So went bike shopping yesterday..

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » November 5, 2006, 5:32 pm

So I spent the day driving around looking at bikes at some dealerships and now am left trying to decide which one to get. I am NOT looking for a R6/R1 type bike but a everyday work commute bike that can handle spirited weekend driving and a long cruise now and then. I got two Kawasakis and 2 Hondas on my list:

Kawasaki Ninja 650R (2006) - $6199
Kawasaki ZZR600 (2006) - $6999
Honda CBR600F4I (2006) - $7300
Honda Super Hawk (2005 but brand new) - $7500

The 650R has been getting killer reviews but not sure if I am 100% sold on the straight-up sitting position. I am among the weird people who think a sportier sitting position is more comfortable than a cruiser. It has plenty of low- and mid-end power thanks to the parallel-twin engine which makes it a great bike in traffic. Black only. This bike actually looks nicer in photos than in real life imo.

I honestly don't know too much about the ZZR600 so will have to read up on it a bit. I liked the sitting position better than the 650R but who knows after a long day of riding. I think I like the looks better than the 650R as well, but a different exhaust pipe is definitely needed. Can get this one in red or black.

The F4I is a GREAT bike. And might be the best all-round bike available. But the only one they had is yellow (ugh) and well.. it is only $200 cheaper than the Super Hawk. Plus insurance on a F4 is disproportionately high. In fact I can insure a R6 for the same amount. I think this is because of their popularity and how often they are stolen heh.

Ah the Super Hawk.. Can you say torque? I know you could! The largest engine of these (996 CC) and a v-twin. Great combination of fun, sportiness and comfort. My cousin used to love his Super Hawk before he had to sell it and have never heard a bad word about them even for long trips. Titanium gray only.

Anyone have any personal experiences with these? $1300 price variety is a good chunk of money but a part of me believes the Super Hawk is the way to go.. As of right now I believe I have the ZZR600 as the second option.

Oh yeah, I have been on bikes before and this would not be a first bike. I was not too happy with the upright sitting position of the 500 Ninja I had and am looking for an upgrade/something sportier. I have some car plans as well so am trying to use my head on this purchase and not my heart (the car is quite the opposite hah).

Ramseis · Post by **Ramseis** » November 6, 2006, 12:14 am

Are you looking to stay in the 600cc range or jump to the 900cc range?

Have a 900 ninja and you can sit up on it but it has a good forward lean and like you I like riding in more sport style than sitting upright.

650's from what I have seen you don't have as much forward lean as they aren't as powerful obviously as higher cc bikes so you don't necessarily have as much forward lean.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » November 6, 2006, 9:55 am

Well I am looking for a sporty commuter that can handle spirited weekend drives and a rare (but occasional) long trip. I am trying to limit my spending a bit on this one because, as I said, I am working on some car plans as well which

Truant · Post by **Truant** » November 6, 2006, 11:14 am

For me, I would check the difference in cost to insure the two bikes. That information would also be important in my decision.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » November 6, 2006, 11:59 am

Not a huge difference in insurance, about $40/month. The Super Hawk would probably be the best buy for the long run, but not sure if I like the naked engine look.

Maybe I'll end up skipping both of them and going a completely different direction after visiting the Suzuki dealer heh but I don't see that happening.

Denadeb · Post by **Denadeb** » November 6, 2006, 12:14 pm

I know your not sure about the naked look but the fz6 isn't a bad choice.

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » November 6, 2006, 12:38 pm

One of my best friends had the ZZR and loved it to run around town on... small town though. He, like you, said he felt more comfortable in that postion. However after riding over an hour each way to work on it when his car was in the shop, 2 months took a pretty big toll on his body (and he is a former Army Ranger).

He started having a lot of back and neck problems and eventually the Doctor told him to stay off the bike for a while except for short rides.

However he is the big thing about that bike, and who knows - possibly others. If you ride it on the HWY for more than about 20 minutes in the summy your BALLS will be about 150 degrees. Not sure why but the engine heat seems to go directly to your balls, he complained about it and I rode it for a while one afternoon and I felt like it took a week for my balls to feel normal again.... soooo... just something to think about. If you aren't going to ride it a ton, you might not have the back and neck problems but I don't see anyway around the balls issue and that could be an issue on all of them.

Marb

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » November 6, 2006, 1:14 pm

Truant wrote:For me, I would check the difference in cost to insure the two bikes. That information would also be important in my decision.

I am guessing that the insurance in order for those four bikes (from cheapest to most expensive) might be something like:

Super-Hawk
650r
F4i
ZZR600

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » November 6, 2006, 3:15 pm

Friend of mine is getting a FZ6 and he loves it. It is a DAMN good bike and perfect for him. It just wasn't a.. fit.. for me. Hard to explain, I know it is a good bike but it just wasn't "it" for me. What can I say, I am picky! Haha!

