Looking to dive back in!
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Looking to dive back in!
So I've been a member here since I got my brand new (then) 2005 CBR600RR. A couple years later I got my first liter bike, a brand new 2006 ZX-10R which I also loved but ended up selling in 2008 to get my first Infiniti G37S. At any rate, soon after selling the 10R I met a girl, got married, had a baby etc and my biking days were over...
...So of course fast forward to 2014 and I'm freshly divorced with child support payments. Suffice it to say that the time is well past for me to get a new motorcycle so I am just now starting the process of narrowing down my choices. I'll have around $10k cash to play with and am hoping to get a brand new leftover 2012 or 2013 with a hefty discount. I've had Honda and Kawasaki and am kind of interested in trying something new like a Yamaha or Suzuki but am not discounting another Honda or Kawi. Anyway, here's what I've found so far and am considering. Keep in mind I've been out of the scene for several years so I am just beginning to catch up on the reviews of the current models and what not.
2012/2013 Honda CBR600RR - I like the styling of the 2012 better as the new refresh has a sort of "punched in the face" look to the front end. Still, it looks good overall and they both can be had at decent pricing. In all honesty not much has changed about the CBR600RR since I last had my 2005 model so I'm pretty familiar with the bike. If I were to get another RR (doubtful to be honest unless I get a great deal) I'd definitely love to go for the Repsol version as that one looks great! I found brand new 2012's for around $8k and 2013's for $8500. The cheapest new Repsol I've seen was $9300.
2013 Kawasaki ZX-6R (636) - I was actually really excited to see taht Kawi has gone back to the 636cc "cheater" motor that they had back in 2006! It really gives the bike a big street advantage over the other supersports and was a stroke of marketing genius IMO. Anyway, there are tons of leftover 2013's available for good prices and I love the look of the matte white one in particular. The bike also has Kawi's awesome traction control system and a gear indicator which I'd love. I can get a new 2013 for $8500, same as the Honda.
2012/2013 Yamaha R1 - The only bike I'm really considering from Yamaha is the R1. I just don't particularly like the R6 that much and never have. Its a fine bike but if I go with Yammie its gotta be the flat out awesome R1! I know it hasn't reviewed well since its the heaviest and least powerful liter bike currently but it still looks incredible and has all the features I want like TC, gear position indicator, etc. The thing that struck me about this bike in the shop was the fit and finish. It is flawless and seems so well engineered. Yamaha also has a real winner on its hands with their cross plane technology. The sound this engine makes at full throttle is astonishing! I am not a fan of the huge cans under the seat however. The best price I've found on a 2013 R1 is $10,500 brand new which is a great deal considering sticker price is over $14k!
2013 Suzuki GSX-R600/750 - I've never owned a Suzuki before and would be down to give the Gixxer a shot (especially the 750 which is around the same price as the 600 making it a no-brainer financially). I am NOT a fan of the current styling however as it seems like the Gixxers have looked the exact same for a decade. It does have the features I want including the Brembo brakes which the other supersports do not have. Still, I just don't "love" the Gixxers and I doubt I'll get one, even though the 750 is a great bargain. I found a 2013 600 new for $8500 while the 750 is going for $8900.
2013 Triumph 675 Daytona - This bike is AWEESOME! Seriously, I sat on one the other day and just loved it! Plus the sound that triple makes gives me goosebumps its so good! The bike is really narrow and light which is great but the fit and finish isn't really as good as the Japanese bikes in my opinion, especially considering how pricey these things are. The styling is good, not great, but I really like this bike overall. It also has a big advantage over the 600's with its 675cc displacement. Cheapest I've found a new Daytona is $10k which is probably too much for me to want it, considering I can get the R1 for a few hundred more.
2013 Ducati 899 Panigale S - Words cannot describe how much I want this bike! It is simply the most astounding motorcycle I've ever seen. It seriously looks like perfection shaped into the form of a sport bike! Of course I'd prefer the 1099 but the pricing is already in the stratosphere for the 899 so there's no chance of that sadly. This bike has everything you could ever want in a bike and it truly looks like the Ferrari of motorcycles. This is the one bike that I may consider stretching the budget on. Well, "stretch" may be a bit of an understatement as the cheapest 899 I've found brand new thus far is $15,000! Still, it really does have everything including an awesome TFT instrument cluster than has all the toys built into it. Not to mention adjustable everything. Its just incredible!
