Moving Up

[ColdSilence]

I've been on a Ninja 500 for about 6 months.  Did MSF and am a valid rider.  Sometime later next year I want to upgrade.  I have 10,000 miles already.  I commute and head out to explore on the weekends.  I really like the Sprint ST but its a liter bike.  I do mostly highway travel and would like to start adding some real touring in (my best friend is in Boston and I'm down by D.C.).  I'm not in the city however.  

I like sportbikes, I like farings but I don't want a supersport. I also don't want a naked bike.  Someone suggested the Sprint and I like everything I've read and seen and felt about this bike but I am not sure if it will be too much.  I'm not out to impress anyone, I don't ride in groups, twisty roads don't scare me but I don't live for them.  I live to ride, if its a highway or a backroad I don't care as long as my butt is on the bike.

I'm not worried about two up.  

[jsanford]

Paging slakemoth to the white courtesy phone.

Seriously--older Sprints are ~950ccs.  Moving up doesn't have to mean a new bike, especially if there isn't too much technically to be gained.

There's also the new BMW F800ST to consider.

VStroms 650s and Multistradas are other bikes to check out.

[Mac]

The VFR as well.

[Sarchi]

And the Concours.



This is a good source of articles:  http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/model_eval.asp

[ColdSilence]

I have also looked at the VFR and it is on my list.  I'm looking to test ride one.

I just really like Triumphs.

[Nny]

I have also looked at the VFR and it is on my list.  I'm looking to test ride one.

I just really like Triumphs.

If I were you, I'd go to a BMW / Triumph dealer and ask to test ride some bikes.  I don't know if it's different on the east coast, but out here they offer test rides on all the bikes they have pretty much.  After you test ride it you should have a better idea of if it's the bike you want.

[Lon]

I really like the Sprint ST but its a liter bike.

It's nowhere near as rev-happy nor as powerful as a modern liter race-replica, and it's not actually very scary.

I like sportbikes, I like farings but I don't want a supersport. I also don't want a naked bike.

1993-2004 Kawasaki ZX6 Ninja or ZZR600 (sometimes called ZX6E).  I had one.  Tossed on a Givi wingrack 2, E460N and two E21s.  It carried a *lot* of stuff, but it did not work well 2-up.  The suspension just wasn't made for it.

Any year YZF-600R.  Another favorite around here.  The practical difference between it and the ZX6 is primarily seating position.  On the street, the performance difference is akin to splitting a cat's hair with a halberd.

Suzuki GSF600S Bandit.  The faired one.  I don't remember if they make lowers for it.

Someone suggested the Sprint and I like everything I've read and seen and felt about this bike but I am not sure if it will be too much.

It's not a monster, and it's not terribly scary.  It feels very heavy.  The heat coming from under the seat is what got me on the Sprint ST...  I started sweating the moment I got off the highway on a 60 degree day.  It's really that hot.  It is really fun at speed, and it corners extremely well.  The good news is that it's a Triumph!  You can test ride it and find out if you like it.  Make sure you ride for 20+ minutes

Riding position is similar to the ZX6 with bar risers and the Honda VFR800.  Never ridden a YZF600R

I'm not worried about two up.

Well, the Sprint ST is a bike that actually has the frame to carry two people + luggage.  I want to say it can carry 465 pounds, but I might be off on that number; whatever it was, it's really high.  The factory bags are SUPER pretty.

You could try older (1998-2000) BMW R-bikes (and the local BMW dealer will probably let you test ride them, too!).  They last a long time, and are not very scary.  I had a 2000 ZX6 and now I have a 2001 BMW R1100S.  First bike was a Suzuki GS500.  The ZX6E I used to have was faster and made more power, but I like the BMW more (probably because I clicked with it very quickly).

[Lon]

If I were you, I'd go to a BMW / Triumph dealer and ask to test ride some bikes.  I don't know if it's different on the east coast, but out here they offer test rides on all the bikes they have pretty much.  After you test ride it you should have a better idea of if it's the bike you want.

For sure, these guys do.    I've ridden lots of their BMWs and one of their Sprint STs.

[servicerifle]

I made exactly the same jump.  I rode a 500R and then went to a Sprint 1050.  I'll be honest it was probably too much.  Now I feel fine with it, but it was too much of a jump for me at the time.  I'm not sure if the 650's are the best choice either, but they are supposed to be VERY GOOD all-around anyway, so why not, right?  

I would almost guarantee that you'll drop it and then you'll cry.  Taking time with a lighter bike will be good, too.

[ColdSilence]

I'll have to schedule a test drive to see about the weight and heat issues, thanks a lot.

If not I may just go for the ZZR600, another bike I do like a lot.

[katrider]

...I would almost guarantee that you'll drop it and then you'll cry.  

