Let's say: You only have room for one bike (or wife/husband insists that 2+ means divorce) You can afford any bike (within reason) and it's available on the market You will take it to the track occasionally and not look a total twunt It's gotta be fun on the road And not put you on first name terms with your orthopedic surgeon What would be your pick and why? (I'm looking for answers other than 'my current Fireblade' but I admit this is a valid answer and does work well for many people).
I'd need to try a few as I will probably choose a bike that's just too much for me to do it justice but looks sexy and makes me feel like the ultimate road king. So I'm back to the Blade. I'm on my 6th now and love them all - apart from the gear boxes....and the old ABS....and.... The Vyrus Alyen is one to keep in the garage though, probably spit me off if I tried to race it. I'll settle for an MV Augusta F4 and get the surgeon's address.
Latest MT09 SP without any doubt - test rode one last year and was brilliant, but couldn’t house 2 bikes and wouldn’t give up the blade
If I was keeping it in standard trim I'd probably go for an RC45. If I was allowed to throw money at a bike it'd be a ZX7R, the finest looking bike ever created IMO. Bit of an underpowered porker though so I'd want a bigger engine in it, nothing daft but I believe putting a bigger engine in them from the wider ZX range is quite popular. Then it'd be lighter wheels, exhaust, bodywork, etc etc. A 160bhp, 170kg ZX7R, (with no electronic health and safety nonsense fitted). I'd happily ride that for the next 40 years.
Of all my post year 2000 bikes - 8 Blades, an R6, R1, Street Triple & Speed Triple RS and RSV4 I'd keep the Gen 3 Superduke. It's honestly the most fun I've had since my 2-stroke learner days. I currently have no idea where I'd go from here, other than wating for an updated version in the next couple of years.
A decent fast high quality sports tourer from Honda. Should look quite like the final VFR800, but with: More grunt - using a 2012 blade engine (not on an Africa Twin engine for goodness sake Honda!) Decent fitted panniers (like my Z1000SX) Nice big clear simple TFT dash like latest BMWs but incorporating proper Garmin sat nav to follow programmed routes Big tank Low weight Seat as comfortable as my Fireblade e-cushion seat Nice modern sporty styling (not another CBF1000!) Great handling
Hmmmm Stonking power - a road biased adventure bike - the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S Not bad price compared to the Ducati equivalent Just nipping down to Portugal to buy a bottle of Vino ! Hmmmmm. Not a looker but it is what it is, which is fine.
I'm not sure I've owned a bike that will do all that which is why I've currently got 5 working bikes and 2 projects. I'd have agreed on something like the 1190 adv I have but I took it on track a few weeks ago and while it was ok I wouldn't bother again. Honestly don't know what I'd go for but with unlimited funds I suppose I'd want to try a panigale but I can see me getting annoyed with having just one bike pretty quickly.
Mine would be the new zx10r, all the toys, reliable, good track weapon, I personally could tour on it too.
