Author Topic: Buying another bike - what should I get ? (Read 6426 times)

ProTeal55 · « **on:** April 24, 2006, 11:52:59 AM »

Hey ,

With the out of control fuel prices, I have two choices. I either sell my 2002 Turbo Diesel Ford Excursion which takes $85 to fill 1/2 way (44 gallon tank), or buy some sort of crotch rocket / sportbike to ride to and from work.

I am gonna go the 2nd route and buy another bike, as I like my truck to much to sell it. The CB is fine, but I need something alittle more "road friendly" than it to ride in rush hour traffic.

So, what do I buy ? It is def. gonna be used. I was thinking about either a used Suzuki GSXR 750 or a Honda CBR600. I want as close to ZERO maintence for this thing. I wanna put gas in it and rack up the miles. Maybe a few year old Kawai ZX-7.. ? I would buy a HD, but the money isnt their for that, then I will start doing things to it, etc...

Anyone have an some advice on what I should look for ??

dusterdude · « **Reply #1 on:** April 24, 2006, 11:55:06 AM »

shoot,either one sounds good to me.

eldar · « **Reply #2 on:** April 24, 2006, 12:04:53 PM »

I would say a late 90s early 2000s magna. they are supposed to be pretty fast and are a 750 but are almost as fast as a valkyrie. So gas mileage should still be pretty good to go with the performance.

Noel · « **Reply #3 on:** April 24, 2006, 12:05:38 PM »

I know it's not much of a sportbike, but the Kwacker EX500 seems like a pretty good commuter to me. Cheap, bulletproof, good MPG, easy maintenance...

Tell you the truth, if I was to buy a commuter, it would probably be the EX250 (Ninja). All the good traits of the 500, plus ridiculously high MPG. It's also incredibly narrow, making lane splitting a total non-event.

ProTeal55 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 24, 2006, 12:40:14 PM »

I refuse to buy anything under 600cc's..
With traffic around these parts (Chicagoland Area) , I need all the HP and TQ I can get to survive. I wouldn't last long on a 250cc Ninja, especially as I laughed at myself when I saw my reflection of me riding it.

I feel the same way about the Magna.

I am sure I wanna stick with a E.F.I bike, as they run the same no matter what the weather, as carb'ed bikes do not. Kinda leaning towards a GSXR 750 at the momment...

Noel · « **Reply #5 on:** April 24, 2006, 12:43:28 PM »

I dunno; I commuted through downtown L.A. on a Ninja 250 for years. Was the perfect bike for it.

Regardless, you started out with "I want a sensible commuter bike with good gas mileage and low maintanence" and ended with "I think I'll buy a GSXR 750" which I'm pretty sure meets none of your original criteria. I think you really just want a kick-ass sport bike and are trying to come up with an excuse for it!

ProTeal55 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 24, 2006, 01:02:17 PM »

Maybe ?

If I wanted an all out "Kill Myself" bike, I would buy the fastest Buell and go to town.
Buell's are american, and related to HD, which means that it will break down, which I dont need to deal with on a commuter bike. I do plan to do some small cosmetic "changes" to whatever bike I end up buying, to make it alittle more PROTEAL

I am still open to suguestions. Maybe a CBR 600 F4i or something.
Need to start looking...

my78k · « **Reply #7 on:** April 24, 2006, 01:10:07 PM »

My buddy has the F4i...that thing is mean...

Fairly comfy to ride too but the best part is the throttle response. It is insanely quick but still very decent on gas and is pretty much maintenance free.

He commutes daily about 30 or so miles (45 kms for those of us using the metric system

) in a combination of open HWY and in town pretty much half of each to get to his office. He loves it...I've only used it up by my cottage which is all open back country twisties and was shocked at how good it was to ride. The thing weighs about half as much as my k8 and has almost twice the power!

If I had the coin to buy something newer at the moment it would definitely be my choice.

Dennis

ofreen · « **Reply #8 on:** April 24, 2006, 01:10:59 PM »

Quote from: ProTeal55 on April 24, 2006, 01:02:17 PM

I am still open to suguestions. Maybe a CBR 600 F4i or something.
Need to start looking...

How about a 1200 Bandit? Stock, it is plenty fast, can get great gas mileage if a little restraint is used, and has a bulletproof motor that's been around a long time with plenty of aftermarket support.

tsflstb · « **Reply #9 on:** April 24, 2006, 01:18:59 PM »

The sportbike crouch gets old if you sit in traffic. Something like a Bandit, FJR, etc. would be a good commuter and still have some punch.

I'd vote for the SV650. You can get the non "S" model with a regular handlebar. 360 lbs. and 65 h.p. It doesn't eat tires every 3000 miles like a liter bike either. Something to consider if you're doing lots of miles. Modern rubber is expensive.

http://www.suzukicycles.com/Products/SV650K6/Default.aspx

marvsho17 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 24, 2006, 01:42:54 PM »

How bout a Vrod.

ProTeal55 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 24, 2006, 02:04:59 PM »

No v-rod.

If I were to buy ANY HD product, it would be a Buell.

