The Big Stuff

The problem with using hyperbole to describe anything faster than a Fiesta ST is that you miss out on knowing that there are machines that really are fast.

Has anybody else ridden a ZX-14R or Hayabusa? If you haven't, don't! The ZX14 has a VFR's riding position and comfort, and the ability to take a S1000RR's lunch money. Unfortunately, a $5,500 annual insurance quote means that I won't have one in my garage any time soon.

There is fast, and there is brutal. Brutal is more fun.

I can say that, because I used to own a Kawasaki triple.

I love them. My k1300s will hang with a busa, but the zx14 spanks them both.

In reply to chaparral:

Holy crap, how old are you and what's the driving record look like? Because I pay a little under $1500 /yr for my zx10......which maxes out the motorcycle insurance groups.

And the s1000rr makes a E36 M3ty rider look like Ricky Gadsen at the strip. Nannies everywhere!!!!!

foxtrapper wrote: I can say that, because I used to own a Kawasaki triple.

What another one? My mother's husband has a H1 with about 4K miles. It hasn't run in 40 years.

Only bike I've ever had that could make me pee blood.

In reply to Ian F:

I would own that bike until the day I died.

Ian F. PM me more info. I could use another I've got two parts bikes here already need a nice one to start with.

Tony

I really have no interest in something like that. The fastest bike I've ridden was a 04 GSXR1000. I did not like that.

foxtrapper wrote: Only bike I've ever had that could make me pee blood.

My mountain bike could do that. You just have to land hard enough to bruise a kidney and/or rupture your seeds. Not recommended for males hopeful to have children in the future. Or anyone with an active nervous system, really.

I've ridden both the H1 and the H2. I know for certain that if I was trying to ride fast on anything other than a straight road my RD400 would spank them both.

Haven't ridden a 'Busa or a V-Max, though...

This is why I love my 1125CR- nice, comfortable riding position, and constantly feels like it's trying to kill you. By the time I get to wherever I'm going, I value my life again because I feel like I spent the whole journey there fighting for it.

yamaha wrote: In reply to chaparral: Holy crap, how old are you and what's the driving record look like? Because I pay a little under $1500 /yr for my zx10......which maxes out the motorcycle insurance groups. And the s1000rr makes a E36 M3ty rider look like Ricky Gadsen at the strip. Nannies everywhere!!!!!

yamaha,

I'm nearly 30, live in Michigan, and the vast majority ($4500+ of the $5500 premium) goes towards collision and comprehensive coverage on what is still a $10,000 bike.

Thinking about next season, a ZX12 is so cheap that it's imprudent not to have one just as a backup against car or body failure.

I'm still amazed that the insurance is so high for something so friendly. World's easiest powerband, nice comfy seat, easy riding position, lots of grip, and antiwheelspin, antiwheelie, and antilock controls standard. An older "big" bike doesn't have any of that and is somehow much cheaper to insure.

I just quoted a 12 zx14 on my progressive account and it was only 1422 a year with full coverage and 500 deductibles. Also, I am 28. 5k is nuts.

Appleseed wrote: In reply to Ian F: I would own that bike until the day I died.

And so far that seems to be the case. He physically will never be able to ride a bike again, but letting it go... that's another matter... it's a shame looking at it collecting dust in the garage. As far as I can tell, it's in good condition, just needs to be torn down, cleaned up and rebuilt. Probably the cables as replaced as well. Some day... I have a desire to restore it, but I've heard too many horror stories to really want to ride it.

If you are paying 5k per year for comprehensive on a 10k bike you are bad at math.

That is a new bike every 2 years. Madness.

Insurance rates are based on loss histories. Lately I've been looking at sportbikes, and considering almost 80% of what I see has crash damage and 50% of those are branded titles, the insurance companies are definitely paying out for someone.

I'm in my 40's and the last bike I owned was an older mid-displacement cruiser. I'm pretty sure I paid under $100 annually for full coverage. It's not about you, it's about the other folks who own the same bike.

I haven't ridden a Busa or ZX14, but I did ride an R1. At the time I thought it was WAY too much bike, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't get one if the right deal came along. Guess I should check the insurance before I do.

The guy who runs the Pashnit website and tour company has (had?) a Busa and is a big proponent of them as a sport-touring mount. That made me think about Busa's in a different light.

All the modern liter+ bikes seem like too much power until you ride them all the time, then you start thinking " this thing seems a little off today" then take a week off and it's a scary monster again. You acclimate to everything.