I never considered myself a diehard biker, I started early with 125s in my teenage years (in Italy you got to drive them at 16 at the time) but once I got a car I used bikes always less. My last purchase has been a faultless one, I bought the ZX-9R 2nd hand, it was 4 years old with less than 6k km on the clock. I was there to buy a brand new more calm Z750 at the time but I was seduced by the similar-price proposition of a more extreme bike.

Since then I used it regularly during every summer, with a mechanic check-up every season it never had an issue and it still go like hell! It is still great fun for a fast ride in the hills near Turin but I am a little aware of longer trips like go to the Riviera and back, because it is aged and I am not exactly comfortable. Plus my girlfriend is constantly telling me that I am gonna kill myself going around in a 14 years old 150hp bike...even if I did every bit of maintenance.

I am not very updated about todays bikes...I'd like something reliable, fast, sporty among bends but a little more daily friendly, with a less sporty driving position maybe. As I haven't still replaced my weekend car I have a good budget at disposal but I think that a 2-3 years old bike is enough, I don't think I will use it enough to justify a brand new bike purchase.

To sum up, coming from a brutal carb-fed 150hp 13 years old sporty Kawasaki, what should I be looking for to find some more daily use comfort but not loosing the addictive straight line thrill and twisty roads pleasure?

Thanks!

Speed Triple

Z1000

The extra weight of the Blackbird over the ZX-9R could be an issue? Also the looks are a bit too "sports tourer".

I don't remember how current Z1000 looks, I liked the first generation.

I drove a speed Triple, but it was a long time ago, it was a late 90s model I think, charterful engine and great looks but in terms of performance and perceived weight the ZX-9R blew it away.

The fact is that the game is probably moved on, I have direct knowledge only of 10+ years old bikes.. :-)

Its only about 15kg's or so I think.. having had both, I couldn't really notice. I much preferred the Blackbird for comfort and its quite quick in a straight line!!

150bhp from a ZX9R?

Pull the other one...

My best mate has the ZX9R (02) and has ridden for 40,000 miles... He is considering the Triumph Sprint ST next for the exact reasons you mention.

170bhp, 175mph, 50mpg, shaft drive, all day (600+ mile) comfortable.

I think they are impressive bikes, their refinement should certainly be enormous compared to a Japanese sporty 800cc bike of 1999. I should take a test drive at the dealer, I never drove that kind of BMW bike, only a GS once which is something very different.

i had a 2010 z1000 for a few months as a courtesy bike. comfy riding position and enough pull... sounded very very nice too!

K1200S/K1300S are more sports than tourer. Weight is low down and not a problem. (We have 6 of them on the current trip and none of the artheritic Old Gits have struggled on the 1st gear Alps hairpins!)

Try one. Dealers will happily do test rides. If you don't like it then don't buy one!