Why your bike?
 

I was talking with a young Airman today about motorcycles... and he asked why I chose JUST a 600. :lol: I said what I always say... my little 600 will still do 140+... and 0-6 in under 4 sec... (or 0-on my back in 2sec when I'm riding :lol:) that a 600 can carry more corner speed... but mostly... because I personally didn't NEED or WANT anything bigger...

but it made me think...

Why did you choose the bike you did? was it looks? peer pressure? the performance? the color? heavenly guidance?


Personally… I got my 600rr for two reasons… 1 it was a great deal and fit my circumstances. 2. It was the best fit for me… I liked how light it was… the riding position…(though hadn’t sat on an 08… sat on Trip’s 07… same thing) and didn't want anything bigger than a 600

so how about you?

I wanted a 600 and liked the RR over the other 3.

Wanted a vtwin. Loved the looks. Unbelievable deal too.

I wanted a bike that was light like a 600 but had more low end grunt like a liter bike but without the top end. I don't like constantly riding at 10-12K rpm like I would need to on a 600.

It was time to upgrade (old bike was becoming more pain than pleasure). I'd ridden Chris' R1 and had absolutely fallen in love with it. Just all of it - the looks, the way it rode, comfort - everything. I just knew I wanted one. So when a guy we knew ended up selling his (and cut us a helluva deal on it), everything just fell into place. Every time I ride her, she confims I made the right choice.

After searching for a while...it was the best option in my price range.

I wanted an inexpensive track bike since I will only do 5-6 TDs a year. I got a 600 because, basically, I'm not a very good rider. Anything else would be overkill.

because it was in torque :lmao:

so did you get rid of the triumph?

Yes, I found that I now have zero time to ride the roads. Took the $ and spent half of it on a track bike and the other half on my house.

I love ya Ed, but sometimes I think youre on crack. Unless Im at the track and constantly running my RPMS up on purpose (like never going higher than 3rd), my 600 NEVER gets that high. :skep: Running on the streets, even at levels I shouldnt be, its still never higher than 6-8...and NEVER sees 10-12 on the street.

To answer the question: I got it cuz I loved it. I dont NEED anything bigger, and the GSXR fits me perfectly. After having ridden a buddies after my honda, there was no question. And I found one in the perfect colors for me, silver and white, it was sold.

yes :D

Before my Tuono I had already owned an I4 (street), an I2 (track) and a two stroke thumper (dirt). I was looking for something different, something you don't see too often, a v-twin, reliable motor, an upright seating position and killer looks.

Kept my eyes open & I found it :rockout:

It's just a different riding style I guess. I routinely ran my 750 up to redline in 1st and 2nd gear. And when cruising I kept in in the 6-8k range. If I all the sudden wanted to become a hooligan, an quick snap of the throttle would make it happen without having the downshift. And before you ask.. No I never did wheelies intentionally.

I never liked to run high RPM's....thats part of the reason I like the XB engine so much. I can just putt around at 3k and still be pumping out almost 70 ft lbs of torque.

why?

just cuz.

That's why a Vtwin something may be my next bike. :idk: Light and Vtwin don't usually go together though unless you go Ducati.

What is light and what is heavy to you? The XB is 395 and the 1125 is 375. I consider both pretty light. But its all relative I guess. What did the 750 weigh?

Under 400 wet would be light to me. The 750 was 359(claimed) dry. I think it ran about 430 or something wet. :idk:

Those are both claimed dry weight for the Buells. I suspect that the 1125 would be heavier wet than the Xb...with the coolant and larger fuel tank.

I like the specs on the 1125R, I just don't like the way it looks, specifically the side scoops. Reminds me of an A-6.

http://www.alaska.faa.gov/fai/images/Aircraft/A6-a.jpg

I got mine cause I wanted a new liquid cooled V twin. The 1125 was the only option available for "common folk" :lol:

And Rider, I believe the wet weight on the 1125 is about 425 IIRC. Never actually weighed it though.

