[NoelsDRZ400S]

well what do you think about the suzuki katanas, yes theyre no gsxrs but theres no way in hell im paying 9400 for a gixxer 750. i want something that can run 11.00s and take the corners nicely, is this the bike for me or who could recommend a cheaper sportbike than puts some nice #s down. looked at the fz1, 1000 ccs is a bit much. but that is a detuned r1 powerplant, hmm.

[RoyH]

Bandit 1200 is a nice ride, I have owned 2. Does alot of good things and has good torque. Very low maintenance.

FZ-1's are nice but lack serious torque. A buddy has one & he hates it you could get it for under $7k & it has Yamaha corbin seat & Yamaha low bar risers with nice shiney Micron slip on.

ZRX1200 Kawi'are sweet, loads of torque & a good cult following.

New V-Strom from Suzuki is a torque monster with the TL based v-twin engine. Takes a gravel road & bumpy secondary roads with ease. I just bought one & love it.

SV650's are great all around street bikes, I have had 2 of them. Loved 'em both.

GSXR's are powerful, great handling, great stopping bikes but cost alot to insure & are a torture rack for everday riding. I know I have had 3 of them. Unless your going racing stay clear of them or unless you just like to burn $$$.

Honda Superhawks are some rock solid bikes. VFR's can be had cheap but the new one weighs a ton actually more than my V-Strom :rolleyes:

Katanas are solid bikes but a bit rough on the eyes in my opinion. Old GSXR based engine from way back. I can't believe they still can sell these things.

Happy shopping. :)

[ August 06, 2002: Message edited by: RoyH ]

[Tim_Martin]

BEST newer sportbike on the market is the SV650. The SV is relativly inexpensive and runs low 11's stock. They are, for the most part, one of the best handling bikes on the market. Very slim, VERY fun to drive. Plus, its a vtwin so its got gobs of power where you need it. I like the katana as well, but its not as much fun to be honest. Since the katana is a fully faired bike watch for the cops because they will be watching for you. I have heard better things about durability of the katana, and gsxr's for that matter. If it were me (next year i get the SV) for a fun sportbike i would not look elsewere then the SV or SVS. For a faired 4cyl i would look to honda or yamaha though.

PRICE INSURANCE before getting to involved with a sportbike. I went and did everything to get my SVS and called my insurance company and they rejected me (after approving me and quoting me no less). 2 weeks later the best quote i found was 1400 a year. Hence i went with the DRZ, hence im here instead of the SV forums.

[smittyman]

i agree with the 2 posts before mine.
the English translation of "Katana" is: ugly/heavy/slow. 80's technology at millenium pricing.

there is nothing wrong with buying used--you'll save on the purchase, plus insurance and taxes.
ANY used bike will be better than a katana!! ;)

[jfh2651]

I have had my eye on a Katana for years. May 29th I bought a 2002 ZRX1200R (7400 otd). Great power, good handling, erginomically pleasing! Definately worth a review.

[Alan_Fielding]

I only paid $5200 for my one year old 1200 S Bandit,as in most cases it's a more capable bike than the rider(me).It's powerful,fast and can take a corner faster than I care to.It also has a real back seat,even my wife rides on the back.Not as comfy as the Gold wing,but then again when the wings foot pegs are touching down,two up,I begin to get a little worried about how much grip I have left in those relativly small tires.The Bandit is my favorite street ride in my stable.Whatever you get have fun with it,but do'nt push it beyond it's limit.
Alan

[stewartcraig]

You can't go wrong with either the 1200 Bandit(a real torque monster) or the SV 650(a ducati eater)and both atre usually cheaper to insure than the more traditional sport bike. just my 2 cents.

[mortikuss1]

I've got a 92 Kat. I've modified it some and It hauls!It's for sale if your interested, I can send you pictures.

[gcvt]

Originally posted by NoelsDRZ400S:
i want something that can run 11.00s and take the corners nicely...

