Next Bike Wishlist
It's time for my annual fantasy bike buying wish-list. This time round there's a more sports focused line-up and the 600's are (mostly) gone, as are a couple of machines I looked at last time. This year its pretty much an all-litre line-up.
See Also: Current Bike | Last Bike | First Bike | Newsgroup Discussions
When I was shopping around last year for a machine to move onto from my 600-duke I wasn't comfortable stepping up too far performance wise so pretty much ruled out the big capacity twins and fours. Having spent a good part of a year loving the handling and power of my ZX7R I've now changed my tune and am definitely looking at pretty much any of the litre class bikes now.
I had taken the SV Suzuki and Firestorm Honda out last year, and was quite keen on Triumph's Daytona triple but I've since changed my mind about all three for various reasons. I was also interested in the 600's for their nimble handling and top-end performance, but having owned my 750 I'm not really interested in going down the torque ladder, even if they might make a little more top-end power.
So here's the current wish-list...
636 | RSV | Falco | SP1 | R1 | 916 | GSXR/750
Kawasaki ZX636 |
|
|
Specs: 636cc 110HP 4-valve/cyl liquid-cooled fuel-injected inline 4 with a 6-speed box. Dry-weight of ?kg, 17L tank and a wheelbase of 1400mm. Twin 300mm floating front discs with radial-mount opposed 4-piston 4-pad calipers, and single 220mm rear. Tyres 120/65R17 front & 180/55R17 rear.
Reviews: 1 | 2 | 3 |
|
Notes: One of the 2005 Kwaka 636's turned up in Hamilton motorbikes in December
and its priced at a tantalising $15.5k or so which is well within the budget. Had a sit on one in
the shop and poked and prodded it. Havent ridden one yet but I did test the 2004 model so it'll be interesting to compare 'em. Jesus the new one feels light. Similar power to my ZX7R but with a crapload less weight and rolling resistance. |
|
Aprilia RSV1000 Mille |
|
|
Specs: 998cc 110HP 4-valve liquid-cooled fuel-injected 60° V-twin with a 6-speed box. Dry-weight of 187kg, 18L tank and a wheelbase of 1415mm. Twin 320mm floating front discs and single 220mm rear. Tyres 120/70R17 front & 190/50R17 rear.
Reviews: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|
Notes: I cant quite get my head around the scooter-connotation of the Aprilia brand name, but by heck they build a mean full-size bike, race wise they dominate 250cc GP stuff so they're doin something right. A nice twin like the RSV1000 is definitely on the radar now that the 1999 models are starting to appear for under $18K |
|
Aprilia SL1000 Falco |
|
|
Specs: 998cc 104HP 4-valve liquid-cooled fuel-injected 60° V-twin with a 6-speed box. Dry-weight of 190kg, 21L tank and a wheelbase of 1415mm. Twin 320mm floating front discs and single 220mm rear. Tyres 120/70R17 front & 180/55R17 rear.
Reviews: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|
Notes: You might think you're seeing double looking at two Aprilia machines above but there loads of differences between 'em. The Falco may not have the bling-bling of the RSV but does share the same powerplant but with a different ECU mapping, it makes less power, has a different chassis, simpler swing-arm, half the sail area, spungier suspension setup, but a little more ease of use I'm pickin. An Italian VTR/Firestorm perhaps. 2nd hand prices are getting down to a reasonable $15k and I do like the manly low-glitz lines so will definately be taking a good look at one of these. |
|
Honda VTR SP2 |
|
|
Specs: 999cc 115HP 4-valve/cyl liquid-cooled fuel-injected 90° V-twin with a 6-speed box. Dry-weight of 194kg, 18L tank and a wheelbase of 1420mm. Twin 320mm floating front discs and single 220mm rear. Tyres 120/70R17 front & 190/50R17 rear.
Reviews: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|
Notes: I've fancied meself an SP1 since I first started drooling over them in Boyds store when they were downtown a couple of years back. The SP2's are starting to appear on the 2nd hand market now and with later models improved fuel-injection, bigger throttle bodies, better swingarm and suspension setup I'm definately keen on one. |
|
Yamaha YZF-R1 |
|
|
Specs: 998cc 130HP 5-valve liquid-cooled fuel-injected inline-4 with a 6-speed box. Dry-weight of 177kg, 17L tank and a wheelbase of 1,395mm. Twin 298mm floating front discs and single 220mm rear. Tyres 120/70R17 front & 190/50R17 rear.
Reviews: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|
Notes: First released in 1998 competing with the blades and GSXs in the 1000cc 4-cyl arena the 2002 models are now well under the 17k level second hand and are approaching 15k with a few miles on them. The R1 is lightest and shortest of the litre machines here and riding position cops a little flack on occasion compared to the Honda competitor but U cannae deny the styling and oodles of grunt. |
|
Ducati 748/916 |
|
|
916 Specs: 916cc 114HP 4-valve liquid-cooled fuel-injected V-twin with a 6-speed box. Dry-weight of 198kg, 18L tank and a wheelbase of 1410mm. Twin 320mm floating front discs and single 220mm rear. Tyres 120/70R17 front & 190/50R17 rear.
Reviews: who needs em, you know its good :-) |
|
Notes: OK, so I'm only going to score an older 748 or 916 for this kind of money. At the moment you can pick up a 96-97 bike for about $17K. These machines are simply a joy to behold and I kinda know what to expect having had brief rides on both a 748R and 916SPS. Great to listen to, a feast for the eyes, and even if it doesn't quite match the other twins for sheer grunt it'll feel just as lively to ride. |
|
Suzuki GSXR-750 |
|
|
Specs: 749cc 120HP 4-valve liquid-cooled fuel-injected 4-cyl with a 6-speed box. Dry-weight of 163kg, 17L tank and a wheelbase of 1400mm. Twin 300mm floating front discs and single 220mm rear. Tyres 120/70R17 front & 180/55R17 rear. 16v dohc
Reviews: 1 | 2 |
|
Notes: I'd considered older model Gixxer 750's last year and there was talk about that with the demise of the 3/4 litre machines in Superbike racing that Suzuki would be dropping them form
the production line. But they're back with a new model this year that almost slides into my price bracket, not bad for a new machine. |
|
How I'm Leaning
I thought I'd keep a wee list of how I'm leaning over time, what I like the look of as the time draws near to buy a new machine....
October 2005 - A couple of weeks back I noticed an SP1 for sale at Boyds in the Bike trader mag so stropped on down to check it out, unfortunately it had gone by the time I got there. Today however (22nd) I was in there for a casual browse and low and behold, there's an SP2 for sale, 2nd hand, in my price range. I sense a test ride ASAP.
September 2005 - I spent most of September negotiating the purchase of a new to NZ Bimota DB4, a Ducati 900ss powered beauty that unfortunately managed to allude me due to complications with the finance company. Oh well, on to the next dream.
August 2005 - managed to check out one of the new 750 gixxers in the flesh at Road and Sport. They look awesome in the retro livery, still keen on a change from the 750-four configuration but I'm sure itd be a significant improvement over the ZX7 in loads of ways so I guess I'll leave it on the radar for now.
April 2005 - Still quite keen on the SL1000 Aprilia, and generally still got the thirst for a Twin. Having said that the Ninja is goin well, am really lovng riding it, specially now I'm down to one bike after selling son-of-Ninja. Have replaced the SP1 Honda with an SP2 on the wishlist after reading loads of reviews of the SP1 niggles that mostly seemed sorted in the later model. The SP2's are pretty rare but if one pops up I'll be in like Flynn.
March 2005 - Have had a good look at the Aprilia SL1000's recently and really like the slightly manlier no-glitz looks and specs and performance reviews seem impressive for what Aprilia have marketed as a sports-tourer, so the Falco makes it onto the wish list this month. Twins are top of my mind at the moment, none in particular, any twin will do :-)
February 2005 - Jamie had a test ride of the new ZX636 and his report was a little deflating. Sounds like the torque/power delivery aint a lot different to my ZX7R, but I'm still keen to test it for meself. Hammy bikes have just got the new Triumph Daytona 650 (up 50cc) which will be interesting to compare with too. Pretty much still thinkin an SP1 is on the cards at this point.
January 2005 - My litre elitism is definately waning a little now. In December I pretty much convinced meself I'd buy one of new ZX636's, and this month I've noticed a lot of 2nd-hand CBR600RRs popping up in the BikeTrader for reasonable prices, so I may just have to revisit the big capacity thing considering value for money of these peppy little Jap fellahs.
December 2004 - One of the 2005 Kwaka 636's turned up in Hamilton motorbikes this month and its priced at a tantalising $15.5k or so which is well within the budget. Had a sit on one in the shop and poked and prodded it. I've just gotta have one. Jesus it feels light. Similar power to my ZX7R but with a crapload less weight and rolling resistance.
November 2004 - After a talk w Brucey over the upgrade vs replace issue I kinda talked meself outta buying a new bike coz I'm havig so much fun riding the ZX7R. An option I'm seriously considering is just riding it till it dies.
August 2004 - Having only just kicked the wishlist off again there's really no clear favourite here. Of the machines on the list I've only ridden a 916 (and that was an SPS), hell I haven't even seen the new GSX in the flesh. But if I was pressed to make a call it would be one of the twins, and probably a cost-conscious SP1.
See Also: My Current Bike | My First Bike | Newsgroup Discussions