My buddy has a VFR. Pretty nice ride.

A lot of the members on this board have had their bike for a very long time....many of them wouldn't think of getting rid of them. The Kat may go away, but that will only make the ones still around more unique!

I'm sure what I'll buy but if I had to make a choice I'm thinking the SV1000s. It's sporty and relatively comfortable to ride with good horsepower and torque.

I am hoping some of the Rumors are true and there will be a 600cc +/- single cylinder sportbike in the next year or so.

If not, probably a Ducati 800 Super Sport.

Carl-

A VFR, then a GSX-R600, then a Tuono, the an XR650L, then a Mille R, then an FZ1.

But, I'd sell the VFR to buy the XR650L. But, I'd probably sell the XR fairly soon after buying it. I'd then sell the GSX-R. Then, I'd sell the Mille. Then, I'd buy the FZ1.

Yeah, that sounds about right. Maybe I'll do that.

I have been thinking about Yamaha Vmax

Daytona 675...it is untouchable

Given my personal riding style, where I ride, how far I ride, what weather I tend to ride in (lots of rain), I have a set of criteria for whatever bike I have as my main "ride" -- and any secondary bikes can avoid having to fulfill that.

Given that I was giving up the Kat (primary), I would be looking for many of the same features that made the Kat an attractive choice to me in the first place:
1. Riding posture. This is probably the single most critical choice to me -- need something that has this approximate riding position to be comfy for my long rides as well as my local commuting. I don't want the race crouch, thanks.
2. Fairly full weather protection at speed. That means full fairings, whether stock or available an aftermarket option.
3. Smooth engine. I won't permit myself to suffer a ton of vibrations mile after mile after mile.
4. Good to great lighting. Both on the road and in terms of visibility of the rider to others. Better lighting always is a major factor in my decisions.
5. Availability of storage. Doesn't have to be underseat, and it doesn't have to be stock, but I need hard-sided saddlebags available for the bike that are reasonably large (Givi to the rescue).
6. Severe wet weather reliability (most of the Italian bikes lose out on this one, as do older Brit bikes).

Then there's the "gee, it'd be nice if..." stuff, like "Gee, it'd be nice if the bike had:"
(A) a good torque band low enough that I can be in it at 70, 80 mph in top gear so I can maximize my acceleration without having to kick down three gears to hit it. I don't care if this is because the torque band coincides with the speed or if it's just particularly torque rich all over.
(B) a shaft drive would be nice again. Chains are over-rated.
(C) a higher top speed and/or a larger gas tank.
(D) a stock or optional centerstand so I can easily work on it road-side.
(E) a long valve service interval, easily accessible oil drain and oil filter, high reliability.
(F) a weight between 430 and 530 lbs wet. Lighter than that and it starts getting flighty in torrential downpours, hydroplaning too easily...
(G) Great handling. Of course, who doesn't want great handling... But it's not as critical to me as all-day riding comfort.
(H) Injection would be good, but really ought not be snatchy coming off closed-throttle.

If Kawasaki rolls out their proposed GTR, it'll be a serious contender. So would any sport-touring bike based around the Stratosphere concept. Some of the BMW's might qualify, if I can justify the cost (not real happy with the degree of computer power needed to do all the diagnostics on the newest generations though). Triumph's Sprint ST is a serious contender, but I don't like the heat the fans generate and dump on my legs in the Florida weather -- maybe a future revision will change where the heat ducts when the fans come on (like Yamaha did with the FJR's).

Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet

CBR1100XX......... just cuz I've wanted one since they came out.

In all reality, though, I'm a Suzuki kinda guy, and would probably stick with them. Bandit 1200S or SV1000.

+1

Probably a Gixxer. (One month of owning the Kat and already thinking about the Gixxer .... dream on )

Someday when I learn to ride maybe.

If I get rid of my Kat it means I'm getting a GSX-R 750 (when I can get an '06+ used). I don't think I could ever own a cruiser of any kind. They are comfy as all hell, but I just don't find them fun to ride. Feels like I'm riding an easy chair down the street as opposed to a motorcycle...

SV 1000 Probably.

Busa, I just love that bike.