The reason for getting a naked bike is that I prefer them aesthetically, they're less likely to cost me tickets/my license (pretty expensive here), are better for the slower riding I will be doing, and they cost several times less than sportbikes in insurance. I want something decently modern, hence the liquid cooling/FI requirements, because of the reliability and changing weather conditions here. I plan on holding onto it while I attend university for the next 3-5 years. For reference I'm 184cm/6" tall and weigh about 85kg/190lbs. Anyway, on to the bikes I had in mind:
The obvious choice for me for a while has been a Suzuki SV1000; it's relatively light, pretty powerful, there's quite a few for sale (even some locally), and they're very cheap (Only very marginally less so than the SV650). I really like the look of it too, except for that terribly wide radiator.
A similar contender is the Suzuki GSF1250; much heavier, less powerful, more expensive, but torque lower down and smoother engine. There are pretty few of these for sale, so I might not even be able to find one. I don't like the idea of the carburetors of the 1200 model and they're equally rare (in good condition, at least).
For another torquey inline is the Honda CB900F (Hornet/919); Honda quality, but pretty expensive and only older examples are within my price range.
From the third of the big four so far, Kawasaki Z750; it's sportier and more modern than the previous three, but obviously at the top of my budget and has a wimpier engine. This is however IMO the prettiest of all these bikes.
Sensible alternatives would be either a Suzuki GSR600 or a Yamaha FZ6; cheap to buy and run, but they're even lower down on torque than the Z750 and I suspect they're pretty dull. I also really dislike the look of the undertail exhausts.
Similar to those, but a bit nicer, is Honda CB600F (Hornet/599); Honda quality, most modern bike on the list, has ABS, but expensive for a 600. And that back end, ugh.
Some oddballs in this category that I might be able to find would be an Aprilia SL750 Shiver or a Triumph Speed Four, but I'm concerned with reliability and cost of ownership.
Here's a chart I made of some example bikes with year/milage/price, with the Bandit missing because there aren't any for sale within my budget at the moment:
| Model | Mileage | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| SV 1000 | 16,000 (26,000 km) | 2008 | $7,800 |
| - | 15,500 (25,000km) | 2005 | $7,000 |
| - | 27,000 (43,000km) | 2005 | $6,000 |
| CB900F | 13,000 (21,000 km) | 2003 | $8,600 |
| Z 750 | 17,000 (28,000km) | 2009 | $8,600 |
| - | 27,000 (44,000 km) | 2006 | $6,500 |
| FZ6 | 12,000 (20,000 km) | 2010 | $7,900 |
| GSR 600 | 15,000 (24,000 km) | 2007 | $5,700 |
| CB600F | 11,000 (18,000 km) | 2010 | $8,300 |
| Speed Four | 12,000 (19,000 km) | 2005 | $7,200 |
| Shiver | 5,600 (9000 km) | 2009 | $7,500 |
All the bikes are in good condition with no visible indications of crashes. A few need new tires, but I'll use that in negotiation. I just posted the list prices for comparison's sake, but I'm obviously going to try and get them as cheaply as possible, I would also love some opinions on how low I can start off bidding, like 10% lower than asking price or more/less?
What's your opinion? Thanks in advance :)