What "new" bike would you buy?

I really like my XJ750. The power, the shaft drive. The riding position. I just wish it had liquid cooling. And, maybe a bit more power.

So, I was just pondering what I would buy if I were to look for a new bike. You know, something made this century. Or millennium if you prefer.

I don't like the v-twin look. If I wanted a Harley, I would have been a mechanic.

Being close to 50, I also don't want a sport bike. (Knees and Backs are a bitch when you get older). I like the upright riding position that my Maxim provides.

Here would be my ideal in a "New" XJ:

Liquid cooled.
Shaft Drive
900-1200 cc's
6 speed (better mileage)
2 up saddle. (Newly single so I want to take a new friend for a ride)
Good acceleration. (Give her more reasons to hold on) :wink:
Tach and Speedo.

With that being said, what would you recommend?

What would you buy if you really wanted a new bike? And why?

Thanks, Dan

 

yamaha XJR 1300...


too bad its not available in the states...

otherwise maybe a kawasaki ZRX 1200...


if i didnt do one of these then probably a Goldwing or the ST1300 (i THINK thats what they are called) from Honda...

that remark about the Harleys and being a mechanic is crap. ive got several friends who ride harleys and they dont do anymore 'repair' (implied) work than what ive had to do to my yamahas. the bikes are go from 70s pre-AMFs and AMFs to 2007 Nightsters with representatives from just about every model line...

 

I would get a Honda VTX 1300 or 1800 if I could afford it. My father-in-law owns an 1800 and I love riding it.

 

I need a tissue to wipe the drool from the keyboard.
The xjr1300 is beautiful.
The stupid markets here....seems all the major choices are v-twin(ie a freaking tank, but two wheels) or a ~400lb superultramegasportbike(ie the nonutilitarian weekend machine)
I try to ride everyday, focusing on fuel economy

On a side note[thread hijack]
If excessive NOISE is addressed in the states, I assume the crusier bikes sales will decrease. I have heard some of the harley and jap makers with quiet exhaust, they are darn quiet. Some of the guys with the 1300-1800 crusier bikes like to sit in residental areas reving over and over and over.
This is why WE get bad names.
JERKS [/thread hijack]

 

Lt. Dave,

I sincerely hope that you never have to tender that check you wrote. The price of freedom is sometimes way too high but will always be paid for by people such as yourself. And for that I am grateful.

Regarding the Harley comment. I was just teasing. A Harley just ain't my cup of tea. Or Sake'.

That XJR1300 reminds me of my Nighthawk S.

Another bike I thought of was the B-King or Hayabasu. Or even the Versys. Does Yamaha make a naked/standard bike anymore?

Dan

 

one bike comes to mind... the sv650 or 1000... they have a 6 speed and 4 diferent riding positions and looks to choose from. this is what i ab going with pending the sale of my 1980 xj650... hear is a link..... http://www.suzukicycles.com/products/SV650K8

enjoy mark

 

There are a number of big sport touring machines out there that would meet most of your criteria. The FJR1300 has a five-speed tranny, but would appear to have everything else you're looking for. I don't particularly like the ST1300 (I found it a little clumsy and somewhat unstable at speed), but it might be a good choice for someone with a more relaxed riding style than mine. The new Concourse 14 looks like a hell of a bike, although I've yet to ride one. If you've got deep pockets, there are several BMW models that would probably suit your needs.
If you are more into the naked-bike thing, you might consider something like a V-Max, or the Beemer R1200R, or even the Guzzi Breva. Insistence on shaft drive will limit your options, but there's bound to be something out there that you like.
As for me, I'd love to have a new K1200GT, but I ain't that rich. The '08 FJR would run a pretty close second.

 

XJR 1300 is my dream machine. When I wake up, I think I would buy a Suzuki Bandit 1250. Sport-touring ergonomics, liquid cooled, fuel injected, lots of power and room for two up riding and reasonably priced.

 

ill probably get flamed for these........

HONDA CRF450 or a SUZUKI RMZ450 (both setup for supermoto)
SUZUKI DRZ400sm
HARLEY V-ROD.

honestly though, now that i have been screwing around in the bike world....i dont think i want to buy my next ride. i want to BUILD it!

 

Here's my short list:

Susuki 650 V-Strom for it's light weight, adventure capabilities and the miles you can make before fueling as well as the price.

YAMAHA FJR1300R Sweet sport tourer, wonderful in the twisties

BMW F 800 GS - Great off road, Lots and lots of dirt in South Dakota. Light weight, great Rotax power. awsome adventure bike

BMW R 1200 GS Adventure - If money was no object. It's simply the best at what it is. You can travel nearly 400 miles between fuel stops. Even strips away the miles on the super slab. My friend has 2 of these, I ride with him as often as I can, who wouldn't?

The Buff

 

I got a friend who just got a new BMW R 1200 GS Adventure. I gotta agree, it's everything The Buff said about it.

A bit expensive for me though.

My ideal plans are to find a slightly used Black Cherry 2007 FJR1300 in a couple of years. Man, Oh Man! That would be the ticket.

