Bike shopping.....Help me find a Naked!!!!!!!!

[smackdoogle]

Alright, so in light of my military move (this week) from Boston, MA to Elizabeth City NC I have sold my bikes to lighten the load which means........New Bike shopping time!!!!!!!

A little about myself, I'm 6'3" and about 230lbs.  In shape.  I commute as often as possible (new commute will be about 100 miles round trip) and ride on weekends (200-500 miles) averaging between 9000-12000 miles a year.  I'm am no racer and don't plan on any track days within the next 2 years but I look for twisties and love a well planted ride.  Not much two up riding takes place and there shouldn't be any once my wife gets her license.  In the past I have owned numerours bikes ranging from a 02 VFR to a Super Hawk to a Buell XB12S.  Enjoyed them all for different reasons.  Only reason I sold the Buell was because my wife was riding more with me then so the VFR worked better.

I'm looking for good handling but decent mileage also.  My experience with naked bikes is the windblast isn't as bad as people make it out to be.  My price cap is $7000.  Obviously my wish list has a vast range in price.

I'm really only interested in naked bikes.
My list includes
2nd Gen Aprilia Tuono
2nd Gen FZ1
2006 or newer Triumph Speed Triple
2003 SV1000N
ZRX1200R
Buell XT or XB12SS

Here is the #1 on my list but the damn things get horrible mileage and some never see 100 miles to a tank.  I wouldn't like filling up everyday.
http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=202353


comments, suggestions, whatever appreciated!!!

[Rincewind]

I'd suggest you test ride the Triumph Speed Triples and Street Triple 675's.  They fit the bill you are looking for, and both are capable of +150-miles range depending on your riding.  If you are doing mostly 1-up travel/commuting, the 675 may be all you need.

That said, it seems like a good list and would be difficult or impossible to make a bad choice.  I'd suggest you also consider the Honda 919/599, the KTM Superduke and the Buell 1125CR.

[xbud]

 I would definately consider this

 

 

[smackdoogle]

Oh beautiful!!!  But I've heard numerous horror stories of reliablility issue and not simple ones either.  Plus, used they are above my price range and tough to find used.

[smackdoogle]

I'd suggest you test ride the Triumph Speed Triples and Street Triple 675's.  They fit the bill you are looking for, and both are capable of +150-miles range depending on your riding.  If you are doing mostly 1-up travel/commuting, the 675 may be all you need.

That said, it seems like a good list and would be difficult or impossible to make a bad choice.  I'd suggest you also consider the Honda 919/599, the KTM Superduke and the Buell 1125CR.

I've looked at the Street Triple but I've heard it's a little small and for the price of a used one I can get into a Speed or Tuono.  If it had been out longer I'd look into it.
The 919 I've also looked into but there isn't much aftermarket for it and from what I hear there are many other offerings that are more "inspiring".  The KTM and can't find any used in my price range (and reliabliity issues) and I'm not a fan of the Buell 1125CR's looks.

Thanks though.

[Castertroy]

Oh beautiful!!!  But I've heard numerous horror stories of reliablility issue and not simple ones either.

Most due to mechanics or owners that don't know WTH they're doing. YES there is a trick to lowering the tank properly   but they are GREAT!

Man that Aprilia is NICE though!!!! If I had the $$ in hand I'd certainly statch that sucker out from under you...especially being so close to it  

[Rincewind]

I've looked at the Street Triple but I've heard it's a little small and for the price of a used one I can get into a Speed or Tuono.  If it had been out longer I'd look into it.
The 919 I've also looked into but there isn't much aftermarket for it and from what I hear there are many other offerings that are more "inspiring".  The KTM and can't find any used in my price range (and reliabliity issues) and I'm not a fan of the Buell 1125CR's looks.

Thanks though.

I am very nearly your size, and the Street Triple fits fine.  Plenty of tall riders on them; the Speed Triple is larger, but only by a small degree.  The used Streets are in your price range, but the Speeds are great bikes too.  

The 919 with its CBR900RR derived engine is far from uninspiring, at least the one I rode! It has full luggage accessories in the aftermarket.

[ANZAC]

I had a 2005 Kawasaki ZRX and it was a great bike.  You might want to look at a Bandit 1250 or FZ1 too.  All good bikes.

On the other hand - test ride a Street or Speed Triple first    My Street Triple reminds me of my ZRX although much lighter    The Street handles freeway speeds great and windblast has not been an issue for me.  It is also the best sounding bike out there  

[FiremanBob]

There's a guy on v4hondabbs.com who is selling a beautiful VF1000F for only $1700. You could spend more on a modern bike but it would be impossible to match the smiles/dollar ratio.

