Hi all, I am considering getting a bike after a 6 year absence from
Riding. I am looking for something that is good for the daily commute
and for some week-end fun. I no longer have a burning need to go fast or
to hang off the bike when cornering I think something between 600 and
900cc would do.

I am cost constrained as I don't want to spend a large amount of money
and am budgetting around $12-13K for the Bike which should get me
something ok. I'm a heavy set guy around 6'2" so low-riders and smaller
bikes are out

I am looking at the following bikes and would welcome any opinions on them:

Suzuki GSF750F (I had a 600 version of this in the early 90's and was
very happy with it.) I can get one new for $12K On Road - price, power
and size are about rite currently tops my list.

Suzuki SV650S(I kinda like the idea of a V-Twin and the sound of em).

Honda VFR800 (probably second hand as it is outside my price range new).

Honda VTR1000F Firestorm (again probably second hand given its price new).

Over the next few weeks I'll test ride these but am interested in
hearing any opinions on the current range of bikes (sport/tourers) out there

Cheers

Rob

"Rob Masters" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:403c6af1$0$22528$(E-Mail Removed). au...
> Hi all, I am considering getting a bike after a 6 year absence from
> Riding. I am looking for something that is good for the daily commute
> and for some week-end fun. I no longer have a burning need to go fast or
> to hang off the bike when cornering I think something between 600 and
> 900cc would do.
>
> I am cost constrained as I don't want to spend a large amount of money
> and am budgetting around $12-13K for the Bike which should get me
> something ok. I'm a heavy set guy around 6'2" so low-riders and smaller
> bikes are out
>
> I am looking at the following bikes and would welcome any opinions on them:
>
> Suzuki GSF750F (I had a 600 version of this in the early 90's and was
> very happy with it.) I can get one new for $12K On Road - price, power
> and size are about rite currently tops my list.
>
> Suzuki SV650S(I kinda like the idea of a V-Twin and the sound of em).
>
> Honda VFR800 (probably second hand as it is outside my price range new).
>
> Honda VTR1000F Firestorm (again probably second hand given its price new).
>
> Over the next few weeks I'll test ride these but am interested in
> hearing any opinions on the current range of bikes (sport/tourers) out there

All good choices on your parameters- also consider Triumph Sprint, BMW R1100,
TDM850/900.

A touch outside your parameters but consider Bandit 1200, ZRX1200, Monster, and
the chookies on steroids brigade (DL650/1000 etc)

JL

s/h CBR600F4i, ZX636 might work well. I had a CBR600F2 as my
commuter/weekend bike and it did two years of solid riding with a few oil
changes, a couple of tyres one or two workshop services (to do the valves
clearances) and it never missed a beat. I am 6'4" and was 100kg and it was
comfortable and nimble, had good power for the weekend, withstood thousands
of backfires and scrubbed up well after getting covered in mid winter grit
and grime.

You could also try a Tarax 850, (or TDM900 as John Littler has suggested),
s/h BMWR1100S, s/h SV1000. If you're commuting and weekend riding a second
handy with 3000 k or so on it isn't going to make much of a difference to
what you'll rack up over the next couple of years and you'll escape a chunk
of depreciation.

"Rob Masters" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:403c6af1$0$22528$(E-Mail Removed). au...
> Hi all, I am considering getting a bike after a 6 year absence from
> Riding. I am looking for something that is good for the daily commute
> and for some week-end fun. I no longer have a burning need to go fast or
> to hang off the bike when cornering I think something between 600 and
> 900cc would do.
>
> I am cost constrained as I don't want to spend a large amount of money
> and am budgetting around $12-13K for the Bike which should get me
> something ok. I'm a heavy set guy around 6'2" so low-riders and smaller
> bikes are out
>
> I am looking at the following bikes and would welcome any opinions on
them:
>
> Suzuki GSF750F (I had a 600 version of this in the early 90's and was
> very happy with it.) I can get one new for $12K On Road - price, power
> and size are about rite currently tops my list.
>
> Suzuki SV650S(I kinda like the idea of a V-Twin and the sound of em).
>
> Honda VFR800 (probably second hand as it is outside my price range new).
>
> Honda VTR1000F Firestorm (again probably second hand given its price new).
>
> Over the next few weeks I'll test ride these but am interested in
> hearing any opinions on the current range of bikes (sport/tourers) out
there
>
> Cheers
>
> Rob

Don't pass up a ZX9R either if you're looking in thar league. They're
definately not super sports oriented. Or a ZX6R of course, one of my all
time bikes of choice, as many will know well.

Cam
'03 954

On Wed, 25 Feb 2004 20:30:57 +1100, Rob Masters wrote:

> Suzuki GSF750F (I had a 600 version of this in the early 90's and was
> very happy with it.) I can get one new for $12K On Road - price, power
> and size are about rite currently tops my list.

