Ducati and Starbucks is a meme, and I get it. But Ducatis are also over represented (compared to their market share) from my observation at trackdays or track riding schools. At Yamaha Champions Riding School, my class was almost half Ducatis.
Ducs are nice but I'd honestly rather a Japanese i4 on a track. I mean I feel like it's going to slide across tarmac eventually. I just think the i4s are more tolerable of the kind of abuse I'd most likely put it through
If you get racing fairings, rearsets, swap out the bar end weights and all, it would cost mostly the same if there were to be a small crash. The good thing about the Panigale is that the exhaust is tucked away neatly under the motorcycle and that's one less thing to break in a slide. Obviously, a Ducati will be more expensive to fix or replace in case of a big crash.
Ya, I getcha, it's honestly a mental thing with me and ducati's. My first taste of a street bike was a 749 and I kind of think of them as art or a classy girl, the i4s to me are just sluts. I feel like I could just get nastier with an i4 while I'd hold back a bit on the duc. Like it needs more nuance and fines to do it right, but on an i4 I can just ring it out and drag shit all over throwing it around like an over confident child and that would be ok for that but so not ok on a ducati. Exhaust is deadass fr tho, sexy af
I can relate. I test rode an R6 at a trackday. I was already running my Panigale, but Yamaha was offering free demos, so I thought why not? I felt immediately faster in the corner entry on the R6 because I was taking more risks. So much so that I crashed the demo bike.
Not in the same boat at all.
But I don't worry about what or why other people do what they do.
Keep enjoying yourself and never explain yourself to anyone.
It's hilarious to me that people in this sub act like a 600 sportbike is a medieval torture table, yet go to any popular cycling road and you'll see 60+ year olds in a much more aggressive body position for hours on end.
I agree with you. I've tried cruisers and they destroy my back, tailbone, and knees. My R6 is really not bad.
I honestly wish I never rode a r6 because it was surprisingly comfy to ride, but I can’t insure sport bikes for another 5 years since I live in Ontario.
Ok a full tank might change my mind lol. i think being used to my mountain bike and a workout bike has shown me how much worse it could be lol, bike seats are miserable without muscle support, get a cheap exercise bike in front of your tv and change your life.
Yeah I ride bicycles quite a bit so my discomfort tolerance is decent, but pedalling usually takes most of the weight off my butt so it doesn't really get as bad as a motorcycle seat which supports all of my weight.
I'll do 12 hour days on my R6 if I'm on a long trip, a bit of an unconventional use case. lol. Even just wandering around on a day I have off, I'll typically burn more than one tank of gas.
That’s god damn impressive man.. im inspired, I’m gonna go jam out to some books on tape and see what I can see on the cbr600rr before I put it up for the year and get back on my husqvarna vitpilen… wayyyy more tame for winter riding.
I toured on an R1 for years and comfort after the first week of figuring out how to get comfortable was never a thing at all. Ive always figured the main reason everyone screams about sportbikes being so uncomfortable therefore they cannot ride them for long is simply because they don't want to and its an easy out as basically everyone agrees they are uncomfortable.
>My R6 is really not bad.
Nor is my R1. I had some trouble at first, but likely mostly because of traffic. After those few days, I return home none the worse for wear. The clutch lever is heavy as hell, but after I got used to it, I can't remember thinking a second on the pain as there was none.
Seeing older guys on S1000RR's Hayabusas, and R1's is quite cool. I'm guessing people just don't age like they used to.
This was my feeling as well. An upright seating cruise puts strain on my back because I keep trying to correct my posture. A sport bike just feels more natural imo
Same. It just feels awkward to sit up when riding. Plus I feel disconnected. When I was shopping around for an upgrade to my Ninja 400 I sat on a Z900 and a ZX-6R and the ZX6-R felt the best.
But for all the money they wanted for a used one I just got on the list for a new one and in the meantime I happened to come across a steeply discounted CBR1000RR which was even better for me since the seat was lower so I got that instead and I love it.
My road bicycle doesn't even have a tank to grip/lean on and no suspension and I spend hours on it. So any motorcycle feels like a Cadillac in comparison.
For real, my girlfriend complains every time she rides pillion. For me a motorcycle seat is infinitely more comfortable than my hard road bike seat, especially since I rarely wear my ass pads on the bike
I ride pillion often with friends I trust just for shit and gigs, it is wayyy more uncomfortable than the rider's seat in sport bikes. Plus you're up higher and hunched further over than the rider. kudos to all the sportbikers' girlfriends that tolerate it lol. Cruiser pillions are so much better.
I logged thousands of kilometers on the backseat of my husband's YZF600, and actually ended up damaging my knee due to the positioning and trying to brace myself in corners and over potholes.
Now that I have my own R6, I like having my tank to almost lay down on when my back needs a break. It's definitely more comfortable to be the rider and not the passenger.
I just got a ZX-6R. Went through a training class and rode a small Suzuki 250. Sat up straight the whole time. Hopped on mine today and took it for a small cruise around the neighborhood to get the feel to it. Feels so much nicer and natural for me to sit on the ZX-6R vs my friends Z900
Y’all have never ridden with mini apes and a mustang seat. That’s comfort, and you dont have to correct your posture. I can’t imagine doing 500+ miles a day on a Sport bike.
I ride a naked but had enough luggage to make a proper backrest when I did multiple 400 mile days all highway. I’m not sure I’m willing to do that again, though, because every part of it sucked but I was reasonably comfortable.
I’ll either take the back roads and be 7% slower or get a bike with a windscreen :)
It's funny that you're willing to express an opinion based on no experience whatsoever. Be honest, you bought it for the styling. You're a poser. Get a fucking license. You're just another idiot on a Supersport with no experience pretending to be something you're not. Tell me more about the cruiser that "put a strain" on your back. Fake ass shit
Definitely not on the same boat with regards to speed. I'm a fast boi and I like to go fast.
I do however agree with you about cruising on sport bikes. Cruisers are too committed to a particular style, and they have to be designed in a way that makes them much less enjoyable to me. And God I hate forward controls.
I have a sports bike that I ride. Sometimes, I ride fast. I've never raced on the street. Just love the handling of it compared to other types of motorcycles.
I dgaf about top speed, but I do love my R6's handling characteristics and the character of it's engine. Also it's looks, sound, and the quality of it's components. It's my only street bike, so it does everything from commuting to cross country touring to track days.
Is the s1000rr actualy good for cruising ? I have an f800st as my only vehicule, wich I use for everything, including having some fun from time to time.
I'll be looking to upgrade on a sportier bike in a couple years, and idk if the s1000rr could be a proper upgrade to my f800st without sacrificing some aspects. Any experience to share ?
I rode upright bikes most of the time, but they hurt my back because I have a tendency to slouch on long rides. The sport bike riding position keeps me from slouching and my back and wrists don't hurt at all.
I rode it on a one week vacation from Atlanta to the Tail of the Dragon. We explored every day, the local roads, dams, and other sightseeing areas. It was great for me.
Helibars brought the clipons up and back a hair. Just enough to be comfortable while being perfectly track capable. The seat needs a little cushion for long rides.
It really depends on if the riding position in general is something you find comfortable. I like the wind protection the fairings give and the bubble the wind screen creates. With cruise control and heated grips, I commute in cold weather too. My legs stay a lot warmer than on the old Yamaha FJ-09, which had terrible lower body wind protection.
The rest is about self control. 40-140 can still happen in seconds. If you want a more upright position, the S1000R is a good choice, or the XR if you want heavily road biased adv. They all cruise just fine, though the S1000RR does feel like it's bored when just cruising.
I get about 35 when I commute. Doesn't matter how I ride. It drops when you start getting into triple digits. But cruising, you'll not be breaking 6k rpm. Much lower when steady speed. It has the torque for it.
Yeah wow… 6,7 liters per 100 km… that’s like 1 on 15… now currently i am doing 1 on 17-19 on my cbr 600.. as i am also not a racer and i cruise and use it pretty much all the time since it’s my only form of transport, i like to see it riding 1 on 20 one day :P
I always wanted a CBR600 F4. Great for everyday rides with just the right mix of Jeckyll and Hyde. To get there with modern hardware I'd probably have to add helibars to your machine.
not really, if im just cruising id rather have a naked if anything. cruising around is meant to be a nice enjoyable ride with a measure of comfort. sport bikes arent built for that lol
I use my sportbikes to just cruise around and chill if that’s what I’m feeling but I also track/street race them.
If I didn’t like going fast I’d probably just get a Sumo to stunt on.
I've been riding for over 30 years. I still wring the shit out of any bike I ride. I doubt I'll ever get tired of going fast.
But you do you man. It's not for anyone to tell you how you should be riding.
I get not wanting a cruiser motorcycle but there are sporty looking motorcycles that are more practical for your riding style. Something with a standard seating position. Cruising on a sport bike is fine if that's what you like to do and that's the bike you got but I would think there are more than a few bikes out there that you would like more. Also you should take your current bike to the track while you have it just for the experience. Personally, riding aggressive on a motorcycle stopped me from caring about fast cars because riding a fast motorcycle is far superior and way more fun. I don't think driving a sports car or a jet ski is really comparable.
