Advice? How much bike is too much bike?

[stormi]

Hi Guys!

I have been riding my bandit for about a full season, which in Alberta, is about 5-7 months.  Prior and during this time, I've also riden a dirtbike, so I have -some- experience on bikes.

My poor girl needs a LOT of work this year (Camchain, valve seals,valve adjustment...), and will get it (the engine is already out), but I'm wondering if she should become my project bike now, and I should get something newer.  Something I'm more likely to trust on longer trips. (Another bonus is that the other half is now licensed, and this would provide us two bikes in the household.)  Looking at bikes in the last few weeks, I saw a few bikes that -might- fit the bill, but I'm not sure.  Then... I saw the bigger brother of the one that I'd wanted when I got the B4.  

What originally attracted me to the B4 was it's similar styling to the Honda Hornet (599) .  Ok,.. in fairness, the hornet looks like the B4, but I saw the hornet first.  I didn't buy the hornet at the time for a few reasons,

1.  I had never ridden on the street.  
2. I didn't know how much I'd ride.
3.  I didn't want to make payments on a vehicle who's purpose was to save gas money.

Now, I've put 5000Kms on the bike my first season, and it's not all just for business. :) Checking out what's available, I happened on a used 2002 CB900 (   http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/honda_cb_900_f_-_919_2002.php)  The only thing holding me back is wondering if it's just too much bike for me.  It's a little tall, but there shouldn't be any problem getting lowering linkages for it, or shaving the seat.  But it's got 110 HP, and I'm used to less than half that.  Now, common sense says that I don't have to use the power, just cos it's there, but how much is too much?

I've looked into insurance, and believe it or not, it's not exceptionally different.

One main drawback for me with my b4 is her milage on the highway, and we live 20kms out of the city, so she's always on the highway.  The other would be how fiddly her carbs are.

Now before you all crucify me for "defecting" to Honda, I'm also thinking about parts availability.  I can't even get parts for a new suzuki bike here (gs500, shares some parts with the b4, and cheaper.) in less than 6 weeks in many cases.  This makes parts for a ''91 painful at best.   When the RR on my b4 went out, I managed to replace it with one from a CB400 with only a small modification to one connector.  In stock, at the dealer and half the price.  ETA for the proper one for the b4?  6 - 8 weeks.  I was riding same day.  When a riding season is as short as ours, you gotta do what ya gotta do. :)

Advice?  Opinions?  

Thanks!

[solman]

It appears to be a good bike.  I haven't heard any negative things about it.  I personally don't think that any standard is too much bike.  It is just like my B12, people see that it is a 1200 and think that it is a lot.  But in reality, a new GSXR1000 has about 64 more horsepower and weighs about 70lbs less.  When you are talking about sport bikes, then it is easy to say if it is too much.  In all reality, finding a proper size bike falls into two categories:  1st is how tall you are and the 2nd is your experience level.  I went from a 82 CB900F to a 03 B12 last year.  There was a few times when I got on the gas a bit and it caught me off guard a little bit when I first got it.  The main thing is when you get a new bike, you want to ride it easy so that you can get used to its characteristics.  I don't know what kind of rider you are, but if you feel competent on your B4, I don't see a problem moving up to a 919.

[PeteSC]

I think the 919 is a nice bike.  You'd probably love it.....

[billybandit]

Welcome!

What originally attracted me to the B4 was it's similar styling to the Honda Hornet

I think the B4 was out about 6 years "b4" the first Hornet        

 

[Red01]

One thing to keep in mind about parts, is volume impacts price. They make a lot of something, it's usually cheaper. While Honda is the largest Japanese m/c maker and Suzuki is #3, Honda is well know for RR problems in several models, so maybe they were so cheap because they have to make so many.
 

The CB900 (or 919 as it's known here in the USA) is a good bike. Of course, we'd rather see you get a B6 or a B12, I'm sure you'd be happy with Brand X.

As has already been mentioned you'll be OK with the bigger motor as long as you use discretion with the right wrist until you get a good feel for the bike.

[KX5000]

Friends don't let friends ride hondas!, at least thats what my brother always says    

as far as too much bike, thats just not possible, I'd like a bandit 12000 as long as it isn't too heavy

[stormi]

In all reality, finding a proper size bike falls into two categories:  1st is how tall you are and the 2nd is your experience level.  

the first is the biggest problem I've had for sure.  -any- bike I sit on, is too tall for me - as set up in a show room.   With the 919, I'm on the balls of my feet, but the suspension is set as stiff as possible.  I figure with a little sag and a little softer suspension setup, it'll be pretty good.  After that, it's going to be a matter of a lowering link and seat foam.  Of course, I'd be getting the bike for a good enough deal that this is still feasible. :)

The main thing is when you get a new bike, you want to ride it easy so that you can get used to its characteristics.