[MadOzodi]

I voted Speed Triple cuz I want one myself.  I'd take the top 3 in the following order: Speed Triple, Tuono, FZ1.

[Castaway]

For me it would be:
Tuono
Speed Triple
SV1000N or FZ1

[smackdoogle]

Man, sooooo many choices.  

I'll have to do a little Street Triple research.

[Rincewind]

Man, sooooo many choices. 

I'll have to do a little Street Triple research.

Yes lots of great roadsters out there!  For Striple research I recommend: Triumph675 and Street-Triple.co.uk.

[Strog]

First thing, I don't think there's a bad choice here.  

Several of these bikes only get in the 30's for mpg and could become a little annoying with the frequents fuel ups on a 100 mile round trip commute. You could get a little or lot of wind protection from any of these bikes so that's a wash. Commuting a couple hours a day probably means you'll want to be able to carry some stuff with you (rain gear if you get caught out, food, stuff for after work, etc.) so some luggage options will be nice. All but the Tuono have some hard luggage options but that might not be an issue for the Tuono if you don't mind Ventura soft luggage on it.

From a practical standpoint, I'd probably put the Buell XB12XT at the top of the list with your requirements. It has a decent range, comes with luggage so you can use as little or as much as you need, you enjoyed another Buell so it should be good fit and if your wife decides to ride with you once in a while, it has decent pillion seating compared to the others. My second choice would probably be the ZRX1200R with the range, staying more in budget, etc.

If there's a bike that really gets to you then I'd say go for it. Little issues are nearly non-issues if you are riding a bike you love. The same can't be said about a bike that you are so-so about.  

If I was looking for another naked bike (I ride a naked SV650 with a tank bag and Givi V46 top case now) then I'd probably have the Street Triple #1 on my list right now. I took one out on a demo and it really fit me well and was a nice ride. There might be other contenders out there but they would have to unseat the STriple first.  

[Papa Lazarou]

MG Griso?

[smackdoogle]

First thing, I don't think there's a bad choice here.  

Several of these bikes only get in the 30's for mpg and could become a little annoying with the frequents fuel ups on a 100 mile round trip commute. You could get a little or lot of wind protection from any of these bikes so that's a wash. Commuting a couple hours a day probably means you'll want to be able to carry some stuff with you (rain gear if you get caught out, food, stuff for after work, etc.) so some luggage options will be nice. All but the Tuono have some hard luggage options but that might not be an issue for the Tuono if you don't mind Ventura soft luggage on it.

From a practical standpoint, I'd probably put the Buell XB12XT at the top of the list with your requirements. It has a decent range, comes with luggage so you can use as little or as much as you need, you enjoyed another Buell so it should be good fit and if your wife decides to ride with you once in a while, it has decent pillion seating compared to the others. My second choice would probably be the ZRX1200R with the range, staying more in budget, etc.

If there's a bike that really gets to you then I'd say go for it. Little issues are nearly non-issues if you are riding a bike you love. The same can't be said about a bike that you are so-so about.  

If I was looking for another naked bike (I ride a naked SV650 with a tank bag and Givi V46 top case now) then I'd probably have the Street Triple #1 on my list right now. I took one out on a demo and it really fit me well and was a nice ride. There might be other contenders out there but they would have to unseat the STriple first.  

Well said Sir!!!  I have a set of soft luggage that works well (even in the rain) so that is low on the list.  I like the ZRX but the 7500 mile valve check is time away from riding.  
I can go back and forth about pros and cons with each of these bikes all day long.  I think I'll need to be patient and get some test rides in and hear from owners of all of them.

Another bike I left off the list but would consider is the Aprilia Falco.  Lots of the goodies from the Mille and Factory bikes bolt on.  Oh my, another one for the list.

[falconati]

I voted for the Speed Triple, because it's a phenomenal machine.  I might consider selling mine to raise some capital for my silly Ferrari experiment.

[xbud]

 I'm surprised there hasn't been any Harley XR1200 suggestions considering the home page article.

[jfusaro]

Motofit in Danbury Ct. has a 2007 Tuono factory for around 8k I have seen the bike in person and its in great shape.  i think it has around 2100 miles on it.   I would have bought it if I saw it before I bought my Sprint.  Bike is a animal

[Zerosum]

Definately the ZRX.  That's on my "must own one day" list.  I lust after that bike simply for how it looks.  That and I want to own a big inline four one day.