Sports and Hacks

[Paulington]

Advice needed.

I have a need for two bikes now, I have roughly a £5.5k budget (insurance not included so just for bikes) and I'm looking for:

One bike that's sporty, I've seen a ZX6R ('06) for around £3300, advice on whether to buy or what these bikes are like, I've had a sit on one and it feels nice and fits well but due to being A2 can't take one for a test ride. Will be mainly for nicer days out and commute to College if it's dry.

And I need a bike that's comfortable for longer rides, I have my eye on a 1998 YZF600 that's going for around £1.2k, anything I should be looking out for when I go see it also any advice about these bikes? It has about 31k miles on but looks immaculate, any hot rust spots to look for or any common problems? Will be used for slightly wetter commutes to College/wet days and pillioning with on long journeys.

For the horrible days I am going to grab a cheapy DT125 or something, as a hack, suggestions?

Also, any other suggestions for good bikes to also look at aswell as the YZF600? Needs to be comfortable for me + a pillion and reasonably quick (sustain 80mph or so on the motorways).

Cheers.
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"Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul."
Current Vehicles: '89 Kawasaki KDX200, '99 Yamaha XV535, '00 Honda ST1100 Pan-European, '08 Suzuki GSX-R1000, '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GS4 2.0 TDCi, '15 BMW 1 Series 116d Sport Turbo.
CBT: 27/08/08. Theory: 04/09/09. Module 1: 16/09/09. Module 2: 01/10/09.

[The Tot]

Old school ZX6R's J's/A1P's offer comfort and performance. Save your money and just stick with that for 2 years, build you your NCB and get a thou when you're ready. And get something like an XR125 for your winter hacks. Spend the rest on track days. You'll probably be looking at £3500 + insurance. Get kitted out with alpinestars gear with the rest.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Paulington]

[chris-red]

You're young right?


Multibike policies don't cover under 21s and if you insure 2 bikes separatly you will have to split up your no claims and again being young this will cost the earth.


Get something comfotable and a little bit sporty maybe a Hornet or similarand ride that for a while 2 bikes a your age will not be cheap.

If you get one middle of the road bike you can save on insurance and you can get experience, mean while you can save up before blowing a few k on a really nice sports bike 2 years or so down the line.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
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[Pie-Roe]

[The Tot]

check the policy wording CORRECTLY... I'm sure there's some very small caveats that the insurers fail to inform you about. It's weird since I had Third Party Any bike on the ZX6R with Carole Nash, but switching to H&R for the blade took away that policy. I'd be very wary of going down that option since it seems illogical that a 125cc policy entitles you to ride any capacity bike (as long as it's in accordance to your license... i.e. <33bhp). Still, irrespective of this, I'd still recommend you getting something older but equally reliable. Save your money and get used to the handling of a bigger bike. I'm not saying that it'll happen, but there's a possibility that you may chuck your bike down the road at some point; it happens to us all when we're young and inexperienced... or young and ballsy... or just happen to have friends who are utter twats and TWOC your bike whilst it's warming up. What i'm saying is that you don't feel as gutted that a bike's gone down when it's old, compared to a modern plastic fantastic. If you get a middleweight bike and learn to ride it properly, you can shame all the poorly ridden flash bikers on their 08 platers and that's where I see the fun. For me though, i've always had a soft spot for bikes produced around the millenium to 2004.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Kickstart]

[Paulington]

[J D]

You dont really need 2 bikes do you. You want 2 bikes.
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m0l0t0v wrote: Chris, just so you know, JD is a nutter

[chris-red]

[robbieguy2003]

Can't believe no one has said a ZZR600...

Plenty good enough for two up riding/touring and sporty enough to zip around on at the weekends.

Maybe worth a shot, can be had for cheap money. As some others have said, save some cash/buy new gear/consider paying your insurance annually (i.e. just get it out of the way).

The requirements you have are pretty close so I'd stick to something like a zzr but put some good tyres on it, sort the suspension out to your weight/riding style (quite a few shops offer this now, maybe check recommendations for ones nearby to you).

Your choice at the end of the day, I run one bike though, I looked into the cost of running two and decided against it when you take parts/servicing/tax/mot/insurance all in it can actually get pretty expensive.. I figured I'd loose more than I'd gain and would prob end up riding the RR most of the time anyway..

Good luck with your choice
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Current Bikes: Honda CBR 600RR - '07, Suzuki GSX1250 FA ST '11
Old Bikes: Suzuki Intruder 125 LC - '2001, Honda CBR 600F - '92, Honda CBR 600RR - '03

[craigs23]

Meh, just get a sporty hack.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC01429.jpg

[robbieguy2003]

[Devils Advocate]

I wouldnt use any of the above pics as hacks.Theyre nice bikes and parts ain`t exactly cheap either.

If you can afford two bikes i`d say go for it...it makes perfect sense and always leaves you with a back up option in the event of bad weather or one not running.
Th ZX6 would be a good choice for fun/nice days but you might be better off with something other than the FZR as a hack. (i.e more practical/less plastics/less power/more modern).


I test rode a 2003 cb500s yesterday and initially thought it sucked coz i`m a shiny sportsbike lover...but after 20 minutes in the saddle i could appreciate why it`d be a great 2nd bike or hack.Something along those lines (proper commuter) would be much better for you than an old sports dinosaur.
Try those types of bikes and you might be pleasantly surprised.....and if you can get a twin you`ll be even happier.

[craigs23]

[robbieguy2003]

[Devils Advocate]

[bunglehaze]

[craigs23]

[bunglehaze]

sporty hack you say???

photo Whoring you say???

Ok then

cheers

leigh

https://www.bikechatforums.com/download.php?id=68354
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Motorcycle Products Reviews and News
06 - ZZR600 > 07 - ZX6R J1 > 08 - ZX6R J2 > 09 - ZX636 A1P > 11 - ZX10R C1H

[Devils Advocate]

[Paulington]

Managed to pick up the YZF today for a tidy sum, looks in brilliant nick and runs well, whore:

https://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/OllieePaul/YZF600.jpg

Now on the look out for a ZX6R, cheers for the advice guys.
____________________
"Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul."
Current Vehicles: '89 Kawasaki KDX200, '99 Yamaha XV535, '00 Honda ST1100 Pan-European, '08 Suzuki GSX-R1000, '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GS4 2.0 TDCi, '15 BMW 1 Series 116d Sport Turbo.
CBT: 27/08/08. Theory: 04/09/09. Module 1: 16/09/09. Module 2: 01/10/09.

[Seb]

Why not spend a little on tidying up Thundercat's suspension and just keep an eye out for a bargain ZX6 over the winter?
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[The Tot]

Just save the money. The thundercat is a very capable bike and was only offering the 636 A1P as a viable alternative. Best bet is to sort out the downpipes IF they are rotten and as everybody said, fettle with the suspension, get a scottoiler. It'll be a good hack and a good main bike.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[craigs23]

What Titz said. I've been passing the same Thundercat on the way to work for the last 2 years - seems to be lasting up well and an ideal all rounder sporty bike.