I hear ya! Learned that the hard way with my ktm! LOL! Thanks for the advice. :)

I don't know what kind of rider you are, but if you feel competent on your B4, I don't see a problem moving up to a 919.

3yrs on a dirt bike and 1 yr on the street has given me a healthy dose of respect for the machines... and I know very well that they're capable of more than I'm willing to commit to at this point.    If asked, the other half tells me he figures I'm not an aggressive rider, I ride well within the limits of my bike.  At the same time, I don't baby it while riding (maintenance wise, she's spoiled rotten.)

One thing that's changed, and potentially about to change to an even larger degree, is that amount of time I'm spending on the highway.  Now I spend 10 - 15 mins on the highway to get into the city.  If I get some of the contracts I'm looking at in the near future, I'll be going to a "town near me" riding 30 -40 mins one way.  A bike that's mellow on the highway is a good thing.  Dita is right below her powerband at highway speeds, so the trip is pretty eventful some days.

[stormi]

I think the B4 was out about 6 years "b4" the first Hornet        
 

I think the bandit was discontinued 9 yrs before the hornet ever set foot,. er.... peg,.. in Canada.      But,.. I had no interest in street bikes prior to late 2004.  That's when I saw the pretty 599.   Then it was all over for me.  The only reason I don't have one already is that I couldn't justify it then.  Now, if I had found one used, I would have bought it on the spot.   I'm still not ready to commit to a brand new bike.  

[stormi]

One thing to keep in mind about parts, is volume impacts price. They make a lot of something, it's usually cheaper. While Honda is the largest Japanese m/c maker and Suzuki is #3, Honda is well know for RR problems in several models, so maybe they were so cheap because they have to make so many.
 

   AS best I can tell, in the time frame that the CB400 was having trouble, so were most bikes from all manufacturers.  Or so says the reading I did to find out I could use the CB400 RR   :)

The CB900 (or 919 as it's known here in the USA) is a good bike. Of course, we'd rather see you get a B6 or a B12, I'm sure you'd be happy with Brand X.

It's known here as a 919 now as well,.. for some reason the first year or two here they were known as a cb900,..   s'ok,.. the ins co. would probably charge me 20% more if I called it a 919. :)

[solman]

I almost forgot something.  There is one drawback to the 919 that I don't like.  The exhaust setup is kind of a funky setup.  It is a 4-1-2.  Basically the header goes into one pipe and then it splits off into two.  Buying aftermarket exhausts can be a bit pricey or finding one that works good.  I heard of one setup where it is a 4-1 setup and the second exhaust is a false pipe(not connected).  I don't remember which brand it was, but it is apparently out there.

[stormi]

Friends don't let friends ride hondas!, at least thats what my brother always says    

as far as too much bike, thats just not possible, I'd like a bandit 12000 as long as it isn't too heavy

I've heard the same about kawasakis,... and suzukis.... and ...  

So,.. everyone is saying that it's not going to be too much for me,.... good thing I went and had them take it off the showroom floor for me tonight , eh?

[stormi]

I almost forgot something.  There is one drawback to the 919 that I don't like.  The exhaust setup is kind of a funky setup.  It is a 4-1-2.  Basically the header goes into one pipe and then it splits off into two.  Buying aftermarket exhausts can be a bit pricey or finding one that works good.  I heard of one setup where it is a 4-1 setup and the second exhaust is a false pipe(not connected).  I don't remember which brand it was, but it is apparently out there.

That is odd,... it's really not a big concern to me though, since I don't expect to be putting afftermarket exhaust on it.   As I see it, the second muffler -might- decrease some restriction, but I would think being after the bottleneck ( of the single pipe) that it's just for looks.  It might, add a little muffling too,... not necessarily a bad thing when coming home late, so you don't piss off the neighbors, or wake the spouse. ;)

Where it would suck, is if it needs to be replaced, at that point, I'd look at any options available.

[solman]

The 4-1-2 setup has to be cosmetics.  The CBR 900 was a 4-1 exhaust, so that tells me that it doesn't have to be set up like that.  I personally don't like the looks of the stock exhaust.  I saw a 919 in Arkansas once and it had Akrapovic exhaust and looked pretty nice.  It definitely changed the look of the bike.

[Red01]

You could just get your legs stretched and get a KTM street bike to go with your dirt machine...  

[r_outsider]

You could just get your legs stretched and get a KTM street bike to go with your dirt machine...  

Like this one?