I doubt the Katana (or Katanka) can do either of these...especially with regards to the handling - the suspension is horrendous. The Bandit's suspension is no winner either. The SV650, on the other hand, is a great all-around motorcycle with good power, handling, styling, etc. It's no wonder Suzuki sells sooooo many SV's!

[oldasdirt]

I settled that one for me buying the old two valve
per cylinder ZR7. Know that all the others are faster. But how often do I get to use even half of the redline on the Z. It will pull the 10,000 in 5th easily. I was to scared to look at speedo. Haven't roadraced since 80. Knew I was going down that road pretty darn quick though. Yeah I used to love that feeling but it's an aquired taste. I seem to have lost my pallate for real speed. Saw too many folks whose kids didn't. Working for CMA
we're on call for when a scooter don't make a turn or hits the back end of a car cause they couldn't slow down fast enough. So I ride it sanely. Try my hardest to get home to my family.
oldasdirt :(

[Hotler]

I've got an 1982 KAT with modern 17" wheels upside down fork and braced swing arm. A true beast.

[Mike_Stenger]

Lots of good suggestions here. I'm a Honda guy at heart, but if I was gonna get a new street bike right now it would be an SV650 (not the S).
If you can get past the bug eyes, the Triumph Speed Triple is a sweet ride too ;)
I have 21,000 miles on my '98 Thunderbird Sport and just love it.
I don't care for the Katana's styling myself, but I witnessed Jason Pridmore passing/lapping everyone on the track AT WILL on a bone stock 750 Kat when I took his riding school in '00. I mean R1's, Hayabusa's, 929's, etc. Oh and that was with a PASSENGER on the back :shocked:
It's the rider not the bike :D

[JoeDRZ]

I had a 99 Katana 600 and i thought that it was a great bike to play around on. My friends had RF-900, TL-1000 and CBR-600. They are great bikes but I enjoyed mine. I wanted a bike so that I could go up to the mountains with them. In the tight turns I would keep up with them but when the road was straight they were gone. I wanted this bike because it had forgiving (nice way to say less) power and it would keep me out of trouble both in turns and straights. The bike was always stable. It was fun. If I get another one I would get the 750.

[NoelsDRZ400S]

yeah, ive had my insurance quoted for everything, its only 2800 a year for me to insure a hayabusa.
i have not been on anything with an engine larger than a 750, but there is a great deal on a 02 at my local dealership.

i was also looking at the yzr600r(not the r6) its liquid cooled, fully faired and 12:1 comp as opposed to the 10:7:1 and air cooled katana, and i think it weighs about 412 lbs.

hondas are expensive and the v four vtec design is overrated, and the people riding around in loud, obnoxious, and slow civics make me want to puke on the company, no offense to anyone that disagrees with me.

ninjas are heavy, katanas are outdated, gixxers are expensive, hmm. leaning towards the yam, but i really wanted a 750 and would never pay the amount of money that they want for the r1 which seems to be somewhat of a dissapointment to me.
anyone else like to add.

cool replies guys. thanks.

[billywizz]

get the yamaha yzf600...(thundercat) i had an old katana 600 (1990) it was good,but the new ones are disgusting! the yam is an awsesome bike,very underated.out handle and outperform any katana 600 or 750!

[NoelsDRZ400S]

yeah, oops i just saw in my post i mistyped it.
looks like it has potential, i wonder if it comes in black?

[suzuki4now]

Have a sv650, its a fun comfortable bike.
confidence inspiring. :D

[JasonG]

SV650
95-97 ZX6R
89-90 generation FZR1000

[SANDRZ]

Get a Triumph.

