Considering trading my 600 for a 14

[saxnbass]

I've been doing more longer trips recently, and plan to do even more and longer trips in the future. Although the CBR600RR is the most comfortable of the 600 supersports, it's still not all that great for long distance riding (300-500 miles). I'm considering trading it plus some cash for an 06-08 Kawi ZX14. The insurance for the 06 and 07 are a little cheaper than my CBR, and the 08 would be about $10 more per month. The ZX gets better gas mileage than my CBR and gets longer distances between having to stop for fuel. My only thing is that I've got so much time, work, and personalization invested in my CBR I've become emotionally attached to it. I know that with time, the ZX would end up getting personalized and I would get attached to it as well, but letting go would be hard I think. I also don't find the ZX to be as pretty as my CBR in the looks department, but I think the comfort and such would outweigh that. Just kind of looking for input and opinions on this.




In case you don't know my bike; here are 3 pics:

When I bought it in 2012:



And now:

[snot]

1st off you got the good CBR with undertail exhaust.

2nd my hubby rides an 08 ZX14. He loves it, except on long trips. He does have a stock seat. He has tons of mods and it performs, the power is unreal.

[crimsondragon]

[Sirref]

mmm after doing all that to the cbr I wouldn't want to give it up

perhaps a bike actually designed for distance riding unlike the zx14r to have in addition to the cbr?

[Hero Danny]

Maybe just mod your cbr further with clips ons, grips, maybe a softer seat. I noticed you have the double bubble already. Anything to make her more comfortable.

if you just want the zx14r for touring then, as others have said, maybe you should get a goldwing or something designed for touring such as.

[snot]

I vote both at least for a while.

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by Hero Danny

if you just want the zx14r for touring then, as others have said, maybe you should get a goldwing or something designed for touring such as.

Yep.

Though a Wing might be going a bit too far. Personally, I feel that if you're going to go to that extreme you might as well just drive a car and roll the windows down.

A good sport tourer would probably do the trick, e.g. Ninja 1000 with cases on it.

Personally I prefer bikes on the smaller/lighter end, so to me the new VFR looks really appealing for the sport touring role.

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by saxnbass

I've been doing more longer trips recently, and plan to do even more and longer trips in the future.

WOW, you have a small house!

Everyone knows the 600 is a girl's bike so the upgrade will put you in with the big boys. Personally I wouldn't go over anything bigger than a 1000 unless it's a Harley.

[alex.s]

cant upgrade till you crash it. do a wheelie

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by adouglas

A good sport tourer would probably do the trick, e.g. Ninja 1000 with cases on it.

Personally I prefer bikes on the smaller/lighter end, so to me the new VFR looks really appealing for the sport touring role.

agreed, also with my preference of lighter bikes the vfr (which is light for what it is) looks like one of the best touring bikes ever built

[saxnbass]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

WOW, you have a small house!

It's bigger on the inside; I swear.





Probably going to wait a few years and save up the money and just add another bike to the stable for long distance; be it a VFR, FJR, ZX14, Concourse or something else/new by then. Also, by then I hopefully will be making more income from work and have lower insurance rates.

[alex.s]

get the new ninja h2 instead... supercharged 600... lighter and more power than the 10r.

[Singh2jz]

Yea dude, ur cbr is pretty nice. Keep upgrading it or like you said..wait a bit and add it to ur stable.

[ninja2007]

See if you can sit on a first generation Yamaha FZ1.

That is a comfortable bike to tour on... Just a lot faster than I needed.

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by saxnbass

It's bigger on the inside; I swear.

[250rr]

Originally Posted by alex.s

get the new ninja h2 instead... supercharged 600... lighter and more power than the 10r.

That thing could pry my fingers off my Dew Kitty.

[choneofakind]

I dig the white big time, I'm voting keep that over the zx14. Have you thought about a comfort based saddle, like a Corbin? Any mods you can do to lower the foot pegs?

What speeds (allegedly) are you traveling on these trips and what rpm does each bike turn at those speeds, respectively? I'm kinda lost how a 14 gets better mileage than the 600. Longer range I get, but mileage? Isn't a 600 turning like 6000-7000 rpm in 6th at 70? I haven't ridden one in a while.

I'd vote for keeping the cbr until you can foot a concourse for longer fast touring. Orrrrr compromise and get a ninja 1000. I've test ridden one of those and can see why it's a desire able bike for fast, loaded, sport touring.

[saxnbass]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

I dig the white big time, I'm voting keep that over the zx14. Have you thought about a comfort based saddle, like a Corbin? Any mods you can do to lower the foot pegs?

What speeds (allegedly) are you traveling on these trips and what rpm does each bike turn at those speeds, respectively? I'm kinda lost how a 14 gets better mileage than the 600. Longer range I get, but mileage? Isn't a 600 turning like 6000-7000 rpm in 6th at 70? I haven't ridden one in a while.

I'd vote for keeping the cbr until you can foot a concourse for longer fast touring. Orrrrr compromise and get a ninja 1000. I've test ridden one of those and can see why it's a desire able bike for fast, loaded, sport touring.

The seat I have is memory foam plus comfort gel.

My 600 has had engine work done and gearing change, so that dropped the gas mileage quite a bit over what it used to get stock. Doing 70, my RPMs are at about 7.2K in 6th in my current setup. I don't cruise doing 70 on trips though :P When I rode from Orlando to Nashville doing about 75 the entire way, I was getting like 48MPG; it was insane. I usually get 32-35 city and highway combo. 35-38 MPG on my average trips, sometimes less :P

[choneofakind]

Hmm, well I'm voting try some other seats if you keep this one. My cycling background tells me that seat contour and support is much more important than squish for long term comfort.

As for your mileage, sounds like rider error why the shorter gearing if you're doing long trips? Seems counter productive since mileage is one of your considerations. Stock gearing and keeping it ~80 for constant speeds might improve your mileage more than automatically going to a bigger bike. Idk.

What have you done to your engine?

[saxnbass]

I tried to get a Corbin when I lived an hour from their location in Florida. I went in and asked them about a custom seat upholstery and they said they'd be happy to do it, and gave me the contact email for the guy to talk to cause he was out that day. 3 months of emailing, calling, and even going into the location and I never got anywhere with them. So I'm pretty anti-Corbin still; if I could pick one up used for a decent price, I may be tempted by it and then have it upholstered so it doesn't have their name on it anymore and looks better, maybe.