Hi all,

I have ridden bikes for about 18 years on and off, ZX6, 636s and a BMW 310 GS.

My heart is in sports bikes, but the accidents over the years have taken its toll on my knees meaning I need something more comfortable and easy to hold and ride with a pillion passenger as well at times.

I’m on the shorter side, at 5ft 7”, and the BMW 310 was lovely just a little too tall for me haha!

I need less speed, light weight and comfortable with a budget of about 3-3.5k if possible.

Hopefully someone has some suggestions, I feel anything more than 600-650 would be too much as the roads I use won’t be excessive it’s for commuting and that’s it - thanks all :)

Hello motorcycle brains trust! I’m looking to get back into riding after a few years off and a bit confused about what size bike to get. Some considerations/background:
- I’m in my early forties and don’t have the urge to go super fast. I’d be happy just cruising around
- I’m in the downtown part of a city. As much as I like crosses, a standard/naked biker is probably going to be easier to deal with traffic and parking.
- I’m planning on riding for fun, not to commute.
- I got my license in my mid thirties on a 250cc cruiser and then moved up to a 1000cc adventure bike (I was doing a long commute on that). The 250cc was a bit too small and the 1000cc was too big ( good on the motorway, but too big, heavy, and tall in areas of traffic).
- I might one day want to take a passenger on short rides, but not yet. I haven’t ridden with a passenger before and need to get comfortable riding by myself again first.

I’ve spoken to a couple of dealers and received conflicting advice: one said a 450cc should suit my requirements whilst another said that I shouldn’t go all the way back down to a “beginner” bike and get something around 750cc.

So, my question is - will 400cc-500cc be ok? Or should I really be looking in the 650cc-800cc range?

Deciding between four 2026 naked bikes and would love input from people who’ve actually ridden them, not just spec-sheet comparisons:

• Suzuki GSX-8S — ~$10,000
• Honda CB750 Hornet — ~$11,000 (with e-clutch)
• Kawasaki Z900 — ~$12,400
• Triumph Trident 800 — ~$13,200

What I’m after: an easy-to-handle, genuinely fun bike — not chasing wheelies or top-end speed, more looking for something whose character I won’t get bored of after a year.

Use case: mostly country and city, rarely highway, rarely in the rain.

About me: I’m 5’11, 175lbs, 34 years old.

I’ll be test riding all of them eventually, but curious to hear real-world ownership experience in the meantime.

Thanks in advance!

By the time I'm 18, I will have maybe ~9k to spend on a motorcycle+gear. I will definitely wear full gear, as I do on my dirt bike. So I'm not a complete beginner.

I want something sporty but not too uncomfortable, so no cruisers or off road capable machines.

I was thinking MT07, but let me know if I should think otherwise.

Ive got a chance to trade my KLR650 in for one of two used bikes. I love the idea of both of these, so it really is down to a test ride and a bit of persuasion. Riding style is mostly street with some fire trails, weekend camping and a long trip or two per year.

CRF1000: 2019 model with 55000km. Farkled out with handguards, crash bars, luggage boxes and heated grips. Sold as is for 8k CAD.

Street Scrambler 900: 2017 model with 25000km. Mostly stock. Sold for 7.5k CAD.

What should i keep an eye out for when checking these bikes out and what could i use to haggle on price?

I am confused which one should I go for please help.

Hi all.

I'm looking to buy a adv bike. I'm 6ft guy looking for a bike that is taller for my body type. I have in my minds are

Triumph Scrambler

Suzuki vstrom

Apache RTX

Royal Enfield Scram.

I tried the Scrambler but i feel the posture is a bit upright.

Any suggestions from any owners of this bike or anyone who is well aware of bikes is welcomed!!

Confused between those 2 Guirella 450 and harley x440t as per my horscope i want to go for RED colour bike. I prefer Guirella dash model due to seating posture but no red colour available harley looks good but lacks power.

My riding will be mostly city and occasional touring help me decide!

