Went motorcycle shopping today. Bike guys in here!!

[Oneslowz28]

The truck is killing me in fuel economy (filled her up this morning. Its about $100 a week). 80% of my commuting could be done on a motorcycle. That's the original reason I bought the HD sportster 883 I had. When I sold it, I had planned on buying a sport bike the same week. But here it is over a year later and I am still bike-less.

I went bike shopping today at 2 local dealers. There is a third but it is owned by the same people who owns one of the ones I visited and their prices are the same and it is useless to visit it.

I have been researching the SV 650 for a few months now and had almost made up my mind. I sat on an SV 650 when I first started my research and instantly liked the bike. My only hang up on the SV was the suspension. I am a larger guy. 6'2" 250 lbs. I have read how the sv's suspension is a bit weak for larger riders. However I really liked the look of the faired SV bikes.

Fast forward to today. Dealership #1: I walk in and immediately a sales man walks over and ask if he can help. I tell him what I am looking for and we walk over to the Suzuki section. He rolls out a Gladius (which is the same bike as an SV650, just naked.) because the only SV sf is on a display. I sit on it and while I still like the bike, the fit just doesn't feel good. Thats when the sales man starts to pitch me a new R6. I tell him that I don't want a SS bike and I have to tell him this 4 more times before he stopped. So I ask for the OTD price on the svsf and it worked out to $7498. I thank him for his time and leave.

Dealership #2: I walk in and walk around for 10 min or so before I am approached by a salesman. I ask to see the SVsf they have in the corner. (again on a display ramp.) She gets a guy to walk it down and I sit on it. Again I do not like the fit as much as I did when I first started looking. I ask her about similar bikes and she takes me over to a Suzuki GSX 650F. I like the look of the bike. I sit on it and it feels much better. Even better it has a $600 discount putting it $100 below the SV. So I get an OTD quote and plan on taking it back to the first dealership and getting them to beat it. If I decide to but it that is.

So is the GSX 650F still considered a beginner's bike with it being an inline 4? I have almost 2 years of cruiser experience and am considering taking the MSF to get acquainted with sport bikes. Both placed did tell me that the break in maintenance would run me about $300. Is it reasonable to ask if they would include this in the sale? I still plan on doing some research on both bikes.

So how about some photos of both bikes.

SV650 SF

http://www.bertsmegamall.com/motorcycles/suzuki/2009/09_SV650SFABS_lrg.jpg

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v291/224/88/681678776/n681678776_515266_3324.jpg

http://static.dealertown.com/dashboard/dealerSites/defaultSuzukiDealer/moto/_m/sr_09/views/SV650SA_A.jpg


GSX 650F

http://motobr.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/gsx650f-1.jpg

http://www.motorcycle.com/images/content/Review/08_june_suzuki_650f_01.jpg

http://www.visordown.com/news/images/1885/gsx650f.jpg

http://z.about.com/d/motorcycles/1/0/Z/O/-/-/GSX650-F_rear_3-4.jpg

[pcclan]

this one i like
SV650 SF

[Mark_Hardware]

first one

[Spawn-Inc]

Gsx!

[Luke122]

GSX gets my vote. It's still a 650, despite the 4cyl, plus its a little more upright in the riding position.

[BuzzKillington]

Noob question... how do you know which is an SS?

[Oneslowz28]

a little research.

Suzuki SS line is the GSXR series
Kawasaki ss line is the ZX series
Yamaha ss line is the R series
Honda ss line is the RR series

[SXRguyinMA]

I'm a fan of the SV to begin with, so I'm kinda byast lol. the GSX is just a rebadged Katana (but with added liquid cooling and FI), as the Gladius is a rebadged SV. Also take a look at the Ninja 650R. Its an inline-twin 650 thats liquid cooled, and a little more upright/comfy position than the SV IMHO

Ninja 650:
http://www.amadirectlink.com/riding/reviews/2006/06Ninja650/spec_600.jpg

[SXRguyinMA]

also, take a look at the Yamaha FZ6 and FZ6R, both I-4 LC'd

FZ6:
http://www.ronsserviceshop.com/Graphics/new_inventory_icons_jpg/motorcycles/2009_FZ6.jpg

FZ6R:
http://www.yamaha-motor.com/assets/content/images/600/09MS_FZ6R_blu_S3_a4f817ff.jpg

[Datech]

Same thing SXR said CJ, the GSX is just a rebadged Katana. The thought behind it is that the people hesitant to buy a gixxer will see the motorcycle, minus the R, and think that its the same bike, just a little easier to handle.

