In search of the 'perfect road bike'
Discussion
Interesting thread, I am commuting on my M600 circa 300 miles a week and it struggles on the motorways and is a bit too unrefined in town. Plus being a 2001 model it will soon fall foul of the ULEZ costing me around £25 a week for the couple of days that I'll ride into town.
I have the F3 for the fun days out, but for day to day I was considering a road bike. I was on your thinking of a touring style bike, but am not sure if I'm going to be too young for it (35).
So far the list is:
Touring - Yamaha MT-09 Tracer
Nice and practical, panniers, big screen, reliable. Just not sure if I could bring myself to ride one every day.
Naked - Yamaha MT-07/09 or Kawasaki Z800 - No screen, and would probably still be tiring on the motorways.
Sports/Wildcard - GSX-R 750 or older Fireblade. I may just not ride the F3 if I have another sports bike, and they come with the negative of riding a sports bike as a commuter (body position etc.)
I have the F3 for the fun days out, but for day to day I was considering a road bike. I was on your thinking of a touring style bike, but am not sure if I'm going to be too young for it (35).
So far the list is:
Touring - Yamaha MT-09 Tracer
Nice and practical, panniers, big screen, reliable. Just not sure if I could bring myself to ride one every day.
Naked - Yamaha MT-07/09 or Kawasaki Z800 - No screen, and would probably still be tiring on the motorways.
Sports/Wildcard - GSX-R 750 or older Fireblade. I may just not ride the F3 if I have another sports bike, and they come with the negative of riding a sports bike as a commuter (body position etc.)
SteelerSE said:
GSXR750.
Physically bigger, tremendous front end, more than enough engine for most. £10k, 3 year warranty, 4 years at 0%.
Good call! Physically bigger, tremendous front end, more than enough engine for most. £10k, 3 year warranty, 4 years at 0%.
I'm following a motovlogger on youtube, who rides one (who also states what you say above - 4yrs 0% interest, a no brainer!).It's just such a stunning beautifully proportioned racing machine. His is jet Black, with black carbon accents.
If I was buying new, I'd be straight on this bandwagon!
TonyF said:
Didn't think anyone was going to mention one but the s1000rr is all the bike you will ever need, absolutely stunning machine in every department as long as you are comfortable on it. Have you tried one ?
I haven't tried one. My dad has a S1000R that I have ridden several times and m quite a fan of, I'm not sure about getting matching bikes though and the insurance seems to be prohibitively expensive for an RR.I had a longer ride on a friends MT10 yesterday and I have to admit, it is really good. Better than my initial thoughts suggested. I'm not a huge fan of the way it looks but it does make a convincing argument for itself over a Tuono, when you realise it's almost £5000 cheaper...
I have a GSXR-750 L3. I'm not sure it's the "perfect road bike", it has crap mirrors, and it's fairly uncomfortable on long journeys. You could pick the paint off with your fingers in many places after 4,000 miles.
The front end is the absolute dogs b
ks though. The gearing feels spot on, the engine is tremendous but doesn't have a great bottom end. Personally I'd expect more low down grunt from a "perfect" road bike.
"Perfect middleweight sports bike for the road", seems more likely.
The front end is the absolute dogs b
ks though. The gearing feels spot on, the engine is tremendous but doesn't have a great bottom end. Personally I'd expect more low down grunt from a "perfect" road bike."Perfect middleweight sports bike for the road", seems more likely.
I'm 6,1" and just over 14 st and have an RSV4 with rear sets and don't find it THAT uncomfortable, yes it's slightly more so than my previous bike but you'll need to stop for petrol long before your knees pack up!!.
Also, as much as I love the Aprilia, having now had a go on a new R1 I have to echo BNs praise for it, it's an amazing bike, there's not much I'd say felt as good handling wise as the RSV4 but the new R1 is up there, in fact I really don't think I'd be able to choose between an R1 M and an RSV4 RF, if anything I'd probably pick the Yamaha as it would be a change, and to be honest I'm not that keen on the Superpole graphics compared to the old Factory Red/Black.
Also, as much as I love the Aprilia, having now had a go on a new R1 I have to echo BNs praise for it, it's an amazing bike, there's not much I'd say felt as good handling wise as the RSV4 but the new R1 is up there, in fact I really don't think I'd be able to choose between an R1 M and an RSV4 RF, if anything I'd probably pick the Yamaha as it would be a change, and to be honest I'm not that keen on the Superpole graphics compared to the old Factory Red/Black.
The Fireblade SP was the answer, probably feels deceptively slow, but the only analogue bike left except the ABS, it's the only Jap bike i'd have after selling my RR7, everything else is Italian now, nothing matches the characteristics of them in quite the same way. The SP is the exception, the only version they've done with the right bits, except the rear caliper which doesn't match the front, so looks cheap, wider bars, and Ohlins, plus the wheels, with a blueprinted engine all makes perfect sense, and will always have a better residual i'd expect. RSVR Factory for me is the best all round bike, not the fastest, but extremely rewarding.
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