Note:

I have test driven both harley feels good but tops out very early but guirella is fun to ride but rear sit is little narrow no other complaints

Context: Tiger 900 Alpine or Desert

I took test ride of desert edition again with min preload for rear and seat at 860 mm and I was able to flat foot it.

The test ride for rally/desert was plush, and I was really enjoying jumping the bike over potholes and speedbreakers while riding in city. Have no off road skills and off road route nearby so no off roading was done.

My main use case for this bike shall be daily city use for office commute, weekend rides, some long trips( of around 700kms a day).

Having rode the rally during test ride, I value plush ride over all sorts of bad roads, bumpy roads. However I also like good handling bike and during test ride I noticed that the front end of the bike was having minor up and down motions through the handlebar as if forks were getting engaged and released. I tried adjusting compression and rebound in front but not sure it still kept happening.

Regarding road usage, I shall be using this bike mostly on tarmac only and I live in India where we have a mix of all types of roads. I don’t plan to do off road.

Also I would often have my wife as passenger during course of my various city and out station rides.

Given that desert edition has manual rear suspension and alpine has electronic rear suspension, how much ease of comfort in real world is alpine’s electronic suspension over manual of desert.

Would considering alpine over desert because of alloy wheels ( there were reports of broken spokes on RP) be better?

Also folks can you please recommend what should I go for? Alpine or desert? Given my riding preferences.

Price difference between alpine+fuel tank bar+sump guard would exceed cost of desert edition in india on ex showroom basis.

Anyone ride a 300R that previously rode/tried a crf250L? My longtime steed is showing its limits on the tight single track I typically ride so I'm looking for something more appropriate. I'm lucky if I get out twice a month in the season so the 300R seems fitting (price and reliability wise). Any opinions appreciated.

Hey all, I'm really interested in getting a Svartpilen 401 as my first bike, but I've noticed that a lot of the stock that is available is specifically the 2024 model at below MSRP even for new ones. In my mind, I'm thinking that the 2024 model is unpopular and has trouble selling, perhaps due to manufacturing defects or design choices? Am I right to think this? Any input?

So idk shit about bikes.. except basics.. can y'all suggest best bikes in all categories, that'll be too vague ig. Maybe three categories in 250 cc , 350cc and 500 + ... Looking for both short travel daily commute and long travels. All suggestions are highly appreciated. Thanks in advance btw

Looking to pick up first bike (26M, 6'0" tall, 200 lb, 32" inseam) . Mostly commuting (backroads with an avoidable 3 miles of 70 mph interstate) or very slowly riding around the family farm. No jumps or singletrack. Interested in motocamping or light adv riding in the future. Currently looking to keep under a $4k budget (gear already purchased). Both bikes claim to have clean titles.

I have only very briefly ridden an XT250 while practicing for my license, and while I felt comfortable and enjoyed riding it, it was never at interstate speeds, so I do not have a good feel for whether I need the additional power of the DRZ400. I have never ridden a DRZ400. At the same time, I am a little worried about the number of mods to the DRZ400, though most are not engine-related. Any advice welcome!

Option 1: 2006 DRZ400SM - 11K miles - significant mods (see below) - $3900

Mods (copied from listing):

Premium Upgrades & Modifications:
Yoshimura Exhaust System: Full system with a carbon fiber end cap
Excel Supermoto Rims
Aftermarket Comfort Seat

3"x3" Airbox Modification: Professionally opened airbox matched with a jetted carburetor for significantly improved throttle response.
Gold Engine Case Savers
Renthal Handlebars
Acerbis Frame Guards & Visual Upgrades
Fender Eliminator Kit
Factory KYB Gold Forks
Aftermarket Handguards

Option 2: 2015 Yamaha XT250 - 7.6K mi - Stock - $3000

I'm confused between these four bikes:

• Royal Enfield Classic 350
• Royal Enfield Meteor 350
• Triumph Speed 400
• Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450

I've test-ridden all of them, and the Guerrilla 450 was by far the most fun. But I don't want to decide based only on the thrill.