Not always true...I backed my boat trailer into my Sprint and gouged the paint all up on one of the hardbags

I also submit that the Sprint, especially the older 955 models ('02 and newer...), will prove very user friendly. Similar to a vee twin in power delivery in that the power curve is more linear than an inline, no big cam-hit at 9 grand to scare you spitless...

The ZZR600? Great bike, but be aware they changed them in what, 2005? 2004? to the previous model ZX6R. So the 2003 (I think) is the original ZZR600 (milder older tamer) and the 2004+ is the old ZX6R...

[DredheadV2.0]

Suzuki GSF600S Bandit.  The faired one.  I don't remember if they make lowers for it.

They're available aftermarket.  The GSF600S is a pretty capable 1-up tourer.  Many members have crisscrossed the country on them.  Talk to member JohnnyB about his 3-Givi setup if you want a lot of cargo space.

[Kootenanny]

I like sportbikes, I like farings but I don't want a supersport. I also don't want a naked bike...I'm not worried about two up.  

Check out a Buell XB9R Firebolt.  Capable sportbike, but with a very tractable engine.  It'll tour as well as anything with some soft bags and a Helibars...more comfortable for me than an ST3.  Small and light, a ton of fun to ride, but not great for 2-up...

[Windblown]

+1 on the test ride.  Test riding is manditory IMHO.  I've never bought a bike without riding it or one exactly like it first. ALL bikes are different. I thought I wanted a Honda ST1300 once. Sure glad I test road one first.    Nice bike, but not what I thought it would be.

Power: Any of the bigger bikes require you to learn to not hamfist the throttle.  In fact I think that's the biggest issue when you have ridden a lower powered bike for a long time. Having said that, the Sprint ST is very forgiving and not a "squirelly" bike unless you intentionally make it so.

Weight: I dunno, I jumped onto a Concours after a several year lay off from anything other than dirt bikes.  The Concours is a heavy pig compared to almost any bike on the road with the exception of flying couches and weight was never an issue.  But then again I have a 34" inseam so that helps.

In general a bigger, heavier, more powerful bike requires you to redefine smoooooth. As long as you keep that in mind there isn't a bike out there you can't ride once you know the basics.

[proteus]

I'm in a similar position as ColdS, but with less experience.  
I'm moving to San Diego from NYC and plan to buy a bike
to make commuting easier.  I've ridden dirt bikes as a kid,
and took the MSF course with no problems.  I'm looking for a sport tourer that
will be able to carry two later on when I have more exp.  
I'm 6'3", 200lbs.  The sprint looks like alot of bike, but I'd
rather not buy a bike only to sell it in less than a year.  The sprint
seems light and I've read the throttle is on the docile side.
I was considering the BMW F650, but once I'm on the highway
I'd rather not be shaking around alot.  I'm
a very reponsible driver and am not likely to exceed 50/60 mph
in the first 6 months as I plan to stay off the freeway.  

[DNA]

I think you said you were in DC?  Stop by the temple on a NoVA ride and you can probably try out both a 955 Sprint and a VFR if you are so inclined.  200-2004 Sprints are the best value available now.  For $3500 you should be able to get a low mileage bike with tons of gins.  I (mostly) love mine.

I am sure we will ride again in a few months.

[Nny]

I was considering the BMW F650, but once I'm on the highway
I'd rather not be shaking around alot.

Just for the record I have an F650GS and I've done 80-90mph down the freeway and it's perfectly steady even with some cross wind.  Of course I'm 6' and 260 lbs so I guess I add a bit of damping..

[emmajoe]

I just did the upgrade. I put in two seasons, and 12k on my Suzuki GS 500, but I was crossing the country to work in LA for a bit and wanted a bit more out of a bike. I ended up buying a 2000 BMW r1100s, it's been wonderfull. The biggest challange in the upgrade was not getting throttle happy untill I really got used to the bike. It's a good commuter bike here in LA, and it did great in the 2500 mile trip here.

If i were to say there was any problem with the bike it would be that it's a little big Power and width of the engine), but BMW is comming out with the f800st, if I only had the money....

Good luck

[andmoon]

Are you looking for more comfort, power and/or handling?

Unless you can drag that ninjette thru a peg dragging turn at redline (any gear) at will and change up doing it, you have not outgrown the bike.

But then there never is enough horsepower.


Sprints not too much bike if you can control yourself.

[cbsnbiker]

One query of yours just caught my attention:

Someone suggested the Sprint and I like everything I've read and seen and felt about this bike but I am not sure if it will be too much.  

Could you clarify this for us? Do you want a bike that is lighter than the Sprint, or smaller, or has a smaller motor, or is less powerful, or all of the above, or something else?

At first blush, the VFR sounds like a strong contender for you, almost ready-made for your criteria. But there are plenty of other possibilities. I sat on a BMW F800ST last weekend at the NY motorcycle show, but haven't ridden it yet. It's a distinct possibility.