bikeman25ana
Oregon
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Joined: 01/10/2008
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Well I am new to this forum. I have been riding since I was 4. I have had many bikes and atv's. Currently I have no streetbike but I am planning on purchasing 1 in the future. So I thought I would ask a few questions about the bikes that I am interested in and see if I could get some feedback. So here goes......I have been trying to get info on the new suzuki B-king I haven't found much but what I have found says that it is a big bike but once you get going on the thing it feels much lighter than it actually is. Of course TONS of power thanks to the new busa engine tuned for more torque and low end. I really like the looks of the bike myself. If anyone has any info on this bike I would be delighted to hear more about it. The other bike that has my attention is the yamaha FZ-1. I have heard great things about past models but it seems from what I have read that the 07 model has taken a step back. but that is just from what I have read. I would love to hear some more on this bike also. In case you are wondering what kinda rider I am and what I will be doing with the bike I purchase....I have had a 2005 yamaha R-6 which I loved but just wanted more grunt! Which I then traded in on a 2006 yamaha Road Star Warrior. The reason that I made this trade was due to my Dad buying a Road star cruiser and telling me that he was going to go on all these trips and cool stuff so I thought it would not be so fun trying to ride long hours and cruise along on the R6 so I went ahead and traded it in on the Warrior. I liked the warrior at first but as I became more comfortable on it I started dragging the pegs in just about every corner (not fun) It deffinetly had the torque that I had been missing on the r6 but I just didn't like not being able to rev the bike out like you can with the inline fours. Also I found that on the warrior there was pain on long rides just like the r6..same pain different spot. The r6 gave me pain in my wrists on long rides espacially if I was just puttin along and the warrior gave me pain in my back after a bit. My Dad got scared on his big ill handling cruiser (I rode it and knew why, It made you feel like you weren't in control) and ended up selling it right away. So no trips not even hardly a local ride maybe 2 times. So there I was with this warrior that I didn't like as much as I thought I would and no Dad to go ride with. So I sold it! Now I miss having a bike and I am trying to put what I have learned from my past experiences with streetbikes together and get a bike that I will like for a long long time. I will be having a passenger along at times. My wife she is a good passenger and weighs about 130 lbs. I like the sport machines like the R6 but I wanted more power so I thought R1 but I would like to be more comfortable myself and passenger so that puts me at a fz1 then there is that new B-king so there it all is. Thanks for reading this big long thing and thank you for any replies! -Mike
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VStarman
Nebraska
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Joined: 10/22/2006
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Check out the Kawasaki Concours14... Blistering fast, designed for the road 2up.. Very reasonably priced for what you get! Sport-Touring
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Ride_Slow2004
Northwest
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Joined: 02/02/2005
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You don't say which part of Oregon, but here is a riders forum that is very active, and prolly will be better for getting answers. Be sure and hit all the sections of the forum, lots of decent folks, and few not so decent.
PNWRiders
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"If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles."
-Doug Larson
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Vstar-Guy
USA
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Joined: 01/15/2005
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Welcome aboard!
I suggest you check out the following link: http://www.delphiforums.com/
It has some good motorcycle boards that may be what you are looking for. However, there is a forum in delphiforums called "Biker Think" I wouldn't recommend that forum. It's more of a political forum than it is a motorcycle forum.
Good Luck and Ride Safely!
In order to Ride Safely you must Expect the Unexpected!
The RIDE is the Destination!
Always Remember: Stupid Hurts!
VStarGuy
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THEBurninator
Washburn, MO
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Joined: 08/11/2003
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I've known a few guys with the FZ1, and they all loved it. I haven't heard about the new version or that it was a "step back." Unfortunately, I don't know much about the B King either. It's obviously going to be fast with a Hayabusa engine, but other than that, who knows?
You might look around for an SV1000 or other sport twin like the Superhawk. They have plenty of grunt and rev a little higher than a cruiser twin would. They still can't rev like a 4, but I think the torque makes up for it. In fact, one of the funniest bikes I've ever owned was an '01 SV650.
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4-Bike Dave
Michigan
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Joined: 07/03/2007
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The International Motorcycle show was just in town (Novi, Mi) last weekend, and I had the chance to sit on a B-King. If you are much over 5'9", you are going to have trouble getting your knees tucked up under the tank. I'm 6'2" and it wasn't even close. Though I'd like the idea of the Busa power under me, no way would I fit.
The FZ1 on the other hand has gone the other way. I nearly bought a 2005, but the knee clearance was not quite there. In 2007, they either lowered the pegs or re-shaped the tank and now it's a comfortable fit. I test rode a couple and was impressed. In hindsight, the FZ1 would have been a better bike for me than the FJR I bought. I just don't tour like I thought I would, and the FZ would be lighter to flick around. My V-Strom (shares an engine with the SV-650) gets most of my saddle time.
The Honda 919 and the Suzuki Bandit 1250 are upright bikes with loads of power. Though the 919 is no longer offered (stopped importing in 2006?), the Bandit seems to be a great value in tems of g-forces per dollar, with a comfortable riding position to boot.
Good luck!
Ride safe.
Ride often
Dave
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bikeman25ana
Oregon
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Joined: 01/10/2008
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Hey thanks for all the replies! I am near roseburg, Oregon for those who wanted to know. I sat on a B-king at my local shop and I see what they mean about the tank vs legs I am 5-11 so I think I would be ok on it but it did feel pretty heavy just sittin there. I like how the FZ-1 feels just sittin on it at the bike shop. Guess I just gotta think some more. I also sat on a v-strom while I was there. I liked it but it just didn't feel my style to me, seemed like a good bike though. Well thanks again for the info! Later-Mike
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VStarman
Nebraska
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Joined: 10/22/2006
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Yes... There are lots of very happy VStrom owners... They say the bike is real comfortable to ride..
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Rte66Charlie
Springfield, MO
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Joined: 12/14/2007
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Good article in the Feb '08 Cycle World on the B-King - they loved the power, the ride, and handling, but for the most part were pretty critical of the "Transformers" styling.
Rte66Charlie
It is not WHAT you ride.......It is THAT you ride.
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chris.countersteer
Spokane, WA
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Joined: 09/17/2006
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since you like the combination of fast, ridable, and confortable, I'd recommend the concourse (the new 14 or an older connie) the FJR or (my favorite) an ST1100 or newer 1300.
I'd rather be odd than get even
A biker's blog from the Inland Northwest
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