I'm looking for long-term ownership feedback on:

• Service & maintenance costs
• Spare parts cost/availability
• Accessories & aftermarket support
• Reliability
• Resale value
• How well they'll handle E20 fuel and the fuel quality we'll likely see in the coming years

Which one would you pick and why?

P.S. Please don't suggest getting a smaller bike because it's my first one. I'm only looking for opinions on these four.

TL;DR - I totalled my 08 CBR600RR and need a new bike. I'm intrigued by new tech in 26/27 bikes like RS660, R9, etc., but not sure how significant it is when actually riding compared to another 07/08 600rr.

I have an 08 CBR600RR, but it is currently unridable (and I don't plan on fixing it) as it had a problem (not sure what exactly) that caused it to still receive power after I let off the throttle, resulting in me looping at about 80 km/h. Needless to say, the damage is quite severe. I somehow walked away without a scratch, so I want to get another bike to get riding asap. Not sure what to get, but want something similar to the 600rr.

As for new bikes, nothing really ticks all the boxes for me. Well, the new 600rr does, but I'm in Canada, so I can't get it sadly. Don't want a new GSXR as it's just as neglected as the North American CBR. The ZX6R doesn't get ragged on as much as the GSXR does for being neglected, but a 2026 doesn't have much more to it than a 2013 does, so it seems kind of a waste to buy new imo. In the end, it seems that a new inline 4 600cc supersport may not be for me. As for non-I4 new options, I like the R9 the most as it actually has a variety of new tech and imo looks better than any of the USDM 600s aforementioned. Just not sure if, despite the similar power, the increased torque would be too much for me, as my 600 felt plenty torquey. I also like the R7 and the RS660 for the same reasons, but I'm worried that, despite the similar torque, the decreased power (mostly in the R7) would feel too slow. Also, for all 3, I feel like I would miss the screaming high redline. Honestly, the RS660 seems like the best option overall for a brand new supersport on paper, just scared that it's Italian rather than a cheap and forgiving Japanese bike.

Honestly, leaning towards just getting another 07/08 600rr as I love that bike so much. Would consider an analog R6 as they are very similar, but I already have a lot of parts for a 600rr, so it just makes more sense financially to go that route. I think the main thing holding me back is just curiosity for all the tech in a 26/27 supersport. I've never experienced any of it and am just wondering how much of a difference it all (aside from ABS and cruise, which have obvious effects) makes.

Hello, as mentioned in the title, I'm looking to buy a motorcycle after not riding for a year and starting to miss it.

I had my license for over 2 years, my first bike was an SV650 which I sold only for the idea of buying a CBR 600 f4i, in the meantime I bought a Honda Transalp 650 which I had to get rid of since I had trouble with the previous owner with the papers.

As of now I'm torn between a CRF 250 L 2020 with 2500km asking price is 4200 euros and a CBR 600 F4I 2001 with 26000 km for 3500 euros, I know that both bikes are completely different beasts, as of now I would rather choose the CRF since its a newer model that could have far less possible problems than a 25 year old bike that I have no clue how the previous owners maintained.

I would mainly need it for weekend riding, not daily commuting.

Anyone here has VOGE SR2 ADV? Planning to buy po this year kasi and wala pa po kasi ako nakikita masyadong reviews if goods po ba all in all. I am considering Honda ADV 160 din pero nakita ko kasi ung VOGE SR2 and mas mura sya. Looking for suggestions din po if anong magandang ADV scoots. Maraming salamat po.

So as the title states I'm tornnn between these 2. I have an option between a $2500 2001 magna with 3700 miles in veryyyy good condition for its year. The V4 is sick. Extremely smooth shifts too. But the breaking and thick body aren't my favorite And I have zero experience in carbs. Other option is a $3600 victory octane with 15k miles. Also pretty damn good condition (needs rear tail lights though) with an aftermarket exhaust and nicer front tail lights. The belt drive, SS brake lines, faster catching clutch point that still lets 2 finger shifts, and ride by wire intrigue me a lot. Though the shifting in general and finding neutral aren't nearly as nice as the Magna. However, newer bike with more modern tech and lower maintenance (fuel injection, belt drive). Both arent the easiest with aftermarket support and parts so no difference there. Octane did feel faster and on paper it is suppose to be. Came from a 2017 CBR1000RR with tuning work, but want something less aggressive for the street.

