2009 Naked Middleweight Comparison

[newagetwotone]

You look like a cheapo Chinese instrument panel.

[mugwump58]

I just picked up a bike, my first with an LED instrument panel. I'd prefer 2 gauges. The relationship between the positions of the needles tell me all I need to know quickly, I don't need an exact number lit up in front of me and a bar graph beside it. I don't have a need for that many significant numbers in my life.

Don't most airplane ****pits use LEDs now that mimic gauges?

****, ****, ****

[Buzglyd]

Originally Posted by anrajala

Am I getting effing old and cranky but aren't the instrument panels getting so crappy in design that it is downright insulting?

Why can't they have two analog round pots, one for speed and other for revs for chrissakes. So clear you can read them with the whites of your eyes when you focus on the approaching 40 km/h gravel road bend with 100 km/h on the clock.

Now one looks like some sort of early game boy controller and other like a cheapo Chinese every home's wheather station from the eighties.

- cruiz-euro

The cool thing about digital gauges is that you could put an accelerometer in like the iPhone has and then when you drop the bike the numbers will turn upright.

Pretty handy for a guy like you.

[The_AirHawk]

Originally Posted by Buzglyd

The cool thing about digital gauges is that you could put an accelerometer in like the iPhone has and then when you drop the bike the numbers will turn upright.

Pretty handy for a guy like you.

Make jest if you like, but I happen to agree with him on this.

[Kevin_Duke]

Originally Posted by mugwump58

I just picked up a bike, my first with an LED instrument panel. I'd prefer 2 gauges. The relationship between the positions of the needles tell me all I need to know quickly

I used to think that two easily read analog gauges were the best solution. But after having stared at literally hundreds of various gauge panels over the past decade or so, I have a clear preference for a combo of an analog tach and a digital speedo If the LDC readout of speed is large enough and bright enough, it's a better system than finding a pointer amidst dozens of numbers. The Gladius' IP is excellent.

[mscuddy]

But will anyone buy either one? Maybe Kawazoki will sell about three in places like Nebraska or Idaho, but that will be about it, and another nekkid bike will be hiz-toe-reee. Same for the Suzuki thingamabob. Sad, but if it don't have a fairing on it (that you can put real cool stickers on) or has saddlebags and sounds like a french fry in its original state, you won't see too many 'round these parts mistah.

[pplassm]

I've seen examples of each on the road here already.

[ericrosten]

I've owned an '06 ZX636, '07 SV650, '06 SV650S, and now my only ride is the '08 Z1000. I can say I was having the most fun on the SV and I was the fastest around bends on it as well (not to mention very inexpensive ownership). It just handled so neutral and so light. No weight pulling you off a curve. People think they are slow compared to a litre i-4, we sure, it "feels" slower but it actually isn't "that" much slower. Twins deliver power differently. I think if people owned a ZX14, eventually they'd get conditioned to it long enough to think that it isn't that powerful and somehow they need more power. Straight line speed is fun for a little while, but in the end, curves are where the fun is to be had and that can be done the best on a well set-up SV650 or even a 650 supermotard.

[motonaut]

There both great fun bikes, until you have to ride half way across the country and back in 5 days. " you have to take the interstate". I know thats not what they're made for and why I have a 1000cc nekked.
Whats with Kawi's infatuation with broken noses?

[cloud9]

Originally Posted by Kevin_Duke

I only wish more newer/younger riders had an inkling of grins to be had on bikes like these rather than lusting for fully faired bikes in the supersport category. One day I'll find time to do a long-planned story of how a medium-grade rider can pilot an SV down a twisty road quicker than on a literbike...

I'm a soon to be first-time rider and after reading through a slew of information on motorcycles, I've really fallen for the sv and twins in general. I'm extremely excited about it and now with kawasaki offering the 650 and now er-6n I'm in a tight spot. I've heard that the sv is more of a riders motorcycle for going fast. The new gladius isn't hitting all the right notes with me. The Kawi looks a bit funky. Glad these two companies still make fun, fairly cheap, lightweight twins.

Now if they could only bring back the sv1000.....