Help me choose a 2nd bike... | GTAMotorcycle.com

Help me choose a 2nd bike...

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Lonewolf

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Hey guys - would appreciate your opinions.

I'm in my 2nd season riding. Started on a Honda CBR 250R. Great beginner bike but it's time for me to think about moving up.

I'd call myself an intermediate rider: good with clutch control, shifting, engine braking, slow speed maneuvers, etc. (Still trying to improve my tight turns/lean angle though.) I'm about 5'10, 190 lbs. Just got my full M license. I mostly ride for fun with some light commuting, haven't done any serious touring or anything like that yet.

Here's the thing: My 250 is just too gutless. I am no speed demon but I'd like to be able to get off the line quickly and pass more confidently on the highway. Otherwise, I would honestly keep it. I really like the agility, "flickyness", gas mileage, and low insurance cost of the lighter bike.

I don't like the riding position of SS bikes or cruisers, I prefer sportbikes, and I like the fairing look as opposed to naked. So, I've been thinking about Ninja 650R, SV650, FZ6R. But it seems like those are all significantly bigger and heavier. I picture them being worse for practicing lean/turns, worse on gas, and less agile. I'd love something in between, something that gives me a little more power on tap but will still be nimble enough for me to keep practicing my cornering. Something that isn't necessarily 100 lbs heavier than my current bike. I like the concept of the new Ninja 300R but I don't know if that will be a significant enough jump in power. Ninja 400R would be good if it wasn't as big and heavy as a 650.

I will go do test rides of course, but any recommendations or thoughts are welcome and appreciated.
 
like matthew said, you can't compare weight with your 250, anything will be too heavy. You want a bigger bike and has the same weight as your 250, good luck finding one. SS will be the closest choice for you if you concerned about weight but you said you don't want a SS, too bad....nothing for you then....
 
Lightweight and powerful?

Crg00257.JPG
 
Despite the negatives you perceive of them, the Ninja 650R, SV650, and FZ6R are the only readily available bikes that are close to what's on your wants list. The old 400s (FZR400, VFR400, etc.) match your wants the best, but there aren't many of them around and maintaining them is not going to be cheap or easy (hard to find parts).

The Ninja 650R, SV650, and FZ6R are heavier than a 250, but they're hardly the bloated pigs you're imagining them to be. Don't get too caught up in the increased weight and fuel consumption figures. If you got one of those bikes and took your time getting used to it, you'll hardly remember there being a difference.
 
SV650 or GSX650F
 
Lonewolf said:
Hey guys - would appreciate your opinions.

I'm in my 2nd season riding. Started on a Honda CBR 250R. Great beginner bike but it's time for me to think about moving up.

I'd call myself an intermediate rider: good with clutch control, shifting, engine braking, slow speed maneuvers, etc. (Still trying to improve my tight turns/lean angle though.) I'm about 5'10, 190 lbs. Just got my full M license. I mostly ride for fun with some light commuting, haven't done any serious touring or anything like that yet.

Here's the thing: My 250 is just too gutless. I am no speed demon but I'd like to be able to get off the line quickly and pass more confidently on the highway. Otherwise, I would honestly keep it. I really like the agility, "flickyness", gas mileage, and low insurance cost of the lighter bike.

I don't like the riding position of SS bikes or cruisers, I prefer sportbikes, and I like the fairing look as opposed to naked. So, I've been thinking about Ninja 650R, SV650, FZ6R. But it seems like those are all significantly bigger and heavier. I picture them being worse for practicing lean/turns, worse on gas, and less agile. I'd love something in between, something that gives me a little more power on tap but will still be nimble enough for me to keep practicing my cornering. Something that isn't necessarily 100 lbs heavier than my current bike. I like the concept of the new Ninja 300R but I don't know if that will be a significant enough jump in power. Ninja 400R would be good if it wasn't as big and heavy as a 650.

I will go do test rides of course, but any recommendations or thoughts are welcome and appreciated.
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Get the static weight numbers out of your head. 400+ lbs is normal for sportbikes, everybody gets along fine with that weight and so will you.

Ninja is a parallel twin, SV is a v-twin, and FZ is inline 4... three very different character bikes. You should ride them all before plopping your money down. Personally I hate parallel twins so I'd go FZ or SV. The Yamaha makes quite a bit more power up top than the other two, but it also delivers it in a smoother more linear manner with taller gearing, so around town it doesn't necessarily feel as fast.
 
I like the low end grunt of the v-twin so I would probably go with the SV650.

You may also consider checking out adventure touring, supermotard or dual sport type bike. They are more upright. I can't help but have a ear to ear grin on my face when I play with a supermotard.
 
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RetroGrouch said:
Lightweight and powerful?

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I LOVE the old 500cc 2-smokes. I would have gone with a RZ500 personally over the RG500.

RZ500_1C.jpg



Mind where I would own a RZ500 in a second if i could find and afford one I would not recommend them to a rider with only a few years under their belt. I like new riders to live a bit longer....
 
SV650S is maybe about 40lbs heavier than your CBR ...
Keep in mind that SV still has a fairly aggressive sitting position, unless you go for the naked one which is more upright with its handlebars instead of clip-ons.
And really, most sport and sport-touring bikes handle amazingly, despite the weight.
I'm on a VFR800 now and don't feel much of a difference between that and the SV. And the VFR is a pig.
Anyhow, get an SV. Cheap, parts everywhere if something brakes. More than enough power, delivered by the very pleasing V-twin, but not super crazy.
 
RetroGrouch said:
Lightweight and powerful?

Crg00257.JPG
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Are you trying to kill him? I miss riding my friend's Walter Wolf Gamma!

OP: As mentioned by someone else above, the 3 bikes you're listing are completely different machines due to engine configuration. IMHO it's a v-twin you're looking for; small displacement, easy to ride, quick off the line... although I'm biased towards v-twins. The SV is my suggestion for you; I've owned one and loved it (I'd still have it if I was able to get the wife into riding when I moved up to the TLS) and there's bucket loads of parts (both OEM and after market) available for it as well as a cult-like following. Check out svrider.com
 
Get an Amazonas.
 
stay far away from RZ500 or RG500

(way too expensive on parts plus I'm always on the hunt for spares and don't need the competition!!!!) :p
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