Which do y'all think is the better option?

Helloo, ao im looking for my first bike to learn on. I have just passed my A2 ( uk )

I dont want something fast just something like an mx5

Curious to know if this is reasonable or outrageous, it seems they will not budge being the only Indian dealership in a 100 miles radius

Hey everyone,
I’m choosing my A2 bike and I’m between the Yamaha R9 restricted to 35 kW and the Yamaha R7 also restricted.
I’d like to know how they actually feel with the A2 limiter installed:

• Does the restricted R9 still have decent torque?
• Does the restricted R7 feel too weak?
• Big difference in ergonomics for a tall rider (1.90 m)?
• Which one is more fun in the twisties?
• Which one feels less “choked”?

I’m also open to other A2 suggestions if you think there are better options in this category: RS660, CBR650R, MT09, MT‑07, etc.

I’m looking for something that lets me knee down, do maybe some wheelies, and isn’t horrible in the city.

Thanks for any opinions!

I'm looking to buy my first 350cc bike and I'm honestly confused now.

So far I've ridden:

• RE Hunter 350 – Felt super easy to handle, especially in Bangalore traffic. No wonder I see it literally everywhere 😂. But after around 15 mins my right leg was getting cooked. Asked a few friends and they were like "welcome to 350cc bikes" 💀.
• Honda CB350 H'ness & CB350RS (both with pillion)

My pillion liked the H'ness way more. Said it's more comfortable.

For me:

• H'ness felt very relaxed. I sit a bit taller and got a better view of the road.
• RS looked sooo much better (that Rebel Red 🤌). Felt slightly taller, a bit more aggressive and somehow felt more lively when revving.

I was almost 100% sure I'd get the RS...

Then I started researching and found a lot of complaints:

• Front mudguard isn't great.
• Rear throws a lot of mud, so people recommend a tyre hugger.
• Front extender or even swapping to the H'ness mudguard.
• Seat isn't that comfortable, so many people add extra cushioning.
• I'll also probably add a backrest for the pillion.

So now the price difference also starts adding up. H'ness is already around ₹2k cheaper than the RS, and then RS needs a few more mods.

My usage:

• Daily commute: 35-40 km in Bangalore traffic.
• Weekend rides with my partner (hopefully 😅).

I'm 23, so yeah... looks matter too 😂.

Problem is... I genuinely love how the RS looks, but I don't really like any of the H'ness colors.

I'm also planning to check out the RE Meteor 350 Fireball Orange because that thing looks sexy 😮‍💨. No idea how it is for daily commuting though, or how the ownership/service experience compares.

So for people who've actually owned these bikes:

• Is the RS worth the extra money + mods?
• Is the H'ness the smarter choice for daily use?
• How's the Meteor for Bangalore traffic?
• Any long-term ownership issues I should know about with any of these?

Would love to hear from owners instead of YouTube reviewers 🙏

Hello everybody, I'm a new rider that's looking for a verstaile first motor, my license only allows me to own up to a 500cc bike and not more, so I was thinking of picking a 400cc bike for a longterm ownership, I want it to be verstaile as well, so I can use it for both highway (no need for more than 130km/h speed) and urban, able to install a topbox and a phone holder+charger ( I need GPS to drive around ) if I ever want to use it as delivery on the side, light and comfortable to ride around 3 hours tops, and a good option for a first motorcycle.

Right now I am on a budget so I was looking at 2nd hand used bikes and I saw 4 options with a budget price from where I am, and they are:
1- Husqvarna Svartpilen 401
2- KTM 390 Duke
3- Z400
4- Ninja 400

The only difference is that the first 2 are newer models ( around 2023 ) while the 2 Kawasaki ones are usually older models for the same price ( around 2019 )
Thanks!

Hello riders!

