Second motorcycle: v-twin vs. i4

[MtnBiker]

Hey everyone, this is my first time posting and i'm looking for some advice about choosing my second bike. I have been riding for a while on a little vtr250 and i'm thinking it's about time to take the next step.

The bikes I have been looking at mostly are the Suzuki sv650(s) and the CBR600(f3-f4). I have also been considering the Ducati Monster 620(or 750) and other 600cc i4's similar to the CBR600 like the Kawasaki Ninjas.

I have never ridden anything besides my vtr250 so I have no idea whether I would like a v-twin or i-4 more. I know the v-twins are more torquey(sp?) and are usually lighter and the i-4's have more hp but need to be revved higher, but thats about it.

What are some other good 600cc sportbikes that I shold be looking at?

I will definately be buying used, something less than $4,000, and it needs to be a bike that I can do everything on. I will probably be using it mostly for around town riding, commuting, and some riding the twisties and the highways on the weekends.

I would really appreciate any advice
Thanks,
Daniel

[Ninja Geoff]

Oh the "vtwins have more torque" theory. They just make it a lot sooner. And have less top end, so you actually don't need to thrash the "lightbulbs" out of the motor to make the peak power. The twins also, as a general rule, have an easier power band to live with. If you're looking for a bike you can do anything on, something like the CBR600F4i, or a YZF600R would be exactly what you're looking for from a sport bike. Both are comfortable, and not tuned quite as balls to the wall as their RR/R6 brethren. Im not saying that a CBR600RR, ZX-6RR, R6, or GSX-R600 are impossible to live with as a do all bike, it's just that the friendlier demeanor of the non-race ready bikes is better for long distance, in town traffice, and other day-to-day stuff. The nice thing about the F4i/600R/etc is that their motors are tuned for a little better mid range, which is helpful in commuting and stuff. I know for a fact that i can get through traffic on my ninja 650 (I-twin) better than on my friends YZF750 (I4). We've ridden eachothers bikes and determined that my bike is more comfortable, makes a lot more down low, easier to steer at slow speeds, and gets better MPG. And his bike can go very fast in a very straight line (neither of us ride it enough to be good in the twisties with it. I have an excuse though, it's not my bike! I wouldn't bring the matter up with him though, heh).

But hey, there are other bikes to consider than just these. There's stuff like the FZ6, 599 Hornet, Z750s, and other non-sport bikes, than can still hang with the big dogs, and are also VERY 2nd bike worthy, and great commuters and weekend weapons. Also, there's the VFR Interceptors, V4 sport tourers from honda.

**sorry for any lack of coherence and/or spelling mistakes. It's late, and i can't sleep**

[DivideOverflow]

Twins generally do make higher peak torque, and carry it across the band better, making around town a lot more pleasant.

I just went from a VFR 750 (V-4) to a Ducati SS 1000DS (V-Twin), and even though the V-4 is a lot torquier than the I-4's, I still notice quite a difference. (Granted, there is a displacement difference too).

For what you said you would use it for, I would recommend something like the SV-650. Look at the other bikes Geoff mentioned too.

The ninja 650 is probably too new to be found in that price range, but I see SV's under 3 grand quite frequently.

If you are in Florida, I'm selling my VFR750 Interceptor... which is a lot higher quality than most of those bikes in the range you are looking (and usually more expensive, but mine is a 94 so I'm just looking to get $3k).

If you can find a nice used Interceptor, they are a great "do everything and anything" bike.