But for the fact they're butt-ugly to look at. Last week I was quoted $11k
on the road, by the way.
- sanbar

2003 VTR1000F can be obtained for 12999 ride brand new away from honda.
"Rob Masters" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:403c6af1$0$22528$(E-Mail Removed). au...
> Hi all, I am considering getting a bike after a 6 year absence from
> Riding. I am looking for something that is good for the daily commute
> and for some week-end fun. I no longer have a burning need to go fast or
> to hang off the bike when cornering I think something between 600 and
> 900cc would do.
>
> I am cost constrained as I don't want to spend a large amount of money
> and am budgetting around $12-13K for the Bike which should get me
> something ok. I'm a heavy set guy around 6'2" so low-riders and smaller
> bikes are out
>
> I am looking at the following bikes and would welcome any opinions on
them:
>
> Suzuki GSF750F (I had a 600 version of this in the early 90's and was
> very happy with it.) I can get one new for $12K On Road - price, power
> and size are about rite currently tops my list.
>
> Suzuki SV650S(I kinda like the idea of a V-Twin and the sound of em).
>
> Honda VFR800 (probably second hand as it is outside my price range new).
>
> Honda VTR1000F Firestorm (again probably second hand given its price new).
>
> Over the next few weeks I'll test ride these but am interested in
> hearing any opinions on the current range of bikes (sport/tourers) out
there
>
> Cheers
>
> Rob

Yeah, was able to get a hold of 03 run out ZX9's when i was looking, on road
for a tad over 13K... so im sure a s/h 02 would be a good price.

--
Josh - Southport, QLD

('81 GSX250 --> '83 VT250--> '85 GPz600R --> '98 ZX9R)
Remove _baffles_ to reply.

"FuTAnT" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:403c9807$0$27647$(E-Mail Removed) om.au...
> Don't pass up a ZX9R either if you're looking in thar league. They're
> definately not super sports oriented. Or a ZX6R of course, one of my all
> time bikes of choice, as many will know well.
>
> Cam
> '03 954
>
>
>

"John Littler" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:c1humj$1ihpdr$(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Rob Masters" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:403c6af1$0$22528$(E-Mail Removed). au...
> > Hi all, I am considering getting a bike after a 6 year absence from
> > Riding. I am looking for something that is good for the daily commute
> > and for some week-end fun. I no longer have a burning need to go fast or
> > to hang off the bike when cornering I think something between 600 and
> > 900cc would do.
> >
> > I am cost constrained as I don't want to spend a large amount of money
> > and am budgetting around $12-13K for the Bike which should get me
> > something ok. I'm a heavy set guy around 6'2" so low-riders and smaller
> > bikes are out
> >
> > I am looking at the following bikes and would welcome any opinions on
them:
> >
> > Suzuki GSF750F (I had a 600 version of this in the early 90's and was
> > very happy with it.) I can get one new for $12K On Road - price, power
> > and size are about rite currently tops my list.
> >
> > Suzuki SV650S(I kinda like the idea of a V-Twin and the sound of em).
> >
> > Honda VFR800 (probably second hand as it is outside my price range new).
> >
> > Honda VTR1000F Firestorm (again probably second hand given its price
new).
> >
> > Over the next few weeks I'll test ride these but am interested in
> > hearing any opinions on the current range of bikes (sport/tourers) out
there
>
> All good choices on your parameters- also consider Triumph Sprint, BMW
R1100,
> TDM850/900.
>
> A touch outside your parameters but consider Bandit 1200, ZRX1200,
Monster, and
> the chookies on steroids brigade (DL650/1000 etc)
>
> JL

I wouldn't consider a Triumph unless you want continued aggravation over
warranty issues and pay rip off prices for normal consumable spares.
My 02 Speed Triple is crap I would never touch another Triumph.
S3

I don't think you can go past the 02/03/04 Honda CB900 hornet for the duties
that you mentioned;
- Strong, Torquey engine that will run forever and a day.
- Fantastic build quality
- Good brakes
- Good seating position (even for someone 6'2")
- Nice handling.

You could probably pick up a second hand one of these within your budget - a
much better bike than the GSF750 you mentioned imho. Go and have a ride of
one - you might be surprised.

Cheers,
Rob
01' 929RR

"Rob Masters" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:403c6af1$0$22528$(E-Mail Removed). au...
> Hi all, I am considering getting a bike after a 6 year absence from
> Riding. I am looking for something that is good for the daily commute
> and for some week-end fun. I no longer have a burning need to go fast or
> to hang off the bike when cornering I think something between 600 and
> 900cc would do.
>
> I am cost constrained as I don't want to spend a large amount of money
> and am budgetting around $12-13K for the Bike which should get me
> something ok. I'm a heavy set guy around 6'2" so low-riders and smaller
> bikes are out
>
> I am looking at the following bikes and would welcome any opinions on
them:
>
> Suzuki GSF750F (I had a 600 version of this in the early 90's and was
> very happy with it.) I can get one new for $12K On Road - price, power
> and size are about rite currently tops my list.
>
> Suzuki SV650S(I kinda like the idea of a V-Twin and the sound of em).
>
> Honda VFR800 (probably second hand as it is outside my price range new).
>
> Honda VTR1000F Firestorm (again probably second hand given its price new).
>
> Over the next few weeks I'll test ride these but am interested in
> hearing any opinions on the current range of bikes (sport/tourers) out
there
>
> Cheers
>
> Rob

sanbar wrote:
>
> On Wed, 25 Feb 2004 20:30:57 +1100, Rob Masters wrote:
>
> > Suzuki GSF750F (I had a 600 version of this in the early 90's and was
> > very happy with it.) I can get one new for $12K On Road - price, power
> > and size are about rite currently tops my list.
>
> But for the fact they're butt-ugly to look at. Last week I was quoted $11k
> on the road, by the way.
> - sanbar

In the same price range is the 1200 Bandit. You should be able to ride away
on one of these brand new for < $12K

Nev..
'03 ZX12R
'02 CBR1100XX