I needed a bike that wasn't as heavy as the cruiser I'd learned to ride on. I knew absolutely nothing about sport bikes, except they were fast and could land me on my ass in a heartbeat. :lol:

The SV wasn't what I was originally wanting. Sport bike to me at the time meant plastics....err...fairings. I was smart enough to know I didn't need anything bigger than a 600cc (or I was just to chicken shit, take your pick :lol: ). After looking for a bike for a few months, one of the guys at the local zook stealership put his wife's bike up for sale. She wasn't riding it because she was scared of it. At that point I did a little research on the SV. Reading everyone's opinion about how it was a great starter bike, I decided to go look at her. She was an 03 purchased in 04. In January of 05 she only had 1100 miles on her. She was clean aside from a little crack around the headlight where she had been scraped. Taking into consideration most people's opinions of the SV and what the guy wanted for her, she came home with me a few days later. I fell in love with her the first time I rode her. She wasn't pretty to me then, but I eventually came around. :lol:

The first thing I learned on her was where I got a much lighter bike, I could no longer get my feet almost flat on the ground. Tip toeing was a little daunting at first (and after reading about lowering, I decided to be hard headed and not lower her). The second thing I learned is downshifting a little early on a sport v-twin is NOT as forgiving as a v-twin cruiser and will cause the back tire to light up! :panic: :panic:

:lol: :lol:

Overall, I've been extremely happy with her. :D

600's are for girls and Busa's and ZX 14's are for the dragstrip and stretched swingarms so I bought a litre bike. :dt:

Ok how about...I'm not so great in the twisties so I wanted some power to catch up in the straights but still didn't want anything as heavy as a Busa or ZX 14 ? :damn: I didn't really want a Buell although I do think they are cool and also didn't want to pony up the $$ for a Duc although I do like them alot. :yes:

Ok on a more serious note even though my 2nd paragraph above is closer to the truth than my totally joking BS first paragraph...I just really like the R1.:idk:

I owned a 2000 R1 several years ago and just like it better overall than the other 3 Japanese litre bikes. I think the R1 looks better than the other 3 and at my level of riding ability they are all close enough in performance that it didn't really matter which one I chose.

I would have been fine with a 750 and probably any of the 600's too since they are so vastly improved over the 600's I owned in the early to mid 90's.

I bought an R1 and R6 thinking the R6 may be mainly for the track but the wife has taken to riding like a duck to water and she laid claim to the R6 and even put some pink flames on the windscreen and a "Girl Power" sticker to mark her territory and to keep me off of it. :lol

I was looking for something in good shape that was a some what tame 600 so it wouldnt kill me while learning to ride. I found my 600r with just under 2k miles on it and got the dealer down to a reasonable price and went with it.

Price went first..... it had to be cheap as hell.

Looks went second.....

Manufacturer didnt matter, nothing bigger than a 600, and the color was just icing on the cake.....

I like tq. But, have no need for 180 hp..

I got it for a good price. And I love how it looks. Not to mention that I can ride pretty quick, and since it doesn't sound fast, nobody complains.

I have had a love affair for Ducatis since I started riding. It's in my blood. My grandfather owned a Ducati in the 60's (one of the last ones to be imported into Brazil before the government shut down imports). My older brother has had a '95 900 SuperSport for years (that he's decided to sell :panic: Noooo!!). And heavenly guidance to an extent kept me from jumping on something until the 1098 came out.. and I'm glad I waited, because the 1098 is THE bike I wanted, the one I have always lusted for, and just didn't realize it. Now that I have it, sure a tiny part of me wants something else for touring, but I don't get that intense feeling of "god I want a better bike"..

Yes, I know it's a LOT of bike. I know I will never use it to it's full potential (hell, who can, short of someone with the skill of Valentino Rossi?).. but it's the one that makes ME happy. :D

Tracy doesn't complain too much either.. since he gets to ride it on occasion. :lol:

I forgot, I am a two big bike stable now...

Fatburg made an offer that was too good to pass up.

