Saturday I unexpectedly made a deal with a family to sell my beloved Honda Magna. The day before, I was having lunch with my Bride and we talked bikes. I decided to just keep the Magna and tweak it to better suit my needs. Seat, tank, pipes. Simple enough.
Then after lunch on Saturday some folks come in to the gun shop and we come to an agreement. I’m actually kinda torn on selling it. The VF750C’s engine is truly one of the very best engines ever put into any motorcycle. Honda really needs to bring back the Magna, but with some more modern upgrades. But as I say farewell to this bike, I’ll be able to make acquaintance with a new bike. There are three main options.
First option, is a Kawasaki ZX-1100. Full sized sport-touring bike. This is a long range road interstate warrior… exactly what I want and need. This bike has the range that I wish I had invested in off the bat when I got the Magna. But it had been awhile since I rode, so it was wisdom to get into something to get my Biker Blood flowing again without spilling it. But a bike like this… it’s a lot of machine. It’s a Starship that can cross the country at Warp Factor 10 like other bikes cruise at 60.
Second option, if the first one is taken before I get to it… is a Yamaha FZ1. A Standard Liter Bike, all around easy bike to run on, but with good sized fuel tank that would get me where I wanted to go. Not the most exciting of machines, but an all around solid bike that would do very well for me.
The third choice actually surprised me. A Zuke Boulevard. It’s not much bigger than the Magna, but it does have the fuel tank that I want. It lacks the Hasty that the Magna has, but with the better fuel economy, bigger tank… it doubles the range that the Magna had. Electronic ignition, computer controlled fuel injection… it would be a very nice machine. And it’s larger, more comfortable than the Magna… I could deal with that happily but it would be settling.
A lot of guys are telling me that I need to get a Harley. Sure, I could do an XR1200. Or a cool Dyna set up like Jax Teller’s… but I don’t want a bike that is loud, and you are just not finding them for around three grand, because that’s all that I’m spending. I don’t want to Bank Roll a Bike. I’m not going to carry a note on something that can so easily be ripped out from under you by an idiot in a Cage.
I’m crawling all over KSL.com’s Classifieds. But if anyone out there knows of a GOOD bike for around 3 grand… hit me up. I’m open to good suggestions.
The Suzuki Hayabusa comes to mind. A bit more than you want to spend, but it’s kind of like the “10mm of big Japanese bikes”. 😉
Oh, I know… And I also know the new ZX14 beats it…
The ZX1100 is straight up awesome or even the ZX10 as it’s pretty much the same but you will get a little more miles to the gallon. I had a ZX10 when I was in Germany and it was the ultimate sport-touring machine. The Yamaha is more no-frills and IMO the naked look is a bit odd to me. The riding position look pretty comfortable, but the ZX has a bigger & thicker saddle which your back side will appreciate after a full day of riding. I put a Corbin on mine and never looked back. There are bigger & faster machines out there but the ZX will get you there in both comfort and style.
Which is why it is my first choice if available options.
FZ-1″not the most exciting of machines”? Visually, maybe not. The ZX-1100 has a lot of bikes beat for looks (to me). Lots of modifications are available for the FZ. If you can get either bike for your price, get it, ride it, keep it. Two terrific all-around bikes.
Yeah, I was looking them up. Huge aftermarket for the FZ1.
The ZX-11 is probably the right direction to look. You will end up being disappointed if you don’t go for a major HP increase over the Magna. My first bike was a VMAX. Never got bored with the acceleration but wished I had bought something that was more fun in the curves. Didn’t get great gas mileage either. Good luck in your search.
In that line of bikes, The Suzuki Bandit. Comfortable, lots of torque, and lots of accesories. I’m running a 1250 Bandit, fuel injected. The older ones, before 2007, are oil cooled and carbed. But, still super reliable. My 1250, gets 43mpg, with a 5.3 gallon tank. The people that say, you have to get a Harley, are more into life style or image, than function. Get the bike that meets your needs. I own 6 motorcycles. The closest to a Harley is the Buell. I ride what I enjoy, not what other people think I should have. Blaine
three very different bikes- What exactly do you want to do with it? A standard like a Bandit, ZRX, fZ1 etc will suit fine for 300 mile days. they ain’t no iron butt machines though. Are you ever gonna run on a gravel road? Standard works good there, you can get up on the pegs a bit if needed a sportbike or cruisier will leave your pants with butt wrinkles on a rough dirt road. cruisers are fun, but you gotta have a big screen, otherwise the riding position combined with wind will kink a guy up something awful. And they are HEAVY I always hate to roll my wife’s VN1600 around the garage- it makes the ZRX feel like a dirtbike. What the translates to is -it does not get used much for short trips.
bang for the buck, it is really hard to beat a big bore standard- and they are flexible as to the use . Soft bags, hwy pegs, bar risers- you got a pocket tourer. bandit 1250 with antilock brakes is a superb machine.
The Japanese used to make a jillion all around, everyday useable machines like that- then the MC rag editors kept complaining about weight, HP, wanted lower bars, etc-I saw this trend grow for 30 years till we ended up with a host of super specialized bikes to fit every niche market imaginable, and sacrifice everything else.
PS- one of the things I love about the ZRX is an enormous storage area underneath the seat-
Can hold raingear, a spare gun, a tire kit and inflater,etc.
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=16642949&cat=144&lpid=&search=
Honda VFR. The V4 engine classic FTW!
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=19627019&cat=144&lpid=2&search=
FZ1
Yeah, both of those bikes are on my list. The VFR is my #2 choice, the FZ1 is my #3. A ZX11 remains #1. There is a Speed Triple that is also awesome… but it would require everything that I just did to my Magna… dang it.
Just remember that wind protection is your friend on a long ride. If you are looking at a zx11, then don’t count out the honda blackbird.
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=19299819&cat=144&lpid=7&search=
Same as my bike, just not quite as abused.
My mistake on the ZX-1100. I was thinking of the ZRX-1100, sometimes called the Eddie Lawson replica. Are we still talking about budget and bang-for-the-buck? If we are, then move the Bandit, the FZ1, and the ZRX (if you can find one) to the top of the list.FOR THE MONEY they beat Speed Triples and others: not as hooligan fun, but as real world machines.
Lot of folks here from all over the country- no need to limit yourself to the utah area- i am sure some of us could run a bike down from other parts….
Any good options out your way for 3500?