revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Taipan wrote: Mon Jan 12, 2026 1:43 pm The MT-07 has a beaut of an engine! Proper grunty little thing. I never felt confident with the front end for some reason, but the bike was a hoot to ride overall. Deffo try one, I cant imagine you'd not like it?

Oh, I've tried the MT07 (not far) but it felt a bit like a big 390 Duke!! I know I could have an absolute hoot on it. But the only reason I was happy with the 390Duke was because I had a big bike to ride as well!! So I'm just worried that I'd get fed up of the 07 - but I may just be being a brat! Although I have friends about 6 hours away (on the motorway, 8-10 on the fun roads!) and want to go as far as Nice and Croatia, so that's another reason to lean towards the 09

I think!

Supermofo wrote: Mon Jan 12, 2026 6:04 pm Why would your arm be OK with the 07 but not the 09? Acceleration type thing holding on?

Mostly what Weeksy said. It's gonna be more about geometry and a bit about weight (depending on how the bike is balanced)

In theory the CB1000 I borrowed should have been fab cos I love the big honda engines. BUT, all the weight is up high and the bars were just too far away for me to comfortably lean in to bend my elbow; with those two combined, it was a bastard on mountain roads (which I would do a LOT of due to all the fab roads around here!!)

The Superduke I rode (probably a 990??) the weight was so much better balanced (and probably lighter than the old CB!) and yes, I could lean forward to get my elbows to bend enough to be comfy. But we didn't do mountains and I suspect that after a while the leaning forward that much would hurt my back?



The reason I need to have a bent elbow (right arm, but both cos of balance!!! ) is that when my arm is straight, all the vibrations and pressure of turns go up into the bicep area of my right arm.

My long head bicep finishes just next to where the short head bicep starts (finishes??) naturally and the deltoid point is close too.

So, mostly due to the deltoid doing all the control/movement of my arm, and the LH Bicep finishing where it had to be fixed (due to being severed and not able to be fixed) that area is what hurts more than anything else (no pain in the shoulder currently as the prosthesis and the screws are all fine and actual shoulder joint is all metal!).

With a bent elbow the vibrations/pressure seem to stop at the elbow and creates a lot less pain than a straight arm.


I'm also kinda looking at sports bikes cos, definitely bent elbow and generally the weight is low down

MT-07's are for girls and Nogs isn't a girl!

KungFooBob wrote: Mon Jan 12, 2026 7:20 pm MT-07's are for girls and Nogs isn't a girl!

Ummmmm

From the sounds of what your saying, and if it was me I'd get the 09.


Well I wouldn't I'd get the GSXS1000 But it sounds like you'd prefer the faster more lairy bike so try an 09

Supermofo wrote: Mon Jan 12, 2026 8:27 pm From the sounds of what your saying, and if it was me I'd get the 09.


Well I wouldn't I'd get the GSXS1000 But it sounds like you'd prefer the faster more lairy bike so try an 09

More lairy for sure! I was only ever fast on the road, but then I did learn to ride on a BlackBird!! LOL

If I could replace the 1997 TLs I would jump at that, and I did love the ZX10r (2004 ) so yeah, nice and sensible really doesn't fit - if I can find something lairy that I can afford and doesn't hurt my arm!!!

Won't matter to the MT-07, but remember that official Fronch bikes pre-2016 will be limited to 100bhp. So that's chopping 15bhp of a pre-2016 MT-09.

KungFooBob wrote: Mon Jan 12, 2026 8:33 pm Won't matter to the MT-07, but remember that official Fronch bikes pre-2016 will be limited to 100bhp. So that's chopping 15bhp of a pre-2016 MT-09.

Hmmm. That'd make a difference I imagine. Even more so the GSXS as you'd be lopping about 35-40 bhp from it.

Nogs, 2017 onwards I reckon

Noggin wrote: Mon Jan 12, 2026 8:30 pm

Supermofo wrote: Mon Jan 12, 2026 8:27 pm From the sounds of what your saying, and if it was me I'd get the 09.


Well I wouldn't I'd get the GSXS1000 But it sounds like you'd prefer the faster more lairy bike so try an 09

More lairy for sure! I was only ever fast on the road, but then I did learn to ride on a BlackBird!! LOL

If I could replace the 1997 TLs I would jump at that, and I did love the ZX10r (2004 ) so yeah, nice and sensible really doesn't fit - if I can find something lairy that I can afford and doesn't hurt my arm!!!

