GrayZee Posted April 21, 2002 Share Posted April 21, 2002 It all started with wanting to upgrade from my 83 Yamaha Virago 750, so I went and looked at a used 92 Virago 1100. Well after taking it for a test drive I felt I that it was still ten years old and wasn't really any nicer than my bike other than a little more power. Then I started to look at a 97 Suzuki Intruder 1400 for $1500 more. I thought with a even bigger engine and 5 years newer it would be a better bet. The only problem is that it was at a bike dealership and they for some reason didn't have the bike on the premisis and told me to come back next week. Whatever, I phoned them later in the following week and still they didn't have it there! So after another week I went down and asked again as if to ask "do you guys wanna sell the thing or what?" The salesman promised that he would have the bike in tomorrow. In the meantime a brand new Suzuki Intruder Volusia 800 caught my eye. Very nice looking bike but I really wanted a large CC bike. After doing some research on the net I learned that the Volusia had certain things going for it that I never considered, for one it has 4 valves/cylinder, it has liquid cooling, higher compression. Not to mention just the fact that it is new.. I thought to myself, well the price is only another $1500 over the 97 1400 but would I really be happy with a 800cc bike? Well I went back to the dealer and I told him that I had also considered buying the new Volusia and he told me that I had a tough desision and that he suggested that I take the 1400 for a test ride and go from there, unfortunatly he couldn't let me put any km on the 0km new bike. I told him that I will take it for a spin and then he informed me that they just got the bike to the shop and that it still needed a battery. Come back tommorow, he said. Well the next day I went down to ride the bike even though it was quite cold out and then he started expressing concerns that it was cold and the tires would have less grip on the road.. Well after he phoned the boss to get the ok to let me ride the stupid bike then he tells me that the battery still needs to be charged! Come back in a hour he says... I thought that a hour to charge the battery was pushing it but whatever... So after I drive down the road a ways he calls me on my cell and tells me that it is gonna take more like 2.5hours. I tell him I have to be at work so I'll come back another time. So because the folowing two days were even colder yet I never went down to ride the bike. During those two days I did alot of thinking and decided to just go with the new bike. Today I went down to say I would take it they told me that it had been sold and that they still had one in a crate. "Fine I'll take it" I said.. Then he comes back and tells me that he was wrong and they have no more and that model is sold out all across Canada! What really ticks me off it that if I would have gotten their heads out of their butts in the begining and let me ride the 1400 back when it was promised to be ready then I would have bought one or the other right then and there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted April 21, 2002 Share Posted April 21, 2002 i really do not like that type of person that gives you the run araound they realy gt on my nerves. i symphasize for ya. your story reminded me of when almost bought a bike from a friend: he had been trying a to sell a 1990 yamaha 650SV for like $600 well i've alaways been a bike fan and decided that that would probably be a good beginners bike. and tld him i was interested. that next night i ran into him in the parking lot on the way home from work. and we got to talking. he was a very nice guy and told me if i was going to buy t i might as well test drive it since we both weren't busy right then. poor guy, i've never been on any kind of street bike but did i think to metion this fact to him? no, iwas too enthused that he was going to let me take it for a spin. so i put on his helmet and put my whole 120 pounds of weight onn the bike. first try i promtly popped the clutch and dropp the bike on its side with my thigh underneath it second time i gave it a little bit too much gas and did a wheelie right towards a concrete island holding some shrubs and trees in the parking lot thank god i ot it under cotrol before i hit the curb! third time was a charm and i managed to take off and do about three rounds of the parking lot taking it up to third gear, common sense set in and i brought it back down before i killed myself and somehow managed stop with out crashing and gave the bike back to him. you shoud have seen his face, very comical. but besides the massive bruise on my leg i had a lot of fun. didn't end up getting it though, the next day he dupmed it at something like 50 and tore it up pretty good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted April 21, 2002 Share Posted April 21, 2002 ...In an attempt to make my bike more comfortable (GSXR750) one of my plans was to sell it and buy a 1998 or newer ZX9R Ninja... Shop right around the corner has a new left-over 2000 model that they wanted to charge me $1000 for crating fees, tax, processing fee, on top of the $8299 price tag... for a two year old bike... I don't think so. These sales men at these motorcycle shops are crazy. I won't be buying from the shop right around the corner. As a matter of fact, I'll likely KEEP my bike and just suck it up... The thing is SOOO good in the corners... Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Thurem Posted April 22, 2002 Share Posted April 22, 2002 Mikelly, and the zx9's have soooo much power. Just tell'em what you will pay, and if they won't take it they will be stuck with that bike. They know that money talks and bull$-it walks... GrayZee, The volusia 800 is about as close as a bike will come to a little blue pill, They are absolutely uninspiring, a Honda Helix is more fun... (I'm a bikemechanic, and I testride 4 or 5 bikes a day) For a cruiser look for the newer Honda magna V4's, ton of fun and you can't break that motor. Or look for V-Max's for excess power. The bigger Viragos or 1400 Intruders are pretty good too as long as you dont have to work on them yourself. Stay away from 750 and 1500 Vulcans, the new Yamaha V-stars are supercheesy as well. Thure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fl327 Posted April 22, 2002 Share Posted April 22, 2002 im scared of motorcycles. used to ride them a little in high school. rode my buddies cbr 750 and didnt have the nuts to take it past second gear, too fast too fast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrayZee Posted April 22, 2002 Author Share Posted April 22, 2002 Thurem, I appreciate the input however I'm not sure I fully understood you. What is wrong with the Volusia? are you saying that it is gutless? If so, I guess it is good that I didn't buy one. Also, what is "supercheezy" about the Vstar? are you saying that it is a p.i.t.a. to work on or you you don't like the style of the bike? As for the Vmax I always wanted one of those.. and I even started thinking about it but these days I think a more comfortable relaxed cruiser would suit my needs better. Besides the Vmax has a stupid amount of power and I don't wanna become a statistic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randy 77zt Posted April 23, 2002 Share Posted April 23, 2002 thurem-what do you think of those new yamaha fz1-i like power but i am to old to ride bent over very far.i have a buddy with a harley/s&s 105" and need to smoke um. