Darren,
What about the Ducati Monster???

 

LOL, apparently, Darren no likey the Monster. BTW Ken ... we now want to see the MV in action!!! The whole 6speed community wants to see the knee kissing the road (no, it does not count if followed by butt-elbow-head ).

Darren, odds that you will get hurt on a 999 or 996/8 (or any track bike RC51, ZX-7, MV Agusta) are quite high. From my understanding, these bikes require some experience to enjoy the riding as they are not as predictable or error-friendly as some bikes with a softer definition of sport can be. I know that with the roads we have in Quebec, I won't get such a bike ... just asking for disaster. A lighter more "roadster" like position bike will be much safer for me.

 

MV


Anyways, I've done my research and plan to pick up an 03 or 04 R6 in a couple years. My buddy has a yzf600 and its a great bike as well.

 

Just go for the Ducati! Haha. (I happen to have an 01 748s for sale with 450 miles if you're interested)


-Adam

 

Hey Darren,
Seems like there's been a lot of input already, and its all in good fun, I love gawking at beautiful bikes probably more than the next guy, especially since I want a new one REALLY REALLY bad but the money just inst there right now. The Duc 996/999, MV's, those are really Ferrari's of bikes, they dont get much more expensive till you get to race/custom bikes. Insane looks, performance, and also costs when you dump it in the driveway or lowside it when you hit some gravel/oil/etc while putting in town. Of course Id take one in a heartbeat, but It wouldnt be a wise choice even for me, who's been to the track and been riding in lots of situations for 2 years. You get a bike like when youve been riding a WHILE and probably arent going to dump it

Well you have had some expereience which is great, thats the biggest hurdle right there. I might have missed it in the thread, but what bike(s) have you been riding? Did you take any sort of riding class like what we call the MSF out here (thru the Motor Vehicle Dept).

Normally, if you were someone brand new to riding or (im just making the assumption here based on your cars ) didnt have a decent amont of money to spend, Id say just get a a few year old R6/CBR (or any 600 from the Big Jap. 4) A lot of "newbs" want to get the brand new showroom bikes, they get em, learn on em, and inevitably dump them doing the things new riders do. Most of the time its only minor damage, but if you have to get a whole left side of plastics for a new bike, youre talking $1,500 and up and thats not from the factory either. Frame sliders will help a lot in this area, but are not a 100% protection for your plastics, just the frame really (hence the name

However you do want some nice looks so my Pick would be the 03/04 CBR 600RR or an R6 from 2003 and up. Both are light, fuel injected, powerful, all around awesome. Right now in 04/05 the R6 is looking very hot, and the CBR RR seires (not talking about the 929/954RR) is such a wonderful bike. I have an 03 600RR in my garage right now, my friend's track bike, and eventho its somewhat harsh the way its setup (rearset pegs/stiff susp) its is an absolute BLAST to ride on the street. Ive been looking at this bike for my next purchase, as well as 03/04 R6's and the Kawisaki 636 (aka ZX6R, the ZX6RR is a 599cc and track oriented). Ive ridden the **** out of a Kawi 636 too, and its a great bike, very able track weapon too, but something about the looks dont do it for me.

As was said, if you want form/function, go for Honda and Yami. Someone posted a pic of the 05 Kawi, I think the 10R, and I really love its looks. Check out the 05 Kawi 636 It gets the Undertail and all the other cool features for 05 and its more bike than most people can handle.

I cant say much about Suzuki that wasnt said. They are very track oriented, low slung seating & bars, wide tanks, very popular for track and stunting. Handling is supposedly superb, but Ive only ridden a 92 GSXR which isnt what they are today. More recetnly, the look of the new GSXR 600/750 got a big update and I really dig it, so im considering them as well.

Things not to get would be something like the 01 Bandit 1200 Damon had mentioned. Great bike, but they have LOADS of torque. Thats great when you can control it, but and I would just stay away from Litre bikes totally. I know people here will disagree with me and say "you havent lived till you ride a 1000!!" but I also know that after 2 years Im still not even close to using all the power my old '97 carburated 599cc can do ... and Im totally seroius. 750cc's are ok, as youd expect the power is right in between a 600 and 1000 but your choices there are limited. Kawi ZX7R which is still Retro/90's looking compared to todays bikes, and very heavy, or the GSXR750.

I heard Triumph mentioned, and I love these bikes too. The new Daytona 600 is TOTALLY awesome looking. I dont know what reliability is like on these, but its a liquid cooled, i-4 599cc bike, i cant imagine it being that much different than the japanese companies but I could be wrong. I woldnt mind one of these either!