Insurance on these bikes (ran with the same coverage, didn't nitpick in my selections just wanted a fair comparison):
CBR600F4i: $1323.00 for 12 month policy.
Super Hawk: $1302.00 for 12 month policy.
ZZR600: $820.00 for 12 month policy.
650R: $604.00 for 12 month policy.

The Super Hawk has the largest engine by far (996 CC v-twin) so that is probably why it is more expensive. The CBR is a very popular bike and quite often stolen. And I believe they think the 650R is aimed towards an older, more mature rider group with it's up-right sitting position.

Interesting info about the ZZR Marbus.. I sat on it for a good while and it is way less sporty than a regular R-type bike but more than the 650R. Not sure what to say about the balls issue though!

I used to ride a 500 Ninja in Texas and never had that problem!

One issue I have with the Super Hawk is that it is pretty much the last of it's breed and hasn't really been updated since 1998. Still has carburetors and everything. Since they stopped importing it in 2005 it is kind of oldish.

Man maybe I need to head down to the dealership again and look at the Kawa 636..

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » November 6, 2006, 3:29 pm

That's odd. The Super-Hawk is nowhere near what I had been looking at. I am guessing because it is right on the edge between a street-sport and high-performance bike.

Zaelath · Post by **Zaelath** » November 6, 2006, 10:40 pm

All I'd say is if you're going to rack up a lot of miles (commuting) then I'd get one of the Hondas..

I don't know that much about the kwakas other than they've always been buzzier and less reliable (the 650r forum has stickied instructions on how to install dampners to stop the fairing buzzing O.o), and the ZZR is still running carbs which seems a bit dated... (though so does the Super Hawk)

I'd also wonder about the Super Hawk based on it being EOL (Pretty sure the replacement is the Firestorm http://www.hondamotorcycles.com.au/moto ... orm+06.htm no clue if it's sold in the US)

I think you're right about the F4i, it does seem to be a very good bike... and what the hell is wrong with yellow? Though for yellow I'd probably get the Triumph 675 ><

Zaelath · Post by **Zaelath** » November 6, 2006, 10:42 pm

Marbus wrote:One of my best friends had the ZZR and loved it to run around town on... small town though. He, like you, said he felt more comfortable in that postion. However after riding over an hour each way to work on it when his car was in the shop, 2 months took a pretty big toll on his body (and he is a former Army Ranger).

He started having a lot of back and neck problems and eventually the Doctor told him to stay off the bike for a while except for short rides.

However he is the big thing about that bike, and who knows - possibly others. If you ride it on the HWY for more than about 20 minutes in the summy your BALLS will be about 150 degrees. Not sure why but the engine heat seems to go directly to your balls, he complained about it and I rode it for a while one afternoon and I felt like it took a week for my balls to feel normal again.... soooo... just something to think about. If you aren't going to ride it a ton, you might not have the back and neck problems but I don't see anyway around the balls issue and that could be an issue on all of them.

Marb

Probably has to do with the way they preheat the fuel, so the tank gets warm.... pretty nice on those cold days

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » November 6, 2006, 11:25 pm

The Firestorm is the non-US version of the Super Hawk if I am not mistaken. Should be 998 cc V-Twin vs 996 for the Hawk. The RC-51 is the "new Super Hawk" I guess although it is a hell of a lot sportier.

My commute is a short one, 17 miles right now and might get up to 20 miles next summer. So not exactly a killer commute hah. Oh and the Triumph is a NICE yellow, the Honda is just.. nasty.

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » November 6, 2006, 11:55 pm

Another friend of mine has the FZ6 and freakin' loves it, I haven't had a chance to ride it yet... he won't let anyone on it and it's almost a year old already but he freakin' rides it everywhere and he has like 6 cars (use to work on C130s, big restoration guy).

Marb

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » November 7, 2006, 4:54 pm

Well I thought about this for a wile. Am not 100% sold on any of the bikes I looked at last weekend so I am heading back out on Saturday. Going to look at and test a couple of R6s (04, 05 and 06), a 2002 R1 and a Suzuki dealership about 40 minutes away has a whole load of used bikes (GSX-Rs, TLs etc) that I will take a look at. The R1 is a hell of a bike, way sportier than what I originally had planned for but damn.. would be fun!

Sendarie · Post by **Sendarie** » November 7, 2006, 6:19 pm

Not sure if it was covered before but what is your riding experience?

I'm sure you do but really hope if your a beginner you have the sense to not even think about an R1.

Truant · Post by **Truant** » November 7, 2006, 7:08 pm

Sendarie wrote:Not sure if it was covered before but what is your riding experience?

I'm sure you do but really hope if your a beginner you have the sense to not even think about an R1.

he mentioned it up above. he's not a beginner.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » November 7, 2006, 8:12 pm

Sendarie wrote:Not sure if it was covered before but what is your riding experience?

