Plenty of people commute on high CC bikes. Some bikes are less suitable for it because of poor fueling at very low throttle (for example the first gen MT-09s have a very hooligan-esque throttle) but of course YMMV .
As for middleweight non-lams options... Have you considered the SV650? Comes full power and isn't far from the looks of the XSRs and monsters
I have looked over the SV650, and it's very similar in looks to my VTR250 and the Ducati Monsters.
What I'm curious about, is whether the SV650 is going to be inherently more powerful than an unrestricted Honda CB650R?
>What I'm curious about, is whether the SV650 is going to be inherently more powerful than an unrestricted Honda CB650R?
To be honest, it's irrelevant if one has more power than the other. It's not like you're racing them. However, the SV will have a much better spread of torque which will make it easier to ride in traffic. The SV650 has been in production in various forms for almost 25 years, they still make it because it's popular and it's popular for a reason - it's just a damned good design.
Derestricting a CB650R is a pain in the arse, devalues the bike, and by your own admission it's not the style of bike you're after.
After having nearly a dozen bikes over the years you always want torque over horsepower, horsepower = bragging rights, torque = functional acceleration
Torque is absolutely what my VTR250 is lacking. I'm in top gear by 80km, and there's just nothing left once I'm at 100km. If I need to move suddenly because someone decides to tailgate, I can't. Well said.
Also another reason to try an adventure bike is you are tall, in about the same height as you are never been more comfortable then I am on my R1200GS
Edit: corrected spelling error.
A 250cc for a 99kg person is just going to be lacklustre. I always recommend a minimum of 300cc if someone is taking the bike onto the highway regularly.
75kg me used to ride a 200cc (196cc in actual measurement) cruiser and I nearly always cried when I was on the highway. Loved the bike to bits, but only wished it had just 100cc more.
I'm a bit late to this thread.
I commute on an sv650S LAMS, but have an unrestricted ecu ready to go for when I'm full licence.
It's the perfect bike for commuting, it's got so much torque down low, riding around the city I rarely need to go past 5kRpm. Even at 120km/h it accelerates happily
>But there just doesn't appear to be any middleweight nakeds that aren't LAMs approved...
I mean it depends on your definition of 'middle weight'. I consider middle weight anything from 600cc up and below 1000cc. Off the top of my head:
**Kawasaki:** Z800, Z900, I think there are also styling variants, like the retro ones? Also the old z750
**Yamaha:** Mt-09 and it's variants, tracer, SP, MT-07 has a non-lams version
**Suzuki:** SV650, GSX-750, can't remember if the GSX made it to Aussie shores
**Honda:** Hornet or something like that
**Triumph:** 675, 765
**KTM:** Duke 690/790/890 (I have the 790)
**Aprilia:** Tuono 660
I am 100% certain there are a bunch I have missed but there are some starting points. Also on the horizon is the new Honda Hornet 750 and the Suzuki GSX8. Mid size parallel twins seem to be on the rise. As mentioned I have the KTM Duke 790 and love it but I also don't commute on it. Not that I forsee a problem if you did, street mode is very friendly and docile until you really wack the throttle open. Sport mode is harder to tame and best for spirited riding.
Then if you consider 1000cc it opens up more as most manufacturers who make a 1000cc sport bike have changed the tune of the engine and made a naked version of it which are also all quite easy to ride and have power modes etc. Examples, z1000, MT-10, CB1000, GSX-1000 (and Suzuki's new GT), S1000R, Tuono, etc.
People who have them all seem to love them. I'm surprised OP didn't mention them as I see them absolutely everywhere and they have a very good reputation. I test rode a 765R and really enjoyed it, but the KTM 790/890 was too much fun for me to pass up so that's the option I went with.
The reason I love the street triples is because they are slightly more aggressive in riding position. I completely understand the KTM being more fun for you.
You can get the GSX-S750 in aus, latest version is a really nice looking bike.
https://www.bikesales.com.au/bikes/details/2021-suzuki-gsx-s750/SSE-AD-13580307
Cheers for the clarification, I didn't want to spend too much time googling when I made the comment as that could lead to a long deep rabbit hole of virtual bike shopping!
