Time to trade down

[ClassicVW_imp]

If you're already calling it fugly, IMO that ain't a good sign for long term happiness....

[the Ferret]

I'd like to make a cautionary point about believing in what testers say. They rarely give bad reviews and they are often misleading. A few years ago Ducati was all the rage among mc magazine testers. My son's fiancé bought him one based on those reports. She chose it over the Triumph Triple which wasn't getting the glowing reports the Ducati was. By all measurements the Triumphs ended up being the better motorcycles. My son won't ride his Ducati more than 25 miles from home for fear of mechanical failure.

Another example is the first year Yamaha FZ-09. Oh man the rave reviews. Unfortunately the first year bikes had horrible fueling and were barely rideable, but it wasn't until the second year that the motorcycle rag testers admitted to that.

I have ridden the FZ-07 two different years and gave my opinions on them here. All I will say is I would never give up my CB1100 for one, but what I really mean to say is take magazine testers
reviews with a grain of salt, and if at all possible get a test ride on a motorcycle you are interested in before plunking your money down.

[CB4ME_imp]

Excellent point Ferret. Reading real ride reports from actual owners on bike forums is my go-to resource.

[4 Paws_imp]

How much advertising will be sold if testers give negative reviews?

As a "well seasoned" motorcyclist with the ability to purchase a motorcycle after a satisfactory test ride it is darn hard finding a dealership that allows pre-purchase test rides. Frustrating.

Buying a bike based solely on looks is a common lament.

[LongRanger_imp]

Although in my opinion it has gone downhill recently, subscribe or pick up a copy of Motorcycle Consumer News if you're interested in reading unbiased motorcycle road test reviews. They don't accept advertising and only report things as they see them. I'm not terribly fond of the new editor but that's just me.

[Lord Popgun]

Gun magazines are the same way. You really have to read between the lines in any of the magazines.

[ClassicVW_imp]

I feel it's best to almost ignore a test review from a source that accepts advertising $$$ from manufacturers. You have to read and reread those reviews a couple of times to get the gist of the review sometimes.

A recent review went like this... (somewhat paraphrasing) "You need to be certain to be in the correct gear at all times." "You won't be able to keep it in one gear for a while like you may be used to..." Of course that tells me the bike in question is underpowered but they won't come right out and say that. Test ride whatever you're interested in yourself and decide.

[uscgmac_imp]

I downsized too after a major accident. In fact I took my first ride on a new 2016 CB500F today after 4.5 months off a bike.

Smaller, lighter bikes have their attractions. If I had the money a 2017 CB1100 would be in the garage, but the 500 cost less than half.

Good luck on the new bike!

Small light bikes are fun. If I were to downsize I would consider the new Suzuki sv 650. They redesigned it and it's a lively V twin plus it's cheap.

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

[DaSwami_imp]

If I believed all the cycle rag reviews I would have never purchased a Moto Guzzi V7 but man that would have been a huge mistake.

Most of those guys are weenies...

[beardyweirdy@me.com_imp]

Well said Ferret, when you've been riding and riding bike mags long enough you soon see that often last years darling is this years howler.

if I'm interested in a bike i usually seek out a review of the model that followed it. It gives you a better perspective when the writer focuses on which of the previous models faults have been improved.