Was always a fan of Kawasaki as a Kid...Rode a ZX7 as my first bike...sold it wanted another and Feel in love with the new ZX6R...So I bought one.

Pretty simple.

I sold my 750 to get a bigger bike. When I finally went to buy my new bike (~20 yr's later) I wanted a liter bike, but didn't really think I needed 130-140hp I4, Went looking for a twin, found one that already had all of the upgrades I'd want done by the factory. Knew someone who collects bikes who had one, and he thought it was a good sports bike. Offered the dealer $1000 under MSRP, he accepted...

Hell no I'm not complaining! :drool:

As for my stable, let's see..

I got the TLR because I wanted a v-twin. I never had the desire, but my best friend had a TLS, and after I rode it, I wanted one, but I wanted the full bodywork, so TLR it was. There's just nothing else quite like a v-twin motorcycle, especially one that makes Harley guys look over at you with this *wtf is that* look when they hear it. :lol:

I got the Busa because I wanted something I could do some touring on and load down with luggage, and well, I'm a Suzuki guy, so the Busa it was. Besides, it's hard to argue with 1300cc's of plant your eyeball in the back of your head acceleration. I also don't have to worry 'bout those pesky 600s thinking they can outrun me either. j/k :lol:

TL got because of the looks sound and reputation.
The kawi got it because iw anted to try out a liter bike and what better than one of the baddest ass liter bikes available, pure unregulated power.
________
Honda VF and VFR specifications

because gasman said so

Ummmm.... Tmall and I were at a HD/Buell dealership. I saw a bunch of new HD's, and fell in love right away. I told him I was getting one. I think I spent most of that weekend drinking and looking at HD's website.

About a month after, I went to a Harley dealership to look at a Rocker C. When I got to the Rocker, the crossbones was sitting next to it in denim black and gloss black. I didnt look at the Rocker again. The Black Denim was sold, but i loved the Gloss black, so I bought her and brought her home 4 days later.

I love her more than a mother could love her children.

Came down to money. Had the 600 Shadow stolen, was left with $700 after insurance paid it off. Asked on the local forum if anyone had a cheap bike for sale. Little did I know after 2 years of owning it that I would spend 2 grand on upgrades and a bigger motor!

So I now own a 1980 KZ750.

For the RC: I like thumping twins and wanted something with more grunt than a 600, but less power than a 1000. Something that would turn better than my cruiser and I could take to TDs.

For the VTX: I got the cruiser because it was much more comfortable than my Shadow (for me at least) and I needed to replace my then recently deceased Shadow. And I will never have a need for cruiser bigger than this one. This one I pretty much bought because it was comfortable and I can avoid the stigma of being a "damn sportbiker" if I so desire.

the 06 ZX10R is the sexiest bike on the streets, after the Ducati's anyway.

i just wanted the baddest bike i could buy.....


i love the torque and crazy power/speed, etc, and handles awesome

too old and lazy to ride a 600

Didn't have anything to do with it being green, did it? :ladysman:

yeah, it matches all the gear I already had. :D

You let me down. Expected "corners better than yellow". Senility setting in? :)

You put an exhaust on it yet? If not...just wait...the Drummer makes enought noise to get you noticed.

Loud is not the same as sounding fast :lol:

I have to say my bike sounds unbelievably cool with the muffer off of it, and nothing like a loud HD twin.

liter twin=small penis

No, kidding.

sat on a superhawk in a showroom once, and it "fit". I'm oddly proportioned - short legs, long body. so 'fitting' on a bike I'm spending all day on was important. and keeping up with Louie was important. This did both. And it was the right price. I could sell it today for more than I paid for it. :)

My bike fits pretty well, the bars were a bit of a reach, but I added heli bars. But the footpeds are in the perfect spot for me, makes it very easy to lift off the seat. I presume it's because, I believe the avg height in Europe/Italy is about 6' and I'm just under 6'.

