Z650RS.... maybe?

[Mr. Dazzle]

You should spend it all on drugs and hookers.

But what would he buy the Panigale with?

[The Spin Doctor]

As I've edited my post, the 660 is more appealing to me because it's not a twin, I associate 4 stroke twins with Honda Superdreams, GS500s and Z750 twins, all of which were awful slugs.

Oi... I had an early GS500E and they were surprisingly quick, and with decent suspension at either end, they handled well too.

Years ago, I took a group up Mt Ventoux, including an ex-Bike staffer on a ZX7-R and a couple of 'quick' riders on Blackbirds, and left the lot behind on the twisty road. At the top, the bike stuck to my number plate was ridden by an ex-racer from Holland on a VFR750 and just behind him was a French guy on a 955i Triumph. The rest trailed in over the next 3-4 mins.

The journo wandered over gave the motor a good look... he clearly didn't believe me when I said it was absolutely standard and my despatch bike

[Skub]

As I've edited my post, the 660 is more appealing to me because it's not a twin, I associate 4 stroke twins with Honda Superdreams, GS500s and Z750 twins, all of which were awful slugs.

Oi... I had an early GS500E and they were surprisingly quick, and with decent suspension at either end, they handled well too.

Years ago, I took a group up Mt Ventoux, including an ex-Bike staffer on a ZX7-R and a couple of 'quick' riders on Blackbirds, and left the lot behind on the twisty road. At the top, the bike stuck to my number plate was ridden by an ex-racer from Holland on a VFR750 and just behind him was a French guy on a 955i Triumph. The rest trailed in over the next 3-4 mins.

The journo wandered over gave the motor a good look... he clearly didn't believe me when I said it was absolutely standard and my despatch bike

Yorick has hacked Spin's account.

[The Spin Doctor]

Yorick has hacked Spin's account.

There's a wee minor road that comes in from the side and joins the main drag from the East about 2/3 of the way to the top. It doesn't look too twisty on the map but it's awesome... there are only tiddly straights between the bends so 50-odd hp is perfect - you just wring the throttle and don't worry. And the light weight makes it easy to flick from side to side. Bikes like the GS are a doddle to ride on roads like that where 100+ hp needs some care

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Well I'm not going to buy anything until spring as there's no point it languishing in my garage for the winter, but I'll keep looking, 660 Trident is tempting, I don't think I'll fit an R7, and the Z650RS is worth a look, I rode an SV650 20 years ago and quite liked it btw.

[weeksy]

Well I'm not going to buy anything until spring as there's no point it languishing in my garage for the winter, but I'll keep looking, 660 Trident is tempting, I don't think I'll fit an R7, and the Z650RS is worth a look, I rode an SV650 20 years ago and quite liked it btw.

But you'd be happy for it to languish in the garage next winter ? and the winter after ?

[Supermofo]

Well I'm not going to buy anything until spring as there's no point it languishing in my garage for the winter, but I'll keep looking, 660 Trident is tempting, I don't think I'll fit an R7, and the Z650RS is worth a look, I rode an SV650 20 years ago and quite liked it btw.

But you'd be happy for it to languish in the garage next winter ? and the winter after ?

Indeed other than potentially losing some warranty time, which on a Jap bike is not really an issue, this is usually a great time to buy a bike esp new.

[tricol]

I spent about half an hour on a Z650 when doing my DAS before switching onto an SV650. I thought the engine was awful, sounded awful and felt like a tractor. But then I was buzzing about at 30-40mph. The SV's v-twin felt like a Rolls Royce in comparison.

Are there too many 'retro' bikes on the market?

[weeksy]

Before I had a pot to piss in I would have happily dived into a huge loan for the latest gsxr,r6 etc and not even considered if I could afford it, or where the money was coming from.
Nowadays when I can actually afford any bike I want( within reason) I really struggle making a purchase.

I think it's common, I was the same.

There is a lot of psychology around getting something on the never never, just sign the paper and it's yours with money that you haven't earned yet, then you'll drip feed the imaginary future money to the loan company. It doesn't seem like such a big deal at all.

But once you've earned the money and you have to part with a big chunk of it to buy something cash up front then you really start to think hard about whether you really want it or need it.

Luckily i'm not in that position

[Mr. Dazzle]

I think fundamentally I'm just a tight arse. Much bigger issue

I suppose the main issue is I don't really ride much other than commuting. Bikes as a 'just because' thing don't really fit into how my life works at the moment, so I CBA spending loads of money on one even though I've got it.

Knackered old Brit Iron notwithstanding that is. I've spent loads on that and the bloody thing is still in bits

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I spent about half an hour on a Z650 when doing my DAS before switching onto an SV650. I thought the engine was awful, sounded awful and felt like a tractor. But then I was buzzing about at 30-40mph. The SV's v-twin felt like a Rolls Royce in comparison.

Are there too many 'retro' bikes on the market?

Thanks, that's good for thought, I'll definitely test ride something with that engine, as I don't remember SVs feeling like a Rolls Royce.

[Supermofo]

I think my biggest issue is that bikes are now a fun object. When I was riding 100% of the time or even when I was still 50/50% £8K-10k wouldn't have seemed that much to spend on a bike. But for 2-3k miles a year when I'm running 2 cars, a mortgage and 2 kids it seems a bit frivolous. I can afford a bike, but it's justifying it to myself. It's why in a way the GSXS 750 appeals, they are cheap to buy nearly new or even new and would do what I want easily in that in tests they compare well to Z9s and MT09s which are more expensive, but they aren't particularly sexy.

I will get a new bike hopefully next year, but in my head I need to the Mrs job secure first.

[tricol]

Only compared to the Z650....although I do think it's quite a smooth motor in the SV. I considered one over the Trident.

[KungFooBob]

Nice comparison picture...



The Z650RS does look the best, IMHO.

[KungFooBob]

The bottom right is a CFMoto 700 CL-X Heritage, before anyone asks.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

The Z650 is the best looking out of that sad and sorry bunch of bikes, 4 cylinders good, 2 cylinders bad.

The XSR looks like the side panels have fallen off

[KungFooBob]

No one makes a four pot retro shopping bike tho'

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Kawasaki make the Z900RS - it's not much more power than my new shopping bike

[KungFooBob]

Reviews are trickling in after yesterdays press launch...

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-rev ... 50rs/2022/

Sounds ok. Not brilliant, but ok.

[KungFooBob]

https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/r ... 650rs-2022