Looking for a New Bike -- Opinions Please

Homer4598 said:

I'll probably get Heli bars for whichever one I get -- I don't want to be all hunched over, etc. (yeah, I'm a wuss). Anyway, I'd welcome all opinions -- pros and cons of each.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Without getting into any comments on any of these being a good choice for a first sportbike ... if you don't want the hunched over position, take a look at the Yamaha FZ6 and FZ1. They're sport "streetfighter" bikes devired from the R6 and R1, and may be something that would interest you.

If you are going for the full-faired sportbike look, then *any* modern sportbike is going to be as good as any other one. The latest bikes are so good, and the actual performance differences so minute (all of them are withing a few horsepower and a few pounds of each other) that you really can only see the differences on paper, or on a racetrack.

- Roach

Homer4598 said:

While the performance is about the same (I'm not racing so I don't care if one is slightly faster, etc.), all bikes are different as far as riding position (some have the weight more on the legs that the wrists), reliability, and overall feel.

Click to expand...

The R1 and CBR are going to be very similar, along with the ZX10R and GSXR1000. THey're all cut from the same cloth. The CBR is a bit heavier. They're all pretty ass-over-teakettle in the seating position department. I'm partial to the Yamaha myself, but that's more brand loyalty than anything else.

The ZX12R (Sorry, I glanced past it the first time ... thought you said 10R) is going to be ... different. It's more like the Hayabusa than the other 1000cc sportbikes you listed. More relaxed seating position, heavier, not as good in corners. Hasn't been updated in many years. The 10R is their liter class sportbike now.

- Roach

Homer4598 said:

Sure there is -- I don't get tired riding the Fatboy and I can ride farther than I can run (not to mention making the motorcycle noises when I run draws a lot of attention)...

Click to expand...

Don't pay much attention to these guys ... they are sportbike snobs

I used to own a Dyna (twin cam)... I really liked it. It's just for a different kind of riding.

- Roach