Bike inquiry

[sonofmayhem]

I am looking for a reasonable priced bike for next year. I need one to travel from here to Cali, and back once a month or so. And to get me to school/work. I just wanna know what to avoid and what to look for. I really like yamahas and the 600s.

Thanks

[Jeffro600]

Thats a long fawking drive...let alone on a bike!! If you plan on doing it once a month or so, id go after something cushy...a goldwing or other large, comfortable, recliner style cruiser...and even then, your ass is gonna be BEGGING for you to pull over after a couple hours!! :eek:

Forget a sportbike...at most youll be able to spend a couple hours on them comfortably before you start having problems with your back, wrists and neck.

Buy a cheap import car that gets good mileage...i would never recommend a bike to do monthly cross country trips on...especially with your limited experience and how fast the weather can change in the west.

[Budman]

Thats a long fawking drive...let alone on a bike!! If you plan on doing it once a month or so, id go after something cushy...a goldwing or other large, comfortable, recliner style cruiser...and even then, your ass is gonna be BEGGING for you to pull over after a couple hours!! :eek:

Forget a sportbike...at most youll be able to spend a couple hours on them comfortably before you start having problems with your back, wrists and neck.

Buy a cheap import car that gets good mileage...i would never recommend a bike to do monthly cross country trips on...especially with your limited experience and how fast the weather can change in the west.

What he said...

If you ditch the cali trip, I would reccomend one of the small japanese cruisers. Yamaha Vstar 650, Honda shadow 650, etc.

[sonofmayhem]

I have experience on bikes, But there is now way in hell you will catch me on a cruiser till im like 50:D

Ok, so what is a comfy/fast bike?

I want a bike, because with a car ill end up spending more in modifications than on a bike. Plus im gonna start school and don't wanna pay as much in gas and maintenence costs.

[Tiffany]

Well I have a ZX7R I will make you a smoking deal on. It won't be comfrotable on that Cali trip, but it's damn fast...

[Camp]

If I was riding cross country like that, I'd go for something like a BMW 1150GS or R 1200GS depending on year and price range. My roommate has the smaller 600GS and it has been a great bike for him. This is the newer replacement for his bike:
http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/bikes/bike.jsp?b=f650gs

You can get hard bags, grip heaters,...ect and it seems to protect the rider pretty well.

I know he was thinking about replacing it so, you might be able to talk him out of it. He wanted to step up to a bigger bike for next year last I talked to him about it.

[jeeplvr79]

x2 on the BMW's

[Budman]

I have experience on bikes, But there is now way in hell you will catch me on a cruiser till im like 50:D

Ok, so what is a comfy/fast bike?

I think I am insulted by that first statement. All bikes are fast...

[MonkeyBomb]

Crotch rockets are not made for speed not comfort and riding to cali from here you want a cruiser. Besides mmy last criser would smoke any crotch rocket under a 750. There were more than a few bruised egos with that bike. It was way comfortable with an aftermarket seat and still had it when you had a need for speed. It was a Honda VTX 1800. The beemers are nice too and have the crotch rocket look without the pain of riding one.

[Jeffro600]

Besides mmy last criser would smoke any crotch rocket under a 750. It was a Honda VTX 1800.

:lmao: HIGHLY unlikely! At least not in anywhere near stock form.

600cc sportbikes today put out more HP that a VTX does from the showroom with half the weight. Torque will only do so much for you.

[DanaT]

Crotch rockets are not made for speed not comfort and riding to cali from here you want a cruiser. Besides mmy last criser would smoke any crotch rocket under a 750. .

That is a lofty statement. Be careful if you really think that is true....

-Dana

[sonofmayhem]

sorry budman:D

Well id really like to "Carve canyons" i know that it won't be comfortable. But i want a fast cheap reliable transportation. Skip out on the cali trips:D


I am saving now and hope to get a bike for about 3k.

[MonkeyBomb]

:lmao: HIGHLY unlikely! At least not in anywhere near stock form.

600cc sportbikes today put out more HP that a VTX does from the showroom with half the weight. Torque will only do so much for you.

Ride one and see for your self. Mine wasn't exactly stock but most will do a respectable 12 second quarter right off the showroom floor with a decent rider. Sorry to burst your bubble but they are really fast couchs:D

[Jeffro600]

Oh i dont doubt for a second that their fairly quick for what they are(and i have ridden one)...but to come on here and say it will smoke anything smaller than a 750 is ludicrous!! A 600cc sportbike stock off the showroom floor will run a high 10 low 11.

But were also talking about a stripped down, barebones comfort VTX...not a true road recliner.

[MonkeyBomb]

Oh i dont doubt for a second that their fairly quick for what they are(and i have ridden one)...but to come on here and say it will smoke anything smaller than a 750 is ludicrous!! A 600cc sportbike stock off the showroom floor will run a high 10 low 11.

But were also talking about a stripped down, barebones comfort VTX...not a true road recliner.

I'll give you that. It's not a gold wing and they are heavy. Riders make the diff as well/ Most around here can't ride as well as they think they can either. Mine was stock for all of a month and i dropped a few pennies into it. So i'm a little biased.