2013 Aprilia RSV4 R - This is another of the "dream" bikes that I'm still somewhat considering just because screw it man, I deserve something really cool! This bike has actually beaten the Panigale S two years in a row in Motorcyclist's yearly super bike shootout and I can see why. It definitely doesn't look anywhere near as stunning as the Duc but it has all the features of the Panigale with a stronger engine and smaller size/weight. The nice thing about either of these Italian super bikes is that they are both head turners and you won't see a million other ones on the road with you. There is a dealer nearby selling new 2013's for $12k which is above my budget but is really an incredible bargain for one of the fastest and best overall superbikes made!
OK, so those are the bikes I am currently considering. My current perference is the 2013 Kawasaki ZX-6R as I can get one of those for less than $8500 which would leave me plenty of cash for gear and stuff. Not to mention the fact that it is the strongest of the 600's, looks really badass, has all the features I'm looking for, and would be familiar to me as I've owned a kawi before. The bike I'd give a kidney for is the Panigale S which is simply stunning in every way! It is just perfection on two wheels and I would never want to get off the thing but I don't see how I can swing one of them with the pricing what it is. The other bikes are all definitely in the ballpark and if I found an unusually good deal I could be persuaded to buy any one of them as they all have interesting and unique features and styling. I would also consider the OUTSTANDING S1000RR BMW but they are even more $$$ than the Panigale and if I end up with that much money there is no way I'm not getting the Ducati! Anyway, thanks for reading through my longish post and let me know below what your opinions are on my selections and which ones you would be most interested in! Thanks!
...So of course fast forward to 2014 and I'm freshly divorced with child support payments. Suffice it to say that the time is well past for me to get a new motorcycle so I am just now starting the process of narrowing down my choices. I'll have around $10k cash to play with and am hoping to get a brand new leftover 2012 or 2013 with a hefty discount. I've had Honda and Kawasaki and am kind of interested in trying something new like a Yamaha or Suzuki but am not discounting another Honda or Kawi. Anyway, here's what I've found so far and am considering. Keep in mind I've been out of the scene for several years so I am just beginning to catch up on the reviews of the current models and what not.
2012/2013 Honda CBR600RR - I like the styling of the 2012 better as the new refresh has a sort of "punched in the face" look to the front end. Still, it looks good overall and they both can be had at decent pricing. In all honesty not much has changed about the CBR600RR since I last had my 2005 model so I'm pretty familiar with the bike. If I were to get another RR (doubtful to be honest unless I get a great deal) I'd definitely love to go for the Repsol version as that one looks great! I found brand new 2012's for around $8k and 2013's for $8500. The cheapest new Repsol I've seen was $9300.
2013 Kawasaki ZX-6R (636) - I was actually really excited to see taht Kawi has gone back to the 636cc "cheater" motor that they had back in 2006! It really gives the bike a big street advantage over the other supersports and was a stroke of marketing genius IMO. Anyway, there are tons of leftover 2013's available for good prices and I love the look of the matte white one in particular. The bike also has Kawi's awesome traction control system and a gear indicator which I'd love. I can get a new 2013 for $8500, same as the Honda.
2012/2013 Yamaha R1 - The only bike I'm really considering from Yamaha is the R1. I just don't particularly like the R6 that much and never have. Its a fine bike but if I go with Yammie its gotta be the flat out awesome R1! I know it hasn't reviewed well since its the heaviest and least powerful liter bike currently but it still looks incredible and has all the features I want like TC, gear position indicator, etc. The thing that struck me about this bike in the shop was the fit and finish. It is flawless and seems so well engineered. Yamaha also has a real winner on its hands with their cross plane technology. The sound this engine makes at full throttle is astonishing! I am not a fan of the huge cans under the seat however. The best price I've found on a 2013 R1 is $10,500 brand new which is a great deal considering sticker price is over $14k!
2013 Suzuki GSX-R600/750 - I've never owned a Suzuki before and would be down to give the Gixxer a shot (especially the 750 which is around the same price as the 600 making it a no-brainer financially). I am NOT a fan of the current styling however as it seems like the Gixxers have looked the exact same for a decade. It does have the features I want including the Brembo brakes which the other supersports do not have. Still, I just don't "love" the Gixxers and I doubt I'll get one, even though the 750 is a great bargain. I found a 2013 600 new for $8500 while the 750 is going for $8900.
