Its Summer! Lets talk motorcycles.

[vash]

suzuki SV650! it is the miata of motorcycles. small and effen capable on the track. dont know about the commuting duties tho. if i had to commute with one, i would get a liter bike to minimize all that fussing with the shifter.

dude, get two bikes. what i find ironic is that summer is too hot for riding. i like spring and fall. i ride with my leathers, always. i park it during the summer, daytimes at least.

[Steve Carlton]

Originally posted by fastpat
Lots of nice bikes, I particularly like the RC51, but the latest machine to capture my fancy is the '06 Yamaha YZF-R6.
It's those titanium valves and 17.5k redline that does it. Of course, the 130 hp helps too. All from 600cc.

Do some more checking, Pat, and you'll find the bike actually doesn't rev that high. Yamaha offered to buy them back to those who bought them before that became known. Also, the bike has no low-end or midrange power. It's best for the track, with constant shifting to keep it in the power band.

[deathpunk dan]

Eh F the R6.

In fact, I'm sick of just about every modern inline 4 supersport. Twins and V4s are where it is at...and the triumph triples are pretty alright as well. The previously mentioned SV650S is the swiss army knife of motorcycles.

I say go for the Aprillia. How about a Falco SL1000? Fantastic bike.

I am saving my pennies for a bevel 900SS.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

The R6 is not only fugly as all get-out but a goddamn weedwacker engine to boot. If you like riding a dentist's drill, by all means buy a 600cc I4.

The Falco definitely kicks ass.

[nostatic]

Ahh, the Aprilia chorus continues to chime in

I love my Duc, but I'd let her go for an Aprilia in a heartbeat if times were right. Since budget is an issue, look for a used Falco, Mille, or Tuono. I know you want to move away from naked, but a Tuono is not an S3. Or a Monster. It is a crack pipe loaded with rocky goodness

[craigster59]

Trying to stay a bit on topic, last weekend I watched the 2 disc set from Netflix "The Long Way Round" where Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman ride BMW's from London to New York crossing Russia and Mongolia. Definetly worth renting. Okay, back to the bikes....

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally posted by herman maire
I love BMW and there cool boxer motor.....
I dont care how capable the jap bikes are they just have no emotional connection
for me, I am kinda stupid that way.

This probably sounds dumb but I would look forward to changing oil, filters ect.. on the bimmer. On the jap bike.... I just dont care.

Next stop is italy for a Duc. If for some reason the bimmer cant cut it... Hands down get a Duc.

Hear hear; I'll second that. The Japanese bikes have no soul. My neighbor used to liken riding one to making love with a condom; it gets the job done, but something is missing.

[David]

Originally posted by vash
suzuki SV650! it is the miata of motorcycles. small and effen capable on the track. dont know about the commuting duties tho. if i had to commute with one, i would get a liter bike to minimize all that fussing with the shifter.

I just bought an SV650 for my wife. She only let me ride it home from the dealer so I don't have much time it. So far I'm pretty impressed. It's very light, seems to handle well (although I didn't lean it too much with new tires on it), and the power seems good. If it were for me, I'd get the SV1000.

[deathpunk dan]

I dunno. My 96 VFR had quite a bit o soul.
Other bikes from Japan I'd like to have in the collection:
-an RZ350
-an RZV500
-CB400-4 (my best friend has one, I think it's a 75? really cool but useless for anything but around town or back road riding)
-RC 30 (local dealership had one on display forever)
-NT650 Hawk GT

[fastpat]

Originally posted by BlueSkyJaunte
The R6 is not only fugly as all get-out but a goddamn weedwacker engine to boot. If you like riding a dentist's drill, by all means buy a 600cc I4.

The Falco definitely kicks ass.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I've yet to see the first Italian bike that was more than 80% of the quality of the average Japanese bike.

Has that changed?

Don't get me wrong, I like Duc's, and probably would like some of the others, but for dependability and build quality, the Japanese machines are hard to beat.

[1967 R50/2]

Originally posted by fastpat
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I've yet to see the first Italian bike that was more than 80% of the quality of the average Japanese bike.