Carbine · « **Reply #12 on:** April 24, 2006, 02:14:47 PM »

......I would get a early 90's 750 Nighthawk, or a Zephr 750, or even a Zephr 550. All 3 get great mileage, have enough power to keep you alive, and stop and handle great. They are so far down the depreciation curve that you will sell any of the 3 within 2 years for what you paid for it. Fun to ride, and plus.....are not ski boot bikes................

putnaja1 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 24, 2006, 03:19:35 PM »

Even though you've said you don't want anything smaller than 600cc, I'd still like to second the EX500 vote.. Talk about bulletproof, and fast and agile enough to surprise anyone who doesn't expect that kinda juice from a twin.. I had one in the early '90s, and it was a rocketship.. With a Vance&Hines pipe and a jet kit, it looked and sounded good, would power wheelie in 1st gear, and would have me over the 1-ton mark without me really trying- honestly.. I'd get in the fast lane, get comfy, and then look down to find I was going over 100.. They are popular race bikes too, and plenty of them around- cheap.

The CBR600's are nice and very refined by now. They'll cost more, but have more power too. I love the look of the GSXR's, but I've not heard good things about the reliability (but I've never owned one, so I honestly don't know 1st hand).

Also, what about a Triumph? Either speed-triple or a Thruxton look interesting, are plenty fast, inexpensively priced, and supposed to be very reliable.

Jason

ProTeal55 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 24, 2006, 03:25:50 PM »

Good point about the triumph's, forgot about those.
I did have a bddy who had a bright green speed-triple.
Might have to look into them...

mb3000gt · « **Reply #15 on:** April 24, 2006, 04:00:38 PM »

i have a ninja250 for commuting, does the job well. the riding positions of the gsxr/zx's is not great for commuting. dont forget to consider what insurance costs on those bikes, as it may negate any possible savings on gas.

heffay · « **Reply #16 on:** April 24, 2006, 04:14:06 PM »

is money an issue? if not then stay in the ballpark of what you're considering. if it is then many of the previous comments are excellent.

i think you should rethink the carb vs. fuel injection... you're just ruling a lot of bikes out when they can and do run extremely well.

for instance, i rode a 94 cbr600f2 that would stomp all over whatever it wanted to AND was easy to ride... carbed
also, i rode an 89 ex500 that was great... so much so that i found one for the girlfriend... it really really goes. an awesome bike... carbed
another bike i like is the early 93ish cbr900rr... what a monster... carbed

there's so many sweet bikes out there and i just dont think that fuel injection make or break them. and you start getting in the early 90's bikes they get much cheaper and can be just as fast. my 92zx7r is hands down the most handleable and fastest bike i've owned and at 1,800 dollars it was one of the cheapest. but, again, it's carbed.

Noel · « **Reply #17 on:** April 24, 2006, 04:15:36 PM »

Quote

Good point about the triumph's, forgot about those.
I did have a bddy who had a bright green speed-triple.
Might have to look into them...

Ha! Now the "reliable" part gets thrown out the window too!

Just go buy the GSXR or a CBR600RR and quit trying to rationalize it as a "commuter bike". Sometimes you got to make the soul happy too!

egar · « **Reply #18 on:** April 24, 2006, 05:53:06 PM »

I would have to go with the Thruxton. Beautiful bike and modern technology with a Cafe look. The black ones with the checkered stripe down the center is gorgeous.

egar · « **Reply #19 on:** April 24, 2006, 05:58:08 PM »

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4633102019&indexURL=6#ebayphotohosting
Here's a brand new Thruxton on Ebay. Check out the price.

putnaja1 · « **Reply #20 on:** April 24, 2006, 06:54:49 PM »

Wow! Small world! I went and sat on that very bike in the auction. What they don't tell you is that, instead of the posted "0 miles", it has 70 miles on it.. This is Clinton cycles, in MD. I don't know about you, but for a new bike, I don't want that many miles. Plus, it's last years model- not that there's any difference between 2005 and 2006, but if I'm gonna pay for new, I want fresh outta the crate.

I have read that the new Triumphs are very reliable, not like the Bonnevilles of old which had bad electrics, leaked oil, etc. They are beautiful to look at, that's for sure. All of the Thruxtons have the checkered stripe, even the yellow one! Too cool.

Jason

Noel · « **Reply #21 on:** April 24, 2006, 08:04:50 PM »

My only experiences with modern Triumphs are vicarious: two separate friends with two separate Speed Triples, both of which went down with identical -- and horrifyingly expensive -- electrical troubles at around 15,000 miles.

Could certainly be coincidence. Or not.

GroovieGhoulie · « **Reply #22 on:** April 24, 2006, 08:07:16 PM »

Quote from: Noel on April 24, 2006, 08:04:50 PM

My only experiences with modern Triumphs are vicarious: two separate friends with two separate Speed Triples, both of which went down with identical -- and horrifyingly expensive -- electrical troubles at around 15,000 miles.

Could certainly be coincidence. Or not.

Did the Prince of Darkness strike again?

Noel · « **Reply #23 on:** April 24, 2006, 08:17:10 PM »

The one friend used to get kind of pissed when I joked about warm beer and such. After he blew $800 to get his electrics fixed, he starting repeating the old jokes himself.

Noel · « **Reply #24 on:** April 24, 2006, 08:19:54 PM »

And you know, I think I'm "over" the thread topic: I spent years commuting on a '78 750F in the worst traffic SoCal has to offer. I say anybody who talks about needing a "real" bike for commuting gets drummed out of the club.

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Author Topic: Buying another bike - what should I get ? (Read 6426 times)

eldar

marvsho17