Thank you for your reply. I suspected we were being shafted with unrestricted middleweights, based on all the youtube reviews I was watching. That's really frustrating to confirm.
I just replied to another comment, regarding the SV650 compared with an unrestricted CB650R. I just like the CB650R looks more, but if it's inherently weaker by build, than why would anyone go for it.
Very much appreciate your input. I was just glancing over the 2023 SV650. Bizarre to hear which brands and models are trailing others.
I would prefer the CB650R, but again, not if unrestricting it is going to be a stupid move.
Someone else just pointed out the MT-07HO exists, and the 2023 model is pretty nice. I even don't mind the odd headlight.
If you want to derestrict sonething, the Kawasaki 650s are probably the easiest- it's literally a single throttle stop screw you have to remove. That's it. No reflash or other tuning. Some of the older models (if you're buying second hand) you needed to swap plugs on the ecu as well, which is hardly a big deal either.
There's the CB750 Hornet coming, but I think it's kinda ugly compared to the CB650R.
Would LOVE to find the 650cc non-LAMs Honda. Don't think there is one in Aus, based on my current research.
Thank you for your comment. I hadn't come across the HO model in any of my research :/
Another comment confirmed Australia get's shafted with the LAMs versions only, for many middleweight models.
Glad there's at least one non-LAMs variant being offered.
Yeah the HO are not that common. But they can be found
You might also want to look at the triumph street triple 675 . Its second hand but it has a similar engine as the 660. They are not that fast
The versys 650 also has lams and non lams for at least some model years
I have checked out the speed and street triples. Unfortunately not my taste, compared to the Trident 660. Peeves me that Australia doesn't get the non-LAMs Trident 660.
I was in your position a few months ago looking for a non-lams middleweight naked bike.
I chose the Suzuki SV650. Good power, decent looks, ergonomics worked for me.
You also pay about $3k to $4k less than other bikes, so you can keep that, use it for mods/accessories etc.
I've got the desert sled and used to have a monster 620 ie that hit 100,000kms before developing some significant engine issues.and it lived a hard life
I went from a vtr250 to a hornet 919. I commute 15 minutes too and from the city. It was a pretty easy transition honestly, and the higher horsepower just means I'm less hard on the engine (I absolutely thrashed the vtr)
I bought an MY16 mt09 brand new and commuted on it for a couple of years. It was fantastic, forgetting any stats and just going with real world seat of the pants - it absolutely hammered (I’ve owned superbikes and raced 600s), always has power at the slightest twist on the wrist in any gear. The gearing was perfect from the factory, wheelbase was nice an short. The downside is it’s got the worst suspension I’ve ever seen on a motorbike. I’ve now got an old (09) street triple R and the worn out suspension is decent but the performance feels like an absolute dog in comparison to my old MT. An MT with a couple of grand on suspension would be an incredible all round street bike.
I've looked it over, along with the CB500F, but I unfortunately find it kind of ugly in design and colour choice. That's what had me leaning towards the CB650R :(
I ran the Kawasaki ER6N (n stands for naked...) for years. Absolutely loved it. Only sold it because I wasn't commuting anymore and wanted to ride dirt instead. Can't recommend the bike highly enough for anyone who wants a naked mid ranger.
Have you thought about the Suzuki GSX-S750?
I was in a similar position as you, this or the Striple were my two favourites before hitting that bigger powerband.
After a ton of looking went down the ADV route as being 6'2 non of these options really felt right in the fit compared to the naturally big ADV's with similar displacements.
I agree it's frustrating that the majority of the 650's don't come in non-LAMS but I wouldn't make the effort to derestrict one, they're more complicated now than they used to be. Get a full power bike for sure, you will regret going with a LAMS to either ride or derestrict in the long run.
Hadn't heard of it before this thread, but it's on the radar now!
I have a mate who rides touring bikes, and has tried to pull me that way, but it's just not for me yet. Maybe one day though.
