Trading Up

[ulster exile]

Well i'm glad i posted this before I went out and bought an sv650. What I really want is a cb599 but i'm also looking into the vfr. I only thought of buying the sv650 because it was so closly compared to the cb599. I'm trying to find one but they are super hard to find. 

I've got two 599's or CB600f as we call them here, but they're models you don't get over there (2000 faired and 2002 faired, though the '02 has been converted to naked for the time being).  I love them - they are great fun compared to the CB-1 but I like how well planted they feel compared to the CB-1 (I was never convinced cornering on the CB-1).  one complaint is that the Hornet's stock exhaust sounds crap compared to the CB-1.

I went with a 2nd Hornet as my 2nd bike (for commuting) as I couldn't get on with the bars on the CB-1 - too low for my carpal tunnel ridden wrists.

[89cb1]

Anyone owned or driven a VFR.

[clarkdw]

I have ridden and absolutely love the VFR. Not the 02+ vtec one, but the earlier 98-01 800. The later bikes have a tendancy to feel very cammy when the vtec switches on. Not the best thing to happen in the middle of a turn on a wet road.

edit: another reason to stay away from the later vtec bikes is that they require the complete removal of the engine from the frame to adjust the valves?

[89cb1]

How's the 750?

[clarkdw]

Many very experienced riders like the earlier 750 more than the fuel injected ones. In fact they think it is the nicest of the bunch. I am not a big fan of carbs if you can have fuel injection but I like them as well.

[89cb1]

Well I'm gonna check out my insurance rates on both. I actually found a couple CB599s.

[EagleRider15]

Let us know when you pick something up....post a pic. 

[marty]

i've got a '98 vfr and absolutely love it. the sound is intoxicating.

[89cb1]

So I called a few new insurance places to price out some other bikes and was astonished with what I found. For the same price I paid for the CB-1 last year I can have the CB 599, a 750 VFR or what really caught my eye was I can get any 600cc sportbike 15 years or older also for the same price. My favourite bike has to be the CBR600F4i, its does not have the most power or the best handling but it does everything very well and I love how it looks. Obviously I can't afford the insurance on it but I also like the f3 and they started making it in 1995 so it just qualifys. Anyone have an opinion on any bikes to look for? I think I want to stay with Honda though. Thanks.

[iwinquestionmrk]

My vote is cbr1100xx ftw!

Comfy... reliable... fastest bike in the world, 1996...

[ptlcb1]

I still scratch my head as to why Honda did not continue to evolve the CBR1100XX.   

[iwinquestionmrk]

They did. It went injected, and well... other 600's became peppier than the old blackbird. It was essentially (and this is my opinion). a big inline vfr. Whatever the vfr will do.. the blackbird will do better. (swap on some vfr clip ons and youhave a comfy touring machine). Lots of seat options as well. corbin "smuggler", etc.

[ptlcb1]

True, but only for a short time.  I honestly thought it would be around for a long time, like the VFR...and wine, the older it gets, the better it gets!

[iwinquestionmrk]

Ehh... It wasn't a bike for everybody; much the like of the CB-1.

I'm not a fan of chain driven cams... they had some problems with the tensioners, etc. Though, I'd love a blackbird for a tourer. mmm.

[ptlcb1]

A sport tourer is what I thought they would refine the big CBR to be.  I think that was a perfect platform for that type of bike.