another rider here has put his 2yr old Buell XB9SX lightning city sport up for sale. He's asking 6K which is a good deal knowing how the bike has been taken care of.

good to know!

OK, I'm thread resurrecting! LOL

These are what are tops on my list when I trade up the GS500e (Actually with most of these, it's kind of a tradover and a little up)

1) Monster 695 (or 620 if I get a good deal on a used one)
2) SV650 (Depends on the day what order these are in... LOL)
3) Honda 599

Outside shot: Buell XB12scg (Only if I find a killer deal used)

The GS500e is plenty of bike for what I do, so I'll never see myself really getting something with more than 80 or so HP at the MOST (Granted, the Buell is an exception, but low on HP for the size of the engine).  I don't mind high revs on the highway, I want a light, short, very flicakable bike with decent power, that looks cool (AND is NAKED!).  I have no need of riding at 100 MPH all day on the highway, I'm typically at 75 MPH when cruising.  I would keep the GS (and very well may) but at some point I'll just want something newer is all.

    You're saying that the 73hp the 695 monster puts out is just a little up??   As long as that's just a little up why not go all out for the S4RS  It's just a 130 hp engine in a 390lb bike!!!!

I don't know exacts on the other bikes on your list but I've heard that all of them produce significantly more power than the GS  ( I just know the monster specs because that is seriously the sexiest bike ever!!,  I'd kill for an S4RS, just too damn expensive and too much of a pain in the ass to maintain )

But good job reviving the post!!!

Just made the switch from my GS500 to a Yamaha FZ6.  I love that the riding position feels very similar, so its comfortable for long rides.  Obviously its got a good deal more power and I am not going to miss the carburators.  The GS sure was a good little bike though, and very easy to work on.  Aside from a bit of trouble with the carbs clogging after non-use (my fault), I had zero problems with the thing.  Good times. 

what about a Honda 919???

Quote from: spcterry on April 02, 2007, 09:07:09 AM
  You're saying that the 73hp the 695 monster puts out is just a little up??   As long as that's just a little up why not go all out for the S4RS  It's just a 130 hp engine in a 390lb bike!!!!

I don't know exacts on the other bikes on your list but I've heard that all of them produce significantly more power than the GS  ( I just know the monster specs because that is seriously the sexiest bike ever!!,  I'd kill for an S4RS, just too damn expensive and too much of a pain in the ass to maintain )

But good job reviving the post!!!

From what I understand 73 HP is debatable for the stock setup 695 (and Ducati's measurement is at the crank for recent measurements instead of the rear wheel) it actually only has a couple of horsies more than the 620(actually a tuned 620 beat the 695 in the 1/4 mile in a recent article I read).  It's geared REALLY tall with a 15t front sprocket and 42 rear sprocket (as opposed to 15t and 48t for the 620), plus it meets new Euro emmissions... so they feel pretty similar or so I'm told right out of the crate.  I test drove a 695 at the local dealer(and fell in LOVE) and though it was up in power on my GS, it was not at all that big of a jump.  You can get a new ECU and different pipes as a kit, as well as open the airbox for some bigger numbers but still only gain another 8 HP or so.  Most people I'm told change the front sprocket to a 14t (cheaper than changing the rear) to make it friendlier on takeoff and give it more zing around town.

I haven't really seen anything about 695 performance but I've seen a lot about the old 620.  I've seen those things just rocket!  How does the monster ride in comparison to the GS???  I really want one, and if the reenlistment money is right I'm getting one.  Been considering an 800 i.e. , seems there are a lot of performance mods out there for that engine.  I saw one on EBay a while ago for 6k that was completely retuned with termi exhaust and a dyno certificate reading  112hp.

Quote from: spcterry on April 02, 2007, 09:29:54 AM
I haven't really seen anything about 695 performance but I've seen a lot about the old 620.  I've seen those things just rocket!  How does the monster ride in comparison to the GS???  I really want one, and if the reenlistment money is right I'm getting one.  Been considering an 800 i.e. , seems there are a lot of performance mods out there for that engine.  I saw one on EBay a while ago for 6k that was completely retuned with termi exhaust and a dyno certificate reading  112hp.

I really, REALLY dug the 695, was hard to tell from a short ride, but I was grinning from ear to ear.  Clutch pull was CAKE, though the grab zone was a lot different... More aggressive riding position... It felt pretty powerful (as much power as I'd ever need) though not nearly unmanageable, sturdier suspension than my GS (but mines 9 yrs old), and as willing to flick nicely the little bit I could, though the turning radius for slow stuff was not as good (at least initially based on the turning radius with the bars). I was able to feather the clutch and rear brake and lean a bit to get it better at lot speed, but it was different to say the least, especially with that tall gearing.  I have heard nothing but great things about the monsters 800 and up, the 695 is considered their entry level bike now so you don't get the Single sided swingarm, or adjustable suspension.  All in all I loved the 695, it sounded incredible and looks amazing, plus it actually fit my short inseam a lot better than I thought it would.

Personally, I don't feel the need for anything other than the GS500 that I have....  Maybe add a hack to stable, and/or a dual-sport.  I imagine that I will run my GS until it dies. 

i just love the way they sound

I start drooling when I see/ hear  a monster even the 620 and 695  have a deep roar that you can distiguish from across a crowded parking lot.
The 800 had like 85 hp stock, which is more than enough for me    And they are pretty available as people move to an S4R or S4RS....

i liken the sound to the distant, better-dressed, better-looking, banging-a-better-girlfriend sibling to a Harley V-twin...

LOL!!! great description!!!!  It does have a lot of that deep roar that a V-twin has....  It's just a whole hell of a lot sexier!!!! And Lighter, Sleeker, and depending on the model even cheaper than a HD!!!  Come to think of it i don't think I have or will ever see an ugly chick on the back of a Ducati  and trust me there are plenty of em on the back of HD's.