Starting to get the itch for a more modern bike. Suggestions for a modern naked?

No offense but anyone buying an FZ8 instead of a FZ09 is foolish. If you don't know why then look it up. More weight, less engine, why?

Then get an FZ07, makes no sense getting an FZ8

I'd take the Fazer8 over the FZ9, an i'd take an FZ1 over all of them.

If you do any sort of distance riding you would know why.

Very different bikes... None are really bad, but they were all designed with a very different purpose. I have ridden all of these in question and my riding preferences bias will be obvious...

FZ8/Fazer8/FZ1 - The 4 cylinder motors feel great on the highway, tons of power in any of them. All three of these use the same frame and layout, the handle bars and suspension specs are slightly different. The FZ8 and Fazer8 feel oh so slightly different because of the handlebar layout. These three models require more steering input than the newer FZ-07/FZ-09/FJ-09 models, but the upside is they feel more planted on the highway.

I really like the older FZ chassis a lot. The 2nd gen FZ1's were a great bike if you wanted a really sporty tourer and the FZ8/Fazer8 were pretty much the same bike with less displacement in the engine and wallet. If I was touring I would take any of these three over a new FZ... if the FJ-09 was an option, it would complicate my decision, but I would still end up on an FZ1.

LOL MacDoc is salesguy mode right now big time.

I know this seems like obvious truths, but: I think any of the bikes the OP listed in the first post are great starting places..ride them all (or as many as feasible) and decide how you want to use it. Then based on your budget and what's available here, there'll be one or maybe two that standout in particular.

I'd like to know how an FZ-07 feels in comparison to the sv650... logical progression, or lateral move?

Edit: As an SV rider, I sat on the GSX-S750, and the tank seemed HUGE!... The Kawi felt big too, but not as big as the GSX-S... Not sure if that helps, but thought it could be useful

FZ-07 vs SV650 - Not sure if you are including the SV650S models in this or not (the ones that came with clip-ons) but for apples to apples I'll exclude them. The motors feel similar but the FZ-07 felt a hair smoother. I have always liked the SVs and would probably purchase one myself (though I'd opt for the 1000). The SVs feel much heavier on corner lean in but this could be adjusted out given time and effort. They are a very similar bike though the SV's tank is gigantic (feeling) compared to the FZ-07. Given all that, I would call the progression lateral because there isn't enough difference to make a "step up" to another bike. If you were comparing it to a Street Triple, I would argue that the Triumph is a big step up from both the SV and the FZ, at least in terms of power, brakes, suspension and price.

FYI The XSR900 doesn't have "better brakes" than the FZ-09, just the ABS system from the FJ-09 (and traction control too). Personally I found both braking systems felt exactly the same, even when at the limits (or as close as I could get to them I guess).
 
The 2013+ Fazer8 vs FZ9 argument is an interesting one to me, because I was more drawn to the Fazer due to the windscreen and complaints about the FZ9's mediocre suspension and dodgy EFI mapping. Then I see the principle proponent of the FZ9 here is using it for touring. Hmmm. But... no windscreen. Don't mention the FJ-09, it is too ugly to consider.

That doesn't seem to be what the OP is about, though. I would second looking into the Street Triple
 
Then get an FZ07, makes no sense getting an FZ8

Ya, but now you're getting less power for the same money. LOL. Bottom line is it will boil down to price. The sellers of Fz8s will simply have to price accordingly (meaning cheap), and the buyer would hardly be foolish to pay it for an otherwise still perfectly capable motorcycle. The buyer might also simply not like an Fz-09 or -07..
 
Why do you have so many bikes?

Just curious.

Three GSX-Rs are race bikes / track-only. The second 600 is for a backup bike, as I learned last year how frustrating it is to race a bike that isn't working right...

As for the Ape, a 2012 is a decent bike, and worth about 185km to the reserve light, I don't think that's all that bad, about what my ported / piped GSX-R 1000 used to get (as well as the 2013 RSV4). By that time, I am usually up for a little rest and maybe a water. But everyone has their thing, I guess... oddly, the 2016 RF goes another 35km before reserve and puts down another 20hp to the wheel than the 2013 F did, figure that out. I don't know whether the 1100 has better milage, but it definitely is a better overall bike.

If I had to choose the various bikes in question... well, I would look to the 675 Street Triple R. Great bike, and it feels different than the inline-4s or a parallel twin (my least favourite engine configuration).
 
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Have you done any ridding on one?

And about your quotes, A ****** performing bike can outrun a top of the line superbike depending of who is ridding what.

What does this "ridding" word you keep using actually mean?
 
What does this "ridding" word you keep using actually mean?
It means that I graduated from University in a different country and in a different language and I even though I did my best to teach myself English, sometimes due to having 4 other languages in my brain, I write according to the way words sound, unlike you that spend years since you were a kid learning this ONE language in school.