[Tiffany]

sorry budman:D

Well id really like to "Carve canyons" i know that it won't be comfortable. But i want a fast cheap reliable transportation. Skip out on the cali trips:D


I am saving now and hope to get a bike for about 3k.
I have a bike....PM me

[sweater]

If I was riding cross country like that, I'd go for something like a BMW 1150GS or R 1200GS depending on year and price range. My roommate has the smaller 600GS and it has been a great bike for him. This is the newer replacement for his bike:
http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/bikes/bike.jsp?b=f650gs

You can get hard bags, grip heaters,...ect and it seems to protect the rider pretty well.

I know he was thinking about replacing it so, you might be able to talk him out of it. He wanted to step up to a bigger bike for next year last I talked to him about it.
Another option, and I'm definitely biased?

Suzuki Vstrom/DL650 or DL1000 (http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/VStrom.html) for roughly half the cost of a BMW 650 or 1150/1200.

You can get all of the above - hard or soft bags, heated grips, aux lights, better seat, etc. Craploads of aftermarket for the things. Tons of people prefer the 'strom's comfort over the 650GS, but you can't argue with shaft drive.

Just my $0.02... :D

- mike

[DanaT]

Oh i dont doubt for a second that their fairly quick for what they are(and i have ridden one)...but to come on here and say it will smoke anything smaller than a 750 is ludicrous!! A 600cc sportbike stock off the showroom floor will run a high 10 low 11.

But were also talking about a stripped down, barebones comfort VTX...not a true road recliner.


Whenever you make a blanket statement (such as it will beat any sport bike smaller than a 750) you are asking to get beat on.

As an example, a long while ago (when a ZX11 was top dog), I had a friend with a ZX11 and one with a CBR600F2 (I had a GSXR1100). For a short time frames ( a few weeks for the ZX11 and about 2 months for my GSXR) the CBR600 would pull away from both of the bigger bikes on a straightaway (upto about 140mph). So the lesson is, never make blanket statements.

-Dana

[PhantomD AKA Zach]

Yamaha YZF600R, sporty, but not a lay on the tank style bike, made from 1997 to 2007 all are basically identical, and about 100HP although after a few hours on mine I want to give my ass a rest! Heli bars apparently help a lot for sitting position...

http://home.comcast.net/~phantomdragonz/Site/Photos_files/YZF600left.jpg

[Budman]

sorry budman:D

Well id really like to "Carve canyons"

You don't have to have a crotch rocket to carve the canyons. Don't believe me, come ride with me, you pick the curves, I will lead the way. this coming from a guy who cut his teeth on big fast sport bikes, and has some track time as well as AMA instructor time.


and I ridea bagger now.

[Tom N]

I don't know if they are still doing it but I heard on the radio about a month ago that you could get a New R6 or R1 at the Yamaha Dealer in Nathrop for $100.00 per month. I dont know for how many months but I did think about it.

[Jeffro600]

I don't know if they are still doing it but I heard on the radio about a month ago that you could get a New R6 or R1 at the Yamaha Dealer in Nathrop for $100.00 per month. I dont know for how many months but I did think about it.

For the rest of your life!!! :eek:

[PhantomD AKA Zach]

For the rest of your life!!! :eek:

and full coverage on a motorcycle is CRAZY!!!! cost way to damn much!!!

wanted like $1200 a year from me!

although my old bike was $109 a year for full coverage...

Zach

[Budman]

I carry full coverage plus 5 thousand in accessories rider. It cost's me $22 per month, and that is on an 05 victory bagger.

[PhantomD AKA Zach]

I carry full coverage plus 5 thousand in accessories rider. It cost's me $22 per month, and that is on an 05 victory bagger.

I take it thats not a sport bike...:flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Zach

[Budman]

I take it thats not a sport bike...:flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Zach

nope a bagger...

[DanaT]

My insurance is right at $200 a year for full coverage on a Hayabusa. Its been like that for about 8 years.

-Dana

[Tiffany]

Mine is $420 a year and that is only because of my tickets in the cage.

[PhantomD AKA Zach]

I think mine is really high because I have not been a rider for more then 5years (progressive)

Zach

[crackhead]

Ive got a BMW GS and love it.. For the type of riding I do and what I wanted, its perfect.. Not exactly cheap, but a great bike..

[sonofmayhem]

Yeah i think im gonna hold off and buy a wrx, I see this as all around transportation with reliablity and "ok" fast.

My friend has a new CBR and says he can ride on it all day, but as soon as he tosses on a backpack his back starts to hurt him.

[coford]

If you want a comfortable bike to ride in the canyons, have great highway ability, and be a Yamaha, I say look into 1990-2000 FJ1100/1200. They have gobs of torque and handle very well. They run just as fast as current 600s and accept saddle bags for long trips.
http://denver.craigslist.org/mcy/427021513.html
I'll be getting one next spring. I'm just tired of numb wrists and butt after 45 min of riding my R1.