Replacement Potential

[NZraptorgirl]

Probably the wrong place to ask but my wife is considering a change but due to her lack of height it is difficult. Since we have had the forks seals replaced the front suspension is like a pogo stick. I have lowered the forks and stiffened up the rear. I put the front preload back to stock 11.5 mm rather than the 30 odd the mechanic had and it is much better but still boingy. The bike is also now 10 years old so a change is probably due.

One possible is the XJS 600 Yamaha Diversion or the FZ6N which is slightly more revvy.

Anyone here looked at them or even better own one? A rider opinion would be great. We are planning to look at one later this week but the other is down the other island so a test will be tricky and also an owner has a better perspective than what we would get in a test ride.

Cheers from NZ

[snapdragon]

sorry NZ have no experience of either , although I hear good things about the new Divi (the original was by all accounts a pig to corner and wallowed like a hippo) apparently there's a new BMW with lower seat if that floats NZgirl's boat?

otoh have you the option of a fork/shock specialist nearby (ish)?

best wishes for your quest anyhoo.

[Crap Tartan]

Yam R1 fully adjustable forks fit straight in, a variety of rear shocks can be fitted and Hagon will make one to your spec for less than £300. Then you have a VERY SPECIAL and adjustable Rap to suit........................................

[NZraptorgirl]

Yam R1 fully adjustable forks fit straight in, a variety of rear shocks can be fitted and Hagon will make one to your spec for less than £300. Then you have a VERY SPECIAL and adjustable Rap to suit........................................

Like this?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbi ... 824547.htm

Cheers from NZ

[Crap Tartan]

Now that is nice!!!

that may be going too far but was thinking of doing the suspension upgrade on more of a budget. R1 forks from 99-03 fit straight in and are fully adjustable, not too harsh (sporty) and can be picked up secondhand quite cheaply! Same with rear shocks (Aprilia falco/Fireblade etc) have all been easily fitted successfully and give more adjustment than standard and certainly a better quality start point than the standard rap stuff!!

If you have been used to the 1000 Vtwin then I would worry that your replacement suggestions will be found lacking in many respects in comparison and especially as they also suffer from budget standard suspension! If that is all the issue is on your Rap then doing a budget but fully adjustable upgrade should overcome your misgivings and be a damn siight cheaper than sell/trade-in to buy a decidely bland, overpriced jap commuter............................................... just my tuppenceworth!

Keep the rap, as Delboy would say "you know it makes sense" and revel in the individualism, power delivery and rarity of your steed that no jap replacement is EVER going to give you! (I know, i`ve had loads of them over the years!)

[shedmonkey]

My ex misses had a divvy a while back and i didnt like it much styling or ride. Always quite liked the look of the fazer but never ridden one. Both cheap bikes to run though .If i had to choose it would be Fazer everytime. But......... Stick with raptor get prog springs etc I thought that was yours CT i knew you were moving house but New Zealands a bit far isnt it

[NZraptorgirl]

Unfortunately that bike isn't ours. My wife rides this wee beastie.



Nothing wrong with it all except the front is a bit firmer than she likes since we had the new forks seals put in and the bars are a long way away from her body due to her size and the tank

She has enjoyed the bike but a small "off" last year robbed a bit of her confidence so she now notices the little bits that don't quite feel right.

I also think that a new bike will get her "get up go" back and it is her birthday this month so...

Will also look today at the F650 CS. Has good reports and we will try to keep the Raptor in the family.

[Crap Tartan]

understand where you are coming from with keeping "er indoors" happy, my wife had the 650 rap for a couple of years and really enjoyed it but felt like a change last year so we tried a few and she ended up with a triumph street triple. It handles great (bike of the year last 2 years over here) and after making new triangles to lower the seat a bit (also dropped the forks about 12mm) she absolutely loves it! IMHO it also looks pretty damn good too.

I have also ridden it a good bit and it handles very nice, can be hustled along sharpish and always stays composed. The standard suspension set up is pretty good and quite forgiving. Might be another alternative.....................

