Contemplating a new bike

I have had my current bike a 2000 model Yamaha YZF R1 for 13 years now, which is an eternity from a biking technology point of view. From new it's pretty much ticked all the boxes for me. It's got plenty of power although I always seem to want more. Is that just a guy thing? It has great handling for a bike of its age and it has held up remarkably well in the styling stakes. It was built with an aggressive look which it still has in this day and age of ultra sleek styled bikes. It just goes to show how far ahead of it's time it was when it was released.

I have been contemplating updating my bike for some time now. There have been several reasons that I haven't actually gone out and bought something newer, lack of funds has been the major factor in that. Throw in the fact that we have had our second daughter in the last 5 years and that really tends to put a dent in anything motorcycling related as well as sucking the bank account dry, faster than an R1 goes 0-60.

Well anyway I've been wondering what sort of bike I should get when the time does finally come that I have enough funds to make the upgrade. Should I get another sports bike or should I go down the sports tourer path for a bit more comfort as I'm not getting any younger, or do I take a bit of a different angle and get a hooligan bike like a naked 1000cc. Mmmm decisions decisions. All of the bikes these days are so good there doesn't seem to be much real difference in performance in the real world. The following list of bikes are on my wish list at the moment for when I finally make the upgrade hopefully soon...

Naked Bikes
The first naked bike that grabbed my attention is the Triumph Speed Triple 1050. I was spying one of these out last time I was at the bike shop. Nice looking bike. I reckon I could have a lot of fun on this thing.....

Pro's: ABS, Single sided swing arm, light weight
Con's: Lack of weather protection

The second naked bike that I like is Kawasaki's Z1000. Now this bike doesn't look as good as the Speed triple but there is still something about this bike I can't put my finger on, maybe its the Kawasaki build quality or the fact kwaka engines have a charismatic growl.

 

Pro's: Cheaper than the Striple, ABS, light weight
Con's: Bit on the fugly side

The next naked bike I like is a brutal looking bit of gear. Its MV Augusta 1090 Brutale. I like the look of these but I'm not sure whether or not I would actually get one or not being a cash strapped dad and all..

Pro's: Traction Control, Single sided swing arm, light weight
Con's: Lack of weather protection, No ABS, price(its around 8k dear than the Z1000)

Sports Tourer
The next bike is in the sports tourers category. I could quite easily see myself slipping into a sports tourer, just for the fact that I could ride longer distances and not be as tired at the end of the day.

It's no secret that I don't mind Kawasaki's, having previously owned 2. The next one is the biggest mother of them all. The Kawasaki's ZX-14. I have had a look at them close up in the bike shop and they look very good, I could do some 2 up touring with the missus with one of these bad boys. Although that's probably not that likely to happen with the little ones for the next couple of years.

Pro's: ABS, Comfortable, as a certain Sith lord once said "Unlimited Power", 2 up touring ability
Con's: 268kg porker, those hideous cans

Sports Bikes
The next bike on my wish list would have to be the ultimate sports bike in its class. With leading edge technology dripping from this thing is it any wonder it has won about every award there is except most comfortable tourer. The BMW S1000RR.

Pro's: Everything, ABS, traction control, quick shifter, power & handling
Con's: Price, touring could be very uncomfortable

The next bike on the wish list is another Kawasaki, gee there certainly seems to be a few in my list. The ZX-10 is kwaka's litre sized weapon. This could be fun.

Pro's: ABS, traction control, power & handling, steering damper
Con's: Cheaper than BMW, LED tacho looks like a cheap gimmick

The last bike on my wish list would have to be Yamaha's new YZF R1. I mean why wouldn't I look at updating to a newer one. I have loved my old R1, I love the sound of the new cross plane crank. The only draw back I see is that it doesn't have any ABS which most of the competitors do. Also the rear taillight area is pretty hideous as well. Whoever at Yamaha designed that needs to be taken out the back and flogged.

Pro's: Traction control, Cross plane crank, slipper clutch
Con's: No ABS, Bike is a porker at 218kg wet, my old R1 is 201kg wet.

I have taken quite a while to piece this blog post together for one reason or another, but after putting some thought into it I was thinking "Do I even need any of this new technology". I mean my current bike doesn't have any of this it still has carburetters for gods sake. Really what is all this stuff for?

The only conclusion that I can come up with is that all of this stuff is for rider safety. The big one here for me would have to be ABS. My next bike I'd like to have ABS on it just in case. I mean I'm only human and all it takes is one little mistake under brakes and everything can come unstuck. At least ABS may stop that from happening.

