Anyone out there ride street bikes?

[tangerine]

I'm looking at buying a street bike but need a little help choosing, I'v narrowed it down to these 3 bikes, Kawasaki ZX 1200R, Suzuki Hayabusa or a Yamaha YZF-R1 but as far as Companies that make street bikes I'm not sure who has better quality. I know Harley has the best quality motorcycles out there but their street bikes (Buell line) are very ugly and plain. I grew up in a family of Harley riders and I have one that used to ride occasionally before i was injured at work, with my dad on weekends but thats not really for me, (just like family is into custom trucks and I'm not.) I prefer cars and performance I'v got a 98 Supra MK3 and my bass poundin vibe, now all I need is a little push toward the right motorcycle.

[russ257]

are you a great rider because those bikes are way fast. if not it would be like learning to drive in a sti or evo

[tangerine]

Yes i grew up around motorcycles and racing, I was riding a long time ago on mini bikes/dirt bikes then in high school i was given my 1st real bike which was a bored out wide glide that used to be a drag bike, but after the 1st time i rode a 'crotch rocket' I knew the Harley will have to set cozy till i do charity runs with family but for leizurely cruises I want a street bike to have fun with. So...What I need is some imput on which of the 3 companies/bike is more reputable for their quality. I don't wanna drop 12 grand down on a bike that I should expect to run into problems with.

[BlueCrush]

You mean like these?http://www.calculatedrisk.ca/m...h.wmv

[tangerine]

link says forbidden, so i dunno.

[Altus]

They're all excellent bikes - all capable of getting you killed in an instant too. As a longtime rider (sport, touring, cruiser), I'd say that unless you've got a TON of sportbike experience - you DO NOT want one of these. The bike will, more likely than not, kill you. Don't ask me for examples, I've got too many already.Kawasaki vs Suzuki has been the big shootout lately - I don't remember which is technically on top anymore - pretty sure they've both got speed limiters to 330 km/h anyway, so it's become a moot point. The Yamaha is my personal favorite - but I'm biased, I own Yamaha.For sheer fun, your own safety, and the good of the motorcycling community as a whole, you should check out the bikes in the 600 class. Probably save you on insurance too. Litre bikes are expensive.All of the major manufacturers produce world-class 600's that'll still snap your neck back but good - but they're a bit easier to hone those particular skills on.Depending on your budget, there's also a load more options in the 600 field too - Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda, Triumph, Ducati, etc...Oh - and Harley's are FAR from "the best quality motorcycles out there" -- they're not even close, almost the opposite in fact. Just about the highest number of problems straight out of the factory of any major manufacturer.

[03VibeGT6Spd]

I have had a few Yamaha's and Rode many others.I don't like or care for harleys to slow and to much vibration for me.600's are quick off the line will launch with any big bike, but they will lose in a short distance.and they have serious handling issues at high speeds, mostly because they are so light.larger heavy bike's tend to stay better planted to the road. Nothing scares you more then hitting hump in the road at 140mph and going 2 to 3 feet in the air for 100 yards.You PRAY the bike stays straight and lands with you still on it.I also perfer chain drive over shaft.shafts tend to hop violently during launchs,Chains spin smoothly.Remeber the only defense you have againist cars is your acceration, to get out of there way.

[tiger-bailey]

Those bikes are all very different. If you want a sport bike go by a GSXR1000 or ZX10. Yes the R1 and 1000RR are nice bikes but the Suzuki and Kawi are better. A Busa is way too heavy, a GSXR1000 will smoke it pretty much everywhere except at the dragstrip and that would be a close race. Be prepared for steep insurance, your profile says 20 years old.

[tangerine]

I'm looking at a Yamaha R1 at the dealership now, and yea insurance is what I'm afraid of too. I pay $600 a month on supra and $400 on vibe as it is.

[03VibeGT6Spd]

On my first street Bike Yamaha FJ1200 (Pure Sport), I got a Insurance quote and flipped.So I paid cash for it, and got basic liability insurance. Saved a fortune, until it got stolen.

[tiger-bailey]

Yes the R1 and the other liter bikes are bada$$, but if you get a Zx-6 or R6 your insurance will be less and they will teach you to be a better rider. The 1000cc bikes are more forgiving because of their huge powerband. If you learn to stay in the smaller 600cc powerband you will be able to run faster than you ever need to on the street and be a more skilled rider in the long run.

[tangerine]

after my accident I'm gonna hold off a while on getting a new bike. I'll stick to four wheels and a steel cage. I'm an experienced rider but its the others out there that scare me.