If ya go the FZ1 route, you'll find that they make their power a little different compared to a regular R1... Tuned and cam'd for more midrange...

But it sounds like you might be happy with a Triumph Sprint...






sv1k for $4500

I love that Blue Joey.... friend of yours or random internet find?

The Bandit is not really much different in weight over the SV 1000, but to be honest, out of the list you posted, the SV 1000 is going to be the best bike.

Here is my take on all of these, and I do have experience with them...

TL1000S- Excellent power. Comfy, but suspension can be funky if it's not upgraded. Parts are getting harder to find.

VFR 800- The best nuetral handling bike on the list, but lacking in power. Maintenance can be a ***** and expensive depending on what year.

Bandit 1200- Best bang for the buck out there. Loads of power and comfortable. Plenty of parts available. Handling is actually very good with minor mods. This is a bike I miss owning.

Super hawk- A very under rated bike, but not a very good two up bike. Good power and handling.

Ducati M s2r- Ducati maintenance costs. Not exactly college student material.

Z1000- Very good power and handling. Lacks wind protection.

FZ1- The 1st generation bikes are carbureted and comfortable with excellent power, while the 2nd gen bike has FI. Soft on the bottom, but big power on top. I almost bought one last year after demoing one on the track.

bmw *****- See the Ducati post......

The SV 1000 is going to do everything you want, and can be bought pretty cheap.

dallas craigslist... 05 for $5200... pretty decent deal considering the mileage of 38k miles...

ducati 748?

get outta here...

748 is a nice sport bike and i thought about it a few times . but as soon as Stephie saw the seat on it she almost cried and gave me a "buy what ever you want, sweetie. it's your money." speech. dont get me wrong she doesn't want to hold me back but she likes riding too... ya know.

yeah top on my list is the sv1000 & bandit 1250! i think i could own one of those...
but ill look into a triumph sprint... it looks really cool!

The VFR isn't a V-twin, it's two of them bolted together! There's a reason (actually several) why they hold their value so well. That V-4 engine is incredible, they make power where you really need it and they're comfortable as all get-out. If money weren't an issue I'd have one.

Depending on how far you like to go and where you want to be on the comfort-vs-performance curve you might want to check out a Concours 1100. It's a bit towards the comfort side but it's a nice bike-comfortable, smooth and parts are way cheap since Kawi didn't change it much at all from 1986-2004.

The Sprint is a very nice machine... some stiffer front springs and a better saddle help along the way to "great"

In 06 the bags became a standard factory option... so don't let them try to charge to too much extra for them if you find one without.

Another vehicle that's kin to the SV1000 is the Vstom 1000. It's classified as an adventure touring bike but it could work for you. It has plenty of aftermarket support, whether it be luggage, windscreens, suspension, etc.


I kinda supprised you didn't tout your Aprilia Futura.


The Aprilia Futura is one that falls with the parameters as well:

V-twin 1000cc
Center stand
5-1/2 gallon gas tank, although plastic
Fuel injection
adjustable suspension
single sided swingarm
hard luggage
supposedly an excellent windshield from what I've read

kawi concours is a really big and heavy inline 4 powered bike. (like the bandit) If it came down to me getting a heavy bike i'd get a bandit or VFR. The dry weight on an sv 1000 is 415lbs whitch is super low for a bike in it's class which is more apealing to me because im not always going to have a passenger. I would use this second bike to go around town when im working on the kat.

the sprint actually beings up another idea. ive never owned a triple, nor have i ever driven one. but i hear that they are the middle ground between 4s and twins. i kinda have always wanted to try one...

but the sprint st is a heavy bike too. and more exspensive than a bandit of the same year. (bandits aren't FI but i feel i know enough about the kat that i wouldn't have a problem figuring out how to tune a bandit, so once again if i must settle for a cow , my cow will be a bandit.)

but the capible street triple is a light and comfy looking bike with an inline 3 but it's a lil pricey ... is there a bike that preceeds it?

the sv1000 is leading in my search because the sv is 70lb lighter than the compareable bandit. it doesn't sound like much but once you step in oil or a pot hole at a stop light you will feel it.

Both the bandit and the sv650 have a HUGE parts industry which is something that the sv1000 lacks.


wow i had just gotten out od the bathroom after reading sportriders buyers guide and saw the vstrom is still for sale in 2009 and i was thinking.... thats almost an sv1000. (just heavier by ~100lbs). which means that this bike IS technically in the running too along side all the other heavy bikes. but more importanly that means the sv1000 motor is still being made, and i bet i can find similar parts between the sv models and vstroms. meaning that the sv1000 may have a parts market compairible to the bandits. which is a big bonus for me.


oh i forgot Buells. wow the longer i search for bikes the more i find that may fit my specs.

so the list stands
sv1000
sv650
bandit
buell xb12
V strom
speed/ street triple - a lil pricey once again ... are these comfy?
sprint st

If the Vstrom wasn't so ugly, I would definitely consider it. It has more relaxed ergos, more of a standard, upright position.

If the Vstrom looked like the Aprilia Caponord, I'd all over that. If the Caponord was as light as the Vstrom, I'd be all over that.

Don't forget the Triumph Sprint 955i or the Triumph RS 955i.

I would, but these are niche bikes. He mentions parts availability, and that is something very lacking with these. Want to try and find a close by dealer to work on one that actually KNOWS what they are doing? Good luck. Consider this: The dashes are KNOWN to fail. I am the one that came up with the fix for these, and mine still goes out from time to time for no apparent reason.

The charging system wiring MUST be modified for reliability.

The rectifiers tend to fail unless you run an aftermarket one, which costs about $130.

Starter solenoids suck. I run a Yamaha one.

Electrical gremlins.

The swing arm, while sexy, has a tendancy to break if the pinch bolts for the chain adjuster are not tightened or loosed slowly and alternately. The king bearing for teh swing arm is $170 bucks, and good luck finding one if yours goes out.

I love this bike and have no intentions of parting with it, and would happily recommend it to many, but not a guy in college. If you get a good one, they are great, but if you get one with problems, they can be a nightmare.

One thing to remember about the Vstrom is since it's an adventure tourer, it has a very high seat height. My friend has a Vstrom 650 and the thing is almost as tall as a dirt bike.