hi folks

been trawling classifieds, ebay, auto trader etc looking after a possible replacement for my '95 fireblade which at 43k miles is starting to need some tlc and tbh i fancy a change. its the only honda i've ever had as i prefer kawasaki's & suzuki's from prior experience but i'm unfamliar with the characteristics of bikes 10 yrs old or younger....

i'm after something that will offer me as much flexibility that the blade has/does with a view to using it for all purposes bar track use - mostly commuting/running about and misbehaving/scratching on the evening/weekends. as i'm 6'2" and 16 stone i'm a little put off by some bikes due to their small size. i've made a mental shortlist of the bikes below and would GREATLY appreciate any info/pointers as to whether any of them will suit my taste - i know i could just go get another 'blade but that would be too much of a safe bet

suzuki TL1000R
suzuki GSXR 750
kawa zx7r or zx9r

i havent included any model prefixes as i know nothing of the differences and will be looking more at what comes at the right price than finding as new a bike as possible. if theres a similar bike that i havent listed please feel free to enlighten me.

apologies for the long post and thanks in advance for any help given.

TL1000 or indeed SV1000 - same engine but tuned differently






(biassed opinion - my Cagiva has a TL1000 engine in it and It Rocks !!! )

doesn't the dl1000 v-strom also have the tl1000 engine too ??

if any in the big v twin range, it'd be the TL R (maybe S depending on its price) as i like lots of breakable plastic

I believe so - tuned differently

when you test ride the V twins - don't forget that in general they need less throttle than the fours to take off - the Raptor demo bike (now mine) had many a rider taking off from in front of the shop on one wheel due to the difference between the multi-pots they had been riding and the big V

The kawasaki ZX9R is a good bike i think getting a second hand 90's is better because I rememberign hearing from my friends dad that the newer models are abit too light and you feel alot more secure braking at high speeds wiht some wieght apperently lol, Another nice little bike is the Kawasaki Zephyr 1100 (zr1100) or 750? There is a older model which is more of a powerful crusier unfaired bike or the newer model zephyr is more street and has many new fancy bits on it, depends on your style...

GSX-R750 is very nice bike, some ppl say it is the perfect bike. ZX9R is apparently a lot of bike for a money and it does move but when I rode one didn't quite like they way you could not feel the rear end in corners. tlr apparently has serious handling problems, heard this from loads of people, only ridden one once and didn't ride hard so cannot comment but felt sh!t in corners but that could be the extra weight im not used to.

thats my opinions only so please feel free to correct me.

thanks for the imput so far guys

i've considered the increase in grunt factor of the big vee twins hence the TL being in the shortlist. i suppose what im really after is a bike that rides like my old fireblade but isnt a fireblade (if you get my meaning ).

unfaired bikes need not apply as i've not long got rid of a perfectly good '98 B12 which was jacked, dynojet'd and an all round hooligan but not twitchy enough to be my idea of fun on the twisty's

i'm esp. interested to hear baout the zx7r and also the 9r as although they are heavier bikes i've been told that they mask their weight well when on the move - or should i just go buy a srad now?

After the Blade you won't like the brakes on the SRAD although the cornering will be a little sharper but the power a little lacking. The Kwak 9R is the closest to the blade but a little heavier and a lot more comfortable to ride.

interesting........i found the blade a little lacklustre on the power front due to it being so linear - feeling.

whats the matter with the SRAD's brakes?

i was thinking about the extra weight of the 9R, i've been spoilt by the blade i think - its just so chuckable esp. as i climbed on it after owning a B12, i really dont want to lose that aspect with the next bike.

Nothing wrong with the SRAD brakes, with sintered pads they stop you pretty damn quick (cant comment on normal cheapie pads cos only ever ridden bikes with sintered), with braided lines even better.

been running this question in a couple of other forums and the 750 seems to be getting the most favourable reports. but what about for those of us over 6' - whats the position like?

ok......well folks, its been a hell of a week. turns out that replacement was only around the corner - well almost, i'd have turned round the corner if the nice lady in the transit hadn't have pulled into my filter lane and taken me off the 'blade . i bounced but the bike didnt.

the silver lining is that after doing a ton of reading up about gixxers i went and followed up an ad inthe local ad rag and came home with.......a very nice looking '98 ZX9R C1 in met.black. just ridden her home now and while the engine isnt as linear from the bottom of the rev range as the blade was, she MORE than makes up for it from 4k onwards and is as comfy if not more so than the blade.

if anyone knows of any ZX forums/'sites that are worth a look or has a few pearls of wisdom for me i'd appreciate it.