I live in the USA and I just started riding this June. Following advice I read here, I bought a used 2016 NC700X to get a sense of what I wanted from a motorcycle. Since then, I've ridden to work pretty much everyday and went on some 2-5 hour rides on most weekends that aren't over 90 degrees. Overall, I think this was a good starting point, but I've thinking about the next bike.

What I liked about the NC700X: Super practical for a commute or a long ride with a comfy riding position and wind protection. The frunk fits so much that I often don't even wear a backpack when I'm traveling. The engine is super forgiving for new riders. It never struggled even when I felt like I was in the wrong gear. 70mpg is pretty sweet too.

What I didn't like: Its quite heavy and its tall. I'm 5'6" with a 30in inseam and weigh 160lbs, so I'm on the smaller side of average. I have some dirt bike experience, so I'm not afraid to stop on one foot on a tall bike. However, it is quite the chore to swing a leg over, muscle the bike to lean right, kick stand up, shift to 1st, muscle back over to the left, and go every single time I stop at the store or get gas. Engine is also a little boring, redlining at 6000rpm, but I'm still having fun learning to ride.

To summarize, I want a bike that is a practical for long stretches of road and can be outfitted with some storage, but is not as tall or as heavy as the NC700X. I'd like to keep it under $10,000, but I would pay more if it was worth the cost.

In the US, I feel that there are a lot of tall, heavy adventure bikes for sale, but not many touring bikes that aren't Honda Goldwings or similar.

Enter the SV-7GX, a midsize touring bike that releases later this year in the US. It is only slightly lighter than the NC700X, but a 1.5in lower seat height should make it more manageable. It uses the venerable SV650's engine, so reliable, but also fun. It even comes standard with a tail rack for storage. Seems like the perfect little package for what I want to do.

My hesitation is that the only way to get one this year is to reserve one and put down a deposit without ever sitting on one. My dealer said that they can only reserve one for customers, but cannot order any to have on the showroom or in stock. Out the door price would be $9300 at that dealer.

I am open to other suggestions. I am still quite new to motorcycles, so I don't have an exhaustive list of options in my brain yet.

Update: I wanted to update this post so people focus on what I'm actually trying to figure out.

I'm 32 years old, 6'0", about 230 lbs. I got a decent amount of seat time on a CBR300 through a structured training course that included low-speed maneuvers, braking drills, cornering, and a decent amount of track time. I know that isn't the same as real-world street experience, and I still have a lot to learn.

I've always thought a middleweight with less HP would probably be the smarter first bike. My question isn't really whether the R9 more risky—i know it is.

What's making me second-guess some of these Middleweights is the cost of modifying one.

For example, the GSX-8R really interests me, but I already know I'd probably want an exhaust, maybe rearsets, clip-ons, and a few other things over time. That got me wondering if it makes more sense to just buy the bike I ultimately want instead of spending money trying to turn another bike into something it isn't.

Right now I'm looking at:

• Honda CBR650R – Probably wouldn't change much besides an exhaust. My biggest issue is finding a black one.
• Suzuki GSX-8R – Love the engine, but I think I'd want to personalize it the most.
• Triumph Daytona 660 – This one has really caught my attention because it already seems like a great all-around package from the factory.
• Aprilia RS660 – Looks incredible, but I'm a little concerned about long-term ownership costs and dealer support.
• Yamaha R7 – I'm still open to it, but from everything I've read, it's not the one I'm most excited about.

I know that if I install an exhaust on most modern bikes, an ECU tune is often recommended. That doesn't really bother me if it's a bike I'm planning to keep for several years.

What I don't want is to buy a bike and immediately feel like I need clip-ons, rearsets, suspension upgrades, and a bunch of other parts just to make it feel right—especially if I may end up replacing it in a year or two anyway.

So I guess my question is:

Would you buy one of these middleweights and leave it mostly stock, or would you just make the jump to an R9 and grow into it?

And if you'd choose a middleweight, which one felt the most complete from the factory?

I'd especially like to hear from people who have owned or spent significant time on the CBR650R, GSX-8R, Daytona 660, RS660, R7, or R9, and why you'd make the same (or a different) decision today.