I love my ZX14, but I have been wanting to get something lighter and smaller for riding in the twisties and some occasional track days. I thought I might like a naked, so I test rode Triumph's Street Triple and Street Triple R. Nice bikes, the R suspension and brakes were definitely better, but I am not sure I am sold on the whole naked thing. All of my bikes have had fairings...

I tried the Daytona, same engine as the Street Triples, but holy cramped cockpits Batman...I could tell my wrists would be whining after a couple of hours in that saddle, not to mention my legs and ass. Maybe a sargent, helibars and rearsets would help, but stock no way - - love the engine, suspension and brakes, ergo's...uh, no!!

My big problem is I LOVE the torque we have from our motors...I want something smaller and lighter but I still want to have that torquey feeling. I'm not looking to set trackday lap records, I will save that for my cages...

What do you guys and gals recommend or even better, own, for a smaller, lighter, sporty but still torquey ride for the twisties and trackdays???

Cheers!!

My buddy has had this Speed Triple for a while and recently bought a Kawi Z1000. Also a naked. He loves the torque of the Triumph and the zippiness and throttle response of the Z1000. I've ridden both and they're quite awesome. Something about that Triumph that gives it more personality though. He keeps up quite nicely on our weekend rides, regardless of which bike he decides to bring. If you want a full fairing lighter bike, budget will obviously dictate choice, but I really like the GSXR-750's a lot. They seem to fit taller riders well (I'm 6'3") and the seat can be swapped for something more comfy. Folks aren't giving 'em away though.

bahnzi: Time for a 2nd bike, lighter/smaller but still sporty fun

I'd check out the Honda/Kawasaki/Yamaha 600cc crotch rockets.

Does Suzuki make a 600cc crotch rocket too?

try a soooperdoook....its mental on a whole different level!!

very torquey motor and lighter than a zippo!! (get a new one tho as the fuelling on the old ones can be iffy!)

DZINURZZ I agree the 600-750 in that class+ gsx750,in last mnths mag I read did A test on all mentioned and the triple came out top!

If you love the torque,go with a twin.KTM,Aprilia,Ducati.Plenty of good deals out there I bet.Or a 05-06 636???

I'd check out the Honda/Kawasaki/Yamaha 600cc crotch rockets.
Does Suzuki make a 600cc crotch rocket too?

I'm undecided b/n these two emoticons as of which one describes how I feel
about that post. Please, choose from:

and

Sharing info is what it's all about.

AFAIC.

Does Suzuki make a 600cc crotch rocket too?

--and a 750.

* Last updated by: Rook on 8/15/2010 @ 10:48 AM *

Thanks for the suggestions...I was able to sit on, but not ride (boooo!!), the CBR600rr, GSXR600/750 and R6. The R6 does not fit well at all for me, so that one is out. I expected the Honda to be the clear winner, but surprisingly I liked the fit of the GSXR's better.

I have not tried any of the Duc's but the maintenance is a little off-putting, but I do all my own maintenance, so that might make them more bearable for me. The Superduke's look fun, but I wonder how well they do for wind protection if you go for long'ish rides out to some twisties and back??

The Daytona is nice, if only the fit was more like the GSXR's...maybe helibars/genmars, corbin and some slightly lower foot pegs would help??

Keep the suggestions coming!!

Cheers...

If you like tq don't even think about a 600 or 750 end of story. Any new 1000 will give you what you want but don't expect much more room than a 600 or 750. The liter won't have the tq of a zx14 but most are a over a 120lbs lighter or more. So there you have it, lighter and handles better than a zx14 and still has between 75 -80 ft of tq. In terms of outright acceleration any new 1000 will be more than a match for a zx14. Stay away from the CBR and Zx10 both are cramped.

* Last updated by: willidx4 on 8/15/2010 @ 4:34 PM *

A 1000 would be an absolute sledgehammer at the track for a noob and a difficult bike
to learn how to ride smooth on.
RWHP doesn't make you fast on the track, being smooth and having good lines does.

And this is the best place to buy a track bike IMHO:

Your text to link here...

My mates gsx750(09) out muscles me in the twisties (SHIT SHRUNK WHEEL BASE) and for chuckin around fun, more nimble than 1 ltr class, plus when tucked in gets mostly out of the turbulance,and top end is'nt gay either. all said again the comparison in the mag as I previously said in thier oppinion the trump tripple wins in thier view !

My track 750 is as fast as I am, never faster.

A 1000 would be an absolute sledgehammer at the track for a noob and a difficult bike
to learn how to ride smooth on.
RWHP doesn't make you fast on the track, being smooth and having good lines does

your right but he is not looking for a dedicated track bike he stated occasional trackday

"I love my ZX14, but I have been wanting to get something lighter and smaller for riding in the twisties and some occasional track days."

My big problem is I LOVE the torque we have from our motors...I want something smaller and lighter but I still want to have that torquey feeling.

Which makes a 600 or 750 the wrong bike and a track bike out of the question.

848 dark thats it for sure

* Last updated by: willidx4 on 8/16/2010 @ 9:38 PM *

I've overlooked that.
Why sell the 14 then? Have all the torque with it and just get a 600 for the occasional track day.
Doing track days on a naked bike is not the answer either, that would be a street only bike
although I've see a few Superdukes at NJMP.
Bikes are cheap, live a little and add another one.

Doesn't change my opinion of the 1000 being a sledgehammer on the track though,
not needed for anything below fast pace in the advanced group and serious skills to go
with the big balls, otherwise the fast guys on the superlights will still be doing circles around you.
And don't take a new bike to the track if you can't afford to scratch it after the spill.

The gsxr 750 walks that 848 easily without even being close to it's torque numbers,
at half the price if both are bought used. I'm geared low and I'm banging through gears constantly
but I stay with a 1098s almost to the top of my 5th, and the rider is 20 lbs. lighter than me.
Obviously the 848 has better oem suspension and brakes than any gixxer
but then the ergos are a complete nightmare for anybody over 6', far worst than the R6.
And you go down on that thing and your credit card will be smoking for a while for sure.
A guy crashed at Monticello right in front of me on 8/4/10 on a white/red 848 and the next day was posting on the Wera forums about a seized gearbox- they really don't crash that well.
And when I was rebuilding my 750, I could buy a complete swingarm from a zero miles bike for $75 shipped-
that's not going to buy you a brake lever on the Ducati.

Rossi is with Ducati from next season on, not sure if that helps.

VERY good post! maszx14 all points you stated: I took my boys 09 GSX600r out for a "good" hard strap,I soon learnt these bikes are absolutely orsam, there was a 96 GSX1100,04 CBR1100,08 XJR1300 and 08R1 I left them all for dead in the Adelaide Hills, on the straights it took them time to catch me,at 248 kmph my 04 bird and the R1 passed by.!

* Last updated by: bean07 on 8/17/2010 @ 3:36 AM *