I noticed that 3 of the bikes here were in the seven days seven bikes blog challenge from 2 years ago. Once I have the funds available I'll be test riding these beauties to see which one I like to make my final decision. Till then I'm still just dreaming.....

Rylstone

After getting my new hoops earlier in the week I was very keen for the coming ride on the weekend. There were 6 of us out on the ride which was the same route we took 6 months ago through Jenolan Caves to Oberon then on through Bathurst to Sofala and on to Rylston for the night. It was great to catch up with the guys again, they are a great bunch of blokes and good sensible riders. I hadn't seen Jason since the 2009 snowy ride so it was good catching up with him. I hadn't laughed so much in a long time.

On the way out to the meeting point I was slowing for some traffic lights and sat upright and let go of both bars. Nothing unusual except that a second or 2 after letting them go the bike went into a tank slapper. That was a bit unusual. And it did it a few more times if I let go the bars. Mmmm. Not sure why. Could be extra weight over the back/new tyre. Not sure.

The ride out across Bells Line was fairly cool and I was glad I had my neck warmer on. It wasn't that cold though as I was feeling OK in my summer gloves. We saw 3-4 Highway patrol cars both marked and unmarked across Bells line. They were having some kind of blitz on. The wind mills at Hampton were in full swing today unlike the other times I've been there. We stopped in at the cafe at Jenolan Caves village. If anyone is thinking of getting a coffee here forget it. They have the worst coffee.

Jenolan Caves Stop

A quick bite to eat was had when we got to Oberon, we weren't that hungry so just stopped for a pie and a drink. It was then onto Bathurst for fuel. It was suggested a lap of Mt Panorama was in order but the interest wasn't there today. I've ridden around there plenty. No need to tempt fate any more than necessary. Then it was out the road to sofala. There is a great set of twisties a few Km's the bathurst side of sofala. It was great fun sitting behind the ZX-10 up here just watching him crank it over knee out. This is what it's all about. Simply Magic.

Roadside stop at Sofala

After a quick stop at Sofala I put the Gopro on for a little while. Here's a short video of the ride out of Sofala.

Not long after we got into Rylston and more importantly the Globe Hotel which was our digs for the night. It was only around 3 by the time we got in and on the first round of beers, it was going to be a long night. Probably not as long as the young punks that set of the fire extinguisher in their room. The cops had a good talking to them. Then they got chucked out. Serve em right. The room was a mess the next day.

It was a slow start on Sunday, I was a little dusty after the nights efforts at the bar. Just after leaving Rylston I noticed the tacho was flicking up and down intermittently, an occasionally a small dip in power then back to normal. Something didn't feel right, but I continued on anyway. Some of the bends on the Bylong Valley way can be pretty hairy. Most are un-sign posted and some have double apex's going down hill which can really catch you out if your unprepared and a little hungover.

April and the Mothership

The plan for the ride home was back down the Putty road and home. As we fueled up in Bulga we heard that there'd been a bike crash on the putty. We also heard of another bike crash on the Old Pacific Hwy that had closed it. It was decided we'd try the putty as it was supposedly just local diversions in place.

As we came down through the fun twisties the bike started to really badly play up, with the tacho and speedo display cutting out completely followed then by the bike cutting out several times. Not good, and not happy. It ruined the run through the best part as the others just started to disappear into the distance. I thought I'd be walking very soon but miraculously it fired up and kept going although spluttering all the way to the Grey Gums where we stopped for lunch.

The burgers at the grey Gum cafe are excellent, I'd recommend them to anyone. Once at the cafe we had heard that there was indeed a bike crash 10km further down the road and much to every one's dismay it was a fatal accident which had closed the road in both directions. I wish the riders family all the best, it must be tough on them right now.

This also meant that we would have to turn around and head back up through the 10 mile of twisties again. Normally I would be cheering but was quite concerned that I wasn't gonna make it. Bushpig suggested we look over the electrics wilst we waited for our lunch to come out. Off came the seat and start poking around then bushpig gives a big laugh. He'd found it in 2 seconds. The bolt on the positive terminal of the battery had come out of the nut and it was only gravity holding the terminal on. That explained the intermittent troubles. Thank god it was a very simple quick fix.

After that I was much relieved and now very keen to ride the 10 mile again. Back on the road the bike run flawlessly. Woo Hoo, I didn't waste any time so I hooked in and gave it a good crack.

We rode back around to broke for fuel and headed down through Wollombi. I hadn't been through here in ages, it is still a rough little one lane road. Not so good on a sportsbike, although a cruiser or a tourer would love it here.  Then it was onto the F3 and home.

All in all a great weekend away with the guys. Great riding, great weather and a top bunch of guys. There's nothing better.