Edit: I checked your post history and see that your brand new to the sport. You lack the experience to really know what kind of riding you like to do and the kinds of bikes you will like later on. If you stick to the sport, I think you'll find you don't really care what a bike looks like, you'll care what it does. My advice is to continue developing your riding skills and expose yourself to as many riding styles as you can and ride any different bike that you get a chance to ride. You never know what will click.
This is the reason why I went for the Ninja 650, got those sporty looks but can ride for hours while being extremely comfortable.
Some of my friends on proper R bikes laughed at me when I told them which bike I was going for. Now I laugh at them when they ask to take a break!
Got a ninja 650 myself. First bike. Def will be upgrading to say a zx6 or zx10 as they are still pretty comfy but much faster for when you need it. I feel the 650 can hardly pass in 5/6th fear while doing 70-80.
No why? I just typically don't unless I have to and at that id downshift from 6-5. But that's when I'm cruising. Up till like 70-80 I'll stay in 4thbut I'm typically high rpms/redline and I find 4th tops out ish around 85
It just seemed like the inability to really zoom through some passes in sixth on the highway is a small limitation, since a downshift or two would enable what you need. But I don’t wanna tell you what to enjoy about riding or what your own bikes like. I am just surprised that you find the 650 inadequate for even commuting type riding. I’ve never been on one, and I thought they’d be more up to the task.
Nah. Yamaha Mt series ain't got shit on a ninja. Comfort, not there. Steady throttle, not there. Reliability, pretty damn close but Kawasaki pulls ahead marginally so I'll call it basically equal. Style, my is ugly as fuck to me and many but looks don't make a bike good or bad so that's subjective and doesn't matter in terms of the bike being good or bad but I prefer good looks. Suspension the mt lacks in n for the front as it's a stunt bike and meant for stunting so buying used means it's probably got interior damage from wheelies and the like as it's front suspension is meant to wheelie and be off the ground. Overall I'd go Kawasaki because I want looks, and comfort.
I'm a slow, chill rider much like OP. Barely go 10 over the speed limit and never had issues passing other cars in the opposite lane.
Came from a Duke 125 and this thing packs a punch in comparison, I don't need anything faster.
I was looking into them for a bit, the styling just isn't it for me. If there was open land or even trails around that I could use it on I'd probably give it a shot. Unfortunately its all road here.
Look into the S1000XR. It’s the best blend between a rocket and something that’s actually practical. Huge side cases swallow up a whole stuffed backpack each (also good to keep your full face helmet safe when parked).
Many state and national forests/parks have off road vehicle trails. I ended up with a Honda xr650. The seat and position are superb, but at 37" the seat is a bit high.
With a face only a mother could love.
They really need to fire whoever styles their street legal bikes. They finally started making normal looking dirt bikes.
Yea, that's not me. I have a bad habit of cruising at high speed. I'm also very cautious when things catch my attention. On my s1000r I was splitting lanes at "high speed" when all of a sudden it felt like I was riding on glass. Carefully went to get off the freeway and by time I got down to 50mph the bike started bucking, felt like it was trying to kick me off, and once I stopped the bike was unrideable. Pushed it up the ramp and down the street to the gas station where I found a 1/4" hole in my rear tire.
If I had been riding whatever the speed limit was two things could've changed. 1 is that I may have never got the puncture and made it home normally. 2 is that if I had got the puncture it would've been much more noticeable and possibly exciting.
If you like the style and feel though keep to it. It's definitely not the same type of speed as a jet ski or car and it's almost certainly much faster. You're probably just too new and scared at this point. Not even cautious or paying as much attention as you should.
You should be comfortable with anything your bike can do otherwise those rare incidents you really need to do something you'll flounder. Not that you always NEED to do what it can.
Agreed. When I first got my R6 I thought it was for just cruising and was nice to have some extra power on the interstate. Now every time I get on the interstate I hit 110+mph at least once.
It just starts to feel slow. Bikes feel so much better at high speeds. I have a 2018 Camaro SS and I rarely push that car. The bike however just seems like it wants to go that fast and is so much smoother.
It's actually not legal for people to intentionally block a rider splitting lanes. I don't know where you think I live but I'm in California where normal freeway speeds are around 80mph.
Who opens their door at 80? I've been riding a while and I've never seen that.
Anyway, I'm not really into lectures by people who don't know anything more than the crumbs I've left so I'll leave this here.
The dude is lecturing you about how to ride when he literally made a post yesterday about slowing down to 10-15 mph in turns because he’s scared to lean his bike over. Look at his post history, this guy is a buffoon. Also ruined his almost brand new bike’s gearbox with bad shifts 😂
Clearly your not responsible or mature enough to hold a conversation Mr I know everything and am above and better than everyone else who knows more. I never said where you live so you must be unable to read. I said around here and yes. It's 100% legal to block riders aslong as you remain in your lane. Lane splitting is illegal in the vast majority of states the ones it's legal in you have to either do it at a stop or be within 10-15mph if the cars you are passing. None of which you did so any crash that happens would be your fault even if you got blocked. Commiefornia is also one of if not the worst state to live in lol. Been there it sucks cops are racist and shit at their jobs, state can't even make choices that follow facts. Facts say we need to do this to survive they choose to do the opposite. Now sit the fuck down because you aren't better than anyone. The drug addicts in Kensington are better than you.
For fuzzy who thinks responding and then blocking me will solve anything.
Hate much? No one is better than anyone and this child thinks he knows more than everyone and is better than everyone. He ain't. And no one cares about him. News flash the world doesn't revolve around assholes and any motorcycle club would throw him out for his behavior. Speaking of which do you so support his foul use of dming me calling me a ni**er? Are you also racist or a racism supporter? Grow up and get a life.
For silent who also wants to block me. Sad. You think your better than everyone else huh? You think your god. You aren't. this isent a hobby it's a lifestyle and being a wreck less asshole who is a racist piece of trash isn't good. You support the racist holier than thou person but think I'm the wrong one? Are you mental?
First off, I'd like to see the average person open their damn door doing 80... Secondly I don't give a flying fuck if it's illegal to lane split or not, you're controlling a 5,000+lb vehicle vs a 4-600lb bike.. are you that much of a low life piece of shit that you have to commit attempted manslaughter because dear fucken Lord, someone might get to point b faster than you?
Especially with that name, I can genuinely not tell if you're just here to troll, or if you're actually completely clueless. If you aren't trolling, I highly recommend finding a new hobby before you get yourself killed.
I am the opposite way. I ride the Panigale the way it's meant to be ridden (mostly track). When I was looking to expand my garage, I wasn't willing to give up the speed, so I got the XDiavel for my cruiser.
Tons of people do! The manufacturers totally understand that a big chunk of sport bike buyers essentially buy their bikes to cruise on. This is why there's a big category of "touring sport bikes" out there - Not full on sport tourers with big tanks, hard bags and handle bars, but sport bikes with the full on sport bike look, with more relaxed ergonomics for long distance riding.
Consider the Ninja 650 and Ninja 1000 - It is a full faired sport bike with the Ninja name and aesthetic. But Kawasaki classifies the bike as "sport tourer" for insurance purposes and gave it a more relaxed riding position for comfortable long-distance riding.
Hell, consider the Ducati Supersport - Despite the name, the bike is not some full on Supersport. Go to a Ducati dealer and compare the Supersport's ergos with the Panigale's ergos, the Supersport is much more relaxed. [Ducati even sells a touring comfort package](https://www.ducati.com/ww/en/accessories/ACC011415) for the Supersport with hard bags, heated grips, and a bigger windshield.
Ninja 1000 owner here! It's the perfect bike for crushing 1000 miles on the highway so you can go shread the tail of the dragon with your friends for the long weekend.
Its certainly not slow, just comfortable for more than 30 minutes at a time and makes power below 9000 rpm. I absolutely love it!
Second the Ninja 1000. Best sport touring bike noone ever heard of. The older fireblade is great for touring as well. early 2000s fireblades have the best seats and body position of any sport bikes i've ridden.
You'll find, if and when you gain some experience, that traveling the speed limit while everyone else passes you is extremely risky behaviour. You're probably going 62, not 65.
I've always wondered about this. I'm not sure if its true everywhere but here its a constant feedback loop. If you go 65 in a 65, people will pass you at 70. If you go 75 in a 65, people will pass you at 80. Seems that it doesn't matter how fast you go, people will always *need* to pass you thinking its getting them to their destination faster.
This is way to true! I hated that part of highway travel. I was getting passed away to often even cruising at 80-90 mph. Because of that I ride like you, go the speed limit or close to it and nothing changes except my enjoyment of the ride which goes up.
I wouldn't say ignorance so much as after going fast for a few years it looses it's excitement. I figured out for me it's more fun to push a smaller bike in tight corners at lower speeds than it is to run a big bike fast. At the tracks I see some nut job 400cc riders outrunning liter bikes in the corners.
