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Time to face the facts
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Recently I've been giving thought to buying a bike that is easier to
ride than the Gixer. It's not that the bike is too much for normal
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It's got to be said: RD350LC. :)
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The Gixer is easier to ride
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people with some riding ability, but since I suffered that TIA last year
my brain can't cope with the high level of coordination that is needed
to keep the thing between the hedges. I don't have the level of control
in my left hand that's needed to ride the Gixer in town or light traffic
either.
I've lost virtually all the feeling and sensation in my left arm and
hand, and though I have fully use and mobilty my hand to eye
coordination is shot to bits; I need something that isn't quite so
demanding and is fun without needing to be over 120mph. Weight of the
bike isn't too much of an issue but seat height is, I'm only 5 ft 8 with
short legs.
The last month or so I've been having a hoot riding round on my
knackered old Bandit, so I'm leaning towards a new or almost new half
faired bike in the same vein, but with a bit more mid-range. Graham at
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No half fairing... get a Z1000, the lack of fairing will keep things
sensible enough, but you won't be short changing yourself on fun.
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I'd need to ride one. I have a feeling it won't be that far behind the
Gixer in real world terms on the road, and possibly just as frantic.
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You're welcome to a go on mine, should the opportunity present itself. I
might even be convinced to head over your way sometime: I can have a nice
ride out, you can provide coffee and biccies.
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Thanks for the offer, but as you already know I am in and out of 5 or 6
bike shops a day, some of which are Kawasaki dealers. I'd much rather
abuse a demo bike than a friend's.
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Although they can be pretty frantic if you want, as Beav says they're
actually ridiculously easy to ride and have a wide enough spread of power
that you really can take it easy if you wish.
From the reports I've read, the Z1000 is more relaxed than the Z750,
although obviously the 750 represents excellent vfm.
If you want something a bit more exotic than that, KTM Superduke, perhaps.
And obviously the Speed Triple is a candidate, although I think the Zed
is actually more exotic in as much as the Triumph sells better!
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I'm still toying with the idea of an Uglystrada. Dare to be different.
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Yep - loads of fun, at sensible speeds.
If you think that's too much, try a Z750. But seriously, I think Zed
Thou has got Lozzo written all over it.
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I'm not buying one with a special paint job.
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Lozzo written all over it or bright orange. Tough choice!
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Well, duh. Shiny or flat though?
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I suspect I'd have got one myself if they'd been invented when I bought
the ZRX, but, they're not really different enough to warrant me changing
bikes now.
Fantastic machines though.
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GLF suggested a Fazer Thou like his and I've cast an eye over the new
Bandit 1200. They're both worthy bikes, but I'd maybe like something a
little bit more exotic as I have the Bandit as a hack and the new one
would be my high days and holidays bike. Anyone got any suggestions for
suitable bikes that are under 6 grand? Even Italian bikes will be
considered, but no BMWs.
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You need the mong's weapon of choice, you do.
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Which one, there's so many to choose from?
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Pop over for a test-ride once I've sorted the mis-fire.
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Since it looks like Standard Life are going to chuck some money my way
I've been looking for a replacement for the CBR. Something a bit
different and not quite so 'full on' as a super sports. The favorite so
far is the Aprilia Falco. Sounds perfect for you. Fast(ish), different
and loads of mid-range. Early (2000), low mileage ones are going for a
couple of grand on ebay.
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6k and newish exotic don't really fit together. Unless you want an
unregistered 2004 Multistrada from
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I loikes UglyStradas
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My mate nabbed one of them from one of his mags test fleet the other
day and really rated it. Said it was more fun to ride than the new
Fireblade he'd had the week before.
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I'd suggest a TDM900 but you'd probably laugh.
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If they've sorted that awful gearbox that the 850 had then it could be a
contender.
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I had a mk2 850, the one with the funny crank. The gearbox was fine:
certainly no worse than the CBR600 I had previously. I think it was a
linkage made from cheese string on the early models, rather than a bad
gearbox.
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No, it was a bad gearbox. Trust me(tm).
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The ZN1300, obviously.
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I've already ridden it, too bulky.
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A holder of a proxy-George Medal? Of course you are.
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George Cross, not medal. It was my parents and their families who won
that, I was born 17 years after the award was made.
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KTM Superduke or 95 Supermoto? Might be a bit tall for you.
Buell of some description?
Persuade Suzuki they want to do the GSR600 with the 1000 engine in?
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Fazer Thous are awful. Avoid.
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I didn't like the one I took for a day and it seemed to have a high seat
height. Much better an R1 with seat and bars changed but Loz is trying
to get away from that performance level.
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Bandit 12 would be fun, but an older, slightly tricked up one.=20
Tuono R?
Z1000?
Speed Triple?
Oh, and make sure you sell me your gixer for =A3500.
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You're not that fat.
Oh... Wait...
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Details. Mere details. It's in the DNA.
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I can't see what a Gilera moped has to do with this. I just searched the web for,
Malta was awarded the GC on April 15th 1942, so it was 20 years before I
was born, not 17.
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Seriously, having spent part of the day looking at Italian exotica, I think
you should blag a go on sweller's Guzzi or TOG's Duck - or preferably both -
if only to eliminate that line of enquiry.
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Only one choice: D14/4 Bantam. YKIMS.
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Though I agree with your decision in principle... I have to say that
that things went down hill after the D7 as the gear ratios of the
4-speed box didn't suit the engine in the same way that the 3-speed box
did.
For my money a D7 motor in a D10 (or later) chassis would be perfect.
Of course a younger bloke might mention an X7...
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Cagiva V-Raptor 1000.
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Not enough of a fairing. The Uglystrada is looking favourite at the
moment. I'd quite like something really quirky yet useable, and the
1000DS fits the bill.
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Hideously ugly, slow, and a right pig to sell on.
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So far the list goes:
Multistrada
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I can't believe you're serious.
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Speed Triple
Z1000
Bandit 1200
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I still think this would most please you, overall.
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This is all subject to me liking each of them on a test ride
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Loz have you sat on a Multistrada yet? It's like a motocross bike in
riding position and about as high in the seat. It must also be in the
*hard to move on* catagory. I thought it looked quite nice too until I
sat on it in Ducati Glasgow.
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I haven't sat on one for a while, but the whole idea of getting
something different that I can keep for a while appeals. Whilst browsing
the Ducati site I clapped eyes on the 1000SS as well, that looks ok. The
Bandit 1200 should really be in second place as it has a fairing that
works, unlike the other two listed.
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Maybe we should swap back the Gixxer for this rather altered B12 for a
few weeks and see how you get on :o) It's a mental engine too but the
whole setup does not encourage you to nail it over 120 at every
opportunity. I can pootle along behind Irene's GS500 playing
wheelies/stoppies just as happily as nailing it.
ps. boy at my sports club just got a new CBR1000RR. Not our type of
thing I know but what a *gorgeous* piece of kit
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Just the sort of thing I'm trying to get away from.
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Well indeedy. I just can't believe you're even consider an UglyStrada;
it's so "not you". Still, I guess you'll know one way or the other when
you ride it.
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Zed thou of course. With an MRA screen on it, it's amost half faired.
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