I kinda like the 2008 KLR650 too.


Rusty

 

I think the next one for me is around a 2005-current Honda Saber 1100 with the stock flame paint job!!

 

2k8 kawa ZX-14 ninja 8) :lol:

 

My brother and I recently took out a Beemer GS1200 and a Buell Ulysses for a back to back test.

The Buell won hands down for everything.

I was pretty surprised at that after all the good press the GS had received.

Anyways, back to the topic....

Liquid cooled.
Shaft Drive
900-1200 cc's
6 speed (better mileage)
2 up saddle. (Newly single so I want to take a new friend for a ride)
Good acceleration. (Give her more reasons to hold on)
Tach and Speedo.

I can only think of one bike that totally fits the bill - BMW K1200 (the 4 cyl one).

 

XJR1300. Want. :mrgreen:

 

I've said before, when my Seca gets old and worn out, i am going to buy a Yamaha Warrior. 1700 cc, 95 lb/ft torque and a nice fat rear wheel. Fuel injection would be nice too. There is the new Star Raider out now too. 1800cc, over 100 lb/ft torque and about 12 flat in the 1/4 mile stock. You can get a decent Warrior for about $6500 around here. Another bike i like the looks of is the triumph Thruxton. 900cc parallel twin, not very fast but looks nice and a lot of hopup stuff available to make it faster. There is even a racing league for the Thruxtons. cruzerjd

 

I want one of each!

I guess my rundown would look something like this:

Cruiser (for my wife and me to ride two up): Honda VTX or on of the Yamaha "Star" models or MAYBE a Vulcan (had a '91, good bike not so well built imho)....nothing smaller than 900-1100 cc's.

Bike for solo riding: Love the Kawi ZXR or whatever they are (higher in this thread), the FJR's, VFR's....not so crazy about the ST's, but I like.

Another direction I'm seriously considering is a large bore on/off bike....like the KTM (530?), Honda XR or Suzuki DR. Prefer the KTM for it's off-road capability. I live in close proximity to a LOT of dual sport riding and really enjoy that activity. To have an off-road capable, road legal ride is most likely going to be my next addition to the stable....

 

the Yam Warrior is a hot bike, but

If I had my choice right now (no restrictions) it would be the Suzuki Boulevard M109R



More practically, I like the way the V-Storm feels. And eventually, a Goldwing 1800 for cruising around.

 

Suzuki B-KING hands down...

 

This is s great topic. For me, the funny thing is each time that I have walked through a dealership in the past few years, I find myself loving my Maxim even more. I have a round trip daily commute of 10 miles, with a maximum speed limit of 45mph along the way. My XS400J is about the perfect bike for that. When I look at all the new bikes on a showroom floor, I see these wide, heavy, cumbersome rides that I don't think could make my commute any better. I look at the nice motorcycle designs from the 80s and 90s and think alll in all, those were more versatile and practical machines. Would I like to add another bike to my collection? Of course. But that "new" bike would probably be something like an '85 or '86 XJ700, which would would also be as affordable, low-maintenance, and fun as my Maxim 400!

 

FZ1 for sure or FJR

 

I can't believe nobody has mentioned the V-MAX, its like an XJ on steroids. I can't wait for the next one, but would take an 07 model in a heartbeat.

The Old:


and The New

 

Vmax. If the Vmax were a man, it would have three...well, you know.

 

my friend had a V-max...

it was wicked fast straight away but he really didnt like it in the turns...

seems it had a tendency to dive pretty good...

i like the Star roadliner and warrior models and if i had to stay with my original yama-saki choices the kawasaki mean streak would fit in position 2 (or 3)...

 

I've had the chance to ride the Ulysses and found it great on the road but get it out on the gravel mables and the steep rake of the forks causes it to become very twitchy. That is one of the reasons why this years model is promoted as an asphalt tourer, not duel sport. And, the Buell still has an air cooled V-Twin. They hate the very long hot rides. And that darn cooling fan, The thig runs for 5 or 6 minutes after you shut the machine down so as, get this, the oil doesn't cook. What happens if that fan fails?
I love my air cooled XJ but if spending money on a new machine, its gonna be liquid cooled, aspecially if it's a tourer.
The Buff

 

Read my post on page one. 8)

No kidding. Here's another one we never got:



Once in a while, you can find a gray-market bike in the U.S., but I have never seen a 900 Diversion for sale over here.

 

If I was going to replace my Seca, I'd buy a Kawasaki 250R or 500R.

I've got my R6 for ripping through the twisties (I'm also getting close to 50, but still like sportbikes) and my XJ550R makes a great commuter.

I've done the big bike thing and I discovered I have more fun with middleweight bikes.

 

moto guzzi
griso 1100

 

Pollock beat me to it! I'm also all for a Moto Guzzi, but I like the Breva 1100

 

Wow - I didn't realise you guys never got the Diversion.

Mine was a pretty good bike. Best 2 up bike I've ever owned, actually....Very underrated.