If the SV doesn't fit right, DO NOT GO WITH IT. You'll regret it for the entire time you ride it, especially if you had that feeling from the first time you sat on the bike.

As far as the ones SXR listed, I'm biased against Yamaha and the only sport bike of their's I will recommend is the R1. I'm also not going to tell you to get the Ninja 650 because, as you know, that is my next bike, and I'll have to kill you if you get it before me.

[slaveofconvention]

Friend of mine has an '08 1300 GSXR and loves it to bits - says he can be on it for hours and off again feeling like he was on for 5 minutes - been riding 30 years and the power still scares him occasionally but from a comfort point of view, he can't say enough good about it....

http://www.slaveofconvention.com/imagestore/speedy1.jpg
http://www.slaveofconvention.com/imagestore/speedy2.jpg
http://www.slaveofconvention.com/imagestore/speedy3.jpg

[Datech]

HAHAHAH! I don't think Oneslowz28 or any of the other riders on here would even/ever consider a Hayabusa. You are also the first person to say that they know someone who can ride a Busa for hours on end and not feel like crap.

Also, if you try to take a Busa through the mountains Oneslowz28 and I ride you would be left in the dust by any of the GSX's and SV's through the curves. Busa's were built to go one direction, and to do so very, very quickly.

Suzuki GSX1300R "Hayabusa's" are incredible machines, but to any rider considering getting one you have to have some serious skill and balls to ride one. A Busa is by no means a beginner bike (which is near what z28 is looking for) and is actually the pinnacle for the supersport motorcycle class. The only reason I say this is because I know there are a few other young riders and potential riders on this forum and lurking, and they need to know that the Hayabusa shouldn't even be considered in the same thought as an SV650 or even a GSX650, R or not.

[slaveofconvention]

I don't personally ride at all, like I said, it's a mates. He had previous experience on the older 'busa and it put him off the idea of this bike but he claims it's a totally different ride to the last model. Tony isn't a young guy either - think he's in his mid-late 50's. The pics above were taken at Cadwell Park racing track in England, which is a 170 mile trip from where we live - he did that with no complaints when he got off.

The only reason I mentioned it, was because I figured there might be some similarity with the GSXR ones mentioned - are they part of the same family or something? As I said, I don't ride at all - I'm going to learn shortly, and then I'll still have no idea regarding this class of bike - it's a cruiser/chopper I'm after - crotch-rockets do nothing for me personally :) Got my eye on a Yamaha Virago VX535 for my first bike.

[Datech]

It is in the same class as the other GSXR, but only by name. The Hayabusa is THE pound for pound most powerful production bike out there. There are bigger bikes out there if you are comparing by engine size, like the Kawasaki ZX-14R and Yamaha VMX-17, but the Hayabusa is still considered the best of the best of the super sport (and now hypersport) category.

The current bike can do 0-60 in 2.49 seconds, and if it didn't have a governor that limited it to 188mph the Busa could easily top 210, if not much more with the stock configuration alone.

Sorry for somewhat calling you out in the last post, especially if you don't ride. The huge problem with riders today is they see how low the price is on the superbikes (Hayabusa MSRP at just over $13000) and go straight to the most powerful thing on the market because they think they can afford it. They get the bike, don't bother to get the proper training or experience, and end up killing themselves and three others because they were showing off or underestimating the power of motorcycles like the busa. I have a friend of a friend story that went just like that. Guy got his motorcycle license because he had dirt bike experience, had some spare cash and bought a Busa because he didn't know any better, and crashed it at 140mph in a 55mph surface street 6 days later.

I know z28 knows better than to get a Busa or anything else comparable. I just want to make sure any others reading this don't begin to believe that a 1300cc motorcycle is just as easy to ride as a 650 or less. Slave, your choice of the Virago is a very smart one for a first rider.

[slaveofconvention]

Slave, your choice of the Virago is a very smart one for a first rider.

It's a well researched one lol - big bike handling without terrifying the hell out of you - I'm not a small guy - touching 250 pounds so the smaller bikes just wouldn't work, visually, or performance-wise for me....

[Oneslowz28]

I am just over 250. And a busa would still do 0-60 in under 3 sec.

