I've got mine, 81 Z750. Skinny tyres, tooth picks for forks, average brakes, carbies, it is a hoot to ride, especially when you're pushing it and the bike tells you no more by wobbling and flexing and trying to kill you. I just did 1000km's over the weekend and loved it.

as my gs is my first bike and still learning....im either going kawasaki 650r, a suzuki sv650 or a cbr600...im kind of leaning towards the twins as i dont need that much power

I'll probably go fz6 or fz6r.  I like those quite a bit, the gladius isn't looking too bad, sv650s isn't bad, but I want something with more power than all of the above.  Who knows, we'll see whats to come.

Quote from: Alphamazing on August 16, 2009, 02:40:52 PM
To be quite honest, I am far more partial the the ZX-6R Ninja with the 636 motor and the Daytona 675 than any of the plain jane 600cc supersports. You want livable? The 636 is a surprisingly easy to ride bike on the street, faster than pretty mcuh every car out there, and that small increase in displacement really helps with the day-to-day ridability of the thing. The Daytona is a bit more drastic, from what I've gathered. Loves being in the twisties and on the track, easy to manage around town, but not as easy as the 636. The 636 can be a killer track tool as well. I'd choose either of these bikes over the GSX-R750 any day.

Those 2 were in the final 5 when I got my gsxr.  I have a friend with a mint 675 with not even 3k miles on it, i've been trying to buy it forever but he just keeps it, never rides it and wants a cruiser ... but when he does want to sell it ... the wife might have a problem

Thank god my bikes not a full liter, I'm 46cc short at 954 or I'd think alpha was ragging on my riding skills and accusing me of duck waving... BTW how do you wave to a duck?

RC51 really is an uncomfortable bike, second to none with the 1098 for absolutley nothing comfortable about it for any amount of time. The Gixxer 750 well it's the only 750 on the market which really pisses me off. I like that displacement level I just generally detest suzuki and it is among all of the supersports the most comfortable of them.

Also avoid the Honda 954 if you don't know what you're doing horrible bike for the uninitiated, twitchy unstsable quick handling think 600 class handling and weight with a 138hp 68ft/lb tourque engine in it.

The beauty of big bikes for twistie riding is while everyone else is stuttering around shifting 90 bazillion times I stick in third and rarely shift unless I reallly need more engine braking.

As a matter of fact I rarely get my bike out of third... There is no place public in the US where you can ride a liter to it's full ptential, hell first gear on any of them will exceed the posted highway speed limit in any state before your ready to click into second.

Quote from: bettingpython on August 18, 2009, 11:10:53 AM
The beauty of big bikes for twistie riding is while everyone else is stuttering around shifting 90 bazillion times I stick in third and rarely shift unless I reallly need more engine braking.

See, I don't like that. When I am out riding, I want to use the engine at least partially to its potential. I don't see the point in just running around in one gear. Not my style, I guess.

yea large bikes sure are fun and a challenge.  My triumph daytona 1200 was a big fat WIDE bike and a joy to ride on the open road as you moulded into the bike due to its large tank and low seating.  Round town it was a big fat wide PIG that was far too heavy to be nimble in town and you worked every turn of the bars and flick of the bike.  Most times riding in town you would get off the bike wet with sweat.

To the point....If you are in the city, town, loads of traffic etc then a word of advice is don't buy anything too heavy as you will possibly regret it.  The daytona 1200 dry weight as an example is 500lbs add another 6.6 gallons of fuel and oil along with rider and it makes it a very heavy ride to handle at low speeds.

Large cc is ok just consider the weight.  Mid weight class is more my thing (more fun less work)

Quote from: Alphamazing on August 18, 2009, 11:18:52 AM

Quote from: bettingpython on August 18, 2009, 11:10:53 AM
The beauty of big bikes for twistie riding is while everyone else is stuttering around shifting 90 bazillion times I stick in third and rarely shift unless I reallly need more engine braking.

See, I don't like that. When I am out riding, I want to use the engine at least partially to its potential. I don't see the point in just running around in one gear. Not my style, I guess.

Depends on who I am riding with too, If it's just me and a couple of close friends it'll see 1st thru 4th in the twisties and we are talking dancing around in the upper 10% of rev range as well. But as with so many rides you get a couple of n00bs on the ride and we back the pace down so as not to have to wait on someone to drive out and pick up a wadded up bike and give a rider a trip home.