2013 Triumph 675 Daytona - This bike is AWEESOME! Seriously, I sat on one the other day and just loved it! Plus the sound that triple makes gives me goosebumps its so good! The bike is really narrow and light which is great but the fit and finish isn't really as good as the Japanese bikes in my opinion, especially considering how pricey these things are. The styling is good, not great, but I really like this bike overall. It also has a big advantage over the 600's with its 675cc displacement. Cheapest I've found a new Daytona is $10k which is probably too much for me to want it, considering I can get the R1 for a few hundred more.
2013 Ducati 899 Panigale S - Words cannot describe how much I want this bike! It is simply the most astounding motorcycle I've ever seen. It seriously looks like perfection shaped into the form of a sport bike! Of course I'd prefer the 1099 but the pricing is already in the stratosphere for the 899 so there's no chance of that sadly. This bike has everything you could ever want in a bike and it truly looks like the Ferrari of motorcycles. This is the one bike that I may consider stretching the budget on. Well, "stretch" may be a bit of an understatement as the cheapest 899 I've found brand new thus far is $15,000! Still, it really does have everything including an awesome TFT instrument cluster than has all the toys built into it. Not to mention adjustable everything. Its just incredible!
2013 Aprilia RSV4 R - This is another of the "dream" bikes that I'm still somewhat considering just because screw it man, I deserve something really cool! This bike has actually beaten the Panigale S two years in a row in Motorcyclist's yearly super bike shootout and I can see why. It definitely doesn't look anywhere near as stunning as the Duc but it has all the features of the Panigale with a stronger engine and smaller size/weight. The nice thing about either of these Italian super bikes is that they are both head turners and you won't see a million other ones on the road with you. There is a dealer nearby selling new 2013's for $12k which is above my budget but is really an incredible bargain for one of the fastest and best overall superbikes made!
OK, so those are the bikes I am currently considering. My current perference is the 2013 Kawasaki ZX-6R as I can get one of those for less than $8500 which would leave me plenty of cash for gear and stuff. Not to mention the fact that it is the strongest of the 600's, looks really badass, has all the features I'm looking for, and would be familiar to me as I've owned a kawi before. The bike I'd give a kidney for is the Panigale S which is simply stunning in every way! It is just perfection on two wheels and I would never want to get off the thing but I don't see how I can swing one of them with the pricing what it is. The other bikes are all definitely in the ballpark and if I found an unusually good deal I could be persuaded to buy any one of them as they all have interesting and unique features and styling. I would also consider the OUTSTANDING S1000RR BMW but they are even more $$$ than the Panigale and if I end up with that much money there is no way I'm not getting the Ducati! Anyway, thanks for reading through my longish post and let me know below what your opinions are on my selections and which ones you would be most interested in! Thanks!
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Save some more money and get what you dream about. Don't waste the money you have on a bike that will leave you looking and fantasizing about something else.
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You put up a picture of the RSV4 R and expect me to pick something "responsible" like a Kawi 636?????
Hands down that's what I'd get. I'd get that over the Panigale.
But, being realistic, the Euro bikes are a little out of my league. I mean, it's hard not to go for a bike that's almost half price, yet just as fast and easy to work on. The R1 would be the choice for me. That cross-plane crank sounds like no other, they're reliable, they're easy to work on, and once you get end-cans on it, it really looks good! Plus, it'd be a long while after a lot of track riding to where I'd start critiquing the power out-put and weight. You won't notice that weight riding around on the street. And it has more than enough power to put a smile on your face.
Hands down that's what I'd get. I'd get that over the Panigale.
But, being realistic, the Euro bikes are a little out of my league. I mean, it's hard not to go for a bike that's almost half price, yet just as fast and easy to work on. The R1 would be the choice for me. That cross-plane crank sounds like no other, they're reliable, they're easy to work on, and once you get end-cans on it, it really looks good! Plus, it'd be a long while after a lot of track riding to where I'd start critiquing the power out-put and weight. You won't notice that weight riding around on the street. And it has more than enough power to put a smile on your face.
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