I just can't decide either.....

[craigs23]

Sorry to keep babbling on about this, as I know this must be at least the second time I've written a topic about my dilemma.

Comes down to the Blade (again), and whether I should keep it or not. The bike is a bit of a paradox in the way that the better it gets, the less I feel inclined to ride it - and I want to enjoy biking to the full again. I can't ride it everyday, I no longer seem to go out riding for the sake of it, something that I sorely miss. I also miss hooning down bumpy backroads as the Blade is too big (for me) to hussle in this environment, the suspension uncompromising, its massive performance somewhat useless for my level of riding. I also remember bikes I enjoyed thrashing, as owning the Blade's made me realise this is a key area of enjoyment to my riding - I don't have as much fun bimbling around at 1/3rd revs. I'm also looking to move offices soon for a pay rise, which may result in a work place too far away from a train station, so I may of need my own transport. Just attempting to wheel the bike out of the garage when there's a slight chance of rain has the thing automatically reversing and parking itself again. (Sad I know, but it's physically impossible.) It's strange - this has got little to do with the resale value of my bike, as that won't be compromised significantly with such use - I just don't fancy riding it as often as I would like. I love owning it and would be sorry to see it go, but I just don't get back from most rides thinking YEA-HAA.

I'm thinking about a few choices, and this is where you lot come in - as I'm not sure whether my head's screwed on correctly by even considering this. I could turn the bike back to a reasonably stock form - which would not only appeal to a slightly larger audience (such as collectors), but also allow me to make a few quid on the aftermarket parts. I'm thinking of keeping the Ohlins with the bike though - upgraded suspension, along with the standard units should offer a few plus points in the sale.

I had considered a Speed Triple on a previous topic but the ones within my budget looked as if they were made by Suzuki. No offence to any Triple owners out there, I went to view/try a few and they weren't for me. Love the latest 1050, but like I mentioned, out of my price range. Do like the look of the new Z1000s as well, but suffers from the same issues. Besides, I'd want to keep the thing clean.....

So, the options:

Buy my beloved NC30 + a Commuter Bike (CB5 springs to mind). I get a bike I can restore/modify and also thrash down the roads I want to revisit. Just about enough performance as I don't constantly feel the need of going faster than 120mph anyway, plus the satisfaction of riding the thing closer to its limits. I can also budget for a CB5 which should be frugal and reliable enough to ride everyday.

Buy a Supermoto. New ground here, but they seem to make sense to me. The most fun I had in recent months was riding a lent KL250 for the winter and riding around not caring about how I or the bike looked, what condition it was in, etc. Bit more poke and it would have been fantastic. A bike like this will offer the back road thrills (plus reason to go find that alternative route rather than opting for boring bypasses), something to modify and something that looks just as good covered in filth than it does showroom clean. Something different too.

To shut up and keep the Blade. Put up with its compromises because I'm riding a piece of history. Move it to the lounge at the first available chance, only contemplate selling the thing for a deposit for an RC30.

Other - please state (I may question these offerings (for the record, I'd never be able to buy an off-the-shelf bike - they just don't tick the right boxes when it comes to owner satisfaction (so that's GSXRs, YZFs, CBRs, ZXxRs, etc out of the running.))

[dave1rs]

im not a huge help....but if it isnt fun get rid.

ive been debating changing mine for ages,but doing the opposite...going from nc to bigger,finally made my mind up to do it...just hope i dont have the same regrets/feelings as you.

[G]

If it were me, I'd go with a 'fun' bike and a 'hack' bike.

This way, you also have a back up if something goes wrong.

I do think you should stop polishing quite so much though , get something my new beemer and you're never going to think 'oh no, it mgiht rain' .

You could probably get something along the lines of say a DR600 for a commuter/hack bike - from about £600. Could probably get something like that before you sold the blade (always sell some of the spares first if you're short on cash) - then go from there.

There's often some slightly iffy supermoto conversions around for not too much, but to be honest, half decent road/trail hybrid tyres offer good enough grip for most condition; it's only a better front brake I'd want really.

[brooky]

I think I would also go for the fun summer bike and buy a hack for the winter, Its the best option if you're missing out on impulse riding as theres no need to worry about weather.

I must say though after seing pics of the blade and the latest one of the top yolk I was very impressed and I think it would be a shame to sell.

Brooky
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Suzuki GSX-R 750 K6.

