300cc -> 500cc motorcycle thoughts?

[Gamble]

Anyone own a ninja 300/400, Yamaha r3, cbr500 or something similar?

Thinking about something I can take 45mile (each way) highway trips to and from work and not feel like it takes forever to get there. My back is pretty fucked or else I'd consider a 600cc bike, most of the ones I owned in the past had an aggressive stance. Something to have some fun and zip around with too.

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[SpeedSpeak2me]

Anyone own a ninja 300/400, Yamaha r3, cbr500 or something similar?

Thinking about something I can take 45mile (each way) highway trips to and from work and not feel like it takes forever to get there. My back is pretty fucked or else I'd consider a 600cc bike, most of the ones I owned in the past had an aggressive stance. Something to have some fun and zip around with too.

Tons of 600’s that aren’t sport bikes. They have risers instead of clip-ons that go under the triple tree.

Or grab a used monster 821?

I have an 07 Ninja ZX6-R that is great for commuting as long as it’s not slow or stop and go traffic. Gets 42-44mpg. It’s set up for road courses, so suspension is pretty stiff. When I soften it up I can ride it all day, and I have two degenerative discs in my lumbar area, arthritis in my next, and a dorked up right shoulder, lol.

 

[Gamble]

My neighbor has a zx6r; took it for a ride and fell in love. But want to cruise around with the wife, she will be riding the grom so it makes sense to have something comparable to her so I can ride along side and help her learn, if I had a 600 I'd be leaving her in the dust. No fun riding a fast bike slow
I can't stand the look of naked or street fighter bikes. It bothers me down to the core for some reason.

 

[SpeedSpeak2me]

My neighbor has a zx6r; took it for a ride and fell in love. But want to cruise around with the wife, she will be riding the grom so it makes sense to have something comparable to her so I can ride along side and help her learn, if I had a 600 I'd be leaving her in the dust. No fun riding a fast bike slow
I can't stand the look of naked or street fighter bikes. It bothers me down to the core for some reason.

So like a used SV650 would be off the table then?

i like fully faired sport bikes, always have, but have been keeping my eyes open for a large displacement Monster, like an 1100 EVO, or 1200s.

 

[SpeedSpeak2me]

Could do Yamaha FZ6, they’re partially faired at least.

My concern with a little 300-500cc’s is that they’re typically parallel twins, no power. So you’re wringing them out to run highway speeds. My 600 with stock greeting is at like 6000rpm at 90mph. It’ll pull to 16,500rpm ?

 

[Dan00Hawk]

I'm riding a 373cc motorcycle right now (Husqvarna Svartpilen 401). It's a single so it makes acceptable lower torque. I routinely get about 55-65 mpg on it. That same engine is available in the KTM Duke 390 (mostly naked) and the KTM RC 390 (full fairings). The benefit to the naked bikes like the Duke 390 or the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 is that the bars are higher and make it much easier on the back and wrists.

The Ninja 400 and Z400 have gotten good reviews as well for being comfortable and fun to ride.

I'd be looking mostly at these 2 if I wanted full fairings and a sportbike look, though:

Comparison test from 2018 (some features have been added to both for 2020/2021): https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2018/05/10/2018-ktm-rc-390-vs-kawasaki-ninja-400-abs/

 

[Gamble]

Just took it for a test drive
Heavy bike for a 300 but framed almost like a 600. A little windy but the bike didn’t get tossed around as much as I expected
Seems like loads of fun. Didn’t get too many turns in but it loves the high rpm. Not sure what I expected for speed so was kind of impressed being only 300cc but the size made it feel like a 600 leaving me almost unimpressed as if I thought I was on a 600.
Idk just weird. But I can see having a good time on it. Only got it up about 60 but at higher rpm around 50 it seems to move well
Bike is $4k but doc fee and TTY brings it to $5k which seems high, no?
Didn’t get approved for financing so sadly I must pass.