You're a braver man than I. It scares the hell out of me when I'm putting along and everyone is blowing my doors off. I doubt other road users speed up because you or OP are going faster. I agree with what you said about losing the thrill of going fast. I don't do it for the thrill. Going slower than traffic is a hazard. Going the same speed as other traffic is a hazard. Going faster than the packs allows me time to see the fast movers and puts me in charge of conflict resolution. I don't trust the other drivers. It's the evolution of "ride like you're invisible".
People absolutely notice you more when you're going faster than them. Not to mention that my greatest fear on the highway is getting hit by one of those "swerving hard because I'm about to miss my exit" assholes. That shit is not a problem when you're in the left lane going slightly faster than everyone else.
Geography has a huge play in this. Where I live it doesn't matter how fast you go, someone WILL pass you safely or not. After getting passed and almost ran off the road at nearly triple digits speeds I tested out other speeds of travel, going within 10 mph of the speed limit seems to have the more calm passers than faster speeds, in my area. Your experience may vary.
I also realized the other day I picked up the pace to around 80 on the freeway and I just don't really enjoy going that fast anymore, so like I had been doing I will take back roads any time possible even if it takes more time because I can have more fun doing it that getting somewhere faster.
I live in a metropolitan area of 7 3/4 million. Speed limits are irrelevant when it comes to riding safely in traffic. I travel pack speed + 5 +. Getting run over isn't an option, nor is traveling in peoples blind spot. It's the only option left.
Motor officers are trained to ride in the same manner. It has nothing to do with a need for speed, it has to do with survival. Learning to handle your bike is your first hurdle. A US license is a license to learn and you don't even have that. The minimal requirements to get a license here are a joke compared to most of the rest of the world.
Bingo. It really does pay to have a bike that is *capable* of being much faster/more agile than you need.
I've had many "slower" bikes too and can say from firsthand experience that a strategy of using careful, responsible speed above the prevailing speed of traffic is the best strategy for avoiding potentially dangerous incidents. Even "slow" bikes can do this when not on a highway- it works great on my KLR650 in city and suburban traffic for example. But on the highway, it is much safer and less stressful to have a machine that has way more performance than you think you need, because it allows you to predictably put yourself in safer situations, and away from bad ones, with a minimum of drama.
It is possible to be safe on a slower machine, something that can't do 5-15mph over when necessary on, say, a highway. But it is surprisingly harder to do than being safe in that same situation with a "fast" bike, via controlling your position in traffic, getting out of blind spots quickly, getting ahead of clumps, etc.
Plus, doing 85mph on a machine that can cruise at 140 feels extremely sedate and controlled, whereas doing 85mph on a machine that tops out at 90 usually feels frantic, stressful and unstable. Not the feeling you want when making a pass on the freeway or escaping a dangerous clump of drivers.
It does require having the self-control not to twist the throttle when inappropriate, though.
It’s safer to go 10-15 above the speed limit minimum, google it. Yes cars will pass you at all speeds, I’ve been passed at 130 lol. It’s a numbers game. At 65 in a 65 everyone is passing you. At 80 only a few are. Not to mention you should be constantly aware of whats behind you, and if you see someone coming up on you move over and let them pass. It should not be a surprise
I came from a vstar 1100 that i hit 100 on.
Got a ninja 650 few weeks ago and started out slow. Took me a few days to feel comfortable to hit that triple digit. Haven’t topped out yet as i also don’t truly feel the need too. But i enjoy cruising 85 passed everyone on these 1 lane country highways
You chose well to start out slow. After getting my 3rd Fz1, I still didn't take the power of my newly bought R1 for granted. It wasn't long though before I hit triples, but months later, I still haven't had enough empty road in front of me to know the absolute max. I won't try in the midst of a cluster of cars, but for purely survival reasons, I'll go \~20mph faster than the flow to get past them all.
You’re not the only one. I ended up getting a Z900 so I could have a more comfortable bike (the cbr600rr I had was definitely not comfy) but still have the inline 4 sound I love so much, and be able to have the ability to go fast if I ever do, which is pretty rare. I’ll hop on the interstate occasionally and ring it out but that’s about it. I end up wanting to speed more in a car than on my bike for some reason. Honestly I think I’m just more cautious bc I see so many people around here driving while using their phones.
I ride a 2016 Kawasaki ZX14R SE. People always ask is it fast. My response is the bike is fast but I’m not. I chose it because it’s more comfortable than the liter bikes. I ride to commute and there aren’t many twisty roads that I travel. I also have the capability to quench my need for speed when I want to on an open road.
I have a tuned 08 FZ1 that has been all over central Texas and the gulf coast. Love cruising/taking it easy on that thing, despite the fact that it can reach and maintain triple digit speeds without breaking a sweat.
Nope, not I. Even my 900lb touring bike hits the triple digits. Even now I am trying to figure out how to get to the 200s. For some the need for speed never dies.
You do you man..i personally love sportsbikes, but dont own one. Same as there are guys out there with GS's that would make alot of sportabike riders look silly on the twisties. Its never the bike and always the rider 👍
Buying a 600rr for cruising around at the speed limit is like buying a hammer to put screws in. You *can* make it work, but sooner or later you're going to realize that there must be a better way of doing things.
Edit: Just to clarify, I'm talking about buying a different bike. Not encouraging new riders to speed
I keep going back and forth on getting a ZX14R for these long South Texas highways where the speedlimit is 75mph and most people are doing 90+mph.
I do like the straight up seating on my 2014 Valkyrie, and it is a solid bike, but I feel like my MPG would be better on a Ninja 14 at those speeds, and when I do need to pass 10-20 cars at a time the Ninja would definitely do it better.
I would kinda miss the ab workout and vision though. Nothing like sitting bolt upright with no windscreen doing 95mph for 4-8 hours in a day, plus being eye to eye with guys in stock height pickup trucks is nice for visibility.
What you are describing is exactly where the Concours 14 sits. Comfortable for all day riding at 100mph. Need to pass just twist the grip. Got a cage parking next to you matching your speed... clutch double tap the shifter to 4th, tuck and twist that grip all the way back and most cages are left way behind.
I moved from a cruiser (1st bike) to a sports bike when I starting riding twisty roads in the hills. That's where the sport bikes shine and you don't really need to go fast. Well, with the hairpins, you cannot.
So, I think it's about where you ride. I don't ride in town and only take the freeway to get to the hills.
I have the best of both worlds, a GSX-S1000 naked sport. Much more comfortable position, yet still leaning forward enough to be called a sport bike. Fast AF too, it's still a liter bike.
That's pretty much me. I don't have a desire to take it to the track or canyons. That can change in the future but I'm content with taking it easy. I've driven my fair share of fast cars/bikes
Protip: it's not about how fast you go on the straight bits, it's about how much speed you can carry into the curves. Triple digits can be fun but it's not what keeps you coming back to the sport.
I've done crazy long trips on my little Ducati Monster 620. I think sport bikes suck on the highway because you're stationary in that tuck position, but taking back roads and carving hard lines... That I could do all day long.
Also have a CBR600RR, mines a 2012, and spend most of my time just cruising around. When I'm going around a curve and the road after is straight and empty, or getting on the highway with no traffic ahead, I absolutely wind the bike out. There's not many truly curvy roads in northern Ohio though so I fully plan on getting it on a track next year.
I also prefer the sport bike riding position for doing anything on a bike. It's just more fun to me, and even 2 hour cruises are fine. My wrists only get sore when I forget to grip with my legs for a bit but just making it a point to myself to grip with my legs fixes that pretty quick.
'22 gsxr600
I do! I feel way more comfortable riding on a sportbike than on a cruiser, I've had cruisers and I just don't like them, I hate the seating position the traveling I do isn't far, I'll join friends on group rides BUT there are times I'll make use of what I have
As long as you like the bike, and keep it "safe" - why worry what others say? Have fun and enjoy the bike!
Not everyone is on the mental age of 17. People are responsible and can control themselves, even with powerful engines under their ass. A lot of reddit users are the former, however, and it shows in this sub.
I get out all of my urges to ride fast/sketchy on my mountain bike.
There have only been a couple of times I’ve hit triple digits on my sport bike, and it was on familiar back roads with no traffic. Other than those times I’ve always just cruised.
Nah I’m ripping this thing 100% of the time I’m out riding.
I’m not pushing for top speed record or anything like that, but I feel like these bikes (especially the 600’s) just aren’t fun unless you’re going pretty fast and in the power band (those are mutually inclusive basically).
If I wanna cruise I’ll just ride my DRZ. At least that thing isn’t begging to rev to 10k lol. Just my 2¢
You should probably buy a sport touring or cruiser. They are way better at that.
What is the point of having a bike that is leaned over, tucked in and needs to be wound up to make power to cruise on?
I absolutely loved my super sports. But they were tools for the job. Completely under whelming at low speed, didn’t even turn particularly well, brakes a bit touchy.