I only sold it to get an older XJ9 because I was riding into the city each day - and watching it get scratched up in the bikepark over time was tearful....

 

I have been in love with these bikes ever since my ex and I toured the UK on one back in the summer of 2001. What an incredibly capable machine it was.
Simple, powerful, nimble, all-day comfortable, and drop-dead gorgeous.
I guess the bean counters at Yamaha decided at some point that the U.S. market was not "sophisticated" enough to appreciate this bike. Bean counters suck.

 

I want that XJR1300!!! I would definately consider a ZRX1200, but I am especially partial to Yamaha. I just recently sold my 2005 V-Max that I had bought brand new and I do agree with some earlier posts that although extremely fast, it was a little quirky in the turns. I wanted to get another Seca, something a little more comfortable and with bags and a trunk, and I can only have one! I have a wish list of an FJR, possibly WAY in the future a Royal Star Venture, but if I could have a second bike, I would probably take my V-Max back or the Kaw ZRX. I would probably also consider a V-Star 1100. Brother has one, it's really a nice riding comfy bike. I have to keep in mind with all of these though, that my limiting factor is that I'm only 5'3"! As it is on my Seca's that I've had and my V-Max, I'm on my tip toes at stops! My friends all get a laugh! :lol:

 

Honda Magna. I love the looks of those. Almost bought one of those instead of my XJ. I found the XJ for a lot less but needing some work.

Honda Shadow, probably a VLX. I find the 650 has enough power to through me off the back end if I am not careful, I expect that a well designed 583 will do just as well as a vintage 80's 650.

I like that Yamaha Stars too, I like the classic look.

 

Vrod handsdown for me the new nightrod(mostly blacked out version) is sweet imo

 

For cruisers I'm liking the Victory Vision just from an appearance stand point. I haven't ridden one yet but their Hammer is nice riding sled.
For a sporty, Ducati's S4R Testastretta... But I'm more apt to actually be able to afford a Triumph Speed Master or a Ninja of some flavor!
I'm very satisfied with the Seca that I picked up to save on fuel costs. It way out performs it's $1k price tag!
I am still keeping an eye out for a Seca Fixer for that bobber project

 

I am now torn between a Yamaha FZR 1300 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Yamaha-F ... enameZWDVW) and a Yamaha Royal Star Cruizer Deluxe

I just love the sound of these inline engines and dont know if I can transition to a V type engine.

 

I am now torn between a Yamaha FZR 1300 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Yamaha-F ... enameZWDVW)
and a Yamaha Royal Star Cruizer Deluxe

I just love the sound of these inline engines and dont know if I can transition to a V type engine.

 

If price is no object, I would be tempted by a Ducati 848 or Hypermotard. Slightly less of a reach would be a Triumph Tiger, Daytona, or Scrambler.
Closer to reality is a BMW F 650 GS or G 650 Xmoto. Reality is something like a Yamaha WR250X or a several years old used BMW or Triumph.

 

Suzuki V-strom for me

or the Bandit 1200 or 1250

Would like to find an old Pacific Coast also, or Burgman 400 or 650, Honda silverwing, Yamaha majesty, Kymco Xciting 500, etc. but like Pollock said they are just too expensive. They are really holding their price right now with the high gas prices.

the BMW F800 line seems like a nice bike too, but again with the weak dollar we really take a hit.

also like the old BMW airheads

ken k

 

Comfortable, fast, nimble, torquey, high reving, narrow, light, fuel injected, and easy to maintain ( comes with centerstand)..... Yamaha FZ1 or Suzuki Bandit 1250S, both seem like great motorcycles to own.

 

I love my Griso! Just wish i would have held off a few months for the 8Valve.

 

Triumph Bonneville please

 

Definitely would go with a Boss Hoss with the V8 engine. Might be difficult to get used to the transmission though. Maybe a Harley Police issue cruiser
If were talking money no object older bikes, I'd like the old Harley WLA or a classic Indian(though the new one's aren't too shabby looking either)
Or maybe just he funds/equipment to build my own.

 

good answer!
k

 

Confederate Hellcat

Triumph Thruxton

Huffy Sigma

 

Midnight Warrior is tops on my list

http://www.starmotorcycles.com/star/pro ... /home.aspx

 

Hmmmmm
I like something in the commuter range...
Buell Blast, Suzuki GS 500E, SV 650 or VStrom 650, Kawi Versys or maybe a BMW GS 650 or 800

 

Ditto the Thruxton, as for the huffy. It would definitley help my spare tires!

When I had my BMW, the dealer, which also sold Triumphs, gave out Bonnies as service loaners. Over the course of three years I had loaned a Bonnie T100, a Thruxton and a Scrambler. The Thruxton was my favorite. When I road it I could not see any of the bike below me and with the forward lean seating position it felt like I was flying. Very cool, lightweight and nimble bike. Makes me want to get cafe bars and rear sets for my Seca 550!

ken k

 

a 07 or 08 harley street glide

 

If I've got enough money, Triumph Street Triple would be on top of my list :twisted: