Advice needed for buying new bike after 20 years!

Shtarker!!!!!
We don't talk non Kawaski here at Kaos!!!!!

Martis quote Mike, the ZX9R suggestions are close, but not entirely fitting of your purchase criteria as stated above. Given the fact that you start with a 4, a ZX9R is going to cause you some issues if you do longer rides. (Don't ask Mal's opinion on this, the guys the height of a Jockey for fucks sake! He could ride a 125 GP and make it look big!!!)



Well Marti thank god i dont ride horses,yeah im short but 5'5" and 85kgs does not a jockey make If ya want a naked bike go with a newer bike than a zrx,they will be lighter by a long way and for what you want it for will do more than majority of people can use to its full extent.
Not knocking the zxr as i have never riden one but they do remind me of the suzuki gs 1000 i had when i was 18 years old.

Thanks everyone for the input but I'm pretty sure I don't want a really big bike - think I'd feel more comfortable on something not so massive to start with... still like the 650R the best so will ride one of those first and then maybe a Z750 and a Z1000. I know nothing about the ZRX or the ZX9R but they just look huge to me!!

I'm happy to have something for 1-2 years and then move up to something bigger/better once I really know what my renewed riding style/preference will be.... at present I'm just planning to use whatever I buy for weekend rides and maybe a short riding holiday or three a year. I walk or get the train to work so no need for a commuter, but still want something I feel is truly managable... some of the bikes I've sat on just felt way too big for me.... some of the tanks are so wide I couldn't even see the floor! (Probbaly doesn't matter I know, I guess it's just me being very out of touch with riding bigger bikes.)

Luckily I'm not in any hurry so will a refresher rider course then start testing - refining my list all the time though and have also decided to limit my budget to $10K as I'll possibly replace it within a year or two.

Yep you are right zx9 is a big bike especially compared to the modern 1000;s.and as for a zxr 1200 there even bigger and heavier.
I sugested a 9 as an all rounder.As for the 650 er6 twin kwaka i had a loan one of these for a day and proceeded to take it to every twistie road i could find within 6 hours.The result was it was easy to handle and was fun for quite a while but coming from a bigger bike i found that by the end of the day i had it pinned flat out where ever i went.But in your case returning to riding i am sure it could be a good choice.
If you do go that way make sure you get a pipe for it.

I ride a ER6N and love it. Doesn't have the grunt of the 1000's but is quick enough for road riding. The bigger bikes do me on corner exit. It tours well. I haven't pinned it flat out as with our speed laws down here have to be a bit careful and with no fairings get a bit of buffeting when the speed gets up.

PS even though its not a kawa the MV Agusta Brutale 675 that should come out next year looks the goods.
http://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle_ne ... first_look

Thanks for the comments re the 650 - I've truly not heard or read anyone saying anything bad about it so it is still top of my list!

The F3 looks effing sensational (like all MVA's) but way out of my $10-$15K budget

Check this one out on Bike Sales - possibly the most gorgeous bike I've ever laid eyes on... but then it should be at $33K!!!!
http://www.bikesales.com.au/all-bikes/b ... 1E809D867F

Z1000 is the sort of bike that makes it look like a vehicle from a sci fi video game... Like Halo!! I'm sure it goes like a rocket too. As others have said, test ride a few bikes and you will find your preferences.

If you want something small and light I think the ER-6 will be your pick. It will do everything you want to do and be a very comfortable bike to do it on. From there, when you get more confident, the next progression would be a Z750, or Z1000 if you feel up to it. After you have outgrown these two bikes, only then start considering a ZX9, ZRX or Z1000 as you sound very cautious and I think the power of them will knock the confidence out of you if you jump on them too early. After a few years back riding I can see you ending up on a ZRX though. For us old blokes who can't fit on a sports bike anymore, they are rediculously fun to ride.

"More than the sum of it's parts"

LIKE

I agree with Nelso, you may be better on a ER6, or my pick, the Versys..........brilliant bike.

The ZRX is the best bike I've ever owned - must be something when pretty much every owner I've met gets all excited when they talkk about their bike.

As another wise man once said "the ZRX is the best blank canvas for making your own bike", and there are some VERY nice examples in here

even though its not a kawa the new gsr750 looks good too.

I'm with the whore - ZX14. Great for weekenders, excellent for the painfully boring trip down the Hume for Phillip Island from Sydney - even better when you take the mid land from Benalla - and makes us middle age folk get some adrenaline going. It's easy on the back and the arse once you get it set up to suit yourself.

The GTR is a great all round bike, handles well, easy to ride, very quick and long rides....... that's what it does best

But I own one so naturally I'll be bias

Cheers
Poddy

Welcome mate to the green blooded forum, it's not a bad mob

I leave the advice to the others all though the ER6N seem like a good choice to me too.

The other good advice is to just test all of the contenders to ensure that you'll enjoy the next couple of years of getting back into it.

"Ok, so now I'm older (mid-40's) and I'm (hopefullly) not as mad as I used to be...............

well I personally know a few nutters oüt there, who are in the lets say mature age group

My 2 cents worth!!!
I dont own either of these, ive got a 07 ZX10r, 96 ZX7R. but my girlfriend has owned both the ER-6 and Z750, so ive riden both.
ER-6 nice bike, good looking, but vibrates like a twin, its a 1200 engine chopped in half, stacked gearbox ect, girlfriend allways had trouble with gears changes, i didnt so dont kno if that was/is a problem?? and she bought bike new.
Z750 great bike, again good looking jigger, she loved it, but to tall and heavy for her,
that engine is bulletproof. But u will get bored with lack of power after a while. But great to start back on, then move up to Z100, again great looking bike. And yep i had one a while back, 03 in orange.