Has that changed?

Yes. A long long time ago. Difficult to find a "low quality" bike from any of the major manufacturers, including Harley.

[David]

Originally posted by deathpunk dan
I dunno. My 96 VFR had quite a bit o soul.
Other bikes from Japan I'd like to have in the collection:
-an RZ350
-an RZV500
-CB400-4 (my best friend has one, I think it's a 75? really cool but useless for anything but around town or back road riding)
-RC 30 (local dealership had one on display forever)
-NT650 Hawk GT

I rode my friends RZV500 a few times. What a blast. It was deciptively fast. I had it a 1000 rpm into redline in 6th one time, yee hah!!! It was a little squirrely though. My friend eventually crashed it after coming down off a wheelie and got rid of it.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally posted by fastpat
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I've yet to see the first Italian bike that was more than 80% of the quality of the average Japanese bike.

Has that changed?

Don't get me wrong, I like Duc's, and probably would like some of the others, but for dependability and build quality, the Japanese machines are hard to beat.

[JavaBrewer]

So long my friend. A great bike goes to another home tomorrow while I'm on a plane for ORF.

I ended coming down $400 and sold it immediately. Guy was here with cash and I just signed the pink. So all told I, minus wear & tear items (tires, oil, filter, brake pads, registration), the cost of ownership was $500 for 9K miles.

So once back in town the search gets serious as I am officially bikeless . Top candidates are still a nicely modded RC51 or a clean low mile BCR, or...a Ducati superbike...996...

Sorry, I'm sure the Aprilia has a sweet motor but they just doesn't speak to me. Maybe I need to learn a couple catchy Italian phrases...

[motion]

The 996 will kill you in 50 miles, seriously. Congrats on the sale!

[deathpunk dan]

the genmar or other risers make the 916-based bikes significantly more usable for real world riding. I put 1000 miles on an 02 748S 2 summers ago (a friend's bike...he was away for the summer and has known me since age 3, hence the permission to ride it)...whatever risers he had on it helped a ton.

[JavaBrewer]

Ok so things are definitely getting complicated. I rode my top candidate today, 2004 RC51, Sato, PCIIIusb, new rubber, flapper valve, undertail kit, 4400 miles with a couple track days asking $8250. My practical side, or what's left of one, says this is the bike I'm looking for...



Then like a moron I checkout another bike around the corner from where I live. 2001 RSV Mille, 11K miles, exhaust, brembo, sachs, new bt002 tires, asking $7000. I don't know what to say. This bike speaks to me on many different levels where just last week the new 07 Mille was ho/hum. Is it the color...I don't know.



I didn't get to ride the Mille as I had the kids in tow w/o help so I'm going back tomorrow to ride. What can I expect from a used Mille other than a valve adjust in 4K miles? From what I've investigated so far the parts/service /support has been a nightmare though is supposedly much improved since the buyout. Overall though it sounds these bikes are pretty robust and trouble free as long as they stay upright.

[nostatic]

Be prepared to buy it after you ride it. The engines are bombproof. Since the buyout parts availability has greatly improved. They made the engine and parts for quite a few years, so replacement stuff usually isn't an issue. Plus you have a very good dealer close by. If it is the Mille on craigslist it has been for sale for quite some time. You can probably get it for a decent price.

I really like my Duc, but at some point I'll have an Aprilia...

[5axis]

I love the color on the Aprilia. You won't go wrong either way, but if it is a plus for you to be different then get the Mille.

In the RC pic I see it has stomp grip on the tank. If you get the Aprilia, put stomp grip on it too. It allows you to really grip the bike low, and keep everything except control input forces off the bars.


This would be my pick if I had excessive funds available for another aprilia.

[Noah930]

Both are fantastic bikes, from what I've heard. If you can afford either one, and as long as they're comfortable enough for the bit of commuting you're planning on, then get the one that makes you most want to ride. Unless it turns out to be a total bucket of bolts (stranding you on a regular basis), you'll be happier and won't regret the decision. You're thinking too much.