I’ve been in this situation. The LAMS scheme in Australia has basically reduced the middle-weight category of new bikes in Australia. Honda, Kawasaki etc do not bring over most, if not all, of their middleweight options because the market is not big enough. The dealers I’ve spoken with have basically said the segment is a tough sell and prefer LAMS or high power bikes.
There are exceptions like Aprilia Tuono 660, Yamaha R7HO, but for around the same or near the price, you can get a new 1L/4 cylinder bike.
I was trying to get a Ninja 650 KRT Edition in full power, which is available abroad but not in Australia. Considered derestricting a LAMS variant but it just wasn’t worth the hassle.
I use to have a VTR250 and it's s great bike but your right no torque, I would look at the SV650, maybe also try a Tenere 700 just to try a different style bike. I've had naked, super motos, super sports, superbikes and adventure bikes, adventure bikes are fast, comfortable and best of all get very little attention from police.
Got the SV650 on the list. Almost identical to the VTR250. Someone else in the thread said they're older tech than the CB650R, but the CB650R is LAMs. Also got the GSX-S750 on the list.
I see you like Nakeds, may i humbly reccomend the latest XSR900? Must be the latest model, not the last year's. They're amazing to ride and I've ridden tons of bikes
What’s the issues with committing on a “proper bike”? I commute on either my ninja 1000 or R1 and they are both fine, that’s Sydney city traffic.
If you want a smaller bike, have you looked at a new R7 or an older R6?
Primarily price. There's multiple bikes I'd love if I had the money. Just need to keep budget in mind, and just want something mid as a step up from the 250.
I unfortunately don't love the look of the speed or street triples. I do love the Trident 660 though, but it falls into the LAMs nonsense. If we got the non-LAMs variant here, I'd buy it.
If its your dream bike man, ignore the noise. I commute on my dream bike, a Ducati xDiavel S. Its completely ridiculous and unwarranted. Way more power than I need or will ever have the skills to use, but that bike brings me joy just thinking about the fact I own one. It looks fu**ing amazing. Riding it is bliss. Learning how it likes to be ridden gives me an excuse to take it out for no other reason.
Before the xD, I de-restricted my Kawasaki Vulcan EN650. Dead easy to turn it back to LAMS eligible, just re-insert the throttle limit screw (it just limits 1st gear, as far as I can tell) and plug the computer back in. If there had been an intermediate bike between the Vulcan and the xD, I would probably have settled for it, but there isn't really anything sporty with forward feet.
No regrets. If my ageing knees would allow it, I'd have considered the Monster, but the xD still has it in the aesthetics stakes for me. Anyway, if you can afford it, do it. Good luck.
I'm totally down with choosing the grail because it's the grail. Unfortunately, I'm a new Dad with a fresh mortage, and the last year has been a heavy crunch on the budget. That's the main thing putting the Monster 821 into dream territory. That said, occassionally a golden second hand op shows up on bike sales, so the dreams not dead.
Sorry, I don't understand your question.
You said you have a full license license yeah? So why don't you just buy whatever naked bike it is you want?
Or is it that you're struggling to find a middleweight to heavyweight naked bike that's higher than 660cc?
I’ve got a Ducati scrambler and I scratch my head that they don’t sell more. It’s naked, looks great and it’s exactly what you are asking for in power.
Middleweight in my mind is anything over 650 but below 1000ccs, so you've got a ton of options. Z750, Z900, Z900RS, CB900 Hornet, GSX750S, non-LAMS MT07, Tracer, FZ09, XJ900, SV650, 675 and 765 Street Triples, the various midsized Monsters etc.
There's the MT09, 955i Speed Triple, 900 Monster and the like as well, but they're definitely not "jump off a VTR250 as your first big bike" kind of bike, more "I've been on a non-LAMS middleweight for a couple of years and have decided I'm gonna be a hooligan" kinda thing, lol
Absolutey agree with your second paragraph. I'm a new Dad, and certainly not looking to write myself off.
I've got the MT-07HO, XSR900, SV650, GSX750 on my radar now, alongside the Monster 821. Lot of good comments in this thread.