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted April 23, 2002 Share Posted April 23, 2002 Actually I'm looking into the Badnit 12, the FZ1, the Honda 996 Twin, and the Kawi KZ12. All of those bikes are getting rave reviews as good compromises between the sport bike and the cruiser... the naked bike craze is booming.... If I don't get what I want for my GSXR, I may end up trading it in over the winter on something like one of the above listed bikes... Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PETEW Posted April 23, 2002 Share Posted April 23, 2002 Mike, If I were you (Just an opinion) I would look at the new Yamaha Fj1300 and also the Kawaski ZX12R. With your past racing history and you owning alot of faired bikes I think you would be disapointed with the naked bikes. People don't realize how much you are affected by the elements on these things. I would pick the ZX-12 over anything right now. All of the bike magazines are saying this is a much better bike, with all the changes they made, that can be toured and ridden hard. Not to mention 160RWHP stock!!! The dealerships all have them so I'm sure deals are to be had. I wouldn't wait, though, I'm sure the good reveiws will get them sold. If you are going more for the touring side than they are saying the Fj1300 is an awsome bike. Like I said just an opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrayZee Posted April 24, 2002 Author Share Posted April 24, 2002 Well it looks like the search is over, I finally broke down and bought a 2002 Yamaha Vstar 1100. $1700 more than the Suzuki I was looking at but at least it is a bigger engine and the dealer didn't screw me around. I won't get the bike for a few weeks though, it's not in yet. Kind of a new experience for me, the newest vehicle I have ever owned was at least 9 years old! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Thurem Posted April 25, 2002 Share Posted April 25, 2002 GrayZee If you look up gutless in the dictionary there will be a picture of a Volusia. The reason why I called the V-stars supercheesy is cause I have to work on them. All they are is a Virago that has been cosmetically changed(challenged!). If you look closely you will see some of the engine covers being totally fake ie. chromed plastic or not really covering anything(huge transcover on back of motor just an empty shell). I have worked on 3 of the 650 vstars where the spokes in the back wheel had become so loose the wheel almost came off (this is like 3 out the 5 I've worked on). Also the final drive has to come out to get the R. wheel out, this will make your mechanic hate you (you know how mechanics take revenge on your wallet for this kind of fun). I apologise if this spoiled your fun. Randy, an FZ1 will smoke any Harley short of a supercharged prostocker. All the new naked bikes (ZXR12, Bandit 1200, FZ1, 919) are all great bikes, ton of fun with good and very proven motors, also tons of hopup parts from ZX11, GSXR, 900rr available. Bandit 600's are great for transportation. Oh, nothing can touch a ZX12 with 160 Rwhp, just make sure the wife don't get a hold of the creditcard statement that has a new Dunlop on it every 2 weeks. A buddy of min just got one 10800$ out the door cash.(Money talks BS walks). Rubber down, shiny parts up... Thure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PETEW Posted April 25, 2002 Share Posted April 25, 2002 Congratulations Grayzee. Just remember, you have to be the one that is happy with the bike. Hopefully you don't have the mechanical difficulties that were mentioned. Mike, keep us up to date on what you decide. I think the ZX-12 is what the doctor ordered and if you can get one for under $11K out the door it sounds like a decent deal to me. Ride safe guys and always have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted April 26, 2002 Share Posted April 26, 2002 I think I'm just gonna wait until next spring and see what deals are out there over the winter... I took the GIXXER out over the weekend and actually could have used knee pucks, and I realy enjoyed my bike. I've recently aquired a full leather two piece suit for $190 (Used and in great shape) some wind boots ($109) and some Triumph gloves ($55) with kevlar built in... I'm realy enjoying the addition of greater protection. I just need to get some velcro sewn on to the knees for the addition of pucks... I'll get that done in a few weeks... I'm also looking for an additional seat pan to send off to Sargent... 1993-95 was the only span on this model that NO ONE makes an aftermarket seat for... Oh well... I do love ripping corners with the knee dragging! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrayZee Posted April 26, 2002 Author Share Posted April 26, 2002 I didn't realize about the cheezy plastic faked chrome covers, that really sucks, and I sure hope that the spoke problem is limited to the 650 models.. As for taking off the rear wheel, I never found it to be a big deal on my 83Virago. Unless this is somehow a different setup? Overall I think I will be happy with the bike, at least I know one thing (it's GOTTA have more power than my 750 did!) I think that is a given.. I was told that the 1100 Vstar should be comfortable cruising at 85mph, more than enough for me! Thurem: now you've done it! now that I know you work on those bikes I'll be emailing you asking for tech support all the time! Well, it is brand new, hopefully it won't give too many problems, my 20 year old Virago was pretty good to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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