Tiring of the 599, random bike chat

My commute is now far & fast, the 599 is still fun, but I need some relief. My GL1100 has the fairing stripped, and it's not going back on (ugly Vetter Windjammer). I've been thinking of another GLbut it's less sporty, the PC800 is nice but too slow, VFRs are highly tempting.

What full-fairing bikes have y'all enjoyed? Easy maintenance? The 599 has spoiled me for maintenance, oil changes take 5 minutes.

Most half-fairings make me want to puke. FZ1, FZ6, SV650S, nobody has done it right. Plus, I like to ride in the rain & cold, so leg protection would be nice.

VFR, do it!

If you put that Windjammer back on and rode behind it for a while, you may get over the fact it's out of style. They worked really well.

VFR's are pricey, and while the insurance is 1/2 of a sport bike, it's still 2x the 599. That is what is holding me back.

Craig Vetter seems like a really cool guy (check out his website), but as unconcerned with how people view me personally, I really care how they view my motorcycle. That thing is UGLY. In times when bikes did not come with fairings, I would do it, but compared to how nice the factory-faired GL1100s looked, I can't imagine what possessed the original purchaser to opt for the naked GL+windjammer.

I probably spent the greatest percentage of miles-traveled-on-a-motorcycle on a 1983 BMW R100 RS. That's the German cop bike looking one. You can stay dry in the rain on one provided you can keep going about 55 or better. It's sweet spot is between about 80 and 115. You can go 100 all day in total comfort.

The down side is that it's slow and agricultural compared to any "modern" motorcycle, it has no power, weedy brakes, sh1tty suspension, and a general lack of refinement. The upside is that you can rebuild one in perpetuity should you never want to buy another motorbike, and it's a "classic" in the same sense as a BMW 3.0 CS car.

I had it, an RD400 Daytona Special for ages. I recall I bought it in '89 I think. Eventually the race bike left and I got a '93 Ducati 900SS, then added a '98 GSXR600 for track days. The Duc left to fund an '06 DRZ400 supermoto, then the GSXR left after buying a KTM 950 supermoto...

Still I kept that BMW, although it had been converted to an S by now.

Finally, I realized I rode the SuMo-s all the time and never rode the old BMW anymore which wasn't fair to it.

I sold it to a guy who really, really wanted one, and he loves it and has learned to work on it and I'm genuinely happy he has it.

Then I bought a Derbi 50 supermoto and a KTM690 SMC, and in fairly short order sold the DRZ400 and the Derbi.

Now I have the 2 KTMs - a 690 SMC and the 950 SM, and that RD400 Daytona Special which is going back together with all the stuff I'd wished I been able to do when I got it 25 years years ago. And I have a 2003 Yamaha Zuma 50 scooter w/a Valentino Rossi replica paint job/pipe/carb/springs-weights.

So - from full fairing to no fairings at all. But I'm intrigued by the Honda deal where 2007 VFRs are on blowout at $7399, including the ones in the 25th anniversary interceptor paintjobs. Lose the 950SM, lateral into a new 2007 VFR...

I would love a 25th anniversary VFR. My uncle had an '84 when I was 16. He let me ride it, and his FZ1, only after I put 2000 miles on my EX250. He told me the day I got the Ninjette, and it was an exciting two months before he let me on one. I rode the VFR first, so it was the first sport bike I ever piloted. I really, really want one. Especially the '07 anniversary.

So all this VFR talk made me check Geico, AmFam quoted me $25x/mo, the 599 was $106/mo. Geico quoted me $224 every two months...

Between you guys, and the dealers BEGGING me to trade in the 599, they even offered to buy it outright, I'm having a very hard time not picking one up.

SSA, twin undertails, relaxed yet sport riding position, plus touring capabilities. Every VFR I sat on feels like I'm the 90th percentile rider they designed it for.

You may have convinced me, I'm hitting the dealer tomorrow and demanding a demo bike.

I had an 87 VFR700. It was fast and comfortable. Insurance was cheap on it as well, I think I paid around ~$400 a year through progressive.

I can't go for something that old. I know, Honda reliable, I only buy Honda's, I have two vintage Honda bikes. I gotta keep one newer one in the stable.

I had a VFR750 a while back and if you're looking for a bike that does pretty much everything well, they're pretty good. Keep in mind that changing plugs will have you invent new swearwords, though.

From a weather protection point of view the best bike I've had so far was a BMW K1100LT. My current R1150RT comes close but the LT is better.

I'm sure that K1100LT is a good bike, but damn it's ugly.

FZ750.

NT700V, ST1300

Evo FLHT.

The FZ, NT, and ST all look very interesting! I'm afraid the FLH will be a bit less sporting than I desire, but I plan on hitting the H-D dealer tomorrow before work. Maybe they have a few Buell's I can sit on too.

I tried to go shopping today, but unfortunately all the dealers around here are closed on Sundays & Mondays, which are coincidentally MY days off .

I did stop by the Cycle Gear in town, and they had my tire on sale, so I had to pick one up. hopefully it will help selling the 599 when the time comes.

Really VFR all the way, considering they are just about to release the vfr1200 and honda dropped the price on the existing VFRs on dealer lots, oh and dealers are feeling the pinch you can get a pretty good deal on one.

Another vote for the VFR.

~$375/yr through Progessive, 50-55mpg, tons of oooph, AWESOME riding position, and most importantly, the SOUND is to die for

This bike is a mile muncher AND can get it done in the corners . . . .

Buy in for a VFR around these parts is as low as $2500 for 98+ models . . .

You can pick up a MINT FZ750 for sub-$1500. Like a VFR, but more interesting while being easier to work on - 5-valve heads, almost horizontal engine angle with downdraft carbs for low COG, plus they just look and sound friggin mean. Insurance is ridiculously cheap - I was quoted somewhere in the mid $200/yr range and I'm 20.

I'd suggest an FJ1200 or 1100. They're older but carried the torch for the sportier tourer after BMW.

Am I messed up for thinking GPZ900R every other tie I think VFR?

im lookin at a Suzuki VStrom DL650 to replace my CBR600RR. Trying to get away from the folding myself in half. I miss my older F3 and regret selling it even now. It was much more comfortable and could easily do 500 miles a day with out trying.

Yeah, the K1100LT is a little ugly but it improves once you sit on it...

I'd also look at the ST1100, the 1300 has a bit of a reputation for high-speed instability (Google for "ST1300 high speed wobble" or weave). IIRC they had at least one fatal crash with a police ST1300 over here which has been attributed to that.

As far as half-fairing bikes go, how about:

TL1000S?

Honda Superhawk?

I think I'm going to max out wiki's bandwidth researching all these bikes. Besides the listed, every page has a link to 10 more...

I found this one:

It makes me want a home machine shop, so I could stick a pair of single cylinder engines together as a boxer engine. Or worse, a pair of big bore two strokes, like CR500 cylinders

Well, I'm going to look at a CBR1100XX on Saturday. I'm not sure if I'll like it, but it's about halfway to my destination, and the price is right.

The blackbird is probably one of the all time best sport tourers out ever, add 180+ mph to a big comfortable ride and wow.