Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Alright some of you may or may not remember I created a thread a short time ago about sport bikes and which one I should consider. Now I've changed my opinions a bit after researching some more. I've started to see that sport bikes after a few years lose a lot of their good looks to newer designs while naked bikes tend to stay the same and look great all the while.

Here's what I'm currently considering: (items at the top are what I'm considering most)

1993-1997 triumph speed triple - worried about it's capability for sports riding and the fact that I haven't seen one for sale up here. I have seen the newer dual-headlight speed triple though so maybe I'm just not looking hard enough. Also slightly concerned about weight.

Suzuki SV650 - great bike, great perfomance in all areas. considering this as my perfect bike if the triumph can't handle my requests. Not as good looking as the triumph, but everything else seems to be where I need it to be.

honda 919 - decent all-around bike. concerned a little about lean angles...as I am about all naked bikes and whether they can handle as good as a sportsbike.

suzuki bandit - I want to use it all year and I'm worried about maybe a little too much power when things get cold/wet. Otherwise it seems like a decent bike.

Honda 599 - worried about too little low-end power since it does have a smallish engine.

honda cbr929 - supposed to be comfortable for a sportsbike and it has more midrange and low end than a 600 or 750 while having less than (or similar) top end than some of the newer versions of both.


any suggestions or opinions on the bikes?

Well, since you're coming from an old litre bike, i'm going to suggest the 929. If you can find it, the 2001 CBR929RR Erion edition. If you think the Repsols are something neat to see, this is even neater. Almost none in my area. I can say from sitting on one for a few minutes, it's not that bad. At first i htought it sucked, but as i was on it longer, it felt better. It was also the first sport bike i've ever sat on. Luckily my friend Dan was more than happy to let me stay on it for a good 10 minutes when we were talking in the parking lot at my work... He kept the keys in his pocket though. As far as performance goes, they are insane. He's a good 310 lbs and the bike can still be tossed around like there was nothing on it. As far as power, this bike has plenty. He's lifted the front end up on the highway in 3rd gear just from flicking the throttle wide open (not too high, maybe 3 - 5 inches). The fastest he's had it up to is 160 mph with him on it, and a backpack on.

So yah, +1 vote for the 929RR.

I've got a 599, and I can tell you that with the shorter wheel base it'll easily take a cbr 600 or gixxer 600 through the corners. But you lose a lot of the top end.

Then again I don't think you need the top end for street riding.

How about a Ducati Monster? They look cool(I'm biased, no doubt) are extremely comfortable for a sport bike and can be ordered in many sizes. The downside? Purchase cost and valve adjustment cost. The purchase price however is really not as bad as you would expect for an Italian bike. The valve adjustments every 10, 000km cost 1/2 again more than a Japaneese multi but it is really not that much in the long run.
http://www.ducati.com/od/ducatinorthame ... family=262