[TheShaggyDA]

I think it's quite rare that someone finds a single bike that satisfies all their needs. I'd go for the fun + hack too.
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Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[Trickypl4]

[mad4it028]

get a ccm 604 or 644 there cheap to buy cheap to tune and great fun i i know of a tuned 604 2000 modle with supermoto wheels and trail wheels in good nick for £1500 ono cant be bad hey
and then get a cheap comuter
supermotos WILL PUT THE BIGGEST SMILE ON YOUR FACE and youll wonder why you didnt try them years ago i know i had a blade and since getting my ccm have never looked back
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always looking to buy bikes crashed ,unfinished projects,none runners pm me
currently riding kawasaki z1000 only bike ive ever loved

[Hawksy_CBR]

Idea behind a bike is having fun and going fast... If you want somthing practical get a car :/... therefore get somthing you want to ride, somthing that makes you want to go out on it for any possible reason. If ure blade doesnt give you the satisfaction a bike should, flog it. Ure choice in the end so have a think.

[mrchips]

Get the fun NC30 and the getting to work bike. Best of both worlds. That way you;ll still be able to keep the vfr mint but just more fun to ride.
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Northern Irish? www.nibikers.com

[mad4it028]

new hypermoto coming out next year dont know what you can afford but this baby will be fun 140mph standard and light as hell at 197lb
https://ccmowners.co.uk/ccmowners_forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=643.0;id=194;image
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always looking to buy bikes crashed ,unfinished projects,none runners pm me
currently riding kawasaki z1000 only bike ive ever loved

[Andy C]

[craigs23]

Thanks for the positive and informative responses everyone.

One thing's for certain - if I sold the Blade, I would, in one way or another have regrets upon doing so. I kind of regret selling the RVF in someways, because no matter what I did to it, it didn't seem to surpass how good my relatively standard NC30 was at the time (even though the '35 was a nadge cleaner and went a bit better). However, I can see the regret on selling the Blade might be worse - for the basic fact that I doubt I'd ever find one as good. I'm not blowing my own trumpet here, but there is a reason why I shopped so far from home when trying to find one.

Something's dawned on me so simple, I can't believe I hadn't considered it earlier. If I was to return the Blade to stock, which I would do for a sale anyway, and then sell on the aftermarket goodies, I should have enough to buy a cheap NC30 or maybe an unfaired 400 - not to mention the option (cheers G ) of buying a cheap crosser and supermoto'ing it up.

OKay, I won't have as much and maybe the Blade will remain the way it is now - sitting in the garage being cleaned/tinkered with for 2/3rds of its remaining life; sounds like I'm putting the thing into retirement.

That way I get to keep the bike that I see as near to an RC30 as I can afford, but get another bike for riding when the skies are overcast, to do the daily commute on, plus thrash down the backroads.

Or should I just sell up and give myself a fruitier budget?

[Jack_Cheese]

Hacks:
cb500
er5
blandit

Fun bikes:
NSR250
NSR400
RGV
RS250
NC30
NC35
Buell XB9
Speed four
Hornet 250
VTR 250
Cagiva Mito 350 ypvs (you know you want to, and the frames polish up a treat )

Jack
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Quacker_boy: "Jack, you really are a dick!"

[Josh|RD125LC]

[feef]

Look at my sig... therein lies the answer to the "which is my ideal bike" question

a
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Mudskipper wrote: feef, that is such a beautiful post that it gave me a lady tingle
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Blog and stuff - PlentyMoreFish dating

[craigs23]

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

I've come to the decision to keep the Fireblade, but it's going to be returned to stock (well, apart from the standard items that I've accidently polished).

I'll hopefully have a budget between £750-£1000 to buy a fun, everyday, thrashable bike.

Just gotta work out which....

[Jack_Cheese]

Buy a siezed up mito and wedge a 350 ypvs in there! you know you want to! One of the most reliable 2 stroke motors in a good chassis, and you'll suprise a hell of a lot or people on it. Wouldn't cost more than a grand to do either depending on how cheap you can find the engine.

[Barry_M2]

From the sound of things, I dont know why you bother tarting your bikes up to showroom condition, your quite clearly not enjoying it or you'd be riding them.

Forget how shiny your pipe is, or that the tyre's might get dirty. Just get out there and ride it FFS!




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ZXR750R (M2) - For the road.
CBR1000 RR4 - For the track.
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[Andy C]

[G]

Noticed this, if you could stretch to it, I reckon this sort of thing would do you good as a commuting bike that could also be fun and give you an what motards are like...

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=89344

Nothing to do with me, so can't comment on the bike it's self.

May be a bit above current budget for that one.

[craigs23]

[craigs23]

Good call G, cheers I'll keep an eye on it.

[lilredmachine]

That DR looks nice. I payed £1400 out on a standard dr350, but it was mint and had every bit of documentation ever attributed to it. I am now looking for a set of supermoto rims, however i may just sell the bike and buy one already done. I mean it's like £400 minimum for a set of rims and tyres.
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Bikes: too many, too much for one man to maintain anyway.