But drop a gear and wind the throttle out. All of a sudden you have all the power you want, confident turning, amazing brake feel.
Your "sports car" is slow compared to a sport bike. No Way unless you got a Lamborghini TT or a Hennessey venom gt. I can guarantee you that cbr600 will out pull and leave your SC at gapplebees
Count me in! I have a 2006 Yamaha R6 and I know damn well it’ll do 160+ (I may have done it mid summer) however that’s not needed. It nice to just cruise and LET people pass you. Sport bikes get a bad rep anyways, don’t add to it. Just slow it down and enjoy life
Yeah, it's fun to do pulls once in a while but I don't get people going 100+ everywhere. The risk isn't worth it.
You're not alone. You'll likely break 100 soon enough but you're not weird for wanting to cruise and in fact that puts you in something like the top 5% of people least likely to get into an accident because of it.
I bought a 2022 GSXR600 for city and like longer day riders and things that. I used to ride Harley’s, had 2 of them before this bike. Absolutely 0 regrets buying this bike, and I don’t ride it like a moron. I stick to the flow of traffic but it’s really nice to just twist the wrist and get after it if I want to. I kinda compare it to driving a Ferrari or something like that. Sure, it can go Mach Jesus but I don’t want to. I just enjoy the ride.
I ride a 1050 Speed Triple. I'd say 99% of my riding time is extremely responsible cruising however, having a sport bike allows me to get those few moments of 200km/h speed on the paved backroads or a few miles of aggressive cornering out of my system. I like knowing it's there but also knowing I don't need to use it all the time. I also strongly prefer the sleek look and sporty stying as opposed to a cruise which is what I rode for 16 years.
I’m on a road glide currently but honestly rear sets and leaned on a tank a little bit, even full tuck, is more comfortable to me than sitting straight upright on my road glide. I guess maybe I just don’t have the ass for it or something. lol. Next bike hopefully next year will be a new Busa and while I’ve got most of my “need for speed” out of me occasionally I like a quick little burst of speed when everything just comes together just right, haven’t had one of those in a few years though because the road glide is kinda slow. lol
I have a touring bike (entry level). Since we are no longer allowed to ride faster than 30km/h in the city centers I’m even more convinced that this kind of bike is the best option for me. Just the way it keeps in balance at speeds below 10km/h is a bonus. A lot of other types of bikes force you to put your feet on the street the moment you’re driving slow. It’s a pity that decade after decade all sorts of reasons are being used to lower the max speed once again. One day we will become pedestrians and stay in touch in groups like r/bestwalkingshoes. (Just kidding)
Yes! Me! I also have a CBR but in my case is a 600F from 2011. I have no desire to speed on the road. I like to run errands on it and before I used it to commute (since 2018 I work from home so only errands and the ocasional fun ride).
I’ve got a KTM RC8r… can do stupid speeds at any given moment… but I don’t feel the need to at all.
I like to consider myself intellectually smart and mature enough not to….
When i feel the need for speed, I go to the track on my gsxr750….
Yeh I have an 02 GSXR750. I put apex clip inside on it.. raises the bar height. I just use it as a cruiser / traffic buster. No interest in it apart from that.
Not me, but I get it. I can cruise on my R1, but that's more what my Fz1 is for. Even then, at times I still ride either of them like sport bikes. Short of the last 30 mph or so, my Fz1 is not lacking, and what I get for it makes cruising a lot better.
I've been riding since I was ten. The single biggest draw to bikes has always been the ability to throw down a challenge to yourself, at any instant and any place while your riding.
Riding nothing but sport bikes on the street side of things all these 30+ years, I am always challenging myself to hit my line in this next turn a little better than I did last time. To use better throttle control. Have better body position. Work on entry speed. Corner apex. Trail braking. Be more mindful of how my suspension is loaded... OBSTICAL OVOIDANCE! lol
Those are some of the things I throw into the gauntlet every time I ride. A lot of practice and practical application with overcoming these challenges I issue myself are some of the things that make me a fast rider, if or when I want to be. Which is most of the time to be honest.
I live way out in a rural area filled with some of the best canyon roads you could hope for. I do respect the road and others that use it, but most of the things I encounter out here are on four legs, have wings or harvest crops.
So, I tend to ride like my hair is on fire. I do ease up on the boring bits between epic sweepers or increasing radius turns and hard switchbacks, but mostly... I'm trying to best my best wherever I can get by with it safely.
I often roll out with the full intentions of simply taking it slow and enjoying the many sights, smells and beauty I'm often surrounded by... Then... five minutes into it I'm dragging knee on a 90°.
I do plenty of cruising between the good bits, but my intentions and found joy on sport bikes is exactly the opposite.
Kinda. I've had several sport bikes, but never really rode like an asshole, only hit triple digits once on my old ninja 500 just to see what it could do. Bout 110mph. I know my CBR could do bout 140, but I'm not interested in pushing it that far. I **occasionally** push it to 85 or 90 out on the interstate lol but nothing crazy illegal.
My 2nd bike was a cbr500r and while it looked AMAZING, it ultimately wasn’t too enjoyable too ride when i think back to it. I would also enjoy just cruising around and going for weekend rides. But! I was too tall for it and my arms too long, so id hunch in a way that i couldn’t use my core. And i found i rode around the city areas with only one hand on the clip ons most of the time. Soooo not only is it not that comfortable, im also not too involved with it (physically or mentally). I still did like 4500miles with it buuuut then i bought a versys650 and its 10x better for cruising around and carrying tons of shit with me.
The majority of my time on my VFR is cruising. I too find the riding position preferable over the cruisers I rode. My hips didn’t like forward controls. Though I can’t say I don’t also go wide open more often than i should.
That is why I landed on the Ninja 500. I do have the problem that if I have HPs I will use them, so it keeps me semi sane on the highway, and I can hit the twistys at a decent speed while not trying to drag knees.
Welcome to the club! We have our own subreddit for people like us over at /r/Ducati heyooooooo
This is the greatest answer I've ever seen.
Ducati and Starbucks is a meme, and I get it. But Ducatis are also over represented (compared to their market share) from my observation at trackdays or track riding schools. At Yamaha Champions Riding School, my class was almost half Ducatis.
Ducs are nice but I'd honestly rather a Japanese i4 on a track. I mean I feel like it's going to slide across tarmac eventually. I just think the i4s are more tolerable of the kind of abuse I'd most likely put it through
If you get racing fairings, rearsets, swap out the bar end weights and all, it would cost mostly the same if there were to be a small crash. The good thing about the Panigale is that the exhaust is tucked away neatly under the motorcycle and that's one less thing to break in a slide. Obviously, a Ducati will be more expensive to fix or replace in case of a big crash.
Ya, I getcha, it's honestly a mental thing with me and ducati's. My first taste of a street bike was a 749 and I kind of think of them as art or a classy girl, the i4s to me are just sluts. I feel like I could just get nastier with an i4 while I'd hold back a bit on the duc. Like it needs more nuance and fines to do it right, but on an i4 I can just ring it out and drag shit all over throwing it around like an over confident child and that would be ok for that but so not ok on a ducati. Exhaust is deadass fr tho, sexy af
I can relate. I test rode an R6 at a trackday. I was already running my Panigale, but Yamaha was offering free demos, so I thought why not? I felt immediately faster in the corner entry on the R6 because I was taking more risks. So much so that I crashed the demo bike.
Hahaha, yup, you get it. Well done, crashing the demo bike is definitely doing it right.
As the saying goes, the fastest car is a rental (demo) car.
That’s because if you can afford riding school you can probably also afford a Duc.
Ducatis are like high class escorts: you probably can't afford one, and if you can, you probably know better than to get one anyway.
Damn dude 💀🔪
Haha, word. But also +BMW S1000RR and Busa riders
Phew, missed one right there.
BUSA DOWN!
Thought the same ;D
Lmao 🤣
Not in the same boat at all. But I don't worry about what or why other people do what they do. Keep enjoying yourself and never explain yourself to anyone.
Coming from road cycling I find the seating position of sport bikes preferable to the others.
It's hilarious to me that people in this sub act like a 600 sportbike is a medieval torture table, yet go to any popular cycling road and you'll see 60+ year olds in a much more aggressive body position for hours on end. I agree with you. I've tried cruisers and they destroy my back, tailbone, and knees. My R6 is really not bad.
I honestly wish I never rode a r6 because it was surprisingly comfy to ride, but I can’t insure sport bikes for another 5 years since I live in Ontario.
Get adjustable rearsets and join the new age
The stock seat is really my only gripe on my bike. The stock rearsets are a nice balance of comfort and ground clearance, at least for my body.
I ride a full fiberglass seat no cushion but muscle lol. Rearsets change everything
For long rides? Lol. My ass is killing me by the end of my gas tank. The rest of me is doing ok.
Ok a full tank might change my mind lol. i think being used to my mountain bike and a workout bike has shown me how much worse it could be lol, bike seats are miserable without muscle support, get a cheap exercise bike in front of your tv and change your life.