I'm sure you do but really hope if your a beginner you have the sense to not even think about an R1.

Yeah I am actually one of the people who always yell at others to avoid too big of a bike as a beginner

I have riding experience, refreshed my experience with re-taking MSF classes this summer and even so the R1 scares me a bit. Which I believe is good since I will most definitely not be overconfident on it.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » November 11, 2006, 7:15 pm

Well spent a significant amount of hours today looking at, sitting on and talking about bikes. I decided against a Ducati because frankly, as much as I love them they are not daily drivers. Also decided to step up from the ZZR and the Super Hawk and get something.. nicer! So this is what I looked at today:

06 Honda CBR600RR (0 miles) - $7999
Several different to choose from with all the available colors. Black one is nice. These are damn nice bikes.

06 Triumph Daytona 675 (1700 miles) - $7900
Red, if this was the yellow/goldish colored one I would have bought it on the spot. Has a $1400 exhaust system on it (saw the receipts) and was owned by a guy who has 10 bikes. Just looking at it made me fall in love and when I heard the sound.. damn.. this is the friggin Angelina Jolie of bikes. Seat is hard though but you'll have a constant euphoria riding it so you'll never notice. The waiting list for these new is 8 months here! Oh yeah, the smoothest throttle I have ever felt on any bike. Is it wrong to be sexually excited by a bike?

04 Honda CBR1000RR (4K miles) - $7900
Very nice silver paint and on decals (which I like). Owned by a guy at the dealership, 100% mint condition and a LOT of bike for the money. Would last me a long time for sure. Has minor upgrades like braided lines etc.

04 Honda CBR600RR (low.. forgot to write it down) - $6999
The most beautiful blue paint I have ever seen. The sales guy took me back into the warehouse and it caught my eye the second I walked inside. Stunning, mint condition. I think I might actually go for this one over a new one.. it is that stunning.

04 Suzuki GSXR600 (4kish miles) - $6999
Several of these in several color combinations. Always been a fan of Suzukis so these are definitely on my list.

05 (I think) Yamaha R1
Stunning black and mint condition. Forgot to write down specifics.. am an idiot hah.

Time to do some serious thinking!

Neziroth · Post by **Neziroth** » November 12, 2006, 3:03 pm

I'm partial to the 05 - 06 kawasaki ZX-6R (somewhat because I own one, but there's more reasons.)

The riding position is aggressive but not overly so. You can keep the weight off your arms without much of an issue.

My favorite part of the bike is it's not a 599 CC, it's a 636 CC. (Illegal to race in 600cc classes, if you're into that.) Those extra 36CCs give it a lot more midrange power, so you don't have to run at 10,000 RPMs to have some kick. - but believe me it has plenty of kick at 10,000 too

I commute 40 miles to work and 40 more miles home in the summer, and I drive for work too. After 150 miles a day on the bike I've never had an issue (got 7,000 miles on it now), and I was never any more sore on it than I was on my old Ninja 250 which is a very upright position.

It's amazing in the corners too, I couldn't get my knee to the ground on the 250, but I can do it on this time and time again. Nothing like feeling G-forces sucking you right into the tank when you're leaned way over

Cruising at 65mph in 6th gear you're running around 5700 RPMs, which isn't overly buzzy, if that matters to you. 6th gear roll ons take you from 60-80 in just over 4 sec, and from 80-100 in 4 more. (You can downshift to as low as 2nd gear at 60mph however, and THAT will wake you up in a hurry

)

P.S. The ZZR600 is just the last generation Ninja. If you're going to go down that path you might as well get the Ninja and have the newer, better, more technologically advanced bike. The prices aren't that far off.

The 650R is a beginner bike through and through (and it has the WORST looking exhaust I've ever seen). I'm not sure if it's a V-Twin or a Parallel Twin, if it's a Parallel twin, I'd recommend not buying it if you have riding experience, you'll get bored with it.

That's all I have time to type right now, I have a poker tourney to go to

Good luck, ride safe.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » November 19, 2006, 7:35 pm

Done. 2006 Triumph Daytona 675 - Arrow Full Titanium Race Exhaust/Scorpio SR-i500 Alarm. It will be in my garage later this week.

Neziroth · Post by **Neziroth** » November 19, 2006, 7:44 pm

Very nice pick.

Consider a Power Commander to get the full effect from your full exhaust.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » November 19, 2006, 9:25 pm

Bike is remapped for the exhaust. All ready to go

It sounds so damn nice it is crazy. Can't wait to pick it up and hopefully the weather will give me a day or two to ride it hah.

Zaelath · Post by **Zaelath** » November 21, 2006, 8:46 pm

Gratz

Hope it's as good as I think it is, will be keen to hear how it performs over time.

Denadeb · Post by **Denadeb** » November 21, 2006, 9:55 pm

Thats a nice bike congrats.