I have read a lot around here and thought I had an account but it looks as if I hadn't so I signed up today for my first post.

I have been riding a 98 Yamaha Vstar Custom 1100 for the last 4 years and now it is time to change things up. I never thought I had any interest in something sporty until my neighbor let me take his zx10 out for a spin. This was last fall and I don't think the grin has left my face yet. In all reality that bike was well too much for me. It seemed far more like something waiting to explode than something I could ride. While the speed was an absolute blast it really is just too much. I know what I am capable of after riding the Vstar and as such I'm looking to move smaller than the liter bikes.

Most of my riding is with a group of guys on an older honda valk and gold wing and one of the new Tourer BMW models. We mainly ride either around town or down to each others houses which are a good 3 hour each way ride. I would say though that 80% of my riding time is all local and can be anywhere from 15 minutes to a couple hours depending on where I feel like putting around to. That said when I ride with any/all of them I always end up left in the dust. I am not looking to ride beyond my ability. Most of the times we push it at all are on long open straights. Thank god for living in farm country. As such I really am looking for something that accelerates quickly. I am a bit timid on turns and don't see me really pushing it through them. Just basically straight line speed that can be tame enough to ride for a day just cruising around when not in demand.

So I am looking for sporty, quick, nimble, but yet ridable and a bit forgiving. I have been looking at all the models here and think the 250 is far too small. It would have started me out fine but I am looking for more bike than that. So then we move to the Ninja 500r. I honestly don't know much about where this bike falls in the performance scale for Kawasaki. I assume since it is a Ninja it is sporty. I looked around but couldn't find much on it performance wise. Then there is the 650 which from what I can figure out is a little less bike than say the zzr600 due to it being a 2 cylinder instead of a 4 cylinder.?

My real thought is to go either ZZR600 or go ZX6R. I see the ZZR has a more ergonomic riding position and will be better on the longer trips. The ZX6R seems to be almost as explosive as the 10 I rode. I have a feeling that it too will be too much bike for what I want to do. The superbikes seem to just be too touchy and too willing to magnify any mistakes I may make. I know I make my fair share and as such I really am not looking to buy the biggest meanest machine out there. A real high performance machine takes a high performance rider which I am not.

There is also the z750 and a few others in there that I had looked at but again couldn't find much info on. I really love the newer ZZR600 looks. I am heading to a Kawi dealership tomorrow to sit on a bunch and see how they feel. Beyond that though are there any suggestions? I really think from the sounds of it the ZZR600 is the best all around compromise to fit my wants. But I don't know all that much about anything but the putter of a cruiser I rode the last 4 years and as such I am open to all suggestions.

 

For the 3 hour rides I would be looking at a sport tourer which the ZZR600 fits that description perfectly it has plenty of power and a sleek yet sophisticated style and a top end that your freind's twins cant touch. The 600 is basically a 6 year old race bike redone, the only drawback to that is that its carbed (at least some people say its a drawback).

The 500R is a good sport tourer, but your buddy's liter twins will eat the 500 for lunch on a straightaway (they wont have a chance in hell on the twisties).

If you want to kick it up a notch and have a comfortable tourer built for trips but with enough power on tap to put many sportbikes to shame, and a throttle smooth enough to keep that power under wraps, see if they have a used concours 10 (I think they are only selling the 14 new now but that might be a little much and way too expensive) The Concours is built off the zx10 with a relaxed riding position redone throttle and stock saddlebags for long trips.

You will be happy with any one of them, just pick one that suits your skills and your personality. Let us know what you decide. Welcome to KF!

 

welcome to KF. the zx6r sounds perfect for ya. imo

 

the zzr600 is the same bike as my 95zx6r - its a tried and true platform with years worth of mods and knowledge. i love it for its balance of comfort, control, and power.

 

ZZR is good

 

Don't forget about the zx7's

 

They're OK too

 

Well I sat on an 08 ZZR600 and fell in love. It was as big of a grin just sitting there as the ride on the zx10 was. The dealer I talked to suggested I would get a decent trade value on my Vstar, or at least not a total bend me over job. I am a hair away from having "permission" from the "boss" but I still have a little work to do there. I sat on quite a few different models and I liked a lot of them. The ZZR though just seemed best. I don't know if I went in biased and thats why but it was great. Hopefully before we get too many nice days of riding by I will have some pictures up of a Black 08 ZZR. That and a guy with a huge grin on his face.

 

Good choice dude, you won't regret it[8D]

 

the zzr600 is the same bike as my old 02 zx6r. great bike!!