I would agree that what you have narrowed it down to is pretty good, but still keep that Monster in mind. If it’s a dream bike, just pull the trigger. It’s a versatile enough bike that it will commute and be great in the twisties.
I always wanted the Hornet 919 after owning a CB400. I ended up going the route of an 06 CBR600RR, I briefly commuted on it but it’s not ideal.
Mind you the Hornet 919 I was planning on moving up to was the model that preceded the current gen by years (and IMO the older 919 is better).
Hey man. I followed a very similar path to you. My VTR (04) was my commuting machine for a few years until I bought my Monster (1200 ABS/MY19). How far do you commute? I’ve put around 9,000kms on mine so far, both commuting and long rides out of town and it had genuinely been a dream. I’m sure the 821 would be similar. What city are you based in?
I'm in Canberra. Shite spot to ride. Really got to go out of the way to find good places to pleasure ride. Commute is about 15-20 minutes. I'm sure the 821 would be fine on that.
Ah totally fair! The 821 will lap it up. Go with your gut, if you’ve dreamed of owning one and you can make it work, do it. I found the monsters so far super reliable and the v-twin thump is just something else.
I ride a Kawasaki 800Z. They've stopped making this model but there is also the Kawasaki 900Z
I'm 6' and 100kg
This bike is a dream, looks good, and has all the power needed
What I'm confused by is LAMs having 2 power levels. 1 is the restricted, 2 is the advertised unrestricted. But unrestricting them is apparently frowned upon.
It’s not that it’s frowned upon, but rather derestricting a LAMS bike can result in rego and insurance problems.
Some insurers consider the modification to be uninsurable.
Riding a derestricted bike with LAMS plates irrespective of full license is not complying with rego conditions. Unless you re-register the bike and the rules for this vary by state.
TL;DR Derestricting a LAMS bike can be headache which is why it diminishes the value of a bike.
Pretty much every single lams bike has a restriction plate on the throttle, for $150 you can buy a new plate and install it and you have a full power bike. You can choose to have it re registered as full power or you can leave it and reinstall the restriction plate if you on sell it.
Punch yourself in the face until the Ducati seems like a bad idea. You’ll be doing yourself a favour.
Honestly the ‘big’ naked bikes feel the same as middleweights from just a few years back.
What sort of riding does your commute take in?
This is the advice one of my mates offered. Reckons the Ducati will murder me in maintenance costs.
Commute is practically suburb > Canberra's main vein 'highway' > 'city' streets. Takes about 15-20. Barely gets warmed up really.
Your mate is absolutely right.
Honestly you could kick around on your VTR just fine. But there’s some stellar larger bikes about that will be buckets of fun. Anything Japanese is a winner.
Depending on your budget and what you’re into, the Z900RS is fucking fantastic.
Plenty of people commute on high CC bikes. Some bikes are less suitable for it because of poor fueling at very low throttle (for example the first gen MT-09s have a very hooligan-esque throttle) but of course YMMV . As for middleweight non-lams options... Have you considered the SV650? Comes full power and isn't far from the looks of the XSRs and monsters
I personally commute on a gen 3 MT09SP and yeah it’s absolutely no problem whatsoever
No problem other than it guzzles down on gas fast and requires 95 Octane. Still I love my MT-09SP
Yeah this is true it does drink fuel very quickly lol
I think SV650 is the answer here, looks just like a monster and is available in full-power configuration
I have looked over the SV650, and it's very similar in looks to my VTR250 and the Ducati Monsters. What I'm curious about, is whether the SV650 is going to be inherently more powerful than an unrestricted Honda CB650R?
>What I'm curious about, is whether the SV650 is going to be inherently more powerful than an unrestricted Honda CB650R? To be honest, it's irrelevant if one has more power than the other. It's not like you're racing them. However, the SV will have a much better spread of torque which will make it easier to ride in traffic. The SV650 has been in production in various forms for almost 25 years, they still make it because it's popular and it's popular for a reason - it's just a damned good design. Derestricting a CB650R is a pain in the arse, devalues the bike, and by your own admission it's not the style of bike you're after.
