Or this little number from Kawie: http://kawasaki.com/Products/Product-Specifications.aspx?scid=6&id=718
OK, here's how I did it: "Hey babe, let's go for a ride (car)." "Why? Where we going?" "I'm going to buy a new motorcycle, and I need you to drive the car home. Cool?" "Cool!" Wasn't so hard, was it? Course... she already has her own bikes. Love is equal bike-o-librium. (not the drug).
Tee-totally understand where you wife is coming from. There is something to compromise and you'll still be just a happy. Sportbikes and riding styles are fine, but if there are kids that depend on the man. In the man's abscense, what would be available for them to survive and grow to how the man would provide if he were there every step of the way? Their growth depends on $$$! (food, shelter, and education) Seems with persistence, you may observe a bit of approval but, it won't be whole-hearted. Better have serious life insurance - nothing about riding skills towards you. Stuff happens. Maybe, keep the R1100GS and get a track bike. Sounds like you really should consider that route as well. 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I rode sportbikes ont he street from 1991 till 2010. Many CBR600's, a CBR 1000, an FZR600, YZF600, a ZX7, and lastly an 06 GSXR1000. I even got a single wheeled trailer, high bars, a gel seat, touring screen and GPS on my GSXR, and would take week long 2500+ mile rides thru the appalachians. Started racing an old 96 YZF600 in 2010 and it immediately became clear to me that on the street I had never made any sportbike break a sweat, even when dragging my knees and toes doing what I thought was thrashing the bikes in the Smoky Mountains. I sold the GSXR1000 and got a supermoto instead. The CBR 929 I had in the garage immediately became a racebike, alongside the YZF600 and R6. The 929 is arguably a comfy and docile sportbike, but much too fast for sane street use. It is however, an awesome endurance racebike.....last Saturday I ran at 95% of my sprint pace for 79 minutes straight.....as I said, it's pretty comfy and is less work to ride than my R6. With nothing but an Ohlins shock and a slipon muffler we have been trouncing the competition endurance racing our 929 all summer long. If you are insistent on getting a sportbike for the street (pointless in my opnion, but who am I?), the 929 is a very easy one to live with. Flawless fuel injection, good seat, low pegs, tallish bars, and decent wind protection. I sport toured on supersport bikes for yrs, but there are much better tools for the job out there. The biggest reason for me using a sportbike as a sport tourer is that I am only 5'4" and 150 lbs, and don't want to have to manage a 700 lb Connie or FJR, so I ended up "tourifying" my sportbikes. But now on a supermoto, I find that 70 mph feels fast, and I still get ssportbike quality suspension, wheels, tires and brakes, without the risk of loosing my licence to mucho speeding tickets.
I'm with him- I recently went from 90hp to 50hp and I have more fun on the 50- if you want more - track it
What did you get? You guys are seriously selling me on the supermoto thing. Track racing is out of the question though. For one, there is no track around in a 200 mile radius, and second i lack the time todo this properly. I do a few day long tours each year, and the rest is when i can steal a few hours between work and kids. Does any of you know this : http://www.yamaha-motor.eu/be/nl/products/motorcycles/street/xt660x.aspx?view=techspecs&year=2011
I haven't read all the posts as I find this thread simply too painful to wade through My suggestion , if it hasn't already been made, would be to get a smaller, more nimble sport touring bike like the Triumph Sprint or Aprilia Futura. They have plenty of power, handle great, have good ergo's, and look good with their OEM panniers. If your wife sees these as sportbikes due to their fairings, then you have my sincere condolances. I don't disagree with your acceptance of your wife's insistance on "No Sportbikes". What I disagree with is your willingness to accept her totally clueless definition of what a sportbike is. Then again, you may be just putting us all on as this thread has a certain air of unbelievability about it ! Tom
OP - You thought about buying that little ninja & doing some gymkhana? I haven't done it but it sure looks fun. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=788591
I'm pretty sure a vfr or sprint would be good for my wife, but she would need some convincing. Her first choice would be a naked bike or allroad. She actually pointed out the honda nc700s to me. She doesn't ride herself, so forgive her ignorance. Four wheels good, two wheels better
It sounds like the big (750-1200cc) supermotos may be out of your price range, since they are about double the price of the XT660SM. There are other bikes in that range though. I'm sure you could find a supermoto conversion of one of the 650cc dual sports. Honda has also blessed Europeans with a factory supermoto not available in the USA; the FMX650. Is it fun? I would imagine so...
What you need is a bike that goes, stops and turns like a sport bike but doesn't LOOK like one. There is a pretty new crop of very capable naked bikes out there that should fit this bill nicely.
I think the guys have steered you into a doable and very fun direction w/ the supermoto option. I like that you are being cool w/ your wife, even if she is a bit out to lunch in terms of her bike knowledge. I'd go for a K1200R SPORT myself in that situation... And now for something completely different; an old POLITIE bike. "OBVIOUSLY one of the SAFEST bikes out there Honey". Goes like stink; great on the Autobahn, highly visible and well treated by dumb-ass drivers, and *almost* TICKETPROOF!!!. Dunno about pricing though. FWIW: http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/273/809/Motorcycle-Article/2006-Yamaha-FJR1300-First-Ride.aspx
Sweet, the fz1 is very quick. Will still go more places than the beemer anyway because at $900 you cant depreciate it.
It's all ok. Your wife bought a new knife today at the wife store. She is practicing on your posts first....... Sleep with one eye open.