Once you get to the bigger bikes they are all gonna be lairy. I'll try and dig out my MT09 test as hard to remember 5 years ago

Found my test ride write ups of the MT09, Tracer and GSXS. Reading it back I can see why I bought the Suzuki Think I liked it!

Although must say I did really enjoy Weeksy's XSR900 so as I said maybe that 09 I rode was a wrong un. They are certainly popular.

Supermofo wrote: Sat Jan 29, 2022 6:27 pm Day started with me waiting on Suzuki to call me about Mr 10am. Come midday and I call them, 10am bloke was a no show but they'd not called me. So thought I'd try and get up there.

Then I saw this whilst on the phone to Suzuki
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-detai ... 0118350513



This is a decent price for a 2020 so I decide to test the 09 instead.

Test ride went well within the confines of the shitty road conditions. Suspension felt good, brakes were good and the riding position was very comfortable. The throttle was really abrupt and I was pogoing up the street when I noticed it was in A mode. So pulled over and set it to standard. This was better but still fairly abrupt and not helped by thicker gloves and 3 months not riding. Greasy roundabouts were a bit tricky with the throttle but sortable or I'd get used to it. It's a really windy day and a short stint of A120 into the wind was blardy exposed, back the other way was much better but it needs a screen. This was at about 130-140 kph. Yes kph as that's what the clocks were set to and I couldn't work out how to change them back!!

So would I buy an MT09? Yes.

Would I buy this MT09. No.

It was a decent price and ok on first quick look but the heated grips control sticker (yes sticker!!!) Was peeling off exposing the internals, the brake banjo bolts were in a state, the disc carriers were rusting and I noticed it had been dropped. First giveaway was a snapped swingarm bobbin thread in the swingarm with a small piece of swingarm missing and then clocked pillion peg/hanger scrape and the same on the gear lever. Rider peg and engine cases, bar end etc were fine so assume they'd been replaced.

All that was enough for me to be put off.

So MT09 is def in the running, will try and test Suzuki and Z9 anyway if I can.

Supermofo wrote: Sat Feb 05, 2022 4:33 pm Tracer -much preferred it to the MT. Not sure if there was something wrong with that MT but felt like I was riding around its foibles and torque. The Tracer felt more together. Throttle really smooth, nice power, handling was good and it was very comfortable. Only had a short 15 min ride following bloke from the shop. Felt like mine in riding position but faster. Only got to nail it in 2nd once and felt plenty exciting enough albeit not as lairy as the MT.

Swapped to the GSXS. Much smaller, high ish pegs, lower, narrower bars. Pull away and its IL4 natural, so easy to ride. Best way to sum it up.


OMG THIS IS FUCKING MENTAL

Handling was great much better than the MTs like a comfy sportsbike with softer suspension. Felt much more together and natural. In 15 mins I was more at home than the MT after an hour last week. Throttle was very on/off at low speed in 2nd/3rd but in 4th at 2k rpm its as smooth as you like. Then open the throttle and we did a speed with a 15 in it and I realised I was still in 3rd.

Got back to the shop and couldn't stop looking at the Suzuki and spent the drive home Babbling about it to my brother.

So.

Tracer very nice. Like it would be better for long ride.

GSXS 1000. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Mental.

Currently heart is very Suzuki shaped.

Noggin wrote: Mon Jan 12, 2026 7:17 pm The reason I need to have a bent elbow (right arm, but both cos of balance!!! ) is that when my arm is straight, all the vibrations and pressure of turns go up into the bicep area of my right arm.

EVERYONE needs their arms to be bent when riding... Without this, you have little to no control over the bike! It's an absolute essential consideration of the riding position, and how and why so many people (and even manufacturers) get it so wrong at times!

Supermofo wrote: Mon Jan 12, 2026 8:27 pm Well I wouldn't I'd get the GSXS1000 But it sounds like you'd prefer the faster more lairy bike so try an 09

GSXS1000 has quite a bit larger seat to bar reach... So would be a no go for @Noggin I believe. The MT-09 isn't without fault, but it does (like the MT-07) have quite a compact reach from seat to bar at least...

mboy wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 12:54 am GSXS1000 has quite a bit larger seat to bar reach... So would be a no go for @Noggin I believe. The MT-09 isn't without fault, but it does (like the MT-07) have quite a compact reach from seat to bar at least...