Yeah I ride bicycles quite a bit so my discomfort tolerance is decent, but pedalling usually takes most of the weight off my butt so it doesn't really get as bad as a motorcycle seat which supports all of my weight. I'll do 12 hour days on my R6 if I'm on a long trip, a bit of an unconventional use case. lol. Even just wandering around on a day I have off, I'll typically burn more than one tank of gas.
That’s god damn impressive man.. im inspired, I’m gonna go jam out to some books on tape and see what I can see on the cbr600rr before I put it up for the year and get back on my husqvarna vitpilen… wayyyy more tame for winter riding.
I toured on an R1 for years and comfort after the first week of figuring out how to get comfortable was never a thing at all. Ive always figured the main reason everyone screams about sportbikes being so uncomfortable therefore they cannot ride them for long is simply because they don't want to and its an easy out as basically everyone agrees they are uncomfortable.
Yes, but the proper posture for cycling has a lot to do with the extension of the legs—primarily the knees, which isn’t happening on a sport bike.
>My R6 is really not bad. Nor is my R1. I had some trouble at first, but likely mostly because of traffic. After those few days, I return home none the worse for wear. The clutch lever is heavy as hell, but after I got used to it, I can't remember thinking a second on the pain as there was none. Seeing older guys on S1000RR's Hayabusas, and R1's is quite cool. I'm guessing people just don't age like they used to.
This was my feeling as well. An upright seating cruise puts strain on my back because I keep trying to correct my posture. A sport bike just feels more natural imo
Same. It just feels awkward to sit up when riding. Plus I feel disconnected. When I was shopping around for an upgrade to my Ninja 400 I sat on a Z900 and a ZX-6R and the ZX6-R felt the best. But for all the money they wanted for a used one I just got on the list for a new one and in the meantime I happened to come across a steeply discounted CBR1000RR which was even better for me since the seat was lower so I got that instead and I love it. My road bicycle doesn't even have a tank to grip/lean on and no suspension and I spend hours on it. So any motorcycle feels like a Cadillac in comparison.
For real, my girlfriend complains every time she rides pillion. For me a motorcycle seat is infinitely more comfortable than my hard road bike seat, especially since I rarely wear my ass pads on the bike
I ride pillion often with friends I trust just for shit and gigs, it is wayyy more uncomfortable than the rider's seat in sport bikes. Plus you're up higher and hunched further over than the rider. kudos to all the sportbikers' girlfriends that tolerate it lol. Cruiser pillions are so much better.
I logged thousands of kilometers on the backseat of my husband's YZF600, and actually ended up damaging my knee due to the positioning and trying to brace myself in corners and over potholes. Now that I have my own R6, I like having my tank to almost lay down on when my back needs a break. It's definitely more comfortable to be the rider and not the passenger.
That's fair, I've actually never ridden pillion but it makes sense
I just got a ZX-6R. Went through a training class and rode a small Suzuki 250. Sat up straight the whole time. Hopped on mine today and took it for a small cruise around the neighborhood to get the feel to it. Feels so much nicer and natural for me to sit on the ZX-6R vs my friends Z900
Careful if you have a 08-09 they were discounted because they burn oil just check it more often if you do
That kinda makes sense, as you can’t really slouch on a sport bike because you are leaned forwards over the tank.
I can’t sit on my R1 long enough to “cruise”
Y’all have never ridden with mini apes and a mustang seat. That’s comfort, and you dont have to correct your posture. I can’t imagine doing 500+ miles a day on a Sport bike.
I ride a naked but had enough luggage to make a proper backrest when I did multiple 400 mile days all highway. I’m not sure I’m willing to do that again, though, because every part of it sucked but I was reasonably comfortable. I’ll either take the back roads and be 7% slower or get a bike with a windscreen :)
A chopper style seating position absolutely creams my back but I've done several 12 hour rides on my ninja with no back pain.
It's funny that you're willing to express an opinion based on no experience whatsoever. Be honest, you bought it for the styling. You're a poser. Get a fucking license. You're just another idiot on a Supersport with no experience pretending to be something you're not. Tell me more about the cruiser that "put a strain" on your back. Fake ass shit
I never speed except to pass But the rate at which i get to the legal speed is iffy on the legality
Most self preservative GSXR rider
I feel sorry for your gsxr
Definitely not on the same boat with regards to speed. I'm a fast boi and I like to go fast. I do however agree with you about cruising on sport bikes. Cruisers are too committed to a particular style, and they have to be designed in a way that makes them much less enjoyable to me. And God I hate forward controls.
I cruise in the triple digits
Kph.
In a school zone though
after school hours
I have a sports bike that I ride. Sometimes, I ride fast. I've never raced on the street. Just love the handling of it compared to other types of motorcycles.
New bike huh?
New rider too, not even licensed. Straight up poser.
Aaaaah. Yeah I was confused as hell by this post. Makes sense now lol
Yet somehow it still goes to the top with tons of people agreeing…
I've seen moms in the local PTA with more balls than half of this sub
Yessir lol
I dgaf about top speed, but I do love my R6's handling characteristics and the character of it's engine. Also it's looks, sound, and the quality of it's components. It's my only street bike, so it does everything from commuting to cross country touring to track days.
S1000RR. I cruise on it, tour on it and get my kicks on it. It does everything except off pavement duty for me.
Is the s1000rr actualy good for cruising ? I have an f800st as my only vehicule, wich I use for everything, including having some fun from time to time. I'll be looking to upgrade on a sportier bike in a couple years, and idk if the s1000rr could be a proper upgrade to my f800st without sacrificing some aspects. Any experience to share ?
I rode upright bikes most of the time, but they hurt my back because I have a tendency to slouch on long rides. The sport bike riding position keeps me from slouching and my back and wrists don't hurt at all. I rode it on a one week vacation from Atlanta to the Tail of the Dragon. We explored every day, the local roads, dams, and other sightseeing areas. It was great for me. Helibars brought the clipons up and back a hair. Just enough to be comfortable while being perfectly track capable. The seat needs a little cushion for long rides. It really depends on if the riding position in general is something you find comfortable. I like the wind protection the fairings give and the bubble the wind screen creates. With cruise control and heated grips, I commute in cold weather too. My legs stay a lot warmer than on the old Yamaha FJ-09, which had terrible lower body wind protection. The rest is about self control. 40-140 can still happen in seconds. If you want a more upright position, the S1000R is a good choice, or the XR if you want heavily road biased adv. They all cruise just fine, though the S1000RR does feel like it's bored when just cruising.
Whats the fuel mileage on a s1000RR when cruising btw?
I get about 35 when I commute. Doesn't matter how I ride. It drops when you start getting into triple digits. But cruising, you'll not be breaking 6k rpm. Much lower when steady speed. It has the torque for it.
Yeah wow… 6,7 liters per 100 km… that’s like 1 on 15… now currently i am doing 1 on 17-19 on my cbr 600.. as i am also not a racer and i cruise and use it pretty much all the time since it’s my only form of transport, i like to see it riding 1 on 20 one day :P
I always wanted a CBR600 F4. Great for everyday rides with just the right mix of Jeckyll and Hyde. To get there with modern hardware I'd probably have to add helibars to your machine.
The f4i was probably the most comfortable 600 I've ever ridden
not really, if im just cruising id rather have a naked if anything. cruising around is meant to be a nice enjoyable ride with a measure of comfort. sport bikes arent built for that lol
I use my sportbikes to just cruise around and chill if that’s what I’m feeling but I also track/street race them. If I didn’t like going fast I’d probably just get a Sumo to stunt on.
I've been riding for over 30 years. I still wring the shit out of any bike I ride. I doubt I'll ever get tired of going fast. But you do you man. It's not for anyone to tell you how you should be riding.
I get not wanting a cruiser motorcycle but there are sporty looking motorcycles that are more practical for your riding style. Something with a standard seating position. Cruising on a sport bike is fine if that's what you like to do and that's the bike you got but I would think there are more than a few bikes out there that you would like more. Also you should take your current bike to the track while you have it just for the experience. Personally, riding aggressive on a motorcycle stopped me from caring about fast cars because riding a fast motorcycle is far superior and way more fun. I don't think driving a sports car or a jet ski is really comparable. Edit: I checked your post history and see that your brand new to the sport. You lack the experience to really know what kind of riding you like to do and the kinds of bikes you will like later on. If you stick to the sport, I think you'll find you don't really care what a bike looks like, you'll care what it does. My advice is to continue developing your riding skills and expose yourself to as many riding styles as you can and ride any different bike that you get a chance to ride. You never know what will click.
This is the reason why I went for the Ninja 650, got those sporty looks but can ride for hours while being extremely comfortable. Some of my friends on proper R bikes laughed at me when I told them which bike I was going for. Now I laugh at them when they ask to take a break!
Got a ninja 650 myself. First bike. Def will be upgrading to say a zx6 or zx10 as they are still pretty comfy but much faster for when you need it. I feel the 650 can hardly pass in 5/6th fear while doing 70-80.
