My first post here so be kind please!
I'm looking at getting back on to a "big bike" after 20 years of not having anything but scooters and cars and I'd really like to get some advice on types of bikes and models that might suit me as well as any other relevant advice.
My current ride is a Derbi 250 Rambler scooter that I *love* riding (as it's so much fun and also pretty fast for a scoot) but I really want to migrate back to a "real" bike before the summer... it just feels like the right time.
My last "big bike" was a 1988 Ninja 600R which I owned (from new) in NZ for a couple of years before heading to the UK to live in 1990. Since then, I've had scooters on and off and in fact the last bike I even rode with gears was about 5 years in ago (a 500cc quad bike in Namibia of all places!).
Ok, so now I'm older (mid-40's) and I'm (hopefullly) not as mad as I used to be so I decided I don't want to get a supersport as I won't be doing track days and I want a bike I can have fun on but also relax on when on a longer ride. I was thinking about the new GSX-R 600 or ZX6R which are meant to be amazing but having sat on both today and heard/read/seen what they can do I think it's just going to be too extreme for my needs.
I went and looked at bikes today around Sydney and came up with a list ones which seem pretty cool - gotta admit I've not ridden any of them yet though (didn't have time today or any proper riding gear).
So, the list, in no particular order is:
- Kawasaki Z750 - sexy looking beast with (mostly) great reviews
- Kawasaki 650R (love the look of it in burnt orange, no idea what it goes like yet)
- Suzuki Gladius (650 I think, and a bit radical looking which I quite like)
- Ducati Monster 696 (bit pricey but the idea of riding a Duke is *VERY* tempting!!)
- Triumph Street Triple 675 - again, looks lovely and had great reviews.
So, from that list, you can see I'd like to get something that will go well (once I get my riding confidence back) but also something I can do long rides on without getting too tired - so not a pure racer and not a pure cruiser. It's really just for weekend rides and some club rallies etc - no commuting etc. I also need something that I can ease back into the "proper" riding scene whilst enjoying it - I don't want to be scared shedless every time I get on it!!
The main for me registering and posting here is so far I like the two Kwaka's more than any of the others - on looks alone though since I've not actually ridden either. I also like the prices - they seem very competitive with the others in my list, if not downright better! (Z750 for $10290 R/A and the 650 for $9950 R/A on BikeSales.com.au).
Therefore I'd really like to get any feedback or advice anyone here who may have ridden both of these on which of the two Kawa's might be better for someone who is coming back to riding a "proper" bike after many years.
As for size and fit I'm 168cm (5" 6') and about 85kg so though I'm by no means tiny I'm not a huge bloke either - so I don't want a bike that's too much of a handful (if you know what I mean). Some people have said the Z750 is very heavy but once you're riding it it feels very nimble and light - comments anyone?
Many thanks in advance - apologies if this should be in another forum section and sorry it's so damned long!!
Mike
) and the 650R ( '05 ) ( also known as the ER-6n/f ).