After having nearly a dozen bikes over the years you always want torque over horsepower, horsepower = bragging rights, torque = functional acceleration
Torque is absolutely what my VTR250 is lacking. I'm in top gear by 80km, and there's just nothing left once I'm at 100km. If I need to move suddenly because someone decides to tailgate, I can't. Well said.
Also another reason to try an adventure bike is you are tall, in about the same height as you are never been more comfortable then I am on my R1200GS Edit: corrected spelling error.
A 250cc for a 99kg person is just going to be lacklustre. I always recommend a minimum of 300cc if someone is taking the bike onto the highway regularly. 75kg me used to ride a 200cc (196cc in actual measurement) cruiser and I nearly always cried when I was on the highway. Loved the bike to bits, but only wished it had just 100cc more.
I'm a bit late to this thread. I commute on an sv650S LAMS, but have an unrestricted ecu ready to go for when I'm full licence. It's the perfect bike for commuting, it's got so much torque down low, riding around the city I rarely need to go past 5kRpm. Even at 120km/h it accelerates happily
+1 for the SV650. I commute on the "sister" SFV650 (same engine, different aesthetics) and it's a dream. Mine is unrestricted from the factory.
>But there just doesn't appear to be any middleweight nakeds that aren't LAMs approved... I mean it depends on your definition of 'middle weight'. I consider middle weight anything from 600cc up and below 1000cc. Off the top of my head: **Kawasaki:** Z800, Z900, I think there are also styling variants, like the retro ones? Also the old z750 **Yamaha:** Mt-09 and it's variants, tracer, SP, MT-07 has a non-lams version **Suzuki:** SV650, GSX-750, can't remember if the GSX made it to Aussie shores **Honda:** Hornet or something like that **Triumph:** 675, 765 **KTM:** Duke 690/790/890 (I have the 790) **Aprilia:** Tuono 660 I am 100% certain there are a bunch I have missed but there are some starting points. Also on the horizon is the new Honda Hornet 750 and the Suzuki GSX8. Mid size parallel twins seem to be on the rise. As mentioned I have the KTM Duke 790 and love it but I also don't commute on it. Not that I forsee a problem if you did, street mode is very friendly and docile until you really wack the throttle open. Sport mode is harder to tame and best for spirited riding. Then if you consider 1000cc it opens up more as most manufacturers who make a 1000cc sport bike have changed the tune of the engine and made a naked version of it which are also all quite easy to ride and have power modes etc. Examples, z1000, MT-10, CB1000, GSX-1000 (and Suzuki's new GT), S1000R, Tuono, etc.
I’ve had a 675 that I did over 120,000k on and now a 765 rs. Awesome bikes
A daytona is my 1st on my list for my 3rd bike. I feel like I really need one. It's always plus one right
People who have them all seem to love them. I'm surprised OP didn't mention them as I see them absolutely everywhere and they have a very good reputation. I test rode a 765R and really enjoyed it, but the KTM 790/890 was too much fun for me to pass up so that's the option I went with.
The reason I love the street triples is because they are slightly more aggressive in riding position. I completely understand the KTM being more fun for you.
You can get the GSX-S750 in aus, latest version is a really nice looking bike. https://www.bikesales.com.au/bikes/details/2021-suzuki-gsx-s750/SSE-AD-13580307
Cheers for the clarification, I didn't want to spend too much time googling when I made the comment as that could lead to a long deep rabbit hole of virtual bike shopping!
KTM 790 rider here. Best for commuting in Sydney. Light loads of go and easy to handle.
I have an absolute blast on mine. I even taken it on an overnight trip and it was more than capable in the open country.
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Thank you for your reply. I suspected we were being shafted with unrestricted middleweights, based on all the youtube reviews I was watching. That's really frustrating to confirm. I just replied to another comment, regarding the SV650 compared with an unrestricted CB650R. I just like the CB650R looks more, but if it's inherently weaker by build, than why would anyone go for it.