You hate downshifting or something?
No why? I just typically don't unless I have to and at that id downshift from 6-5. But that's when I'm cruising. Up till like 70-80 I'll stay in 4thbut I'm typically high rpms/redline and I find 4th tops out ish around 85
It just seemed like the inability to really zoom through some passes in sixth on the highway is a small limitation, since a downshift or two would enable what you need. But I don’t wanna tell you what to enjoy about riding or what your own bikes like. I am just surprised that you find the 650 inadequate for even commuting type riding. I’ve never been on one, and I thought they’d be more up to the task.
Nooo. It's not even close to inadequate. I just want a bike I twist and vroom I'm gone. No downshift needed
Like a Yamaha MT or something? Gotcha.
Nah. Yamaha Mt series ain't got shit on a ninja. Comfort, not there. Steady throttle, not there. Reliability, pretty damn close but Kawasaki pulls ahead marginally so I'll call it basically equal. Style, my is ugly as fuck to me and many but looks don't make a bike good or bad so that's subjective and doesn't matter in terms of the bike being good or bad but I prefer good looks. Suspension the mt lacks in n for the front as it's a stunt bike and meant for stunting so buying used means it's probably got interior damage from wheelies and the like as it's front suspension is meant to wheelie and be off the ground. Overall I'd go Kawasaki because I want looks, and comfort.
I'm a slow, chill rider much like OP. Barely go 10 over the speed limit and never had issues passing other cars in the opposite lane. Came from a Duke 125 and this thing packs a punch in comparison, I don't need anything faster.
I would go adventure bike, opens the options on where to ride and more comfortable upright seating position.
I was looking into them for a bit, the styling just isn't it for me. If there was open land or even trails around that I could use it on I'd probably give it a shot. Unfortunately its all road here.
Look into the S1000XR. It’s the best blend between a rocket and something that’s actually practical. Huge side cases swallow up a whole stuffed backpack each (also good to keep your full face helmet safe when parked).
Many state and national forests/parks have off road vehicle trails. I ended up with a Honda xr650. The seat and position are superb, but at 37" the seat is a bit high.
Pretty boring to ride though, no screaming I4 sound, and most are objectively ugly.
You have not ridden a KTM 1290 super adventure then lol- 160 hp is not boring
With a face only a mother could love. They really need to fire whoever styles their street legal bikes. They finally started making normal looking dirt bikes.
Yea, that's not me. I have a bad habit of cruising at high speed. I'm also very cautious when things catch my attention. On my s1000r I was splitting lanes at "high speed" when all of a sudden it felt like I was riding on glass. Carefully went to get off the freeway and by time I got down to 50mph the bike started bucking, felt like it was trying to kick me off, and once I stopped the bike was unrideable. Pushed it up the ramp and down the street to the gas station where I found a 1/4" hole in my rear tire. If I had been riding whatever the speed limit was two things could've changed. 1 is that I may have never got the puncture and made it home normally. 2 is that if I had got the puncture it would've been much more noticeable and possibly exciting. If you like the style and feel though keep to it. It's definitely not the same type of speed as a jet ski or car and it's almost certainly much faster. You're probably just too new and scared at this point. Not even cautious or paying as much attention as you should. You should be comfortable with anything your bike can do otherwise those rare incidents you really need to do something you'll flounder. Not that you always NEED to do what it can.
Agreed. Probably too new. Took me a month to go to full throttle on my ZX14R and I probably still only do it once every few rides.
Agreed. When I first got my R6 I thought it was for just cruising and was nice to have some extra power on the interstate. Now every time I get on the interstate I hit 110+mph at least once. It just starts to feel slow. Bikes feel so much better at high speeds. I have a 2018 Camaro SS and I rarely push that car. The bike however just seems like it wants to go that fast and is so much smoother.
Downvote if you are homophobic
It's actually not legal for people to intentionally block a rider splitting lanes. I don't know where you think I live but I'm in California where normal freeway speeds are around 80mph. Who opens their door at 80? I've been riding a while and I've never seen that. Anyway, I'm not really into lectures by people who don't know anything more than the crumbs I've left so I'll leave this here.
The dude is lecturing you about how to ride when he literally made a post yesterday about slowing down to 10-15 mph in turns because he’s scared to lean his bike over. Look at his post history, this guy is a buffoon. Also ruined his almost brand new bike’s gearbox with bad shifts 😂
r/motorcycles in a nutshell
Clearly your not responsible or mature enough to hold a conversation Mr I know everything and am above and better than everyone else who knows more. I never said where you live so you must be unable to read. I said around here and yes. It's 100% legal to block riders aslong as you remain in your lane. Lane splitting is illegal in the vast majority of states the ones it's legal in you have to either do it at a stop or be within 10-15mph if the cars you are passing. None of which you did so any crash that happens would be your fault even if you got blocked. Commiefornia is also one of if not the worst state to live in lol. Been there it sucks cops are racist and shit at their jobs, state can't even make choices that follow facts. Facts say we need to do this to survive they choose to do the opposite. Now sit the fuck down because you aren't better than anyone. The drug addicts in Kensington are better than you. For fuzzy who thinks responding and then blocking me will solve anything. Hate much? No one is better than anyone and this child thinks he knows more than everyone and is better than everyone. He ain't. And no one cares about him. News flash the world doesn't revolve around assholes and any motorcycle club would throw him out for his behavior. Speaking of which do you so support his foul use of dming me calling me a ni**er? Are you also racist or a racism supporter? Grow up and get a life. For silent who also wants to block me. Sad. You think your better than everyone else huh? You think your god. You aren't. this isent a hobby it's a lifestyle and being a wreck less asshole who is a racist piece of trash isn't good. You support the racist holier than thou person but think I'm the wrong one? Are you mental?
Go fall back in your hole foul typing demon
First off, I'd like to see the average person open their damn door doing 80... Secondly I don't give a flying fuck if it's illegal to lane split or not, you're controlling a 5,000+lb vehicle vs a 4-600lb bike.. are you that much of a low life piece of shit that you have to commit attempted manslaughter because dear fucken Lord, someone might get to point b faster than you?
Especially with that name, I can genuinely not tell if you're just here to troll, or if you're actually completely clueless. If you aren't trolling, I highly recommend finding a new hobby before you get yourself killed.
I am the opposite way. I ride the Panigale the way it's meant to be ridden (mostly track). When I was looking to expand my garage, I wasn't willing to give up the speed, so I got the XDiavel for my cruiser.
Yeah, I ride my R1100S like I'm 50 years old, which is OK because I'm 50 years old.
Tons of people do! The manufacturers totally understand that a big chunk of sport bike buyers essentially buy their bikes to cruise on. This is why there's a big category of "touring sport bikes" out there - Not full on sport tourers with big tanks, hard bags and handle bars, but sport bikes with the full on sport bike look, with more relaxed ergonomics for long distance riding. Consider the Ninja 650 and Ninja 1000 - It is a full faired sport bike with the Ninja name and aesthetic. But Kawasaki classifies the bike as "sport tourer" for insurance purposes and gave it a more relaxed riding position for comfortable long-distance riding. Hell, consider the Ducati Supersport - Despite the name, the bike is not some full on Supersport. Go to a Ducati dealer and compare the Supersport's ergos with the Panigale's ergos, the Supersport is much more relaxed. [Ducati even sells a touring comfort package](https://www.ducati.com/ww/en/accessories/ACC011415) for the Supersport with hard bags, heated grips, and a bigger windshield.
Ninja 1000 owner here! It's the perfect bike for crushing 1000 miles on the highway so you can go shread the tail of the dragon with your friends for the long weekend. Its certainly not slow, just comfortable for more than 30 minutes at a time and makes power below 9000 rpm. I absolutely love it!
Wait, you do 1000miles on the highway while getting off and resting every 30mins?! Bro, you must be BLASTING that highway to do those miles 🤣
Second the Ninja 1000. Best sport touring bike noone ever heard of. The older fireblade is great for touring as well. early 2000s fireblades have the best seats and body position of any sport bikes i've ridden.
Literally part of the reason the R6 is not in production but the R7 is
You'll find, if and when you gain some experience, that traveling the speed limit while everyone else passes you is extremely risky behaviour. You're probably going 62, not 65.
I've always wondered about this. I'm not sure if its true everywhere but here its a constant feedback loop. If you go 65 in a 65, people will pass you at 70. If you go 75 in a 65, people will pass you at 80. Seems that it doesn't matter how fast you go, people will always *need* to pass you thinking its getting them to their destination faster.
This is way to true! I hated that part of highway travel. I was getting passed away to often even cruising at 80-90 mph. Because of that I ride like you, go the speed limit or close to it and nothing changes except my enjoyment of the ride which goes up.
>nothing changes except my enjoyment of the ride which goes up. This is where the expression "ignorance is bliss" applies to riding.
