Why oh why do I want more...... What's wrong with me (Group Therapy required) | GTAMotorcycle.com

Why oh why do I want more...... What's wrong with me (Group Therapy required)

Z

zozie

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I need to share/vent. It's only been 2.5 months since I got my brand spanking new F800R BMW. Since June 30th, I've clocked 8800Kms, some with 2 up touring and a solo 3300Km tour to North Carolina, going through the Blue Ridge, into Tennessee and all over the place in WV and PA. Here's my issue. The F800R is a great bike, stupid good on gas (Averaged 3.6l/100 on the US trip doing 120-130 all the way) awesome brakes and suspension and the ABS is really sweet, which I didn't think I'd like so much but I don't think I want to have anything without ABS ever again cause it saved me on the blue ridge a few times in the heavy rain on loose gravel. Obviously if I didn't like it I wouldn't have put this many km's on it in 2 months.... The problem however is me wanting more, much much more punch. I don't care about top end so much it's the acceleration that I need. I've never had a speeding ticket in my life and really want to keep it that way and realistically, I could easily loose my license on the f800 without even taking it out of 2nd gear. So I went to test ride a K1300R BMW thinking that will really get my heart pumping with 170hp but it didn't really. I thought I'd feel like I MUST HAVE THIS, but for some reason it I was happy to sit back on my 800. Yes the K1300 is very, very fast but I think BMW made it so good, if not perfect, somehow they took the fun out if you know what I mean. I was expecting it to be a raging lunatic but it was really well behaved. A few years back I rode an R1 but that was when I was a rookie and that thing scared the poop out of me and really got the adrenalin pumping every time my right wrist moved. So here I am looking for a bigger bike for next year but I'm not sure where to look. I thought about the K1300S instead of the R but but they got the same engine and electronics so probably that wouldn't fill the gap either. I'm sure a Vmax would satisfy my hunger but 1700CC and $20K is a bit heavy. Somehow the Hayabusa keeps popping into the picture as well but I've only driven one for a few minutes in a straight line so I'm not sure how that would feel in the twisties, plus I really enjoy the light weight of the F800R. I'm 6'3 so 600 sports are out of the question. I sat on a CBR 600 but I looked stupid and felt very cramped so 600 superbikes are out of the question......

Ok I'm done now, gotta work so I can finance my addiction to acceleration.
 
KTM 990 SMT sounds like a perfect next bike for you. But prepare for 40 mpg instead of the 65 mpg you're accustomed to.
Available with ABS.....awesome power....and since you ride an F800R, I cna only assume you like ugly bikes, just like I do.
ktm_smt_990_07-760x420.jpg
 
I was in the same boat as you. I got it out of my system with a gen2 FZ1. There's a well documented mod path that I followed, and I had the bike dynoed down at Wheelers' at Deal's Gap at 149.something hp at the rear wheel.

I'm 6'4", and with the Buell footpeg mod and an aftermarket seat, it's the perfect sport-touring setup, with an emphasis on sport. I rode out to Utah and back a couple of years ago on it, took it to Deal's Gap and it's brilliant everywhere.

You should have a look at them...

BTW, there's nothing wrong with you.
 
If you aren't sure what you want, go on as many demo days as you can. It's usually long enough to get a good feel for a bike. And a Busa is not as nimble as a SS, but it's not that far off either.
 
I'm looking to upgrade to either the Versys 1000
Kawasaki_Versys_1000_Grand_Tourer_P2-450x300.jpg


or the Ninja 1000.

kasasaki-z-1000-sx-test_27.jpg


I'm in love with my 650 Versys but like you I want a little more juice up the mountain side with ABS. Not sure what I'm going to do but I better decide fast...I did 20,000km on my V this year and I don't mind keeping it one more year but at this rate I don't know how popular the bike will be on resale with 60,000km on the clock.
 
OP,

Do this test and let us know the results:

  • Take the F800R and warm the engine up to operating temperature
  • Make sure you have enough room in front of you
  • Put the bike into first gear and, with the clutch all the way in, accelerate smoothly
  • When the RPM hits 8,000 or a bit more, release the clutch
  • What kind of acceleration did you experience?

:D

Just joking. The F800R has brutal acceleration... once moving, just gear down twice and bring the RPM all the way to the red line. I'm pretty sure you 'll be able to feel it

Neither the K1300 or anything else is going to feel a lot faster...

Just my 2 cents
 
Speaking of ugly bikes ... I've been lusting after the 2010+ Ducati Multistrata.

Might be something to consider.
 
HDRod said:
Speaking of ugly bikes ... I've been lusting after the 2010+ Ducati Multistrata.

Might be something to consider.
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I was going to suggest the same thing. Good ergo's for a touring bike, and I think its far from ugly, one of the best looking bikes on the market in my opinion. Price is going to be up there though.

Picture-2011-Ducati-Multistrada-1200-white-side.jpg
 
mmmnaked said:
:lol: gotta be kidding me

A K1300 would feel like a rocketship after riding the 800.
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I know! But the OP said "So I went to test ride a K1300R BMW thinking that will really get my heart pumping with 170hp but it didn't really."

Could it be a problem with the right wrist?
That's why I posted the bit about bringing the RPM to 8,000 and letting the clutch go

EDIT: And no, I am not trying to be insulting to the OP. It is just an observation
 
I'd say its a function of how he rode the bike, and the fact that he's used to a twin's power delivery.

The K1300 would need more room to stretch its legs. First gear at street speeds will feel slow compared to a short geared twin.
 
Cha0s00100 said:
I would say the Triumph Tiger is the perfect bike for you . . . Take a look and go take it for a spin, you will fall in love.

http://www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk/motorcycles/range/adventure
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I second this....I have a Tiger 1050 and it's more street orientated with a nice triple engine. You can take it off road too (and I have) but it's not the best bike for this but it's competent. You can get Tune ECU for free and a $15 Ebay cable and play with the tuning too (either simple map changes or more complex stuff if you know what you're doing). It has quite a bit of punch.
 
maybe it's your riding style?

if it isn't, then the bikes mentioned above would more than satisfy your thirst for 'more'. Won't do you any good if you ride all bikes the same, like ^^^ mentioned.
 
before anything drastic, I'd suggest doing a quick throttle mod and a bigger rear sprocket. and REALLY rip the throttle!
 
Try taking it on secondary roads, some freshly graded gravel in the country, you will not need speed for thrills. Use the bike differently - the ennui will pass.
 
Don't get me wrong, the K1300 is a very very fast bike but the difference between that and the f800r was nowhere near as drastic as I had hoped. I had it pegged open i first and second and off the redline..... In a controlled environment of course :)
 
zozie said:
Don't get me wrong, the K1300 is a very very fast bike but the difference between that and the f800r was nowhere near as drastic as I had hoped. I had it pegged open i first and second and off the redline..... In a controlled environment of course :)
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Yeah I don't get it... we're talking about twice the power. If you didn't feel a drastic change on the K1300, then you won't feel it on any bike.
 
mmmnaked said:
Yeah I don't get it... we're talking about twice the power. If you didn't feel a drastic change on the K1300, then you won't feel it on any bike.
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This.

Maybe take a track day course and maybe learn a new thing or 3 about what a bike can do?
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