i suppose ill do a more serious one, way back when i first wanted to start riding i was immediately attracted to hurricanes and older ninjas. almost pulled the trigger on a clean black 80s zx7 but iraq got in the way. three years later and im home and my friends start pushing me towards bikes again so after a little poking around on craigslist i found a workable 87 hurricane 600 for $1100. dropped cash on it and rode it almost everyday regardless of temperature for about six months. meanwhile, someone on the previous sitw which will not be named started a thread about tourist trophy for ps2, wanting to see what the fuss was about i grabbed a used copy and started unlocking bikes one of which was the 954. i really liked the design of the 954 from the game and vaguely remembered an article about them being a good buy in the back of a bike rag i read in the suck. did some more research and after learning about its history and abilities i developed a pretty strong case of lust and it went to an equal slot on my hurricane replacement list right next to the 675 daytona. anyway, we had some friends over for new years and in the morning my buddy has torque on the tv and were watching the opening canyon scene when i remark about how the 954 is a sexy bitch and he says the local shop had one that was nice as hell. tracked it down a week later and bought it on the spot, picked it up the next day and been loving it ever since

the 450? that was just really cheap :lmao:

I always wanted a nice blue R6 when I was dreaming of bikes but then reality settled in and I had a chance to buy my bike from a friend.

The price was right and everything else fell into place. I love it and it actually seems to fit me a bit more comfortably than the R6s I sat on.

I bought my ninja 250 cause I was tired of not having anything cool and plus my dad showed up out of no where with a cruiser so I had it. Finally found one a month later and paid cash.

About a year later I see this red bike at this highway bend I travel on all the time finally pulled over to see what it was. Well I knew it was red and a Honda and that was about it. Did about a month research on the bike in one night. Called the guy, which turned out to be an old kid I went to high school with and needed to get rid of it quick. He dropped the price and the next day I had money from the bank.


Wish I still had my ninja. Kid I sold it to is doing a great job on not maintaining her.

I had an SV650, then I wanted more power, so I got an 03 R1...then a disaster happend and I wanted another R1... so I got the 04 R1 which is what I wanted when I bought the 03.
Overall looks, power, comfort, price.

I've had a variety of bikes, but all of them had one characteristic in common: they did ONE specific thing exceptionally well - at the expense of every other attribute. The K75S is one of those bikes that does nothing "well", but everything just fine. It doesn't overheat even in Austin Summer Stop & Go traffic! It has ABS. And its "vewy vewy quiet... hehehehehe...." (i.e. does not draw unwanted attention at 'stability and handling test speeds'). It can haul two peoples' worth of stuff, or allow me to go to the grocery store and dumbfound the baggers and checkers. :)

It has the smoothest engine ever put in a motorcycle - an I3 with a counter-rotating balance shaft.

A few have remarked that it does have a family resemblance to the RTPs operated by our local law enforcement agencies, but I really hadn't noticed... :shrug: That might explain why I can cruise down the LH lane and traffic seems to pull to the right all the time... :idk:


:D

Cheap used bike that already had all the mods I wanted, and it's a good commuter unlike the 600's I owned.

I had my 600 and was ok with how it moved, but it bored me. The major reason for the 1000 is just compensating for a small penis. well not really, its more a sentimental attachment to my first ZX1000 and I'm just now getting the new one to make me happy in having one again.

But what about highway trips? If I run on the highway for more than 30 minutes, buzzing at 7K rpm gets old, especially with an aftermarket exhaust. So for me a 750 or 1000 is better because the revs are lower.

Your legs dont look anywhere short in your pic.... :scratch:

I was looking around for several weeks on craiglist and countless moto listing sites before and after graduating the MSF course. One or two bikes kept popping up in my area and were gone the next day, so after narrowing down my choices to a couple V stars and Shadows that were 45min+ away my father came home with a newspaper from Shaw AFB.