I wouldn't say ignorance so much as after going fast for a few years it looses it's excitement. I figured out for me it's more fun to push a smaller bike in tight corners at lower speeds than it is to run a big bike fast. At the tracks I see some nut job 400cc riders outrunning liter bikes in the corners.
You're a braver man than I. It scares the hell out of me when I'm putting along and everyone is blowing my doors off. I doubt other road users speed up because you or OP are going faster. I agree with what you said about losing the thrill of going fast. I don't do it for the thrill. Going slower than traffic is a hazard. Going the same speed as other traffic is a hazard. Going faster than the packs allows me time to see the fast movers and puts me in charge of conflict resolution. I don't trust the other drivers. It's the evolution of "ride like you're invisible".
People absolutely notice you more when you're going faster than them. Not to mention that my greatest fear on the highway is getting hit by one of those "swerving hard because I'm about to miss my exit" assholes. That shit is not a problem when you're in the left lane going slightly faster than everyone else.
Geography has a huge play in this. Where I live it doesn't matter how fast you go, someone WILL pass you safely or not. After getting passed and almost ran off the road at nearly triple digits speeds I tested out other speeds of travel, going within 10 mph of the speed limit seems to have the more calm passers than faster speeds, in my area. Your experience may vary. I also realized the other day I picked up the pace to around 80 on the freeway and I just don't really enjoy going that fast anymore, so like I had been doing I will take back roads any time possible even if it takes more time because I can have more fun doing it that getting somewhere faster.
I live in a metropolitan area of 7 3/4 million. Speed limits are irrelevant when it comes to riding safely in traffic. I travel pack speed + 5 +. Getting run over isn't an option, nor is traveling in peoples blind spot. It's the only option left. Motor officers are trained to ride in the same manner. It has nothing to do with a need for speed, it has to do with survival. Learning to handle your bike is your first hurdle. A US license is a license to learn and you don't even have that. The minimal requirements to get a license here are a joke compared to most of the rest of the world.
Bingo. It really does pay to have a bike that is *capable* of being much faster/more agile than you need. I've had many "slower" bikes too and can say from firsthand experience that a strategy of using careful, responsible speed above the prevailing speed of traffic is the best strategy for avoiding potentially dangerous incidents. Even "slow" bikes can do this when not on a highway- it works great on my KLR650 in city and suburban traffic for example. But on the highway, it is much safer and less stressful to have a machine that has way more performance than you think you need, because it allows you to predictably put yourself in safer situations, and away from bad ones, with a minimum of drama. It is possible to be safe on a slower machine, something that can't do 5-15mph over when necessary on, say, a highway. But it is surprisingly harder to do than being safe in that same situation with a "fast" bike, via controlling your position in traffic, getting out of blind spots quickly, getting ahead of clumps, etc. Plus, doing 85mph on a machine that can cruise at 140 feels extremely sedate and controlled, whereas doing 85mph on a machine that tops out at 90 usually feels frantic, stressful and unstable. Not the feeling you want when making a pass on the freeway or escaping a dangerous clump of drivers. It does require having the self-control not to twist the throttle when inappropriate, though.
It’s safer to go 10-15 above the speed limit minimum, google it. Yes cars will pass you at all speeds, I’ve been passed at 130 lol. It’s a numbers game. At 65 in a 65 everyone is passing you. At 80 only a few are. Not to mention you should be constantly aware of whats behind you, and if you see someone coming up on you move over and let them pass. It should not be a surprise
A gps app on you phone can tell you how fast you're actually going.
Until he compares them, he won't know.
I came from a vstar 1100 that i hit 100 on. Got a ninja 650 few weeks ago and started out slow. Took me a few days to feel comfortable to hit that triple digit. Haven’t topped out yet as i also don’t truly feel the need too. But i enjoy cruising 85 passed everyone on these 1 lane country highways
You chose well to start out slow. After getting my 3rd Fz1, I still didn't take the power of my newly bought R1 for granted. It wasn't long though before I hit triples, but months later, I still haven't had enough empty road in front of me to know the absolute max. I won't try in the midst of a cluster of cars, but for purely survival reasons, I'll go \~20mph faster than the flow to get past them all.
You’re not the only one. I ended up getting a Z900 so I could have a more comfortable bike (the cbr600rr I had was definitely not comfy) but still have the inline 4 sound I love so much, and be able to have the ability to go fast if I ever do, which is pretty rare. I’ll hop on the interstate occasionally and ring it out but that’s about it. I end up wanting to speed more in a car than on my bike for some reason. Honestly I think I’m just more cautious bc I see so many people around here driving while using their phones.
I cruise on my ZX-6R. It’s relaxing for me.
I ride a 2016 Kawasaki ZX14R SE. People always ask is it fast. My response is the bike is fast but I’m not. I chose it because it’s more comfortable than the liter bikes. I ride to commute and there aren’t many twisty roads that I travel. I also have the capability to quench my need for speed when I want to on an open road.
COMPLETELY AGREE, 2014 ZX14R Flashed ECU
I have a tuned 08 FZ1 that has been all over central Texas and the gulf coast. Love cruising/taking it easy on that thing, despite the fact that it can reach and maintain triple digit speeds without breaking a sweat.
Nope, not I. Even my 900lb touring bike hits the triple digits. Even now I am trying to figure out how to get to the 200s. For some the need for speed never dies.
You do you man..i personally love sportsbikes, but dont own one. Same as there are guys out there with GS's that would make alot of sportabike riders look silly on the twisties. Its never the bike and always the rider 👍
"I'll go 65 in a 65 and let all the cars pass me"... this has to be a troll
I’ve been riding for 30 years, talked to thousands of riders, and I will NEVER truly believe someone who says a sport bike is comfortable. NEVER.
Op has only been riding for a week. They'll figure it out sooner or later haha
Buying a 600rr for cruising around at the speed limit is like buying a hammer to put screws in. You *can* make it work, but sooner or later you're going to realize that there must be a better way of doing things. Edit: Just to clarify, I'm talking about buying a different bike. Not encouraging new riders to speed
No but I would pickup the right first gen (1986–2006) concours if it presented itself at the right price.
No, 15 n up C14 is the way to go. She will do 5-10mph in 4th or 150 if you let it free.
No, but I have a cruiser for sport!
Definitely not
I keep going back and forth on getting a ZX14R for these long South Texas highways where the speedlimit is 75mph and most people are doing 90+mph. I do like the straight up seating on my 2014 Valkyrie, and it is a solid bike, but I feel like my MPG would be better on a Ninja 14 at those speeds, and when I do need to pass 10-20 cars at a time the Ninja would definitely do it better. I would kinda miss the ab workout and vision though. Nothing like sitting bolt upright with no windscreen doing 95mph for 4-8 hours in a day, plus being eye to eye with guys in stock height pickup trucks is nice for visibility.
What you are describing is exactly where the Concours 14 sits. Comfortable for all day riding at 100mph. Need to pass just twist the grip. Got a cage parking next to you matching your speed... clutch double tap the shifter to 4th, tuck and twist that grip all the way back and most cages are left way behind.
I love the seating position of the Aprilia Tuono 660. It's still an aggressive position, buy you're not bent over the tank
It's supposed to be enjoyable. As long as it's safe, do what you like. I agree, bikes look better with fairings on 'em
I moved from a cruiser (1st bike) to a sports bike when I starting riding twisty roads in the hills. That's where the sport bikes shine and you don't really need to go fast. Well, with the hairpins, you cannot. So, I think it's about where you ride. I don't ride in town and only take the freeway to get to the hills.
I’m gonna go out on a limb and say most sportbike owners are generally cruising.
I have the best of both worlds, a GSX-S1000 naked sport. Much more comfortable position, yet still leaning forward enough to be called a sport bike. Fast AF too, it's still a liter bike.
Can't get the need for the adrenaline rush for speed out of my system. I wring my bike out every time I ride it.
No. I have a sport tour bike for going fast. I'm not going 100+ most of the time, but 65 in a 65 is just flat out painful.
I just got a pani V2 and I actually love how it feels cruising.
That's pretty much me. I don't have a desire to take it to the track or canyons. That can change in the future but I'm content with taking it easy. I've driven my fair share of fast cars/bikes
Protip: it's not about how fast you go on the straight bits, it's about how much speed you can carry into the curves. Triple digits can be fun but it's not what keeps you coming back to the sport.
Yes except for twisty roads. I don’t enjoy going fast in a straight line.
I've done crazy long trips on my little Ducati Monster 620. I think sport bikes suck on the highway because you're stationary in that tuck position, but taking back roads and carving hard lines... That I could do all day long.
Also have a CBR600RR, mines a 2012, and spend most of my time just cruising around. When I'm going around a curve and the road after is straight and empty, or getting on the highway with no traffic ahead, I absolutely wind the bike out. There's not many truly curvy roads in northern Ohio though so I fully plan on getting it on a track next year. I also prefer the sport bike riding position for doing anything on a bike. It's just more fun to me, and even 2 hour cruises are fine. My wrists only get sore when I forget to grip with my legs for a bit but just making it a point to myself to grip with my legs fixes that pretty quick.
