This month's RiDE's a cracker. It contain the RIDE POWER survey (among 10,000 riders) of the UK's fave and worst bikes and 30 places to go at the weekend....oh and a battle of the sexes on the road and track (Woould rather take the 5th on the results I think). It also does a breakdown by class, e.g. 600s, 125s, Cruisers, etc

Here's the Top 10 Overall

1. Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade (2004-present)
2. Suzuki GSX-R750 (2004)
3. BMW R1150RS (2001-present)
4. Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird (1996-1998)
5. Yamaha YZF R1 (2002-2003)
6. Aprilia Tuono (all) (2002-2003)
7. Honda CBR1100XX Balckbird (199-present)
8. Honda XL1000V Varadero (2003-present)
9. Honda Goldwing (all) (1997-present)
10. Yamaha YZF R1 (2004)

.....note conspicuous absence of Kwaks and Dukes

Bottom 10

203. Kawasaki ER5 (2001-present)
204. Ducati 750/800S/SS (1991-present)
205. Yamaha XJ600s Diversion (1997-present)
206. Kawasaki ER5 (1997-2000)
207. Yamaha FZR400 (1988-1996)
208. Suzuki GSF600F (1990-1997)
209. Kawasaki ZR7 (1999-present)
210. Suzuki GSX600F (1990-1997)
211. Suzuki RF600R (1993-1997)
212. Honda CG125 (1985-present)
213. Yamaha XJ600S Diversion (1992-1996)......Dear Editor, I am outraged by the slurs, lies and untruths printed in your recent survey. You will be receiving a writ for libel forthwith...yours etc SFTS - thought I'd save you a job our Fazer

Note the conspicuous presence of Kwaks and Dukes

Top 10 Sports 600's
1. Honda CBR600RR (2003-present)
2. Triumph Daytona (2003-present)
3. Triumph TT600 (2002-2003)
4. Yamaha YZF-R6 (2003-present)
5. Suzuki GSX-R600 (2001-present)
6. Honda CBR600F and Sport (2001-present)
7. Yamaha YZF-R6 (2001-2002)
8. Kawasaki ZX-6R (2002)
9. Honda CBR600F (1997-1998)
10. Kawasaki ZX-6R (2003-present)

Seems the ZX6R is a bit full-on to win prizes as a road machine (surprise surprise)

What do you chaps and chappessed think then?

Mines an XJ600N actually and it's a 2000



Btw, tho it IS a good 1st bike, it wasn't really designed for the mileage I seem to be putting on it, so I will be swapping it rather soon for something with a bit more "grunt " I think

Well pleased mate, mines the Daytona

Nate

mine's too rare <unusual> to feature

So what's the word in the 125 Class?

Not that I'm too tight to buy the mag you understand

Not forgetting of course that it's only a survey of the readers of one particular magazine........

I always read these results with eyes wide SHUT, in one mag it praises a certain
bike, in another mag it praises another, if your bikes not in the top it doesnt mean
its no good as there's so many factors to take in such type of rider, knowledge
level including know how of bikes in detail (like myself) and so forth.

I have a ZZR1100 D7 and it didnt get any stars but so what, its what I like its mine
and thats the bottom line, wether you own a 200 or 2000 cc bike so what its what
you like best, the honda CBR600 and Yam R6 are very popular so much so my
brother inlaw went and bought one only cos every other mmmm person is riding
one (R6) goes to show how people are influenced rather than gonig for what they
really want from a bike.

and for all you guys/gals who got into the top results with their bikes well done.

Cheers

its funny but everytime ride mag asks for experienced volunteers-i automatically do so-to be told i'm not needed thankyou.
could it be i might just show up the journos?

as chrismk said-why buy a bike on a mags recommendation?
we've had experience of a bike journo on here -& what a w@nker he was

Totally agree with Chris and DP - buy what YOU like, not what some mag tells you to or just 'cos your mate's got one.

Doesn't do any harm to read between the lines in the road tests 'tho, just to make sure it's not a complete lemon.

Well , you should never that is as absolute truth......

Plus it does not take into consideration the " Money factor"



If you pay under £4000 for a Bandit, you might be happy that you got a good deal and not mind that it is heavy, not perfect suspention etc.


However if you pay above £8000 for a bike, you might not be ok with tiny things that are not to your liking.....

Like everything else, yo uget what you pay for.....

Plus there is the Personal side, some like sports others Big Toures etc.....


So it's informative reading, gives good indication on certain things, maybe things to check etc...... but don't buy a Bike only for these reason....

Jeezus jumped up Jones! The point of the thread was to instigate a discussion on the surveys findings, e.g. is the Blade really the best bike on the planet?, not a lecture on the credibility of RiDE magazine and bike surveys. Yes bike choice is totally a personal thing and you'd have to be a complete div to go out and buy a blade on the strength of a magazine article without checking out other bikes in the same class. Has no-one got any critical analysis to make on the actual rankings from heir own experience with some of these bikes?

Point taken......

I agree to your points in the 'quote' but not of the survey, hence why I slagged it
so..

Cheers

Sorry Tango, got your point but got carried away.

And no, never owned any of 'em so can't comment.