Eric, you are a mad man...
Eric, you are a mad man...
Take a look at the XR1200, I've got a black 09 with a Vance and Hines Widow pipe on it. I love it. It's got enough power and speed to be fun, as long as you don't want to go much over 120 mph. It's comfortable, it handles well, looks great and it sounds badass. It's only got a 3.5 gal. tank, but it gets about 50 mpg, so it's not as bad as you might think. I also like the fact that it is different, you don't see too many on the road. Another thing I like about it is the low maintance. It has belt drive, so no messing with a chain and it never needs a valve adjustment, so it should not need to see the inside of a shop for a long time. I can do all of the maintance that it does need at home and I like that. I don't want to own a cash cow for some dealers' service department.
THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF RIDERS: THOSE THAT HAVE CRASHED, AND THOSE THAT ARE GOING TO CRASH.
How 'bout a VMax? http://denver.craigslist.org/mcy/2205691139.html
When life throws you curves, aim for the apex
Current stable: 09 Thruxton \ 09 FZ6S2 Sold List: 97 Ninja500R, 03 SV650K3, 01 Ducati 750Sport, 73 CB350/4, 03 F650GSA, 08 Gixxer600, 03 Gixxer600, 91 VFR750F, 09 KLX250, 06 Thruxton 900, 02 VFR800, 08 Spyder RS, 12 Street TripleR, 09 KLX250S, 16 KTMRC390, 10 F650GS
my Facebook, SpeedShots
Formerly MRA #211 - High Precision Racing
"A strict observance of the written laws is doubtless one of the high duties of a good citizen, but it is not the highest. The laws of necessity, of self- preservation, of saving our country when in danger, are of higher obligation. To lose our country by a scrupulous adherence to written law would be to lose the law itself, with life, liberty, property, and all those who are enjoying them with us; thus absurdly sacrificing the end to the means."
--Thomas Jefferson
And '06 through '09 are identical except for colors. VTEC was tweaked in '06 and is smoother than '02-'05.
Dirk
Last edited by dirkterrell; Sat Feb 19th, 2011 at 11:20 AM.
Formerly MRA #211 - High Precision Racing
"A strict observance of the written laws is doubtless one of the high duties of a good citizen, but it is not the highest. The laws of necessity, of self- preservation, of saving our country when in danger, are of higher obligation. To lose our country by a scrupulous adherence to written law would be to lose the law itself, with life, liberty, property, and all those who are enjoying them with us; thus absurdly sacrificing the end to the means."
--Thomas Jefferson
1998 VFR800 Interceptor - resurrected and custom tail http://vfrworld.com/forums/5th-gener...98-vfr800.html
1999 DR650SE
Hey Ben, you've got my vote for a VFR as well. I have on '06 and you just can't beat the 6th gen for a do-it-all machine in that price range. It carves the canyons just fine, plus it's comfortable to just ride around on, and it's great two-up. Every time I get off that bike, I'm amazed at how good it is. Is it a little underpowered? Depends on what you're used to I guess. I only miss the torque in 1st gear really, but mine is bone-stock. Once you're riding it's fast enough to get you in as much trouble as you want. The only reason I miss the torque is because I'm used to twins and triples.
Which brings me to another incredibly good bike - the Triumph Speed Triple. Great ergonomics, it's naked so maybe that would cure your cruiser fix, it handles and runs like a sport bike. And that 1050 engine is absolutely fantastic.
I don't think you'd be happy with a cruiser. There are simply too many compromises made for the sake of style. If you've never had a bike that could brake, handle, and accelerate than I'm sure you'd be happy as you wouldn't know what you were missing. But to go backwards, from good performers to a cruiser would be tough.
Good luck with the decision, buying a new bike is always fun...
the S3's are nice, also, the 955 variants can be had for quite a bit less and you aren't really giving up any power with the 100 less cc's...some people swear the 1050's have alot more power, but after riding an 06 1050 S3 I was looking at buying, it felt like someone put dirt bike bars on, and took the fairings off my sprint.
Looked real clean from the street when I drove by today. Great price and low miles for a VFR if it's as clean as it looked.
http://www.rockymountainkawasaki.com...R0&veh=2024156
1998 VFR800 Interceptor - resurrected and custom tail http://vfrworld.com/forums/5th-gener...98-vfr800.html
1999 DR650SE
'16 Kawasaki Ninja 1000
'12 Kawasaki Concours14 - Sold
'08 Kawasaki Concours14 - Sold
'05 Suzuki SV1000S - Sold
'07 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 - Sold
When life throws you curves, aim for the apex
Current stable: 09 Thruxton \ 09 FZ6S2 Sold List: 97 Ninja500R, 03 SV650K3, 01 Ducati 750Sport, 73 CB350/4, 03 F650GSA, 08 Gixxer600, 03 Gixxer600, 91 VFR750F, 09 KLX250, 06 Thruxton 900, 02 VFR800, 08 Spyder RS, 12 Street TripleR, 09 KLX250S, 16 KTMRC390, 10 F650GS
my Facebook, SpeedShots
1998 VFR800 Interceptor - resurrected and custom tail http://vfrworld.com/forums/5th-gener...98-vfr800.html
1999 DR650SE
I purchased an FJR last year after what I witnessed at laguna in 09. A good friend of mine was a big FJR nut and we went for a very spirited ride around the carmal area. On several occasions I saw this FJR keep the lead pace up through very winding areas, it cant hold a candle to a 1000cc bike in the starights, however it was more than capable in the right hands, and there was zero knee dropping involved, just great riding. We had some knuclehead riding near us as we left through the north motocycle gate, which is some wide open sweepers, and the knuclehead on an r6 was schooled once again by the FJR. Each time the FJR won out. I was simply amazed.
When I sold my R1 it was either a VFR or an FJR, I love the looks and compromise towards the sport bike side, however the FJR won out for me in alot of other areas. Id be happy with either, but the FJR is perfect for 2-3k rides while still being able to carve it up, crusers get left behind.
you'll miss the ground clearance the moment you go to have a run at the canyons-- you may miss the behaved chasis too----just get a less hard core sportbike---the new ninja1000 is suposed to be a hoot---pretty comfy too---squeezing the tank can help with that shoulder issue--
any sport oriented bike, be it a standard, sport tourer, super sport, etc, should be able to more than hold its own on any canyon ride...any monkey can hop on a big bike and be a throttle jockey...
if you are pushing the limits of a viffer of FJR on the street, you need to get your ass to the track...there was a guy who used to almost drag knee on his FJR through the canyons...but since then he's gone 'tarded