help me decide on a bike!

[beatnck]

hi guys, my quest to choose my next bike is starting to melt my brain now, so i need your help.
im currently on a honda cb1 400, which is nice enough, but i want something a bit better now my riding is improving (slowly.. )
so, the criteria! -
- budget is £2000 tops.
- ideally a 600, insurance is a deciding factor though.
- must handle nicely, i want a stable bike, not twitchy, one that will help me improve my riding without scaring me.
- at the very least half faired as i'll use it for the commute, which involves a motorway stint.
- last but least it must have reasonable enough build quality to withstand year round use, but i will be rinsing off the road salt every day.

if youve managed to get this far, then thanks , any suggestions more than welcome!
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no silly comment here!!

[G]

J/A model ZX6 should fit the bill.

Exhausts on mine were starting to go a bit rusty after year-round use, but that was with very little cleaning. Otherwise a good do-anything bike that will hack it on track (to start with, pretty no stock bike suspension is that great on track) and yet is still comfortable enough to ride distance and daily.

Rinsing off the road salt should keep it in decent condition. I'd recommend a double-bubble for motorway comfort (though as standard it's better than many).

[instigator]

You just missed out on mine. Sold it for £2100 but would have gone for £2k. I even pm'd you.

The J1 fits that bill perfectly. Better tank range than a cbr and costs less to buy than an equivelant R6 and GSXR. Not to mention it's reasonably comfortable too. Seat is a bit hard but you only notice after 100 miles.

[beatnck]

aarggh! instigator, i never knew you pm'd me until i just read your post!
zx6r is a very def possible, whats the tank range on them??
another bike i keep seeing coming up cheap are the triumph tt600's. ive heard they handle quite well, but im not sure how reliable they are.
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no silly comment here!!

[G]

The TT engine is a bit flat in my opinion. Handling is neutral, but I'd prefer the twitch r6 personally. Some good deals on them out there, but they do look like a melted CBR .

[Rookie]

The TT isn't really that cheap, given what a ZX6R can go for. But they are slightly newer, and the insurance tends to be lower. Yeah, alright it's cheaper.

You seem to be leaning towards all-out sports bikes, and there's nothing wrong with that, but have you considered they might not be as suited to the job as other bikes? A lot of people go for them despite that, but there's no reason not to go for something like a faired Bandit, ZZR or Thundercat.

[beatnck]

good points there rookie, ive been looking at thundercats, but everyone ive actually gone to look at has been either very overpriced or a bag of nails.
im not too keen on a bandit, i guess i want a sportsbike but not one thats too extreme.
i love the handling on my little rs125, even if it is very twitchy..
i guess i want a bike that will enable me to work on my cornering skills safely, but also to 'grow' with me as i progess - if that makes sense!
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no silly comment here!!

[repiV]

Why not go for a Fazer?

It's like a sportsbike, only a whole lot more comfortable and user-friendly.

[instigator]

[virus]

Id say a Fazer or a hornet s (semi faired)

Good luck hunting mate, ill be coming to malvern as soon as my GSX is on the road so I might drop you a PM if you want


Cheers
John
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own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.