Looking into what I want next for a bike..

[Loun]

Right now I have a 01 Bandit 600. I have had it for a year put 9kmi on it in the process of learning to ride. I bought it because it was an inexpensive, lower power, comfortable "in-between" bike. I am looking at my options now for the next bike and looking for some suggestions.

I really think I want a full fairing bike next, it will be a used bike, hopefully something still comfortable but I dont know what size yet since anything will be faster .

Heres the question though: where can I go to test ride other styles of bikes? I rode my friends buell today and can honestly rule those out lol. Do you know of any dealerships or shops or whatever in the eastern MA southern NH area that allows test rides? Or do I have to try to make friends with people willing to let me try theirs?

-Lou

[Josephd14]

WEll, i would start by thinking about, or maybe even making a list of what you like about the bandit and what you don't like.. atleast you now have some reference, from the bandit of what you are looking for.. From there just start reading reviews, and asking poeple that have the type of bike you are interested in questions, what they like or dislike and so on, finding a shop willing to let you T-drive a bike is hard enough and if your younger, it's impossible..

[Ducrappy]

I've never been offered a test ride at any Japanese bike shops, while euro shops (Ducati, Aprilia, MV Agusta, & Triumph) generally do allow test rides, and are often quick to offer you a test ride before you even ask.

Keep an eye out for demo days at your local shops. I've not paid much attention to japanese dealers lately, but the I do know that the euro shops generally offer at least one demo day per year where you can sign up to test ride their entire line of bikes in one day for around 30 minutes per run.

[RandyO]

renting for a weekend is the best way to evaluate a bike

[Loun]

Most of the rental places google found for me are harley rentals and cruisers. I will keep looking. I was poking around online and I really liked the looks of the Daytonas, and the TLs and of course the RC51 lol hmmm this is going to be fun then its a matter of making the money. Unless I can find someone interested in my sled

[Punjistick]

yeah keep your eyes open for demo days. Since you are thinking about the Daytonas I would try calling 2nd Wind BMW/Triumph. Myself and a few others went to a demo day they had and we got a pretty long ride out of it. I think they will do test drives if you call and schedule an appointement also.

[Doc]

Originally posted by Loun
Most of the rental places google found for me are harley rentals and cruisers. I will keep looking. I was poking around online and I really liked the looks of the Daytonas, and the TLs and of course the RC51 lol hmmm this is going to be fun then its a matter of making the money. Unless I can find someone interested in my sled

Sounds like you are leaning towards a V-twin.

A 91-98 Ducati 900ss would be a good bike and they go for $4000-$6500 used. ( I am biased) Check ebay.

Plus you get to say you have a Ducati.

[number9]

Originally posted by RandyO
renting for a weekend is the best way to evaluate a bike

Know any good places to rent something Randy? Like a BMW R1150 or somethin'?

[ZuminaZX]

how about a ZX12R

[Loun]

Therein lies one of the problems. Ive only been riding a year and I have been riding an underpowered 600. Do i get another 600 that will have more power but I could potentially outgrow again, do i get a 750 or a 1000 and try to keep myself from using it all. Or do I go for a ZX12 or I guess at that point get busa and make sure I kill myself quickly...

heh

[ZuminaZX]

It all depends on what kind of riding you do. If you're into commuting, why not a bandit 1200 or just keep your current ride?
If you're a sport rider or looking to become one, go for a newer 600 or 750. The 1k question is your choice of course. Maybe next year?

[Loun]

Ive been riding the bandit everyday for the past 2 months as my sole transpo rain or shine. Its not a bad ride it just isnt as "sporty looking" and as powerful as id like. Im at the point where i want to put a jet kit and a can on it just to make it a little bit better to ride. Thing is, I dont think its worth putting $500-600 into this bike for minimal results. when I can sell it for what I paid for it and put that $500-600 towards something else and get something im happier with as is.

Whatever I get I will be riding as much as possible. I keep trying to get my friend to ride to NC with me, he just says OWWW and no. So the next bike has to at least be semi comfortable too or accept a seat upgrade lol.

[Doc]

Originally posted by Loun
Ive been riding the bandit everyday for the past 2 months as my sole transpo rain or shine. Its not a bad ride it just isnt as "sporty looking" and as powerful as id like. Im at the point where i want to put a jet kit and a can on it just to make it a little bit better to ride. Thing is, I dont think its worth putting $500-600 into this bike for minimal results. when I can sell it for what I paid for it and put that $500-600 towards something else and get something im happier with as is.

Whatever I get I will be riding as much as possible. I keep trying to get my friend to ride to NC with me, he just says OWWW and no. So the next bike has to at least be semi comfortable too or accept a seat upgrade lol.

Well then you don't want a crotch rocket... either a sport tourer or a standard/naked bike.

VFR? maybe an sv1000?

[Josephd14]

From what your saying i would say for you to look into the VFR You can find a used 800 that has most likely not been beat on, because it's just not that kind of bike.. It's pretty comfortable, and at the same time a powerful sporty bike.. You ever look at them?