Seconds good for 120 anyway so if I get bored I'll cram it in second for 10miles of twisties and make everyone behind me miserable with the sweet sounds of a race core pipe.

There's a BRG Triumph Trident 900 that's been tempting me for a while, but the guy won't come off his price and has it priced WAY too high.

I would like a Moto Guzzi Griso.  Why?  Because it's a Moto Guzzi and so very cool.  http://www.motoguzzi.it/it_IT/prodotti/naked/griso_8v_se/griso_8v_se/immagini.aspx  Just look and you will agree.

 

Quote from: dadsafrantic on August 18, 2009, 10:25:32 PM
I would like a Moto Guzzi Griso.  Why?  Because it's a Moto Guzzi and so very cool.  http://www.motoguzzi.it/it_IT/prodotti/naked/griso_8v_se/griso_8v_se/immagini.aspx  Just look and you will agree.

I used to work for Ducati Austin when they started dealing in Moto Guzzis. They were heavy, underpowered, slow, poorly built, and not that much fun to ride. I don't like how they look either.

Quote from: Alphamazing on August 19, 2009, 11:13:33 AM

Quote from: dadsafrantic on August 18, 2009, 10:25:32 PM
I would like a Moto Guzzi Griso.  Why?  Because it's a Moto Guzzi and so very cool.  http://www.motoguzzi.it/it_IT/prodotti/naked/griso_8v_se/griso_8v_se/immagini.aspx  Just look and you will agree.

I used to work for Ducati Austin when they started dealing in Moto Guzzis. They were heavy, underpowered, slow, poorly built, and not that much fun to ride. I don't like how they look either.

how long ago?  i just rode the stelvio press bike when it was in san francisco and it was not any of the things you mentioned.  the griso isn't either i think.

The Griso is nearly 500lbs dry and only makes 110hp (maybe 85 on the wheel............nah, this is MG, 75)  I would call that heavy and underpowered for the crowd they're marketing towards.

The stelvio is reported to have too small a fuel tank, to heavy of a design (another 500+) and an engine 'that feels as if it is constantly out of tune'


I know a guy who bought an Moto Guzzi and sold it at a serious loss less than a month later because it was such a POS.

Quote from: dadsafrantic on August 19, 2009, 05:54:12 PM
how long ago?  i just rode the stelvio press bike when it was in san francisco and it was not any of the things you mentioned.  the griso isn't either i think.

About two years ago. Moto Guzzi hasn't changed much since then.

Quote from: spc on August 19, 2009, 11:04:10 PM
The Griso is nearly 500lbs dry and only makes 110hp (maybe 85 on the wheel............nah, this is MG, 75)  I would call that heavy and underpowered for the crowd they're marketing towards.

Bingo.

I just put a deposit yesterday on my next bike. 2008 Suzuki GSR600 with 1,290 kms on the odometer, saving me lots of $$$ off new.

^^^ nice buy.  I looked at the GSR as well but decided on cheaper running costs so went the GS instead.  I did however test ride the GSR and lets say you are going to have fun with that one. 

Quote from: 08GSSteve on August 26, 2009, 01:48:06 PM
^^^ nice buy.  I looked at the GSR as well but decided on cheaper running costs so went the GS instead.  I did however test ride the GSR and lets say you are going to have fun with that one. 

Thanks. I must admit I love the GS500 for it's low running costs, it's one of the things that made me wary of upgrading.

Was thinking of an R6 but then i tooled around on my hubby's '04 R6 for a while and found that it puts out an awful lot of heat.  After lengthy discussions with my brother-in-law about this topic (he's got an '05 R1) and some serious humming and hawing I've decided to stay with the GS and just mod the hell out of it.  The GS may not be a ripping machine but with the right mods it'll do the job and you've got to admit it's a hell of a fun ride.  It's also unique enough that you might stand out from the other guys.  That's why I'm here - looking for all the help and advice I can get.  Unfortunately there is not much aftermarket stuff in the US and Canada geared to the GS - unlike the European market.  But with the right advice I hope to get it done.

My wish list, in order:

1) Kawi Vulcan 900 - would love to have this for out of town trips and to tote the old lady around.


2) Royal Enfield - I just love the look of this bike. It would stand out around here.


3) Vstrom 650 - This would be a fun commuter.