Letting go of a sports bike

Druid · January 05, 2015, 10:02:21 PM

Whenever i've got a new bike, i've never given the old one a second thought. Tomorrow, I'm gonna have a sniff at a MT-09 SR in my local dealers but i've suddenly realised that I'm gonna have to give up riding a sports bike and the idea isn't sitting well with me at the mo. Anyone else have this feeling and will it subside when I've have a blast on my new one???

Alzo · January 05, 2015, 10:12:11 PM

Not sure what you're asking....will you miss a particular bike....or riding Sportsbikes?...for me the new breed of Naked/uprights make Sportsbikes redundant...performance is on par...and the advantage of sitting up makes sense...you can see further ahead...you feel more in control in the twisties...and the comfort is the biggest bonus...I wanted a Panigale for its looks...but I know I couldn't go back to sore wrists..neck...arse.
No going back for me.

Druid · January 06, 2015, 01:57:22 AM

Quote from: Alzo on January 05, 2015, 10:12:11 PM
Not sure what you're asking....will you miss a particular bike....or riding Sportsbikes?...for me the new breed of Naked/uprights make Sportsbikes redundant...performance is on par...and the advantage of sitting up makes sense...you can see further ahead...you feel more in control in the twisties...and the comfort is the biggest bonus...I wanted a Panigale for its looks...but I know I couldn't go back to sore wrists..neck...arse.
No going back for me.

I mean riding,owning and being a Sportsbike owner. Having second thoughts already, especially as it's bought and paid for.HMMMMMMM test ride is in order methinks.

David W · January 06, 2015, 06:51:23 AM

Not owning a Sportsbike makes you less of a man. Fact.
Unless it's only a 600cc Sportsbike because they are for girls (and I'm not sure if a 600cc bike actually counts as a Sportsbike. I'll go and check).

Green_Ninja · January 06, 2015, 09:56:19 AM

Quote from: David W on January 06, 2015, 06:51:23 AM
Not owning a Sportsbike makes you less of a man. Fact.
Unless it's only a 600cc Sportsbike because they are for girls (and I'm not sure if a 600cc bike actually counts as a Sportsbike. I'll go and check).

LOL

My take on this, rode sportsbikes, Ninjas, for 8 years after getting back into bikes. 2008 swapped a ZX6R for a Speed Triple and bloody loved it, had it 2 years and then got the itch for another sports bike so chopped it in for a 2010 ZX10R, bloody awesome machine but I was never as happy on that as I'd been on the 6, was slower on track etc etc.
2013 traded the ZX10R in for a brand new Street Triple R

this is without doubt the best bike i have ever owned and I have no intention of getting rid of it. It tours, scratches, tracks brilliantly, sound awesome and is great fun to ride.

However I have just bought a 1999 ZX9R to add to the garage, it was the right price (cheap) a bit tatty but mechanically sound and the engine is brilliant. It will be run alongside the Street not as a replacement.

Not sure what point I am trying make other than you can have both, if you are careful with your cash

remember the correct number of bikes is N+1

Farmer Giles · January 06, 2015, 10:15:35 AM

I've not long done the same thing..

I've riden 'sports' bike for years, many Kawasaki models and the odd Aprilia both on road and track but Last year I bought a Yamaha FZ8 and I love it..

It may not be as quick as previous bikes but I bet it's faster from a to b in the real world. The suspension may not be quite as good as previous bikes but that's half the fun, man handling it through the bends using the wide bars and excellent vision..

On New Years day the weather down south was a bit damp, wet roads and drizzley all day but two us went out and had an absolute blast. I never would have gone out if I'd still had one of my ZX6s..

riding the FZ8 has really re-ignited my love of biking and from all accounts the MT-09 is a great bike but limited by a tiny tank range..

2p

Green_Ninja · January 06, 2015, 10:36:19 AM

Quote from: Farmer Giles on January 06, 2015, 10:15:35 AM

riding the FZ8 has really re-ignited my love of biking and from all accounts the MT-09 is a great bike but limited by a tiny tank range..

2p

Make sure you test a Street Triple as well, may be a smaller capacity but it's still a better bike

CBr6y · January 06, 2015, 07:43:37 PM

Sports bike for 9 years, really didnt want to let it go even though I was in pain every time I rode it. And even now I look at the pictures of it, I still love it, however ...... got a naked bike and within a mile of riding it I knew it was right.
bought it and not looked back
Its crazy how long I put up with being uncomfortable and in pain, naked bikes are where its at!!!

Druid · January 07, 2015, 12:00:28 AM

Went and had a look. Kinda liked the bike and would've taken it for a test ride but they don't do 0% finance anymore so I didn't bother. I know that Kawasaki do it for the Z800 and that's still an option but when went into the garage tonight, the R6 was looking mighty fine and may have had a reprieve. Think some test riding is in order to see what's occurring.

Alzo · January 07, 2015, 07:45:43 AM

We've all been there....it may well be the case you are not ready for change of either bike or style...for me I put up with the riding position in denial of how much I wasn't enjoying it...a few episodes of nakeds and Sportsbikes took place...but now the transition is complete...the upright is spot on for my use.

Farmer Giles · January 07, 2015, 12:38:03 PM

Quote from: Green_Ninja on January 06, 2015, 10:36:19 AM

Make sure you test a Street Triple as well, may be a smaller capacity but it's still a better bike

When the time comes to change I certainly will look at the Triumph as the current version will be available in my budget but at the time I bought the FZ8 I looked at Street Triples (I actually bought the FZ8 from a Triumph dealer so plenty of options) and TBH I could not bring myself to love the twin silencer rear end of all the bikes in my budget, even with aftermarket cans. Best exhaust option I saw was the 'low boy' but at nearly a grand for a full system it was a bit too much money on top of the already more expensive bike.

Green_Ninja · January 07, 2015, 01:41:21 PM

Quote from: Farmer Giles on January 07, 2015, 12:38:03 PM
Quote from: Green_Ninja on January 06, 2015, 10:36:19 AM

Make sure you test a Street Triple as well, may be a smaller capacity but it's still a better bike

When the time comes to change I certainly will look at the Triumph as the current version will be available in my budget but at the time I bought the FZ8 I looked at Street Triples (I actually bought the FZ8 from a Triumph dealer so plenty of options) and TBH I could not bring myself to love the twin silencer rear end of all the bikes in my budget, even with aftermarket cans. Best exhaust option I saw was the 'low boy' but at nearly a grand for a full system it was a bit too much money on top of the already more expensive bike.

you need the 2013 model mate, low exhaust as standard.

well any excuse

Farmer Giles · January 07, 2015, 08:27:17 PM

Quote from: Green_Ninja on January 07, 2015, 01:41:21 PM

you need the 2013 model mate, low exhaust as standard.

Yeah I know.. The important phrase was 'in budget'

Green_Ninja · January 07, 2015, 08:35:03 PM

Quote from: Farmer Giles on January 07, 2015, 08:27:17 PM
Quote from: Green_Ninja on January 07, 2015, 01:41:21 PM

you need the 2013 model mate, low exhaust as standard.

Yeah I know.. The important phrase was 'in budget'

budgets are flexible

Bournetoride · January 10, 2015, 08:07:58 PM

A road test is a must, the MT09 is notorious (among suspension specialists ) for its shockingly poorly damped suspenders