[Loun]

hmm no to be honest i didnt know about hte VFR it doesnt look that bad actually. What are its pros in your opinion? I will go in search of reviews as well. I need to actually see/ride one but there in lies the problem

[Josephd14]

Well I don't know of many pros/cons .. But people that have them swear by them.. I once rode a 00 800 and it was nice, infact a local shop had a leftover 04 that I almost bought for a good price.. There a little more upright so it's a very comfy bike for commuting. The power band i know is a little different it's very quick in the mid-range, which makes it good on the highway.. and the nice thing is it's sporty enough to still go rippin through twisties on some nice rides.. I have also heard that The engine themselves (which if i'm not mistakin is a V-4) are nearly industructable.. Like I said i don't know a ton about other then the good things i have been told about them and my one ride on one.. Maybe someone on here with some EXP with them will chime in..

P.S. Check out www.getamotorcycle.com all the local dealers post stuff on here ..

[Doc]

Almost verbatium.

V4 has some torque, comfy, sporty, awesome following, plenty of hope ups and you should be able to find one used.

Good Luck!

[Loun]

this is only a 600 but i really like the looks of this bike.


anyone have any experience or know much about em?

[slaps76]

I've got a 2003 VFR. My last bike was a Katana 600, which is very similar to the Bandit. I was in the same boat: wanted something with more power, but didn't really want to jump to a 1000cc, more modern technology & styling, and comfortable enough for 400+ mile rides. I really don't think there's much else out there in the sub-1000cc class like it.

I've taken it on long rides, and to a couple track days, and it's been great. I've never wished I had more power, even though I know there are definitely faster bikes. Type of bike that doesn't do any one thing great, but does everything well. Think the first thing you'd notice riding one over your Bandit would be how much smoother it is. Handling, ride, throttle response, are night and day. Plus having a V4 makes it a little more unique, gives it a different sound and good low-mid range power.

The Triumph you listed is supposed to be more comfortable than other race-reps due to a little more relaxed seating position. Other than that don't know a ton about them. Kind of outdated performance-wise compared to other 600's.

[ZuminaZX]

The TTs have problems with their fuel injections systems and are notorious for choppy-throttle-itus. Hence why they were replaced with the Daytona.

[KB]

Don't rule out the Honda Superhawk. You can have a minty one for about 3500 bucks with low miles. Pretty maintenance free engine. Comfy, good nut, decent <100mph twisty handling, cheap,

KB

[Loun]

So now im looking into:

Triumph TT600
Honda VFR 800
SuperHawk

I just need to find a way to get my ass on them and see.

btw this is the info on why that TT600 didnt go anywhere i guess.

"The dawn of the 21st Century saw Triumph build its 100,000th bike at the Hinckley plant and release two brand new motorcycles. The first, the sports middleweight TT600, met the Japanese manufacturers squarely on their turf. With a 599cc fuel-injected inline four-cylinder engine and a chassis that was won universal praise the TT600 was and still is, the only non-Japanese contender in the class. Perhaps even bigger news for Triumph was the unveiling of the second new model – the Bonneville. An evocative 790cc air-cooled parallel twin, the new Bonnie combined the look, feel and soul (even granted today’s restrictive noise and emissions tests) of the legendary late ‘60s T120. It was an immediate success, not only here but also – just as before – in America. The cruiser-style Bonneville America followed hard on its heels, specifically designed for the US rider.

Then fate intervened again. Just as Triumph geared up for the busy coming season, the factory was devastated, this time not by bombs but by fire. The blaze of 15th of March 2002 saw the complete destruction of the chassis and final assembly lines and the injection molding area. The machine shops, engine assembly area and paint shop were affected by water, heat and corrosive soot. The fire was one of the largest industrial conflagrations ever to occur in Britain and although bike production was halted for six months and a shortage of some 20,000 machines caused some problems, there was never any doubt that Triumph would, just as before, come back. Almost six months to the day, the rebuilt factory was fully operational.

Soon after, at the 2003 International Motorcycle Show in Birmingham, England, the four-cylinder Daytona 600 supersports bike was shown publicly for the very first time. Visually stunning and packed with state of the art technology, the Daytona 600 is the fruit of hard earned knowledge and experience, gained from the TT600."

[Josephd14]

I almost wanna go out on a linb here and say that the Daytona 600 would almost be a backward step in power?? I rode a 955i
and compared to my V-twin 1000 (which is not a powerhouse either more known for torque) it was kinda disappointing in the power department, I mean don't get me wrong it handled nice and was fast, but I found the throttle responce and the low end to be a little weak..

[Loun]

im definitely open to trying different bikes but to be honest from reading some reviews and how much I like hte styling im leaning heavily towards that TT600. It has 102-105 hp stock which is a lot more than my 68 hp of the bandit I ride now. Once it has a power commander, exhaust and a sprocket swap that will be more than enough power / speed for me. Noone has one and i really like the looks.

The problem is I found a yellow one that i can buy but I kinda fell in love with the blue one lol.

http://www.powersportsnetwork.com/en...35676&veh=3462
Some rider reviews on the bike.

[Loun]

Bought a blue one! ROFL
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=300029559232