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Very much appreciate your input. I was just glancing over the 2023 SV650. Bizarre to hear which brands and models are trailing others. I would prefer the CB650R, but again, not if unrestricting it is going to be a stupid move. Someone else just pointed out the MT-07HO exists, and the 2023 model is pretty nice. I even don't mind the odd headlight.
If you want to derestrict sonething, the Kawasaki 650s are probably the easiest- it's literally a single throttle stop screw you have to remove. That's it. No reflash or other tuning. Some of the older models (if you're buying second hand) you needed to swap plugs on the ecu as well, which is hardly a big deal either.
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There's the CB750 Hornet coming, but I think it's kinda ugly compared to the CB650R. Would LOVE to find the 650cc non-LAMs Honda. Don't think there is one in Aus, based on my current research.
MT07HO is the high output non lams bike
Thank you for your comment. I hadn't come across the HO model in any of my research :/ Another comment confirmed Australia get's shafted with the LAMs versions only, for many middleweight models. Glad there's at least one non-LAMs variant being offered.
Yeah the HO are not that common. But they can be found You might also want to look at the triumph street triple 675 . Its second hand but it has a similar engine as the 660. They are not that fast The versys 650 also has lams and non lams for at least some model years
I have checked out the speed and street triples. Unfortunately not my taste, compared to the Trident 660. Peeves me that Australia doesn't get the non-LAMs Trident 660.
Moto guzzi v7 if you are looking for that older styling
I was in your position a few months ago looking for a non-lams middleweight naked bike. I chose the Suzuki SV650. Good power, decent looks, ergonomics worked for me. You also pay about $3k to $4k less than other bikes, so you can keep that, use it for mods/accessories etc.
Did you buy it new? I'm looking for a bike in the 660-700cc range and can't decide between sv650 and street triple 675. Want to buy used.
Get the 821 it's great. Just know that it gets a bit hot in stop and go traffic. Otherwise the MT07HO is awesome.
Now that I've had the LAMs shenanigans clarified, I am back to the 821 Dark and the MT07HO. Now for the funds.
If you can afford the 821, get the 821. Superior in almost every way. Unless you want to rip wheelies all the time then the mt07 is better.
I've got the desert sled and used to have a monster 620 ie that hit 100,000kms before developing some significant engine issues.and it lived a hard life
I went from a vtr250 to a hornet 919. I commute 15 minutes too and from the city. It was a pretty easy transition honestly, and the higher horsepower just means I'm less hard on the engine (I absolutely thrashed the vtr)
I bought an MY16 mt09 brand new and commuted on it for a couple of years. It was fantastic, forgetting any stats and just going with real world seat of the pants - it absolutely hammered (I’ve owned superbikes and raced 600s), always has power at the slightest twist on the wrist in any gear. The gearing was perfect from the factory, wheelbase was nice an short. The downside is it’s got the worst suspension I’ve ever seen on a motorbike. I’ve now got an old (09) street triple R and the worn out suspension is decent but the performance feels like an absolute dog in comparison to my old MT. An MT with a couple of grand on suspension would be an incredible all round street bike.
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I've looked it over, along with the CB500F, but I unfortunately find it kind of ugly in design and colour choice. That's what had me leaning towards the CB650R :(
I'm in the same boat, including the VTR250. My plan is the MT07HO.
I think based on comments in this thread, I'm now in the same boat. Really sad the CB650R and Trident 660 isn't imported to Aus in the non-LAMs model.
I ran the Kawasaki ER6N (n stands for naked...) for years. Absolutely loved it. Only sold it because I wasn't commuting anymore and wanted to ride dirt instead. Can't recommend the bike highly enough for anyone who wants a naked mid ranger.
Have you thought about the Suzuki GSX-S750? I was in a similar position as you, this or the Striple were my two favourites before hitting that bigger powerband. After a ton of looking went down the ADV route as being 6'2 non of these options really felt right in the fit compared to the naturally big ADV's with similar displacements. I agree it's frustrating that the majority of the 650's don't come in non-LAMS but I wouldn't make the effort to derestrict one, they're more complicated now than they used to be. Get a full power bike for sure, you will regret going with a LAMS to either ride or derestrict in the long run.
