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Going from liter bike to middle weight?

I own both at the moment, a litre FZ1 and CBR. Bikes are like tools, there's an application for each one. The FZ1 of course is upright so it's more comfortable for long stretches and freeway but for short outings in the canyon, I can't beat the 600.

600s will also give you more usable power bands, on litres I feel like you need to contain yourself otherwise things get really out of control (hooligan style).
 
I could ride a smaller cc moto, if the frame was comfortable for a 6'2" body.
 
what's the verdict?

airrix said:
I did the same a while back. Just got a point on my record and that made a big impact on my insurance cost. Bumped down to a 600 and nearly cut the cost in half.
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Overall, are you happy you got back into the mid-weight or is it disappointing?
 
I'm thinking owning a liter sized v-twin and a high strung middle weight inline four might be a cool combo...
I just remember feeling like 600's felt very light and overall not demanding to ride. That's probably a good thing, though.
 
I went from a TL1000 to an 883 sportster...don't do that
Had to put. 1250 big bore kit in it to make myself feel better
Then I went to a softail fuck the sportster
 
chai rome said:
Has anybody gone to liter bike power and back down to middle weights? What are your experiences and thoughts?
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I briefly owned a 1000cc inline-4 and pretty much hated it. Way more power than I needed for both road and track use. With that said, I'm not sure I could go back to a 600cc bike. I thought about it the last time I was bike shopping, but wasn't really thrilled with the lack of low-end torque. For me, the Triumph Daytona 675R and especially the Suzuki GSX-R750 were much more fun than "pure" 600cc super sport bikes.

That said, I'm really loving my Multistrada 1200S. The V-twin power delivery is a lot less manic than an inline-4. The power-to-weight ratio is slightly worse than my GSX-R750 but the torque-to-weight ratio is decidedly better. All-around, it's a better street bike than the GSX-R...
 
Everyone has different wants and needs out of a bike. I used to be absolutely in love with my GSXR 750 and SV1000 before that, but once I moved to a big comfy sport touring bike for the street, I wanted nothing else.

I do love my SV650 and would take it over my former SV1000 any day. It's loads of fun, but most of the time I go out riding it's for 5+ hours and I get too uncomfortable.
 
I still have my FZ-1 and luv it but I do kind of wish Yamaha would bring back the YZF750r-or similar. My current other ride is a triple, 955 but '02 so she's lovely but built for comfort, with curves:teeth
 
I have a liter and a middle weight twin and prefer the liter for most rides. Hard for me to fault that easy going torque curve and not having to work the gearbox as hard or to carry the revs.
That said...
My riding style is more towards mellow, so I'm not too concerned about wringing the piss out of a bike for speed.
 
I had a Ducati S4, the Monster with the 916 4 valve. Real good bike, somewheres around 400-420 lbs, 95 hp and 67 lb ft O'torques. Decent midrange, strong on top, at least as strong as 95 hp can be, a good rush. Not litre bike power though. I've also had CBR1000F, again, not a true litre bike, but fast enough to get arrested on. Because I did. GSXR1000. Former Superbike, unreal amount of power, would pull the front wheel off at 6000 rpm in 4th at over 100 mph. And light the tire at the same time. Fastest thing I've ever ridden or owned. By a long way. I got it from Haas, he told me it had 185hp at the wheel and weighed 380 lbs.

Remember when a 750 was a heavyweight? Now it is a middleweight, or is a 600 a middle weight? I truly love a strong 140 mph roll on.

Anyway, I've gone backward in power. I'm right about 100hp now on the KTM 950 SM. It's enough, it works very well. But I wouldn't bet against a ZX10 or R1 or CBR1000 or another GSXR ending up in my garage at one point or another.
 
Dont go down, just go different. No way i would ever ride 600cc 4 bangers after having liters and hypers. Try a twin or a big thumper. Change it up.
 
VTR996 to ZX6R 636

636 is lighter, faster, turns and stops better but doesn't have the twin growl.

Modern 600's are more bike than 95% of us can use.

It depends on which "liter" bike you're coming from.
 
Based on the Prius drivers I've seen, nothing will out accelerate their merging speed.
 
I think any long term rider should try a liter bike and decide for themselves as we're all different.

The bike that made me get rid of my liter bike was the DRZ400SM; just more fun on the back roads around here.

For me the perfect bike is a middle weight ST which is why I've had one as a "must" as my ownership of bikes went from just one to as many as four at one time...but always a middleweight ST was in the mix.
 
budgie45 said:
I went from a TL1000 to an 883 sportster...don't do that
Had to put. 1250 big bore kit in it to make myself feel better
Then I went to a softail fuck the sportster
Click to expand...

Did you change the gearing when you went with the big bore kit?
 
I'm having way more fun on my 250's on the track vs my big bike. As matter fact if I could start all over from the beginning that's what I would start with...
This is pretty much how it is when I'm riding my 250 at the track. So much FUN!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz03sQeX02c
 
I went from a 900 Kawi Ninja to a CBR600 and right away I missed the torque off the line, but the 600 was amazingly easier to control around corners and 100 lbs lighter. The differences in modern stuff, I haven't tried :p If you don't have a problem winding a bike to the redline and keeping it in that area :D then you might like a smaller bike.
 
weasel said:
Modern 600's are more bike than 95% of us can use.
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Mine certainly is (granted, still a bit wet behind the ears).

Harley guy rolls up next to me the other day and compliments the bike, I say thanks. He asks if it's a 750, I tell him it's a 600 and he just looks confused, as if 100 hp weren't enough to do anything with.

Two minds blown in the span of 3 seconds.
 
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