Next bike options

[PistonRings]

Hi all, I've got the itch. I've had my '19 Ninja 650 for 16 months and done around 3000 miles. It comes out on nice days (year round) and does the odd journey to the office if I don't need to take more than I can fit in my backpack (so does get ridden in the wet and cold). It's economical, comfy, nippy enough most of the time, looks OK imo but it's a boring parallel twin, the suspension I find is quite squidgy and obviously limited storage.

This June I'm off to Assen for the motogp with a few fun stops planned on route (about 1200 miles planned) and I've been thinking that I'm not sure the 650 will be the best for the journey. I know I can add panniers to it which would sort one of the issues.

I've had a look at what's out there and a local dealer has a '14 Z1000SX which they'll do a straight trade on my bike (trade in valued at 4500, the Z1000SX has 22k on it), abundance of storage options, I4, much quicker.. I need to test ride but I sat on one today and the size felt perfect, I'm a big bloke and the ergos were great.

My questions, will I regret going for an older bike? Will 140hp kill me after 68hp or are the electronic aids enough to stop a neanderthal from pointing it at moon/slideways on the road on the first wet day? Should I be thinking about something else that would meet my needs better? Maybe I just stick with the 650?

Thoughts guys?

[Biker9090]

Depending on your weight the suspension on that might not be brilliant either. Go through it with a fine tooth combe for corrosion issues.

[black-k1]

Firstly, 140bhp will not kill you any more than 68bhp did the first time you swung your leg over your current bike.

Secondly, your current bike is up to any road trip you want. When I was 19 I rode my CX500 2 up to Malta. 1700 miles in 2 long days.

That said, more power is never a bad thing and the 1000sx is a great bike for any trip.

As for the question of an older bike. I think you need to take a very close look at the 1000sx and make your own decision. I don't think I'd do that swap though.

[trickywoo]

If the sx has new(ish) decent tyres and the chain isn’t near end of life it’s not a bad deal.

It’s a good upgrade for how you seem to use a bike.

[Fenland Plodder]

I put about over 20,000 miles on my Z1000SX over 4 years after trading up from a 650. Absolutely loved the bike, and never felt the step up in power was an issue. Changed oil every year, traded it in at 33,000 miles and during that time it never once let me down. I was quite fussy over it, but not a spot of rust when it left me. However, fancied a change but after much deliberation decided I wanted more of the same and got myself a Ninja SX. A great do it all bike that actually does most things really well.

[PistonRings]

Thanks everyone that's replied, I think I'll have to go over the bike and make sure it's all in order before deciding.

As trickywoo says, I think it'll be a good upgrade for what I use the bike for....