What bike next?
Discussion
I'm currently on a GSXR 750 K4, lovely bike with full Akrapovic system & K5 colours (less white!) & only 30,000 miles. Thanks to various aches, my 51 year old self is finding the little Suzuki increasingly uncomfortable. It's a fantastic bike, but I'm not loving it as much as I should. This isn't even winter blues - I've done sub 350 miles on it in the last 2 years. I want to do more road trips, but this isn't the bike for that.
So I'm thinking of something a bit more comfortable, 4 cylinder & capable of touring (but not a full-on GT). I was thinking a K1300S, but reading up on them, people have to make a few mods to make them comfortable (raised bars, dropped rearsets, better seats etc). I don't carry a pillion, and I'm 6ft / 90Kg without Christmas pudding. Budget < £6k. Any suggestions?
So I'm thinking of something a bit more comfortable, 4 cylinder & capable of touring (but not a full-on GT). I was thinking a K1300S, but reading up on them, people have to make a few mods to make them comfortable (raised bars, dropped rearsets, better seats etc). I don't carry a pillion, and I'm 6ft / 90Kg without Christmas pudding. Budget < £6k. Any suggestions?
Edited by BFleming on Thursday 5th January 15:14
I have a 2017 GSXS1000 which uses the K5 GSXR1000 engine.. I've found it to be a superb all rounder. It's been de-catted and mapped and goes really well with a lovely exhaust note to boot.
I'm only 5'8" and the seat height is perfect. This was one of the reasons I bought it in the first place as I've struggled in the past with 10" legs.
I've toured on it and found it to be very comfortable on long distance. I'm tempted to look at a screen this season as obviously there's a fair bit of wind blast on motorways.
They're cheap too. No frills, old school biking but with a modern twist. The only thing I'm not a fan of is the front end, it looks a bit 'ped like' from some angles but that's subjective of course. You can pick these up from about £5K for a leggy, tired one but for your budget you should get a good example.
I'm only 5'8" and the seat height is perfect. This was one of the reasons I bought it in the first place as I've struggled in the past with 10" legs.
I've toured on it and found it to be very comfortable on long distance. I'm tempted to look at a screen this season as obviously there's a fair bit of wind blast on motorways.
They're cheap too. No frills, old school biking but with a modern twist. The only thing I'm not a fan of is the front end, it looks a bit 'ped like' from some angles but that's subjective of course. You can pick these up from about £5K for a leggy, tired one but for your budget you should get a good example.
I had a K4 750 for 7 years. Loved that bike but had to give it up comfort wise in early 40s so you've done very well.
I bought a 765 RS Street Triple thinking it would be a comfortable alternative - hated it.
I went V twin first on a gen 3 SV 650 which was a really good bike on back roads and now a Super Duke because I wanted more power than is sensible before I get too old.
If you are dead set on 4 cylinders an early S1000R is in budget and would be hard to beat apart from reliability niggles.
I nearly went for a GSX S1000 but thinking long term will probably get a GT version so don't want to be too samey.
The last gen GSX S750 is basically a slightly detuned (for torque) K4 GSXR with flat bars. They are well reviewed and good value if you want to stick to the same formula.
I bought a 765 RS Street Triple thinking it would be a comfortable alternative - hated it.
I went V twin first on a gen 3 SV 650 which was a really good bike on back roads and now a Super Duke because I wanted more power than is sensible before I get too old.
If you are dead set on 4 cylinders an early S1000R is in budget and would be hard to beat apart from reliability niggles.
I nearly went for a GSX S1000 but thinking long term will probably get a GT version so don't want to be too samey.
The last gen GSX S750 is basically a slightly detuned (for torque) K4 GSXR with flat bars. They are well reviewed and good value if you want to stick to the same formula.
Being the same age I have had similar thoughts recently.. but I don’t really ride big distances so I’m still hanging on in there with sport bikes. 
There’s quite a few sport tourer bikes out there for up to £6k.. a nice Kawasaki Z1000SX can be had for that price, or maybe go more old school and consider something like a ZZR1400?
There’s quite a few sport tourer bikes out there for up to £6k.. a nice Kawasaki Z1000SX can be had for that price, or maybe go more old school and consider something like a ZZR1400?
Thanks so far all. Really liking the Z1000SX / ZZR1400 suggestion - the ZZR in particular has Hayabusa vibes to it, but with more practicality; my fear though is that the seat is way too low for me - but no doubt there's a solution there. One to see in the metal.
My bikes prior to the K4 were the ZX6R G1 (x2) and a SV1000S. The SV was an impressive bit of kit with a good turn of pace, but the vibration from the V twin... I can't go back to that.
The GSX-S look like great value, but a little too naked for me I reckon - I'm thinking of an 800 mile long weekend on one.
My bikes prior to the K4 were the ZX6R G1 (x2) and a SV1000S. The SV was an impressive bit of kit with a good turn of pace, but the vibration from the V twin... I can't go back to that.
The GSX-S look like great value, but a little too naked for me I reckon - I'm thinking of an 800 mile long weekend on one.
The K1300 series are riddled with quite serious and VERY expensive reliability and build quality problems. Yes, one or two people may comment here saying how wonderful there's has been but take a week or so on the Facebook groups and you'll see just how much of a stressful moneypit that they are.
You have corrosion issues, ABS failures, final drive failures, ESA failures, radiator failures and clutch failures occuring VERY frequently. E.g. A new radiator is circa £600 and the old one cannot be repaired. You also have a significant number throwing rods through the crankcase and clutch baskets exploding.
I had a K1200 and a K1300 and they were enough to make me never ever consider a BMW again. I've warned multiple people over the last year and at least 4 had catastrophic engine or electrical failure within two weeks of buying the bike.