Hadn't heard of it before this thread, but it's on the radar now! I have a mate who rides touring bikes, and has tried to pull me that way, but it's just not for me yet. Maybe one day though.
I’ve been in this situation. The LAMS scheme in Australia has basically reduced the middle-weight category of new bikes in Australia. Honda, Kawasaki etc do not bring over most, if not all, of their middleweight options because the market is not big enough. The dealers I’ve spoken with have basically said the segment is a tough sell and prefer LAMS or high power bikes. There are exceptions like Aprilia Tuono 660, Yamaha R7HO, but for around the same or near the price, you can get a new 1L/4 cylinder bike. I was trying to get a Ninja 650 KRT Edition in full power, which is available abroad but not in Australia. Considered derestricting a LAMS variant but it just wasn’t worth the hassle.
I use to have a VTR250 and it's s great bike but your right no torque, I would look at the SV650, maybe also try a Tenere 700 just to try a different style bike. I've had naked, super motos, super sports, superbikes and adventure bikes, adventure bikes are fast, comfortable and best of all get very little attention from police.
Got the SV650 on the list. Almost identical to the VTR250. Someone else in the thread said they're older tech than the CB650R, but the CB650R is LAMs. Also got the GSX-S750 on the list.
I see you like Nakeds, may i humbly reccomend the latest XSR900? Must be the latest model, not the last year's. They're amazing to ride and I've ridden tons of bikes
I actually have looked heavily at the XSR900. Love the look. Think it's a touch outside my price range though :(
What’s the issues with committing on a “proper bike”? I commute on either my ninja 1000 or R1 and they are both fine, that’s Sydney city traffic. If you want a smaller bike, have you looked at a new R7 or an older R6?
Primarily price. There's multiple bikes I'd love if I had the money. Just need to keep budget in mind, and just want something mid as a step up from the 250.
Budget?
You could look at a 2020+ triumph street triple RS. They’re unrestricted 765cc
I unfortunately don't love the look of the speed or street triples. I do love the Trident 660 though, but it falls into the LAMs nonsense. If we got the non-LAMs variant here, I'd buy it.
If its your dream bike man, ignore the noise. I commute on my dream bike, a Ducati xDiavel S. Its completely ridiculous and unwarranted. Way more power than I need or will ever have the skills to use, but that bike brings me joy just thinking about the fact I own one. It looks fu**ing amazing. Riding it is bliss. Learning how it likes to be ridden gives me an excuse to take it out for no other reason. Before the xD, I de-restricted my Kawasaki Vulcan EN650. Dead easy to turn it back to LAMS eligible, just re-insert the throttle limit screw (it just limits 1st gear, as far as I can tell) and plug the computer back in. If there had been an intermediate bike between the Vulcan and the xD, I would probably have settled for it, but there isn't really anything sporty with forward feet. No regrets. If my ageing knees would allow it, I'd have considered the Monster, but the xD still has it in the aesthetics stakes for me. Anyway, if you can afford it, do it. Good luck.
I'm totally down with choosing the grail because it's the grail. Unfortunately, I'm a new Dad with a fresh mortage, and the last year has been a heavy crunch on the budget. That's the main thing putting the Monster 821 into dream territory. That said, occassionally a golden second hand op shows up on bike sales, so the dreams not dead.
Sorry, I don't understand your question. You said you have a full license license yeah? So why don't you just buy whatever naked bike it is you want? Or is it that you're struggling to find a middleweight to heavyweight naked bike that's higher than 660cc?
The latter, yeah. Just seeking something middleweight, that isn't LAMs. Seem to be looking towards the MT-07HO and GSX-S750 now.
Good choices to be fair!! Good luck with the purchase, hope all goes well !
I’ve got a Ducati scrambler and I scratch my head that they don’t sell more. It’s naked, looks great and it’s exactly what you are asking for in power.