In it was an ad. for an '01 Shadow Spirit 750. I was intimidated by the 750, but enticed that the guy was right around the corner from me. I looked it up and found out it's easy to handle, has a low seat and has 5 gears compared to the 600's that have 4. My father told me a friend of his that rides says he didn't like the Yamaha he had, and that I should check this out (a V star was at the top of my list). Took a drive to the guy's place and saw it was taken care of, and has some blue LED lights for night riding. The price was right, and the mileage was low. Baring in mind how fast bikes disappear around my area, I took a day to think everything over and ended up taking her home. Hell, the only thing I don't like about it is how quiet it is, but that'll be taken care of soon. :dthumb:

It's interesting seeing everyone's replies.

My bike isn't happy UNLESS it's at 10-12K RPM, which is sees on the track and sometimes (not very often or for very long) on the street.

I saw the 03 ZX6RR at the bike show and really liked it, but wasn't ready for a 600 at that point. When I did start looking, that was the bike I compared everything else to, so I knew it was the one for me.

Fast forward 1-1/2 years. Without sitting on it, or seeing in person I ordered the 04. I went based solely on my gut that this was THE ONE.

A friend had the 636 he let me ride thinking it would be the same only to find out they are very different. Even still it confirmed that I made the right choice.

One of the many reasons I was drawn to the 600 was because it was a limited production bike, so it was going to be unique.

Price wasn't really a factor since it was the most expensive 600 on the market at that time. But each and every time I ride it, I'm very pleased with my purchase. I won't be selling any time soon because I know nothing out today would make me as happy. Plus it's paid for!

A couple reasons for picking my '93 Kawasaki ZR1100. Most important was I had a complete hsitory on the bike since new. My friend Dave purchased it new in '93 and had it until '06. He keeps everything he has perfect. The boss at work bought it from him and he's anal about keeping things nice.

They only had them one year in the USA. They were originally called the "Zephyr" but Ford got their panties in a wad since they had a car by that named ( people are constantly confusing the two :scratch: ) Kawasaki withdrew the model from the US.

It runs good and has some low end grunt for just putting around. I also like the "old school" look ( plus the price was right)

Jeff

i wanted the motor. (sv650) useable, reliable, tons of aftermarket and CHEAP! since it was going to see alot of miles, simplicity was key also. didnt want to dissasemble half the bike everytime i wanted to change plugs or oil.

I liked the usable power band of the SV and liked that I didn't have to take the whole thing apart to change the oil

Let's see, here:

I bought the 636 because when I wanted a new 600SS in '03, it was my favorite. Best powerband by a long shot, a rear suspension that is actually meant for a 200 lb man, and mean looks. Honda's I-4s always excited me about as much as the toaster in my kitchen, the R6 powerband was too peaky, and everyone and their brother had a GSXR. To top it all off, the only motorcycle dealer in town that was worth a damn sold Kawasakis. When I found out it would be available in that gorgeous orange in '04, I ordered one.

I bought the GSXR1100 because I wanted something big and torquey, and I got it cheap because it was ugly. I love that damn thing. It's like riding a gigantic muscle.

The ZZR400 I picked up for free because it was abandoned and the wife was in love with it. It sat in a parking lot exposed to the elements for three years before I tore it down and rebuilt it. It runs fantastically now and really is a brilliant little bike.

just struck me funny. sorry. LOL

:lol:

:zowned: He loves to ride the gigantic one eye muscles.

Nope. Even at 90 on the interstate indicated this past sunday I was still sitting middle of the meter, neither low nor high, thinking btw 7 and 9.

Im just not that aggressive on the street anymore so I dont rev it up high, and I have plenty of power to get me where I wanna go in a hurry and still keep my revs comfortable and low. I dont like screaming engines, even tho I know its what they are sposed to do, I baby my stuff unless Im feeling froggy.

that's still more than the rpm my bike is running at those speeds.

I also don't like all the intake noise from most of the newer 600's.

at 65 my SV runs at 5k or so... I don't consider that to be very high.

Sounds like me when I rode the Zuk.

optical delusion - me in NYC - I'm the one in the front
http://www.dustandrust.com/images/oompa_loompa_nyc.jpg

snort :rofl: You're kinda short, but you're not THAT short. :lol:

Thats the Best part!!!