Look for something Japanese if you want reliability. ZZR, Z1000SX, VFR1200F, GSXS1000F etc are all much better options.
You have corrosion issues, ABS failures, final drive failures, ESA failures, radiator failures and clutch failures occuring VERY frequently. E.g. A new radiator is circa £600 and the old one cannot be repaired. You also have a significant number throwing rods through the crankcase and clutch baskets exploding.
I had a K1200 and a K1300 and they were enough to make me never ever consider a BMW again. I've warned multiple people over the last year and at least 4 had catastrophic engine or electrical failure within two weeks of buying the bike.
Look for something Japanese if you want reliability. ZZR, Z1000SX, VFR1200F, GSXS1000F etc are all much better options.
I did 54000 miles on my first K1300S and 50000 miles on my second. No adjustments needed to make either 12 hour/600+ mile comfortable. I used both for touring, commuting and weekend trips, mostly solo but sometimes two up. I'd say they're the second best "do everything on tarmac " bike you can get. The H2 SX being the only thing better (though the 1290GT would be a very close 3rd.)
That said, there are lots of alternatives that are also very good. ZZR1400, VFR1200, VFR800, 1000SX, S1000GT, R1200RS, R1250RS, Blackbird. All good but all slightly different.
Try a few and find what works for you.
That said, there are lots of alternatives that are also very good. ZZR1400, VFR1200, VFR800, 1000SX, S1000GT, R1200RS, R1250RS, Blackbird. All good but all slightly different.
Try a few and find what works for you.
Had a K1300S previously and its a great bike but a bit lardy. Better suited to 2-up IMHO.
Currently have a GSXS1000F (2021) and its great. I mean, it's not going to win any looks competitions but for what you pay for and what you get, for an all round bike it's brilliant. Only think I don't like is the "meh" reputation of it.
You might want to change the shock, it might not bother you. The snappiness isnt as bad as people mention, but I got mine done anyway at J33 developments and it really transforms the bike and feels like its been bored out 150-200cc due to the fuelling changes. Oh and no snappiness at all. And 153hp at THE WHEEL after remap.
FWIW I'm around 95kg and 6'1 and 43 years young
FYI the GSXS1000 and the GSXS1000F are the same bike (up to 2021) but naked and faired respectively.
The GSXS1000-GT is basically the newer version of the F variant from 2022. The non-F changed in 2021 which is essentially an unfaired GT with different looks and slightly different electronics and dash.
Currently have a GSXS1000F (2021) and its great. I mean, it's not going to win any looks competitions but for what you pay for and what you get, for an all round bike it's brilliant. Only think I don't like is the "meh" reputation of it.
You might want to change the shock, it might not bother you. The snappiness isnt as bad as people mention, but I got mine done anyway at J33 developments and it really transforms the bike and feels like its been bored out 150-200cc due to the fuelling changes. Oh and no snappiness at all. And 153hp at THE WHEEL after remap.
FWIW I'm around 95kg and 6'1 and 43 years young
FYI the GSXS1000 and the GSXS1000F are the same bike (up to 2021) but naked and faired respectively.
The GSXS1000-GT is basically the newer version of the F variant from 2022. The non-F changed in 2021 which is essentially an unfaired GT with different looks and slightly different electronics and dash.
Edited by snagzie on Thursday 5th January 16:29
The K5 engined GSX-S1000F, the the faired one?:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0ngQl8QWO8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xdop7g_AeHw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAMz_nmJn7g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_2KnQsrq-I
Fagan said at the IoM launch Suzuki said it's for Supersports riders that need a less extreme riding position, but don't want to lose the Sports bike thrills. Fagan says during review "There's nothing groundbreaking on it, but it works".
If you can put up with the small tank and limited range the GSX-S1000 based Katana? K5 engine, high bars but less wind protection than GSX-S1000F and GSX-S1000GT successor?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0ngQl8QWO8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xdop7g_AeHw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAMz_nmJn7g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_2KnQsrq-I
Fagan said at the IoM launch Suzuki said it's for Supersports riders that need a less extreme riding position, but don't want to lose the Sports bike thrills. Fagan says during review "There's nothing groundbreaking on it, but it works".
If you can put up with the small tank and limited range the GSX-S1000 based Katana? K5 engine, high bars but less wind protection than GSX-S1000F and GSX-S1000GT successor?
Edited by carinaman on Thursday 5th January 16:37
zzr1400 would be my choice, and indeed was. my history is gsxr750srad, zx10r(s), s1000rr then r now tuono v4 factory / 690smcr and i still cannot think of any reason to get rid of the zzr. its a 2012 and it feels like it has reached close to the bottom in depreciation, they are fkn fast and handle really well within the constraints of physics. piece of pss to drive slow speed, and very accomplished at high speed. nearly 50mpg and bulletproof normally. my mate got one and i disliked most things about it when he got it....i then had a shot and realised i was wrong. good luck.
One big issue with used ZZR1400 is the valve clearance check which is a pig of a job because of the monocoque chassis.
You either ignore it, diy it which no exaggeration is at least two days work, or hope a garage you pay to do it actually does it properly. It’s a £800 job without new shims.
If you are going that route a Hayabusa is a better used option.
I don’t think the 14 and busa are especially comfortable myself and they aren’t the best option for moving on from sports bikes anymore.
You either ignore it, diy it which no exaggeration is at least two days work, or hope a garage you pay to do it actually does it properly. It’s a £800 job without new shims.
If you are going that route a Hayabusa is a better used option.
I don’t think the 14 and busa are especially comfortable myself and they aren’t the best option for moving on from sports bikes anymore.
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