Not for me

[Brockett]

I have decided that I am not going to buy a 'beaky strom'.
I have bought a Kawasaki Z1000SX tourer.
They will deliver it towards the end of February on a promise that I will not ride it until the 1st March.
I traded in the 1500 Intruder.
I'll keep the Glee of course so I'll still be hanging around ( like a Yuletide sprout), and the Glee will take me anywhere I want to go.

My reason for choosing the bike is all about what it feels like to sit on it.

My feet go flat on the floor and the footrests don't dig in my legs Unlike the 'beak'
It feels as though it carries it's weight lower and is easier to manhandle around. ( well around the showroom anyway).

I am sure the 'Beak' will turn out to be a great bike but not for my old legs.

[Fat Rat]

I sat on one of these a few years ago and never did take it for a ride  

It's on my to do list early in 2014

[Tusker]

sat on one at the show,,,, only thing I didn't like is the handle bars,, or whatever you might call them,,  very toy scooterish

[JRS81]

That GTR is quite high up my list of possible next bikes along with the FJR1300. I'm just not 100% convinced though. My DL650 took me to Morrocco this year and was absoluteky faultless, but I suspect either the FJR or GTR would struggle on a couple of the roads there...

[mr_diver]

Not fussed on either the gtr- its super fugly.
The fjr looks the dogs dangling bits but doesn't feel right to me. Had a go on a mates 03 plate one a few months ago.
But the pan euro 1300 does feel right and the mrs was loving the space when sat on the rear seat.

[Fatbelly]

I took a test ride on the GTR a few years ago. It is very nice indeed. But the riding position was just a bit too "sporty" for me. Having owned the old, old GTR I was a bit disappointed but I can see why some blokes love them.

[ziggy]

Surely the Busa is the way forward as the F Gay R is too dated now.

 

[petestrom]

That new Z1000SX tourer is having some great reviews, wouldn't mind giving one a go.  I'm pencilled in for a test ride on the beaky at the end of the month, be rude to refuse wouldn't it.  I'll report back after my spin.  

[mr_diver]

Paul in JT's said he needed to call you about the test ride Pete. What date you doing? I'm in for 11-12 on the 24th.

[Fat Rat]

I got an email from Thunder Road in Bridgend today offering me a 30 minute ride on the DL1000 on the 23rd December, I declined.

[Fatbelly]

I got an email from Thunder Road in Bridgend today offering me a 30 minute ride on the DL1000 on the 23rd December, I declined.

I bet you enjoyed that!

[Keith Cross]

Surely the Busa is the way forward as the F Gay R is too dated now.

 

If you think the Yam is old why are you looking at a Hyabusa as its been around for longer than the FJR 1300.
For the latest tech try the new Aprilia Caponord 1200.  Not the ideal bike and off road is a no no really, but it does have the latest tech in abundance.

Keith C

[Fatbelly]

Turns out you made a mistake, Fat Rat.

[Fat Rat]

Turns out you made a mistake, Fat Rat.

A mistake? nooooo, the mistake would be paying £10k for it.

[Strombone]

I always used to say that if they brought out a new DL1000, I would buy one as soon as I could. I am sure the Veek is great (will definitely test ride one) but I keep thinking that I would like to have a very faired bike like a FJR or RT1200. A friend of mine has an old Trophy 900 and loves the fact that he can ride in jeans in the rain and stay dry owing to the fairing. He did say it can be a bit too warm on hot days though.
I like the FJR especially since they have the new AE version (upgraded front suspension/manual transmission) which apparently makes it superb. Heavy beast though, and seat height not great for a lanky git like me. R1200RT also looks good and has a better seat height. Talking of expensive, these two make the Veek look pretty cheap. HAving said that, the new semi water cooled engines might make the air cooled ones a bit cheaper.
Fatbelly's appraisal really makes me think that the Veek is going to be hard to beat though.

[Jacko]

Not fussed on either the gtr- its super fugly.
The fjr looks the dogs dangling bits but doesn't feel right to me. Had a go on a mates 03 plate one a few months ago.
But the pan euro 1300 does feel right and the mrs was loving the space when sat on the rear seat.

Top bike the 1300 Pan, it'd be my choice in the class, very nimble for a big bike, smiles all the way on my test ride, well apart from the first 5 minutes of open-mouthed surprise when it turned out not to be the ponderous old barge I thought it was going to be. Handles very well indeed, it'll keep up with sportsbikes ridden by all but the best fast road riders.