I cant say I havent gone to 16,5 Once or twice on the 6R...I usually shift it around 14 when im "On It"...But I've hit Limiter a half dozen times or so because I forgot to shift...:idk: ;)

Mostly Im in 4th ro 5th at like 5 grand when Im in town...So I dont disrupt the Neighbors.

At first I was like..No really where is she?? :zowned:

I'd much rather hear the exhaust note, that's the music.

they go together! Cant have a orchestra with just horns.

ok, but I don't want to hear it over the exhaust. have you rode a new R6 or similar? the intake is much louder than the exhaust in the riding position. it's just now what I want to hear for an extended ride.

i was originally looking for a used sv650, but none available in my area in my price range.

ended up getting the 7r only because it was a good deal @ the time and i just wanted to start my 2 wheel career.

didn't really like it @ first and was def. TOO much bike for this noob, but it grew on me and i don't see many of 'em on the streets.

i have actually, i think you may be asking too much from a stock exhaust noise wise

Ya think?! Maybe the fact that you ride a liter bike?! Really dude, that was a silly statement.

I do tend to agree with you on the noise, the stock exhaust can be obnoxiously loud, but um, we do ride performance bikes, a louder sound when getting on it is expected and therefore just part of the whole experience. The higher ya run the RPMs, the louder she's gonna be, thus why I dont rev her sky high when riding...and yes, a liter will be running lower, obviously explaining why you got one perhaps?

I can't believe you guys are arguing about what RPMs you cruise at... that's fucking retarded....

I love how people project their needs and wants on others....

Another reason I bought a big twin, at ~70 I'm in 5th at ~4k rpm. just cruising along but knowing that I've got the shuttles launch codes just a throttle twist away. Not making much noise at all

Glad I'm not the only one who noticed that. :lol:

Who's arguing other than Zed? :lol:

you were definitely debating with him at least a little. :lol:

750cc I-4 is the prefect power plant. /thread!













:lol:

Good job, and yes, I think you may be right...a little of the best of both worlds...

Trip, yes, I admit it, but the comment was so inane I just HAD to respond!! :lol:

Now if Yamaha just made one it would be perfect!



I got mine because it was the best thing I found in my price range. I love it though. Jumped from a Buell Blast to an R1, and have only ridden a 600 a few times in between. I really enjoy the liter bike. There is no need for it on the top end, but I love the power down low.

when is the rc ever not making much noise, hell even stting there its louder then most bikes with stock exhaust taking off....

Water cooled liter V-twin is where it's at.

sorry, thought you were following up on why I don't like a 600 for commuting/casual riding. I don't like the buzz/higher rpm for any speed or having to downshift instead of just rolling on the throttle to go where I want.

You wanna talk about a loud intake...Daytona 675.

My SuperHawk had a loud intake versus how quiet the stock exhaust was. Zoomie always loved to call it the Jetson's bike because of how it sounded. :lol:

Jetsons...that was a good show.

I watched it the other day on tv for the first time in probaly 10 years.

What station was this on?

cartoon network i think. it was like 3 in the morning.

loudest intake i have heard was a tie between my modded rc and the 636, you could hear the intake with the baffel out of the gp pipe i had on it

You mean like arguing about jumping a bike with a car??? ;)

Don't judge me.

Can't be done. Just ask any electrical engineer. Any, that is, except the several on this board. ;)

that would be boomerang btw

Being that i was barely able to reach the ground on the SV and being a new rider in the busy streets of NYC, i decided to get a little dual sport ride around in. Figured i would be more comfortable in heavy stop and go traffic on a lighter, beater bike with a more upright position that i can manuever easier on. I also got into some easy trail riding that was fun and helped me improve my skills.

I'm also getting a Monster 620 in a couple of weeks. Now that i am in vegas and all the roads are wide open, i need a bigger bike. Chose that mostly because i can touch the ground on it and a more upright seating position than the sportbikes and its light. Also i am a fan of naked and vtwins.

I'm a fan of naked twins too.