Topic: What Motorcycle Have You Been Obsessing About Today?

[dirtyjeffer]

I am test riding the R3 as well as the XSR900 on May 7th, so I'll be able to compare them then. The R3's lack of ABS is a bit of a deal killer though since that is one of my top requirements for my next bike. Also being a commuter, you can't beat Honda's fuel efficiency. I would also think the CBR is easier to ride in the city with peak torque lower on the curve.

the Yamaha XSR900 is sweet, but certainly far more bike than the 250-300 cc bikes you are looking at (in terms of power and price)...definitely let us know how it rides...there is a Yamaha demo day here in London today , but i have to work so no can do.

and since we discussed the Duke 690 in the other thread recently, i have also been reading about it too...that is a really sweet bike also.

i see a comparison of the Duke 690 and Yamaha XSR900 is in order (i don't care if they are not true competitors, they're both $11k  so that's good enough for me  ).

[dkaz]

Three times the displacement, three times the cylinders, but it's a beautiful bike. Not realistic in the next five years though so I'm secretly hoping Yamaha decides to make an R3 based scrambler in the next year. I'd throw away my ABS brake requirement and beg them to take my money.

I'm test riding the 390 Duke the same day. At $7200+ OTD, it's unrealistic for me budget wise. But I still want to try it.

[Gurgie]

^ why buy new though when you can get a 1 to 3yr old bike with very low mileage for about 70% of the cost of new?  And you can get even better deals in the fall when people start selling them off because they don't feel like storing them for the winter.

[mlin32]

^ why buy new though when you can get a 1 to 3yr old bike with very low mileage for about 70% of the cost of new?  And you can get even better deals in the fall when people start selling them off because they don't feel like storing them for the winter.

I mentioned this in another thread, but around here, the price of a used 300cc class sportbike is roughly the same as new. There's a ton of 600cc bikes on the market but not a lot of 300cc ones floating around. That's why I ended up just biting the bullet and getting new (that, and I wanted to start riding !)

I wouldn't let the lack of ABS on the R3 in North America be a deal-killer....think of it like threshold-braking in a car. I don't think I've activated ABS on my car in dry/wet in years (snow is a different story).

[johngenx]

I'm going to try to hunt down one of those old KZ1000ELR bikes.  Slowly eroding the missus' resistance to having another vehicle.

Hopefully I can find one that's decent and not $$$.  I've always wanted one.

[dkaz]

^ why buy new though when you can get a 1 to 3yr old bike with very low mileage for about 70% of the cost of new?  And you can get even better deals in the fall when people start selling them off because they don't feel like storing them for the winter.

I did post several posts up that a 2011-13 CBR 250R is the leading contender if I can find one for significant savings over a new 300. Problem is, some sellers price them like gold and Honda has $1000-1300 off their 300s right now.

[rrocket]

Hopefully I can find one that's decent and not $$$.  I've always wanted one.

Good luck.  Saw one for $15K not long ago. 
Go here and drool....

http://raresportbikesforsale.com/

[dirtyjeffer]

Slowly eroding the missus' resistance to having another vehicle.

i showed my wife the new Duke 690 and was rather surprised by her answer of "that's a nice looking bike". 

[rrocket]

Slowly eroding the missus' resistance to having another vehicle.

i showed my wife the new Duke 690 and was rather surprised by her answer of "that's a nice looking bike". 

Hell.  Yea. 

[dkaz]

So, asking for permission is almost as good as asking for forgiveness?

Lol. My wife is ok with me riding. My commitment to safety as well as her seeing me safely ride several times have helped put her at ease, although I know she still isn't overly ecstatic about me riding.

She did like the XSR900 when I showed her.

[rrocket]

IQ liked watching me race...and enjoys being on the back.  And is a great passenger too! (can back it in with her on the back!).

So I'm very lucky in this regard.

[dkaz]

Very cool.

I somewhat wish I learned to ride earlier. Would've been such a fun way to get around anywhere. But somehow I'm also glad I only started riding when I've had less of a need for speed.

I'm hoping to get my wife riding in a few years so our family Europe backpacking trip in about 6-8 years can be a motorcycle-backpacking trip. If not, we can do it with a sidecar too.

[rrocket]

Very cool.

I somewhat wish I learned to ride earlier. Would've been such a fun way to get around anywhere. But somehow I'm also glad I only started riding when I've had less of a need for speed.

I'm hoping to get my wife riding in a few years so our family Europe backpacking trip in about 6-8 years can be a motorcycle-backpacking trip. If not, we can do it with a sidecar too.

I started when I was 5 on dirt bikes. So that's one of the reasons why I can shred so well on a supermoto-type bike.  As soon as I was old enough, I got my license and bought a bike.  Then that same year had my first track day...and that was it.  I was hooked for life.

[HeliDriver]

I'm going to try to hunt down one of those old KZ1000ELR bikes.  Slowly eroding the missus' resistance to having another vehicle.

Hopefully I can find one that's decent and not $$$.  I've always wanted one.

Nice bike. Didn't Kawasaki make a retro version of that bike ten years or so ago? A guy down the street had one, and I remember lusting after it. Might be a more reasonable option.

[rrocket]

ZRX1100

[HeliDriver]

^^ Yeah, I guess that's it. Doesn't look quite as cool as I remember it, though. 

[rrocket]

In early 2000s, they did the Z1000.  See below.  Then in late 2000s it got updated.  Basically a ZX10R engine in a standard chassis.

[Triple Bob]

I am test riding the R3 as well as the XSR900 on May 7th, so I'll be able to compare them then. The R3's lack of ABS is a bit of a deal killer though since that is one of my top requirements for my next bike. Also being a commuter, you can't beat Honda's fuel efficiency. I would also think the CBR is easier to ride in the city with peak torque lower on the curve.

Be careful on that XSR900, lots of torque compared to what you're used to.

If you're after a CBR250R Honda always have some great deals coming up to Winter, significant discounts plus no freight/PDI etc.  I highly recommend it, it was a really fun bike.  And with a yoshi exhaust, sounds really great too.

[dkaz]

I am test riding the R3 as well as the XSR900 on May 7th, so I'll be able to compare them then. The R3's lack of ABS is a bit of a deal killer though since that is one of my top requirements for my next bike. Also being a commuter, you can't beat Honda's fuel efficiency. I would also think the CBR is easier to ride in the city with peak torque lower on the curve.

Be careful on that XSR900, lots of torque compared to what you're used to.

If you're after a CBR250R Honda always have some great deals coming up to Winter, significant discounts plus no freight/PDI etc.  I highly recommend it, it was a really fun bike.  And with a yoshi exhaust, sounds really great too.

Definitely. I already looked up how to change the TSC/Drive Mode to Mode B which reduces power and throttle response to and maximizes traction control. At least until I get used to it. The biggest thing I've ridden so far has been an SV650.

They should really be trying to clear out any remaining CBR 250Rs all the time considering 2013 was the final model year in North America.  Any remaining 2015 CBR 300R is $1300 off right now at $3399 for the non-ABS version and $3899 for the ABS version. Remaining 2015 CB300FA is $1000 off at $3699.

[dkaz]

Be careful on that XSR900, lots of torque compared to what you're used to.

The real question is, how did I manage to stall a bike with that much torque?

I eventually learned to lean forward on the bike to make it less scary to punch the throttle. Otherwise, it felt like I was going to fly backwards off the bike. I do wish I was experienced enough to appreciate the bike more.

I'll post a video review of it soon. This Youtubing gig is a lot of work.