Bottomline, youll be happy with any modern 600 you get. They all have similar performance and reliability, almost (if not all) are fuel injected, and all of them have similar aftermarket options. Main difference will be in price, styling and how the bike fits you based on your size. You can change geometry to an extent with aftermarket pegs but head to a dealer or go sit on at least one of every kind youre considering.

Also do yourself a favor and register for BARF! There are truly some amazing riders on there, almost everyone is very concerned with saftety (lol, some more than others) and theres so many people who know an incredible amount about bikes. Just introduce yourself in the Newbies area and go post up some questions there. Just like any Forum, there are some *****es too

Hope all this helped. Good luck finding your bike Darren!

 

I always loved Triumph, especially the new Thruxton and the Speed Triple. But if you have your heart set on the 600cc sport bikes, I think that the Honda will really impress you with its quality of fit and finish. Ducatis have always been some of my favorite bikes and that unique Ducati twin sound and the rattle of the dry clutch are music to any Ducati owner.

 

I AM!!! Please send me an email with pics and specs!!! ekoz23@aol.com . I am looking at a 748S on ebay right now, but you have much less mileage!! Will be purchasing a bike within the next month!!
Evan

 

KPV - I wish MV had a scaled down version of your bike - looked exactly the same but was a 600CC version for a novice like me

Ivan thanks for the great write-up
I learned this summer on a Suzuki 600cc katana I bought from a friend and just sold last week for the same $$$ I paid (wish i could do that with my TT )

The triumph daytona i read has serious improvments for 05 so maybe a nice yellow or red one will be the ticket

Thanks again to all for the help! I will be asking again soon I am sure!

 

Here Darren:

Its a 750...not THAT much bigger than a 600
Evan

 

Evan what is that beauty ? Is a 750 that much more to handle than the 600cc bikes ?

 

 

MSRP: $22,695


the bad news!

 

Darren,

If you think it looks good in pictures, you should see it in person. The Atlanta Ducati store, where Ken got his MV, had one (months ago, though - not sure if it's still there). I just stared at it for about an hour. Absolutely killer. I don't even ride and was trying to figure out a way to buy it just to look at it .

David

 

I am sure David -

I am pretty much set ont the Triumph Dayona 600 - it has been updated for 2005 and there is a triumph-yamaha dealer right near my place in the hamptons for service -

License plate eliminator kit and a great exhaust is all that bad boy needs from me

ohhh now do I get red or yellow!!!!!

 

Engine Type Liquid-cooled, DOHC, in-line 4-cylinder
Capacity 646cc
Bore/Stroke 68 x 44.5mm
Compression Ratio 12.85:1
Fuel System Twin-butterfly, multipoint sequential electronic fuel injection with forced air induction
Ignition Digital - inductive type - via electronic engine management system
Transmission Primary Drive Gear
Final Drive X ring chain
Clutch Wet, multi-plate
Gearbox 6-speed
Cycle Parts Frame Aluminium beam perimeter
Swingarm Twin-sided, aluminium alloy
Front Wheel Alloy 3-spoke, 17 x 3.5in
Rear Wheel Alloy 3-spoke, 17 x 5.5in
Front Tyre 120/70 ZR 17
Rear Tyre 180/55 ZR 17
Front Suspension 43mm forks with adjustable preload, compression and rebound damping
Rear Suspension Monoshock with adjustable preload and rebound damping
Front Brakes Twin 308mm floating discs, 4 piston calipers
Rear Brakes Single 220mm disc, single piston caliper
Dimensions Length 2112mm (83.1in)
Width (Handlebars) 712mm (28.0in)
Height 1131mm (44.5in)
Seat Height 815mm (32.1in)
Wheelbase 1390mm (54.7in)
Rake/Trail 24.6 degree/89.1mm
Weight (Dry) 165kg (363lbs)
Performance (Measured at crankshaft to DIN 70020) Maximum Power 114PS (112bhp) at 12,500 rpm
Maximum Torque 68Nm (51ft.lbf) at 11,500 rpm

The Daytona 650.

Take the Daytona 650's raucous new fuel-injected, four-cylinder 646cc engine. Who says you can't have it all, anyway? Nobody around here, that's for sure. The Daytona 650's unstoppable surge of top-end power is bolstered with a great gobbet of mid-range torque and the result is a power delivery that works effortlessly on road and addictively on track.

Its peerless handling has been relentlessly honed on the racetrack and the rigid aluminium twin-spar frame, fully adjustable, race-specification suspension, four-piston brake calipers and lightweight wheels offer an undiluted supersports experience. With the added dimension of real world, real roads usability, the benchmark of Triumph's philosophy.

You can have it all. The Daytona 650 proves that.