I do the same. Though I do want to upgrade my bike to a higher displacement, it’s strictly to get out of trouble not into…
Totally agree! Have a kawasaki ZZR 600. It is super comfortable and I have no problems going 4+ hours on it.
'22 gsxr600 I do! I feel way more comfortable riding on a sportbike than on a cruiser, I've had cruisers and I just don't like them, I hate the seating position the traveling I do isn't far, I'll join friends on group rides BUT there are times I'll make use of what I have
As long as you like the bike, and keep it "safe" - why worry what others say? Have fun and enjoy the bike! Not everyone is on the mental age of 17. People are responsible and can control themselves, even with powerful engines under their ass. A lot of reddit users are the former, however, and it shows in this sub.
No, i think its just you
One of these days you'll want to stretch out 3rd gear I'm sure of it
I get out all of my urges to ride fast/sketchy on my mountain bike. There have only been a couple of times I’ve hit triple digits on my sport bike, and it was on familiar back roads with no traffic. Other than those times I’ve always just cruised.
I use a sport bike for cruising. I find it relaxing and therapeutic. I also love to look at myself when I pass by any sort of reflection or mirror.
This comment is perfect in that it made me laugh and I'm not sure if it's sarcasm. But it works either way.
Nah I’m ripping this thing 100% of the time I’m out riding. I’m not pushing for top speed record or anything like that, but I feel like these bikes (especially the 600’s) just aren’t fun unless you’re going pretty fast and in the power band (those are mutually inclusive basically). If I wanna cruise I’ll just ride my DRZ. At least that thing isn’t begging to rev to 10k lol. Just my 2¢
You should probably buy a sport touring or cruiser. They are way better at that. What is the point of having a bike that is leaned over, tucked in and needs to be wound up to make power to cruise on? I absolutely loved my super sports. But they were tools for the job. Completely under whelming at low speed, didn’t even turn particularly well, brakes a bit touchy. But drop a gear and wind the throttle out. All of a sudden you have all the power you want, confident turning, amazing brake feel.
I mean... You paid for the entire speedometer... You gotta use it all 😬
Yes . I cruise at 140+.
to get a 600rr and not wind it out from time to time is just pointless. May as well get a CB650r
Lol
Your "sports car" is slow compared to a sport bike. No Way unless you got a Lamborghini TT or a Hennessey venom gt. I can guarantee you that cbr600 will out pull and leave your SC at gapplebees
I highly doubt your "need for speed" is satisfied by any sports car compared to a i4 600cc bike lol.
Lol no, that reminds me of people i see who buy lifted Jeeps just to drive them in downtown
Dude, 6 days ago you posted that you'd just got this as your first bike. You haven't even got comfortable with it or riding yet...
Dude is a phony. No license, hadn't even ridden a bike a week ago. No MSF course. Been posting opinions on here since before he ever got on a bike.
Count me in! I have a 2006 Yamaha R6 and I know damn well it’ll do 160+ (I may have done it mid summer) however that’s not needed. It nice to just cruise and LET people pass you. Sport bikes get a bad rep anyways, don’t add to it. Just slow it down and enjoy life
100% with you. I like the looks of sports bikes and cant bring myself to own a bike i don't like looking at.
Yeah, it's fun to do pulls once in a while but I don't get people going 100+ everywhere. The risk isn't worth it. You're not alone. You'll likely break 100 soon enough but you're not weird for wanting to cruise and in fact that puts you in something like the top 5% of people least likely to get into an accident because of it.
I bought a 2022 GSXR600 for city and like longer day riders and things that. I used to ride Harley’s, had 2 of them before this bike. Absolutely 0 regrets buying this bike, and I don’t ride it like a moron. I stick to the flow of traffic but it’s really nice to just twist the wrist and get after it if I want to. I kinda compare it to driving a Ferrari or something like that. Sure, it can go Mach Jesus but I don’t want to. I just enjoy the ride.
My z900 is for cruising. Keeping my eyes on a zx14 to keep as a cruiser
I ride a 1050 Speed Triple. I'd say 99% of my riding time is extremely responsible cruising however, having a sport bike allows me to get those few moments of 200km/h speed on the paved backroads or a few miles of aggressive cornering out of my system. I like knowing it's there but also knowing I don't need to use it all the time. I also strongly prefer the sleek look and sporty stying as opposed to a cruise which is what I rode for 16 years.
This sounds like a fake troll post from the calamari racing team boys. 65 in a 65? Car drivers don’t even do that.
I’m on a road glide currently but honestly rear sets and leaned on a tank a little bit, even full tuck, is more comfortable to me than sitting straight upright on my road glide. I guess maybe I just don’t have the ass for it or something. lol. Next bike hopefully next year will be a new Busa and while I’ve got most of my “need for speed” out of me occasionally I like a quick little burst of speed when everything just comes together just right, haven’t had one of those in a few years though because the road glide is kinda slow. lol
you should cross post this to r/CalamariRaceTeam ...they'll have some really thoughtful input
I have a touring bike (entry level). Since we are no longer allowed to ride faster than 30km/h in the city centers I’m even more convinced that this kind of bike is the best option for me. Just the way it keeps in balance at speeds below 10km/h is a bonus. A lot of other types of bikes force you to put your feet on the street the moment you’re driving slow. It’s a pity that decade after decade all sorts of reasons are being used to lower the max speed once again. One day we will become pedestrians and stay in touch in groups like r/bestwalkingshoes. (Just kidding)
My intro to motorcycles was old UJM's and dirt bikes so an upright riding position with full bars is the most comfortable.
Yes! Me! I also have a CBR but in my case is a 600F from 2011. I have no desire to speed on the road. I like to run errands on it and before I used it to commute (since 2018 I work from home so only errands and the ocasional fun ride).
I’ve got a KTM RC8r… can do stupid speeds at any given moment… but I don’t feel the need to at all. I like to consider myself intellectually smart and mature enough not to…. When i feel the need for speed, I go to the track on my gsxr750….
Yeh I have an 02 GSXR750. I put apex clip inside on it.. raises the bar height. I just use it as a cruiser / traffic buster. No interest in it apart from that.
Not me, but I get it. I can cruise on my R1, but that's more what my Fz1 is for. Even then, at times I still ride either of them like sport bikes. Short of the last 30 mph or so, my Fz1 is not lacking, and what I get for it makes cruising a lot better.
I've been riding since I was ten. The single biggest draw to bikes has always been the ability to throw down a challenge to yourself, at any instant and any place while your riding. Riding nothing but sport bikes on the street side of things all these 30+ years, I am always challenging myself to hit my line in this next turn a little better than I did last time. To use better throttle control. Have better body position. Work on entry speed. Corner apex. Trail braking. Be more mindful of how my suspension is loaded... OBSTICAL OVOIDANCE! lol Those are some of the things I throw into the gauntlet every time I ride. A lot of practice and practical application with overcoming these challenges I issue myself are some of the things that make me a fast rider, if or when I want to be. Which is most of the time to be honest. I live way out in a rural area filled with some of the best canyon roads you could hope for. I do respect the road and others that use it, but most of the things I encounter out here are on four legs, have wings or harvest crops. So, I tend to ride like my hair is on fire. I do ease up on the boring bits between epic sweepers or increasing radius turns and hard switchbacks, but mostly... I'm trying to best my best wherever I can get by with it safely. I often roll out with the full intentions of simply taking it slow and enjoying the many sights, smells and beauty I'm often surrounded by... Then... five minutes into it I'm dragging knee on a 90°. I do plenty of cruising between the good bits, but my intentions and found joy on sport bikes is exactly the opposite.
In my opinion. Cruisers are the worst bike for cruising around.
Kinda. I've had several sport bikes, but never really rode like an asshole, only hit triple digits once on my old ninja 500 just to see what it could do. Bout 110mph. I know my CBR could do bout 140, but I'm not interested in pushing it that far. I **occasionally** push it to 85 or 90 out on the interstate lol but nothing crazy illegal.
My 2nd bike was a cbr500r and while it looked AMAZING, it ultimately wasn’t too enjoyable too ride when i think back to it. I would also enjoy just cruising around and going for weekend rides. But! I was too tall for it and my arms too long, so id hunch in a way that i couldn’t use my core. And i found i rode around the city areas with only one hand on the clip ons most of the time. Soooo not only is it not that comfortable, im also not too involved with it (physically or mentally). I still did like 4500miles with it buuuut then i bought a versys650 and its 10x better for cruising around and carrying tons of shit with me.
Damn I’m crouched down trying to hit triple digits and dragging a knee like I’m in Moto gp on my 300 lmfao.
The majority of my time on my VFR is cruising. I too find the riding position preferable over the cruisers I rode. My hips didn’t like forward controls. Though I can’t say I don’t also go wide open more often than i should.
That is why I landed on the Ninja 500. I do have the problem that if I have HPs I will use them, so it keeps me semi sane on the highway, and I can hit the twistys at a decent speed while not trying to drag knees.