Thread: After some opinions on first road bike

Originally Posted by Shearer

I never saw a motard beat a sportsbike around the cemetery circuit and the 1000cc sports bikes were in first gear a lot of the time. A few motards did qualify for the open race at the end of the day though.

Straights are a completely different story


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Originally Posted by Spudattack

Straights are a completely different story


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She got more twisties than you could shake a stick at, the Cemetry Circuit.

Originally Posted by outlander

She got more twisties than you could shake a stick at, the Cemetry Circuit.

No doubt, but out of the corners is where the sport bikes would run away.

You can’t make up for that much hp difference with faster cornering speeds.


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Many years ago I used my Honda 750/4 for commuting into work in Akld central. It worked quite well, but heaps of power is no necessity in the massive queue traffic you may encounter. You can easily spend 2-3 hours per day in traffic - often in fact.

As mentioned above choose a very comfortable ride for the hours you'll do in the saddle, and upright riding position is good for traffic visibility and also for the back. Also fit good quality all weather (not all-terrain) road tyres - essential on the wet and sometimes greasy roads, and white lines etc you'll encounter everywhere in Akld. Rains alot there compared to say canterbury. And you need lots of time and patience..

Many lower output LAMS bikes would be ideal. Someone mentioned the Suzuki 650SV - I think this LAMS bike would be a gem for Akld commute work, and a delightful traveller too. 70-75hp, 210kph top speed, reliable, and a very comfy tourer type ride. From Akld traffic experience I'd be looking at that - or very similar..

Originally Posted by mudgripz

Many years ago I used my Honda 750/4 for commuting into work in Akld central. It worked quite well, but heaps of power is no necessity in the massive queue traffic you may encounter. You can easily spend 2-3 hours per day in traffic - often in fact.

As mentioned above choose a very comfortable ride for the hours you'll do in the saddle, and upright riding position is good for traffic visibility and also for the back. Also fit good quality all weather (not all-terrain) road tyres - essential on the wet and sometimes greasy roads, and white lines etc you'll encounter everywhere in Akld. Rains alot there compared to say canterbury. And you need lots of time and patience..

Many lower output LAMS bikes would be ideal. Someone mentioned the Suzuki 650SV - I think this LAMS bike would be a gem for Akld commute work, and a delightful traveller too. 70-75hp, 210kph top speed, reliable, and a very comfy tourer type ride. From Akld experience I'd be looking at that.

My SV650 with 91 000km on it must be tired now. I can only manage 200kph on it.

I nearly bought an SV650 many years ago but the one I went to look at and test ride had a flat battery so I never got to ride it. Ended up with a Z1000 a week later.

Originally Posted by Shearer

I nearly bought an SV650 many years ago but the one I went to look at and test ride had a flat battery so I never got to ride it. Ended up with a Z1000 a week later.

I had one of the first Z1000 Kawasaki's in SA, bought in 1976. Never really stacked up to the z900 in looks or balls. At 65, the second generation(2003) SV650 is exactly what any decrepit old codger needs. Enough of everything and some. Wonderful old bicycle.

I've only got dirt bikes and have had very limited road bike time. However I have been doing a lot of reading about getting an adventure type bike as I am planning to get one soon. My first pick would be a KTM 690 enduro, second a Suzuki DR650 with an aftermarket comfortable seat and a few suspension and engine tweaks and if you're mostly riding on the road one of the new model Kawasaki KLR650's would be worth considering. Bear in mind I haven't ridden any of them just been reading a lot about them.

Some of the comments in this thread crack me up Hayabusa, sports bikes v supermotads.
He is commuting.

By the way did I tell you how my Suzuki GT 185 seized on me when I was trying to pass a world superbike champ on the outside.

Originally Posted by erniec

Some of the comments in this thread crack me up Hayabusa, sports bikes v supermotads.
He is commuting.

By the way did I tell you how my Suzuki GT 185 seized on me when I was trying to pass a world superbike champ on the outside.

That's why you should always only use Castrol oil.

Originally Posted by outlander

That's why you should always only use Castrol oil.

It was waiting to happen.
Have since rebuilt it.
Actually a true story.
Freddie Merkel in his Toyota van going down the Burma Road (access road to Maraetai Power Station).
I didn't lie just didn't tell all the story.
We worked together for years.

Originally Posted by erniec

Some of the comments in this thread crack me up Hayabusa, sports bikes v supermotads.
He is commuting.

By the way did I tell you how my Suzuki GT 185 seized on me when I was trying to pass a world superbike champ on the outside.

So a road legal WR450 or DRZ400 would be a bad choice for a commuter?


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Originally Posted by Spudattack

So a road legal WR450 or DRZ400 would be a bad choice for a commuter?


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@Spudattack you don't happen to have one of those do you? I'd love to have a sit on and perhaps a ride before buying one in the US for a ride next year

Originally Posted by imaca

@Spudattack you don't happen to have one of those do you? I'd love to have a sit on and perhaps a ride before buying one in the US for a ride next year

No, mine’s a hardcore track rmz450 motard (see pics higher up) not street legal at all.

Same riding position though if you wanted to have a ride?


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Originally Posted by erniec

Some of the comments in this thread crack me up Hayabusa, sports bikes v supermotads.
He is commuting.

By the way did I tell you how my Suzuki GT 185 seized on me when I was trying to pass a world superbike champ on the outside.

Pretty much every thread on every subject goes for a wander at some point, so whats got up your knickers?