Currently got a very tidy `03 Bandit 1200S i.e the half faired one

plenty comfy & plenty fast enough BUT....

its no sports bike - its a big heavy old bugger & although it handles well for such a big bike its gotta go

Previously had a `99 FireBlade (RR-X) - now this was the mutts nuts. it was light, it handled soooo sweetly & the power was more than I will ever need. however the one (big) problem that led to me selling it was that after about 20 minutes or so my wrists were aching like hell. It only really worked above 80 mph which is fun on occasion but licence losing territorty if you do it all the time

I`m 6 foot 3 & approx 15 stone (ish )

had an FZ750 for 9 years which was superb - was the ideal riding position i.e slightly lent forward (but no real weight on the wrists as such)

I`m currently leaning towards a ZX9-R - got approx £3500 ish to spend so should get a good 2000 - 2002 model

I`ve test ridden a 900 Hornet but thought it was a bit bland

test ridden a Triumph 955i RS but again wasn`t impressed

ditto with a Kwak Z750 which I thought was underpowered & didn`t feel as quick as my old FZ

VFR750/800`s are a bit too staid & a little heavy (IMO)

what (sporty) bike for circa £3500 ish (at a dealer) that must weight 190Kg or less & have 110 bhp or more ?

A comfy bike thats under 190kg and produces more than 110bhp?

Is there such a thing??? Most sports tourers are well over that weight, hell even my ZZR6 is over that and its only a 600!

My guess is those sorts of specs your talking a 600+ supersport bike of the last 5-10 years, and on the whole thats not a group thats known for its comfort.

My guess is it will be a case of going and sitting on a load to find one that just happens to be the right shape for you.

I dont know much about sportsbikes mate, but im more than sure the words comfort and sportsbike dont go together... dont know what to suggest mate, sorry i cant be of any help

an Exup is no good at a tad over 200kg but they are comfy, 130bhp, well under budget and loads of low mileage ones kicking about, very cheap to insure too

Hmm.... Never had a problem on my Fireblade My back aches sometimes but thats only when i'm wearing a big rucksack, doing motorway miles and i'm crouching behind the fairings

I wouldn't recommend any newer sportsbikes tho.. those things just seem to get smaller and smaller

How come your so concerned about the weight tho... surely even if you bought a Goldwing you'd adjust your riding style to account for the weight and still be able to toss it round the corners?

Bit of an extreme example, but i reckon that you should just get any sportsbike you fancy and simply get used to it... most of them these days you can learn to get the pegs down?

thats my problem - IS there such a bike


there used to be i.e FZ750 , GPX750 , GPZ900 (o.k they weighed a little bit more and a little less power) but there seems to be very little (if any) bikes around now that you can do serious miles on without being mega uncomfortable on

supose I`ve been spoilt by the Blade which was a fantastic bike in so many respects

in an ideal world (that doesn`t exist !) I`d like an FZ750 chassis (but lighter) with a Blade engine

don`t get me wrong the Bandit IS a superb bike - THAT engine is fantastic but its just too heavy too chuck around like a sports bike. mind you it can still hustle when in the mood !!!!

a good call but that would mean I`d have to sell my Bandit privately - I`d rather part -ex it & they`re getting a bit old now

if they did a `modern` version it would be ideal

seems to me nowadays the choice is either a heavy (sports) tourer or an ultra light small bike thats very uncomfortable with nothing at all in between

aprilia falco are nice sports tourers weigh 190 kgs very comfortable we did 600 mls in a day on ours,

My mate from office has a zx9r, 01 model I think, and he did this summer a tour in france and he loved the bike and said was very confortable

He also has an RSV Mille and he said that if he had taken the rsv he wouldn't have done half the miles he did with the zx9..

If you find riding with your arris in the air and head stuck over the front wheel as comfy, then there must be a fair few bikes for you - otherwise, go for a real bike, like a BMW

What about an R1? People go touring on them and everything

i know of a nice low milage sv1000s for sale. ideal for sports touring!

a mate`s got one of them in the same colours

nice bike

bet you don`t wanna part - ex do you ?

Easy answer, strengthen up your wrists?

My blade used to cripple me when I first got, in fact so much I considered changing it. But then I realised I loved it and it was me who had to be changed. I bought some handgrips which helped tone the wrist muscles, and did push-ups etc, but more to the point I put in the miles!

Now I regularly travel from Lowestoft to nearly Derby to see my old man and apart from a necessary quick fuel stop mid-way I don't want to get off after even 170 miles. Sure I get a little discomfort when in towns for long spells due to the weight on the wrists, thats natural but now not actually painful, but the answer is to get out of town and open the throttle so the weight on the wrists goes when the wind gets under you and lifts you slightly.

Oh, and having just past the 50 mark, this isn't written by some honed and toned youngster with muscles like iron!

only if its a xjr1300 or a gsx1400 ! that what i want for a next bike

Not too sure if it'd fit your spec, but have you tried a Thunderace?

We have such members?

QUOTE(wolf666 @ Oct 19 2006, 09:08 PM)
this isn't written by some honed and toned youngster with muscles like iron!




We do, my body is a temple....

a very old one that is falling to bits, but never the less, a temple

I have

a mate of mine had one a few years back & I borrowed it for the day

the tank is soooooooo wide it splays your legs & it feels as though you are giving birth . other than that its a good bike. very underrated

exup's are a bit like that
but as far as the japs are concerned we're are probably un naturally tall! (6'4 here)
saying that its the first bike i've owned where my knees fit inside the cutouts in the tank

GSX 750F, powered by the old GSXR engine, comfortable and fairly nippy. RF900, comfortable and goes well.

Ducati 998? Oh - you *really* meant comfy? I'll get my coat...

But as Wolf said, you might just need to change a bit. When I first got my 748 it crippled me on long journeys. Took a bit of working up to it, but nowadays I can go for a day on it and the only thing that hurts is my ass.

That said, a couple of years ago I had a shot on an R1 - aside from the fact that I seemed to keep sliding forwards on the seat it was pretty comfy. Still reckon I'd kill myself on it, but you'll be able to find plenty used models in dealers pretty cheap - I've just looked and found a ton of them for under 5 grand...

Failing that, I'll sell you my Divvie. I'll *tell* you it'll put out over 110bhp - does that count?

When I said he could strengthen his muscles to combat the pain I ignored the obvious pain of riding a sportsbike for hours on end as I'm not aware of any exercise that will strengthen that area? (Cue all sorts of replies to get admin worked up ....)

Get a different kind of sports bike - that'll toughen up your ass! Look at that saddle - like sitting on't razor blade! (Cue Yellow Pages advert)