I have rode a busa at the drag strip before. That bike is one you just hold on to and let it take you where it wants to go. Granted the one I rode was turboed and stretched and had different sprockets.

Daniel is right, Any SS bike be it a Kawasaki ZX6 or Yamaha R1 or any SS bike from the 600s to the ZX14 is way way too much bike for a beginner. The reaction time between throttle blip and engine response is instant, on the non ss bikes there is a little time between the 2 allowing beginners to respond better to mistakes.

And where I plan on riding I wont need a huge powerful bike. Its all about transitions in and out of turns that wins the race. It may see a few track days at road atlanta in a year or 2 but mostly will be used as a commuter and bike to take to the mtns in north ga.

I also like the way the inline 4 bikes sound. Its got that raspy sound of an SS bike but not the extreme powerband. The GSX 650F (not to be confused with the GSX R series) is a proven bike with a very very small history of break downs. It is one of the best most reliable engines suzuki has ever made. The fact that it just felt so comfortable makes it even better. It has the low end power that the SV has and its still a "zuki".

I did sit on a Ninja 650R and it felt similar to the SV 650. In all honesty the best feeling bike I ever sat on was a Yamaha R1. But that's just too much power for me at this point. I have about 15k miles worth of experience but that was on a crusier where the riding position was much different than any sport bike.

[Datech]

You'll enjoy the GSX, but please do something with the color scheme besides the race inspired blue one pictures, lol.

[Oneslowz28]

I went back to the dealer today around lunch time that way I would not get hounded by a sales man while I was there. I sat on GSX 650F for about 10 min and it was just as comfortable as I remembered. I again sat on an SV and the GSXF again felt better.

I also sat on a Ninja 650R, and an R1 for comparison and I still liked the feel of the GSX 650R.

So now I will begin to shop around for the best price. The 3 dealerships around here all want around $7500 OTD for it. Most reports I have seen on the net quote $6500 OTD prices. So I am going to see if I can find one for $6500. That would give me $1000 extra to spend on gear. All I have now is a cheap lid and a HD jacket I purchased when I bought my sportster.

BTW Daniel , the dealership has one in silver, one in black, and the blue GSXR style one. That will be the one I get lol. I love blue bikes.

[Oneslowz28]

Ok so I guess my mind changes more than Jennifer Aniston changes men. I am now going back to my research and looking at a Yamaha FZ6. Why the cange you ask? There are a few reasons.
1. The suspension and frame is better on the order of magnitudes than any non RR bike Suzuki or Kawasaki makes.
2. Dual Undertail Exhaust.... nuff said
3. Huge aftermarket.
4. Very proven engine. (Same as the yamaha R6, just with a slight cam profile change)
5. Tons of POWAH throughout the rpm range.
6. Its an Inline 4 like the Suzuki gsx 650F, which means it will still have that nice sound.

My mind if no where near made up yet. I tend to do my research when it comes to big purchases because if I am not happy with what I bought I will not use it much which will relate to wasted money.

Pics of said FZ6

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2006models/2006-Yamaha-FZ6b.jpg

http://www.bikez.com/pictures/yamaha/2006/22555_0_1_2_fz6%20fazer%20abs_Image%20credits%20-%20Yamaha.jpg

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/081203side5.jpg

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/upload/769/images/0188902YamahaFazer600LTT2.jpg

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2004models/2004-Yamaha-FZ6a.jpg

That sweet sweet undertail exhaust

Stock
http://image.sportrider.com/f/8575520+w750+st0/146_04_15zoom+2004_yamaha_fz6+exhaust.jpg

Leo Vince
http://www.starcycle-usa.com/catalog/leo_street_ti-ti_conical_dual_300.jpg

M4 carbon fiber
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b361/wyd10/100_1213.jpg

Arrow
http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/product_images/arrow_yamaha_fz6-fazer_fz6_04-06_side_detail.jpg

Two brothers Carbon Fiber
http://www.twobros.com/Exhaust/Yamaha/2007_yam_fz6_D_lowrear.jpg

Better view of the Two Brothers Carbon Fiber. This will most likely be the exhaust I get if I get a FZ6
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/5439/p1010015kv2.jpg

[SXRguyinMA]

theres no nicer sound that a v-twin with pipes :up:

unless its a harley...then it just sounds like crap lol