What bike thread - sort of

[skahigh]

Hello all,

So today I went and test rode 4 bikes that I have been mulling over for my first bike....

Triumph Street Triple R - Wow, amazing performance, so light and agile, really really confidence inspiring, the best bike to ride that I tried today by miles, loved the low end torque

Triumph Thruxton - Probably couldn't be much more different to the Street Triple, felt a lot less stable (understandably) and really slow in comparison however, I LOVE the look and still really enjoyed the ride, the best overall ownership proposition for me I think

Honda CBR600F (2011) - Fantastic looking bike, I really wanted to like this but, I didn't enjoy the ride at all, far far too buzzy for me and where the street triple was confidence inspiring this made me nervous as it felt like it needed to have its neck wrung everywhere

Yamaha XJ6 Diversion F - Nice looking bike, riding position a bit too upright (probably the most comfortable for long journeys of the 4), still quite buzzy but not as bad as the CBR, looked lovely but just didn't do anything to excite me, this wasn't helped by a badly adjusted gear selector which was above the height of the foot peg and seemed to have a very long throw

At this point it's between the Street Triple and the Thruxton for completely different reasons, my question is, is there anything else I should be considering? Anything light, agile and torquey like the Street Triple? None of the Thruxton alternatives (Guzzi V7, Enfield Continental, Kwaka W800) really push my buttons.

Anyone have any opinions of these bikes that they would care to share? Both riding experiences and ownership I'd be interested to hear about.

[neelyp]

I've got a Street which I personally think is a great bike, I've ridden a Thruxton which us nice in a bumbling about kind of way but I'm not sure I could have one as my only bike. Reckon I would get bored of it very quickly. Is a lovely thing to look at though.

[Rollin]

Monster 821?

[TLandCruiser]

I was just going to suggest a Ducati Monster too

[Mastodon2]

Buy the one you like the most.

[skahigh]

Mastodon2 said:

Buy the one you like the most.

That's what I was intending to do but I really like them both, just for totally different reasons.

The Monster I've considered but they just don't look right to me.

[MC Bodge]

I have a street triple and It really is a great bike, and very potent if ridden well by a decent rider, but I would be inclined to buy something cheaper and less expensive to drop, and maybe with less performance/softer suspension , as a first bike to scratch around on if you want to learn to ride well. It's not about the bike.

I've never ridden a Thruxtpn,but have ridden a Bonneville and a Bonnie SE. Relaxed, forgiving, stable. The SE handles better (-like a Thruxton?) and was good fun over the Mountain on the IOM. Heavy though.

[Hooli]

Depends if you want to go out & enjoy the ride or go out, enjoy the ride & go like fook.

[skahigh]

MC Bodge said:

I would be inclined to buy something cheaper and less expensive to drop, and maybe with less performance/softer suspension , as a first bike to scratch around on if you want to learn to ride well.

You say that, however, I'm convinced the Street Triple is by far and away the best bike I've ridden to improve my riding because it is so light, easy handling and most importantly, confidence inspiring (for me at least).

I'm not a kid and I can easily resist the temptation to twist the throttle and get myself in to trouble. I've been driving fast cars for years and generally drive like a boring old fart because I'm just not a speed freak.

[Rollin]

skahigh said:

MC Bodge said:

I would be inclined to buy something cheaper and less expensive to drop, and maybe with less performance/softer suspension , as a first bike to scratch around on if you want to learn to ride well.

You say that, however, I'm convinced the Street Triple is by far and away the best bike I've ridden to improve my riding because it is so light, easy handling and most importantly, confidence inspiring (for me at least).

I'm not a kid and I can easily resist the temptation to twist the throttle and get myself in to trouble. I've been driving fast cars for years and generally drive like a boring old fart because I'm just not a speed freak.

Me neither, but I can't

[MC Bodge]

I still say that, though, from experience, but each to their own,of course.

The Street is a superb bike.

[skahigh]

MC Bodge said:

I still say that, though, from experience, but each to their own,of course.

The Street is a superb bike.

Nice to hear others opinions (it's why I started the thread), the thing is that unlike the CBR which made me feel nervous, I immediately felt at home on the Street.

[theshrew]

Suzuki Gladius, maybe not as good looking as a triumph tbh. I did my lessons on one it had way more torque than my GSXR has and really comfy to ride. Get off after being on it all day and you didn't feel like you had been on a bike + they are pretty cheap.

[CarsOrBikes]

Brutale perhaps?

[TLandCruiser]

Go on, you know you want one

[skahigh]

theshrew said:

Suzuki Gladius, maybe not as good looking as a triumph tbh. I did my lessons on one it had way more torque than my GSXR has and really comfy to ride. Get off after being on it all day and you didn't feel like you had been on a bike + they are pretty cheap.

Thanks for the suggestion but I really can't stand them, horrible things imo.

CarsOrBikes said:

Brutale perhaps?

Hadn't really considered these, don't really know anything about them or even where I might find one!?

TLandCruiser said:

Go on, you know you want one

Actually really like the look of these but don't think a cruiser is right for me at the moment.

[Hooli]

When I rode a Street it seemed to have amazing torque from a tiny engine but the bike was so physically small I felt like I'd fall off the front if I braked. That's just me being used to a big fat bike though.

[Flying Fish]

I've got the 400cc version of this and I love it. Its my first bike and I ride 2 up with my girlfriend quite a bit.
We recently got some touring panniers and did a 3 day trip to the sea of Japan on it.
Comfy, agile,loads of torque and plenty fast enough for the twisties over here. I'd love the 600cc version and it'll be what I buy when I move back to Britain. To me they sound great even with the stock exhaust. I toyed with the idea of a louder can but the Mrs didn't like the idea.

theshrew said:

Suzuki Gladius, maybe not as good looking as a triumph tbh. I did my lessons on one it had way more torque than my GSXR has and really comfy to ride. Get off after being on it all day and you didn't feel like you had been on a bike + they are pretty cheap.

[xstian]

MC Bodge said:

I would be inclined to buy something cheaper and less expensive to drop, and maybe with less performance/softer suspension , as a first bike to scratch around on if you want to learn to ride well. It's not about the bike.

I would say this^^

But at the end of the day buy what you like. Learn how to ride it, come back in a years time and you will probably have a totally different opinion on all these bikes.

I loved the comment about the CBR. Looking for a first bike, but the CBR600 felt like it would have to have it neck wrung all the time.

[MC Bodge]

SV650 (flat barred variety)?