[smittyman]

i just had a guy drop off an R6 for a jet kit. i forgot how fun these things are!! what a handler!! it's like a 10-speed bicycle with 100 horse at the rear wheel!! :D it ain't too bad to work on either--i expected the worst, but the engineers actually thought about the mechanic when they designed this bike. (it's not a Genesis motor, so there is 4 less valves to adjust). after working on 20 year old bikes for the last year or so, i guess anything is easy!!

the YZF600 (not the R6) is even easier to work on. the best part is the hoses sitting there, plugged, all ready for that 3 minute carb synch!! Yamaha, i thank you on behalf of mechanics everywhere!! ;) (QUICK $$$!!!)
the YZF isn't as sharp-edged as the R6, but it's cheaper and more comfortable for long rides--more "street" oriented, as it should be. the GSXR750 is a missle!! when i was working at a shop in Cali, i remapped one and installed a Yosh Race-only full system (4 into 1), took it for a test ride and just about put myself on my ear!! that's the fastest 750 EVER!! plus it has mint suspension, and it's VERY light. my old roomate out in Cali just had the speedo at an indicated 177 on his GSXR. these things move--i can't imagine a use for the 1000...(yes i can!! ;) )

all this talk about sportbikes is getting me thinking here......i don't know..........the wheels are turning......could i really sell my new bike????........

[ August 09, 2002: Message edited by: smittyman ]

[NoelsDRZ400S]

Hell NO! don't sell your drz! im going into hock after i pay my drz off, only 2k left! and im paying 300 a month(average). you can't have the fun of a dirtbike with a streetbike. im just looking for something fun to take for a long haul, welll and to do alot of wheelies and and take to the track. cars are boring.

[ToolBoy]

Noel,

I owned a Katana 1000 back in 86 and rode it from Melbourne to Perth here in Aus, about 5,000km. I loved that bike and would go another one any day.

I bought a TL1000s in 97 for pure "V"twin torque, fuel Injection and awesome power.

If you want a strong fast bike that does not stop too good or turn well go the Katana, you want a wheel stand machine that goes hard an fast look at a TL.

Just my 2c worth from someone who has owned and ridden one.

ToolBoy

[oldasdirt]

Man both those street scooters will be gone before my DRZ goes anywhere. I wouldn't dump my family for it but I've found life once more worth living cause of it. Even being a Christian you need some hahas! In your life, or your just existiting. Just my $.02. oldasdirt :p :p :p

[ August 09, 2002: Message edited by: oldasdirt ]

[smittyman]

the thought has been in my head for some time now, since several guys at my "real" job just found insane deals on GSXR's, and i've repaired some older machines for friends that have never owned one before--the street machines are coming out of the woodwork here!!

the reality is, i can't afford one anyway. even if i want a street machine, it ain't gonna happen!! :(
sometimes i just miss that 100+ blast down the highway, i guess. but i'm not sick of the DRZ yet!! ;)

[goodluckmonkey]

THEY'RE NOT REAL KATANAS YOU FOOLS!

real Katanas are cool, cult bikes, not overweight crap lardy smelly ugly wobbly horrid stinky GSX___F's.

Stick with your DRZ mate

[NoelsDRZ400S]

im going with the svs(wayyy under 400#!), im pretty sure just need some more info on them. what do these these turn in the 1/4? i couldn't find any hard #s. where do they make their power at?

[viverrid]

Nowadays, Katanas are for kids and Bandits are for people almost old enough for a Harley. Get a GSX (or TL) if you need fast, but it sure is a pain in the arse as far as any practicality.

I like the V-Strom (DL) for my purposes, which would be sporty rides with some practical considerations.

However, my daughter wants me to get the 2001 Hyabusa that is on leftover at our local dealer. I may go ride it just to have done so. The owner of the dealership told me he (thought) he'd sold it several times, to crazy young bucks, but none of them could qualify for the financing! (Me being older and more established, not a problem....)

-Vince

[drayco2000]

I'm with you, I really really like the new Suzuki V-strom, but they should have called it the V-storm. Awesome V-twin engine, excellent handling. Comfortable for two up riding. Won ten best honors for best naked bike.

[smittyman]

http://www.sportriders.com/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=10&threadid=2093

this ought to answer all your SV questions.

[NoelsDRZ400S]

yeah im going with the svs. thanks for the info wow 60k miles on that review and running 12.4s, nice