Yes, now you mention, the GSXS is a fairly old school conventional riding position, whereas the MT is more sort of supermoto-ish style.

Supermofo wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 10:01 am

mboy wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 12:54 am GSXS1000 has quite a bit larger seat to bar reach... So would be a no go for @Noggin I believe. The MT-09 isn't without fault, but it does (like the MT-07) have quite a compact reach from seat to bar at least...

Yes, now you mention, the GSXS is a fairly old school conventional riding position, whereas the MT is more sort of supermoto-ish style.

This could be where it's worth her trying an XSR700 (even though i didn't get on with it myself), it's quite different to the MT07 and could be better or worse depend on her issues.

mboy wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 12:54 am

Noggin wrote: Mon Jan 12, 2026 7:17 pm The reason I need to have a bent elbow (right arm, but both cos of balance!!! ) is that when my arm is straight, all the vibrations and pressure of turns go up into the bicep area of my right arm.

EVERYONE needs their arms to be bent when riding... Without this, you have little to no control over the bike! It's an absolute essential consideration of the riding position, and how and why so many people (and even manufacturers) get it so wrong at times!

I didn't write that very well!! You are 100% right. But I'll try and explain better - I do always have bent elbows, as you say, only way to be! But if the reach is too far, the elbows are bent but only just, to ride, not a massive bend. I need the vibrations to stop around my elbow so I need the bend to be a bit more than if the reach for the bars is long and I can only bend to ride. It's why I was leaning forward on the Superduke (and as much as poss on the CB!) because it enabled the vibrations to stop at the very bent elbow and not travel up towards my bicep

mboy wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 12:54 am

Supermofo wrote: Mon Jan 12, 2026 8:27 pm Well I wouldn't I'd get the GSXS1000 But it sounds like you'd prefer the faster more lairy bike so try an 09

GSXS1000 has quite a bit larger seat to bar reach... So would be a no go for @Noggin I believe. The MT-09 isn't without fault, but it does (like the MT-07) have quite a compact reach from seat to bar at least...

Yeah, a long reach from seat to bars is guaranteed to cause discomfort/pain after a short while, probably worse where I live cos of the up and down twisties!!

weeksy wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 10:03 am

Supermofo wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 10:01 am

mboy wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 12:54 am GSXS1000 has quite a bit larger seat to bar reach... So would be a no go for @Noggin I believe. The MT-09 isn't without fault, but it does (like the MT-07) have quite a compact reach from seat to bar at least...

Yes, now you mention, the GSXS is a fairly old school conventional riding position, whereas the MT is more sort of supermoto-ish style.

This could be where it's worth her trying an XSR700 (even though i didn't get on with it myself), it's quite different to the MT07 and could be better or worse depend on her issues.

XSR700 added to list of bikes to find and test!!!

MT07 fun and great for wheelies, MT09 lovely engine wallowy shit crap handling bag of shit hth

Couchy wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 6:49 pm MT07 fun and great for wheelies, MT09 lovely engine wallowy shit crap handling bag of shit hth

Nope, not helping!!! Looks like I need to go back to the MT10 !!!

Go the other way, MT-03!

KungFooBob wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 7:06 pm Go the other way, MT-03!

I have looked at those, just not sure it will be very comfy for the 8 hour cross country to Treignac

But it would be a hoot n a half !!!

Couchy wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 6:49 pm MT07 fun and great for wheelies, MT09 lovely engine wallowy shit crap handling bag of shit hth

Phew, I was thinking I was the only one thinking it was challenged

Couchy wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 6:49 pm MT07 fun and great for wheelies, MT09 lovely engine wallowy shit crap handling bag of shit hth

Supermofo wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 7:10 pm
Phew, I was thinking I was the only one thinking it was challenged

Is it the difference between the standard MT09 and the SP ?? I've seen some that loved the 09 so much and others like you guys that hated it!

Although TBF, I've often fallen in love with marmite bikes

What about going full gallic and getting a Tmax, comfort and fast enough from what I've seen. Not been to France in a little while but seen some total head cases on big scooters in the mountains in the SOF! Like Marquez on a qualifying lap, only in flip flops, shorts and a piss pot lid.