Yet another 'what bike' post

As you know, I've been muttering about getting shot of the VFR for a
while now to get something with a bit more grunt, and have focussed
mainly on a Thunderace or Fazer 1000 as likely candidates so far.

I've got a testride lined up for next weekend on a Fazer 1000 as my
starter for ten.

Anyway... I've been nosing around eBay at these and other bigger
bikes, as you do, and well... *gah*, I keep looking at other stuff and
can't make my mind up what I really want,

Criteria is as follows:

*  Loads of poke - no 600s, although have looked at a few R6s and
wondered if they'd be worth a punt
*  Fun to ride - I ride my bike for pleasure purposes in the main, so
scratching etc is the main thing it gets used for, and I want
something that really gets my adrenalin going like 600s used to when I
were just a mere lad ;-)
*  Doesn't come with a complimentary years membership with an
osteopath as standard
*  Sprots stylee - Fazer is as far removed from this as I'd like to
go, not interested in any full on tourers / trailies
*  Don't give a toss how dear the insurance is, or how quickly it
shreds back tyres - I've accepted that this is a given on anything
bigger than the VFR, going by the recent quotes I've had
*  Not too fussed about fuel economy either, although 35mpg on a run
would be nice
*  Will be used for touring at some stage - possibly riding down to a
mates place in Spain soon for a holiday
*  I don't do V Twins - I want the surge inline fours (or rather
decent inline fours) have tended to give in the past when they hit mid
to upper range when I've ridden them.

So anyway, I keep looking at eBay, with a budget of around £3k in mind
including the disposal of the VFR (which will be offered in here for
£1800 before I offer it to the masses elsewhere).

Shortlist of what look like possibles at present is as follows:

*  Early R1
*  ZX9R E1
*  Early GSXR1000
*  ZX12R
*  Blackbird (although put off by their reputation for being a bit
mundane to ride)
*  Fazer 1000
*  Thunderace

Previous failed candidates:

I detested the Daytona 955i I had - boring as fuck to ride, plus never
again will I touch anything from Triumph of the same era given the
grief the ECUs can give.

I've had a Pan European - actually handled surprisingly well, but too
bulky for what I want now in the main.

I've had an early Fireblade - bum and wrist ache in spades after 20
miles, given I'm 6'3" with the emphasis on a long body / arms, rather
than legs, and 16.5 stone.

I've had a GSXR750L - I felt like I was going to fall off all the time
on choppy back roads, despite putting the suspension back to standard
and trying to tune it out... I actually felt in the end it was just an
inherent feature of a bike with such a steep rake on the front forks.

I've ridden a couple of Bandit 1200s and wondered A: 'Am I going to
actually make it round this bend???', and B: 'What's all the fuss
about - not exactly that quick, is it?'

I liked my Fazer 600 - nice riding position and a hoot to lob
around... shame about the finish.

I used to enjoy scratching on the various CBR600s I had - but they're
no longer man enough for what I want in terms of torque / riding
position.

So... FOAK, aside from 'fuck off out there and test a few of them, can
anyone specifically recommend one of the above given my criteria, or
anything else for that matter that might be worth a try - include a
brief precis as to why it would meet the bill with your reply if you'd
be so kind, so I can draw up a definitive shortlist of bikes to go
testride.

Another option is keep the VFR as the general dogsbody / tourer, and
get a second bike for scratching on for about £1500.

TIA for any suggestions  / opinions - I appreciate I probably want the
moon on the stick, and it may well be I'm just better off sticking
with the VFR, but I guess until I get out there and try a few other
bikes, I'll never know.

--
JackH

date: Sun, 7 Sep 2008 11:55:31 -0700 (PDT) author: unknown