Suggest a Bike!!!

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

First a little background. Just got my car insurance renewal through. I'm on my dad's policy and car, so it's usually fairly cheap. This year they wanted £700!! apparently all the brokers have put up their prices for young drivers! I'm not paying 700 quid and the car drinks petrol.
So I'm looking at getting a second bike to get around. It needs to be:

600cc or less
Insurance group 12 or less
Be good all year round, all weathers.
Be very very cheap(<£700)
Basically a courier bike.
Be able to get to 60 quickly, my commute involves a few NSL's.

Thought about the usual suspects:

ER5
GS500
CB500
CB-1
Divvie/XJ600

Anyone got any other suggestions or experiences with the above.

Cheers

BH
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My Flickr

[bish777]

XBR500
SRX600/400
MZ251/301/250/300
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GSXR1100J

[phill_sumner]

would it not be easier to not get a new bike and just pay the insurance?. wont have to shell out for a new bike, or bike insurance, plus you can just use the bike you have already (hornet if im right)
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parting the A1 like moses parted the red sea

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Kal]

CB500 for the win. Requires a little more maintence than a CG125 but not by much. Will put up with silly amounts of abuse. Fit with engine guard for winter use though - the engine casing will crack if you put it down at 60mph+

Good for 17 miles to the litre, cheap insurance, good spares/aftermarket support, handles nicely and is quick enough to get you over the ton when required.

If you can find an s model in decent nick you won't even have to worry about fitting an aftermarket flyscreen.

[binge]

[greatmoorred]

I saw a nice looking 250 hornet a few weeks ago.
Cheap insurance.

[neatbik]

cb1

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[LeeWat]

I had a 1995 XJ600N from new until some sctote nicked and wrote it off. It was a good bike, i rode through all weathers for 5 years. Only downside was the finish, bit crappy at the frame tube ends.
But saying that i never had any mechanical or electrical problems with it.

Regards

Lee.
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Simson S51 Enduro, Kawasaki AR80, Yamaha RD125LC, Yamaha XV535, Yamaha XJ600N, Suzuki GS1100G, Kawasaki KLR250, Yamaha BT1100 Bulldog (4/4/08 Deceased). Suzuki XF650 Breakwind.

[bish777]

The stock exhaust on the divvy/600n also melts in short order.
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GSXR1100J

[stevo as b4]

for cheapness, i would forget the Divvy, and the CB. Both are great bikes, the honda much more so! Problem is that the Honda holds a good value secondhand, and the Divvy being a 4cyl costs more to service and is no faster for your trouble.

Id say:
1, Kawasaki ER5. Great bike that will do everything well enough you have stated and is a great second bike!
2, GS500. Cheaper still for the same age and year, but a little bit less nice to ride, and the finish can go home quickly in the wet shitty winter conditions.

Any of your suggested machines at the right price for a good condition example would be just fine though! See what comes up secondhand, thats in decent condition, and is within your budget.