Again i do my best at not offending anyone with my misspelled words but once in a while i have to deal with idiots that know exactly what I mean but chose to call me out to try to make me come across like someone with lack of education.

Or something like that

PS. I meant to write ridden but you already know that
 
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As for the Ape, a 2012 is a decent bike, and worth about 185km to the reserve light, I don't think that's all that bad, about what my ported / piped GSX-R 1000 used to get (as well as the 2013 RSV4). By that time, I am usually up for a little rest and maybe a water. But everyone has their thing, I guess... oddly, the 2016 RF goes another 35km before reserve and puts down another 20hp to the wheel than the 2013 F did, figure that out. I don't know whether the 1100 has better milage, but it definitely is a better overall bike.

If I had to choose the various bikes in question... well, I would look to the 675 Street Triple R. Great bike, and it feels different than the inline-4s or a parallel twin (my least favourite engine configuration).

185km is not terrible compared to the 152 in this review.
http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/tuono-experiment-2013-aprilia-tuono-v4-r-review
 
Newer maps have changed a lot. I am still amazed at the RF, though. I had 218km out of it before the reserve came on, and the reserve has about 5L. That's far better than my worked GSX-R got, and the RSV4 has more power (stock!) Not to mention that the RF has just less than 1700km on it. I will put that much on in three weeks when I hit Deal's Gap, I was just so busy with racing last year.
 
It means that I graduated from University in a different country and in a different language and I even though I did my best to teach myself English, sometimes due to having 4 other languages in my brain, I write according to the way words sound, unlike you that spend years since you were a kid learning this ONE language in school.

Again i do my best at not offending anyone with my misspelled words but once in a while i have to deal with idiots that know exactly what I mean but chose to call me out to try to make me come across like someone with lack of education.

Or something like that

PS. I meant to write ridden but you already know that

I know what you mean dude. In my travels all over the world in the US military and having to communicate with various other peoples I often found many idiots who couldn't figure out what friendly ribbing was and had to draw a picture for them. Quite often they still couldn't get it.

P.S. You meant to write riding, not ridden. But you get a pass for knowing 4 languages. Seriously, kudos for that.
 
FZ-07 vs SV650 - Not sure if you are including the SV650S models in this or not (the ones that came with clip-ons) but for apples to apples I'll exclude them. The motors feel similar but the FZ-07 felt a hair smoother. I have always liked the SVs and would probably purchase one myself (though I'd opt for the 1000). The SVs feel much heavier on corner lean in but this could be adjusted out given time and effort. They are a very similar bike though the SV's tank is gigantic (feeling) compared to the FZ-07. Given all that, I would call the progression lateral because there isn't enough difference to make a "step up" to another bike. If you were comparing it to a Street Triple, I would argue that the Triumph is a big step up from both the SV and the FZ, at least in terms of power, brakes, suspension and price.

FYI The XSR900 doesn't have "better brakes" than the FZ-09, just the ABS system from the FJ-09 (and traction control too). Personally I found both braking systems felt exactly the same, even when at the limits (or as close as I could get to them I guess).

Thanks!! Guess I'll hold out for the XSR900 (...and having the $$, of course)
 
I looked into it. Budget would keep me at a used 2012ish one and the smaller tank on it and thirst compared to the updated one would rule it out for my needs. Too bad.

At one point I was thinking about getting a 2013-2015 Tuono. Was THIS close to getting a 2013 from a guy in Sudbury that posted on kijiji with a pretty decked out Tuono . . . I believe he was a firefighter. Anyways, had the AR exhaust, updated more comfy seat, tail tidy, frame sliders, etc, basically most of the stuff I'd put on the bike anyways, for a very good price, IIRC $11,000 with about 10K km on it.

But yes, even with the Street Triple RX, which is a helluva naked/streetfighter, and I still love riding, the Tuono 1100 is just absolutely ridiculous.
 
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At one point I was thinking about getting a 2013-2015 Tuono. Was THIS close to getting a 2013 from a guy in Sudbury that posted on kijiji with a pretty decked out Tuono . . . I believe he was a firefighter. Anyways, had the AR exhaust, updated more comfy seat, tail tidy, frame sliders, etc, basically most of the stuff I'd put on the bike anyways, for a very good price, IIRC $11,000 with about 10K km on it.

But yes, even with the Street Triple RX, which is a helluva naked/streetfighter, and I still love riding, the Tuono 1100 is just absolutely ridiculous.

All factory matte black? ;) Same one I considered.
 
All factory matte black? ;) Same one I considered.

I believe so. I think he was asking like $11,300 and it had 10,xxx km on it. I figured the $300 ish was because he wanted $11,000 flat on it. It was definitely a fair price. I'm sure it's sold by now. But at the same time, glad I got the 1100 RR. Love the handling with the new swing arm and different front end geometry. Combined with the larger displacement engine with ~20hp more power in the midrange makes what was already a great bike even better.
 
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