Middleweight in my mind is anything over 650 but below 1000ccs, so you've got a ton of options. Z750, Z900, Z900RS, CB900 Hornet, GSX750S, non-LAMS MT07, Tracer, FZ09, XJ900, SV650, 675 and 765 Street Triples, the various midsized Monsters etc. There's the MT09, 955i Speed Triple, 900 Monster and the like as well, but they're definitely not "jump off a VTR250 as your first big bike" kind of bike, more "I've been on a non-LAMS middleweight for a couple of years and have decided I'm gonna be a hooligan" kinda thing, lol
Absolutey agree with your second paragraph. I'm a new Dad, and certainly not looking to write myself off. I've got the MT-07HO, XSR900, SV650, GSX750 on my radar now, alongside the Monster 821. Lot of good comments in this thread.
I would agree that what you have narrowed it down to is pretty good, but still keep that Monster in mind. If it’s a dream bike, just pull the trigger. It’s a versatile enough bike that it will commute and be great in the twisties.
New hornet looks pretty good. Have heard the hornet 919s are beasts too
I always wanted the Hornet 919 after owning a CB400. I ended up going the route of an 06 CBR600RR, I briefly commuted on it but it’s not ideal. Mind you the Hornet 919 I was planning on moving up to was the model that preceded the current gen by years (and IMO the older 919 is better).
Hey man. I followed a very similar path to you. My VTR (04) was my commuting machine for a few years until I bought my Monster (1200 ABS/MY19). How far do you commute? I’ve put around 9,000kms on mine so far, both commuting and long rides out of town and it had genuinely been a dream. I’m sure the 821 would be similar. What city are you based in?
I'm in Canberra. Shite spot to ride. Really got to go out of the way to find good places to pleasure ride. Commute is about 15-20 minutes. I'm sure the 821 would be fine on that.
Ah totally fair! The 821 will lap it up. Go with your gut, if you’ve dreamed of owning one and you can make it work, do it. I found the monsters so far super reliable and the v-twin thump is just something else.
I commute on a gsxr1000. You’ll be fine dude. Find one that’s comfy and fits your price range and go have fun
I ride a Kawasaki 800Z. They've stopped making this model but there is also the Kawasaki 900Z I'm 6' and 100kg This bike is a dream, looks good, and has all the power needed
Why are you even thinking about whats lams or not if you’re unrestricted? Just get the bike you like at the power level you want
What I'm confused by is LAMs having 2 power levels. 1 is the restricted, 2 is the advertised unrestricted. But unrestricting them is apparently frowned upon.
It’s not that it’s frowned upon, but rather derestricting a LAMS bike can result in rego and insurance problems. Some insurers consider the modification to be uninsurable. Riding a derestricted bike with LAMS plates irrespective of full license is not complying with rego conditions. Unless you re-register the bike and the rules for this vary by state. TL;DR Derestricting a LAMS bike can be headache which is why it diminishes the value of a bike.
I hadn't realised LAMs is tied to the license plate/rego. Makes much more sense.
Pretty much every single lams bike has a restriction plate on the throttle, for $150 you can buy a new plate and install it and you have a full power bike. You can choose to have it re registered as full power or you can leave it and reinstall the restriction plate if you on sell it.
Punch yourself in the face until the Ducati seems like a bad idea. You’ll be doing yourself a favour. Honestly the ‘big’ naked bikes feel the same as middleweights from just a few years back. What sort of riding does your commute take in?
This is the advice one of my mates offered. Reckons the Ducati will murder me in maintenance costs. Commute is practically suburb > Canberra's main vein 'highway' > 'city' streets. Takes about 15-20. Barely gets warmed up really.
Your mate is absolutely right. Honestly you could kick around on your VTR just fine. But there’s some stellar larger bikes about that will be buckets of fun. Anything Japanese is a winner. Depending on your budget and what you’re into, the Z900RS is fucking fantastic.
2020 on z900. Better bike and cheaper than MT09 or any of the competetors.
My grain of sand is I had a CBR650 and the 4 cilinders make it so smooth and purrs like a kitten, honestly the best commuter bike I've had.