[shedmonkey]

That garage looks a bit empty to me .You could get another 5 bikes in there Quite like the yellow though

[NZraptorgirl]

understand where you are coming from with keeping "er indoors" happy, my wife had the 650 rap for a couple of years and really enjoyed it but felt like a change last year so we tried a few and she ended up with a triumph street triple. It handles great (bike of the year last 2 years over here) and after making new triangles to lower the seat a bit (also dropped the forks about 12mm) she absolutely loves it! IMHO it also looks pretty damn good too.

I have also ridden it a good bit and it handles very nice, can be hustled along sharpish and always stays composed. The standard suspension set up is pretty good and quite forgiving. Might be another alternative.....................

Funny you should say that, we just looked at Street Triple 675 but she did not like the bulk of the tank. Similar to the raptor but the Raptor tanks slims down a bit in front of the seat.

Tried a Gladious as well but that felt very heavy and even looked at a zero k's 2009 Raptor but it had flat bars and the same bloody stupid sidestand so we thought "back to the future" so no. Then looked at a F800 but far too tall. Liked the belt drive though.

Will look at the XJS tomorrow and hopefully the F650 CS.

Cheers from NZ

[NZraptorgirl]

That garage looks a bit empty to me .You could get another 5 bikes in there Quite like the yellow though

I know I know

The first Christmas here 8 years ago had 11 bikes there from memory. My 3 sons ride and they were here plus our bikes and parts bikes.

Got tired of moving them around in the barn so flogged them all and went up market.

Plenty of room for any visitors though on their big Tour of NZ

[shedmonkey]

Plenty of room for any visitors though on their big Tour of NZ

Is that an offer NZ ? my misses sister lives there and we keep talking of a visit. Are there many places to hire bikes?

[KimL]

One possible is the XJS 600 Yamaha Diversion or the FZ6N which is slightly more revvy.

I have owned a FZ6N from 2007 and must say that it is a great bike if it is the 98hp version? In Sweden we had both a 72hp version and a 98hp version and the 98hp version is the one to go for. It really easy to ride, its light and handles well in twist and turns even if you have a passenger with you. I ones was out driving with it in a big group and almost all the others had Yamaha R1 and Gixxers and that kind of bikes but i did get away from allot of them when we came to twist and turns and then i also had a passenger with me. When we came to the stop point i got allot of question from them how i could drive it so quickly and with a passenger because many of them couldn´t keep up with me. Thats how well it goes in the corners. You never feel that you lose the handle of the bike it just do what you want it to and does it nicely. And if you mount a Leo Vince system on it, it sounds lovely to

The acceleration of the bike you can´t complain on either if you can live with that it is a four cylinder 600cc bike so you have to rev it a little. The power is quite high up in the rev range, but it never felt slow on the acceleration even if you was down in the lower revs.

Here is the bikes i have owned

Yamaha TZR 125 -87
Suzuki GSX400FWS -83
Suzuki GSX600F -98
Cagiva Canyon 600 -98
Honda Hornet 600 -00
Yamaha XT660R -05
Yamaha MT03 -06
Yamaha FZ6N -07
Yamaha BT1100 Bulldog -04
Kawasaki ZX9R Ninja -98
Buell XB9R -04
Honda CBR600F -98 (in my possession right now)
Cagiva V-Raptor 1000 -04 (in my possession right now)

And i must say that from all the bikes above, the FZ6N is one of the bikes that has had the greatest handling and is the most forgiving bike if you some how should make a mistake on the road and needs to correct if fast .

So in my opinion you should at least try one . Think you will feel it a little more fun to drive then the Diversion (have tried that one to and the FZ feels better).

[NZraptorgirl]

Plenty of room for any visitors though on their big Tour of NZ

Is that an offer NZ ? my misses sister lives there and we keep talking of a visit. Are there many places to hire bikes?

Mais Oui certainment!

Better to buy and sell. Yes, insurance is a pain but at approx $200 per day it can be expensive for a decent trip. I am an insurance broker so could always sort something

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbi ... 730826.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbi ... 032738.htm

A decent ride though NZ would take 3 weeks at least so that adds up to $4k hireage so even loosing half your money on resale would still put you ahead.

Cheers from NZ

[baliraptor]

Where is the luggage rack on the raptor from ?

i was looking for something like that.

thanx Wolfgang