New bike choice: ER6f or XJ6... Neither!

[defblade]

Having trouble deciding. Either will be restricted to 33bhp... no comments about the restriction unless directly applicable to one bike or the other, please.

Both would have the same use - mainly all year commuting in town and on twisty A road (baring snow/ice), with a few extra trips thrown in but not a major/regular thing.

ER6f is £5500, Divvi is £5200; both available on 0%; both comfy for me; both have local dealers for servicing/warranty etc

ER6 appeals to me more; but may not take winter so well?

If you lot can't help, I may have to ring Harry!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/defblade/HarryHill_fight.jpg
____________________
Honda Varadero 125cc => Suzuki Bandit 650 33bhp => 77bhp =>
BMW K1200R Sport 163bhp => Aprilia Shiver GT 750 95bhp

[Reppyboyo]

Second hard Versys maybe?

[iooi]

Have just changed from a D6 to a Versys (big bro of ER6). I will add my 2p's worth.

Totally diffrent beasts.

ER will need to be kept spinning harder, as a twin it tends to be slower off the mark if you run lower rev's.
Keep it spinning above 4.5K and its a totally diffrent bike to under 4.5K.

The D6 will happly run from 2K in top all the way to the red line.

I have found that the V brings out the worst in me, thanks to needing to be reved a lot more. Where as on the D I could quite happly bimble along all day with no trouble.
____________________
Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[Clanger]

I couldn't give an opinion on either, until I'd had a test ride...have you done just this...? I think it's the best thing to do, in case you make the wrong decision for YOU.
____________________
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[defblade]

[iooi]

[andys675]

XJ6 gets my vote
____________________
Some people feel the rain, others just get wet.

[AndyGB]

I use my ER6F (2008) for the daily commute and it's fine. I'm no speed merchant and am happy plodding along at 60 in 6th gear, with 3.5k revs on the clock.

This is the 2nd winter of commuting and I've had no rust, although I have smothered it in ACF50 and use a scottoiler which obviously helps.

[P.addy]

Take it new on finance is your choice yes?

[defblade]

[P.addy]

[HopmanUK]

If you're getting an ER6 then its worth having a look at https://www.bikersoracle.com/er5/forum/

Forum dedicated to ER5 & ER6. Good bunch of people that are happy to give advice or lend a hand.

[kawashima]

Just for your information, I found another ER-6 frame trouble example. According to its user, it's 2006 model.
What do you think of this? Pic nicked from Japanese SNS.
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/ER-6frame-1.jpg
____________________
own:2020 Serow 250
owned: 2012 YB125SP, 2008 TDM900, 2005 W650, 2002 LS125R, 2002 CB400SF, NS50F, C50 / Trip to UK(2009), Hokkaido touring(2013)

[DrDonnyBrago]

if you get the Er6 - fit a hugger fairly promptly

I seem to recall something about mild steel connections to the reg/rec rusting up due to the daft positioning of the thing - huggers seem to prevent it.

[defblade]

I think "ouch" on the frame pic! Don't know what they've done to it tho...

But pretty much decided in my head to go with the Yamaha now, as they're OK to take my Varadero in part-ex, whereas the local Kawka dealer isn't interested (in part-exs at all really, not just mine!). I don't think I can be bothered with the hassle of a private sale - it'll mean doing a new MOT on the 'dero, and insuring (and storing... not a lot of room available) 2 bikes until sold....

Ta for the heads up re warranty and aftermarket - I'll be sure to ask (and make sure the answer agrees with the T&Cs on the actual warranty...).
____________________
Honda Varadero 125cc => Suzuki Bandit 650 33bhp => 77bhp =>
BMW K1200R Sport 163bhp => Aprilia Shiver GT 750 95bhp

[sebastianw]

I have an ER6F with 33bhp restriction, bought it new.

For the first year it has been trouble free, dont really mind the restriction so far, up to 100mph indicated where it's legal.

The frame issues were related to the 2006 model where crash bobbins were fitted and were solved on the 2008 model. In any case it should be repaired under warranty.

You should be able to get a deal on the cost

[kawashima]

[G]

An odd choice when neither would seem to do the job that much better than a £1k SV650 or £1k divvy.
If you had loads of cash to splash, I could kinda understand, but it sounds ever more painful on credit!

[sebastianw]

[G]

In my experience warranties can make good bog paper if you run out, but are generally more hassle than they're worth to actually use for their claimed purpose.
You can get aftermarket warranties for second hand bikes including private sales.

If I was planning on doing 10k miles or more in a year there's no way I'd go new personally - very quickly your bike is in the same state as a second hand bike.
I could understand it a bit more for people planning not to do many miles, so their bike stays pretty new. When you could pay a lot less for a bike that's done effectively 6 months of your travel, I'd be keeping the money for other stuff personally.

Not wanting to trust an older model (that is if you spend a little more almost exactly the same as a newer versions) or not wanting a suzuki seems a bit illogical. Older models you're much more likely to know the issues they suffer from, why new models are more likely to suffer from unknown problems, further not liking a whole brand seems a bit weird (though, yes I know plenty do - I often criticise Hondas in a semi serious semi tounge in cheek fashion, but it hasn't stopped me owning them) when it has so much variety in the bikes it makes.

[defblade]

[defblade]

Might have changed my mind again.

2nd hand Bandits @ £2500-3000 ish are suddenly seeming like a good idea

I am BUYING A BIKE tomorrow.

Just don't know which one.





And I keep having accidental sex wees over this one:
https://www.jtsmotorcycles.co.uk/bikes/details.php?stockno=301639
____________________
Honda Varadero 125cc => Suzuki Bandit 650 33bhp => 77bhp =>
BMW K1200R Sport 163bhp => Aprilia Shiver GT 750 95bhp

[iooi]

[G]

[Robby]

I think Sickpup had a fairly new ER6 lunch its engine; they don't seem to be building up a particularly great reputation.

The idea of buying new to have a (worthless) warranty and the idea of trouble-free riding is an odd one to me, particularly with bikes. Far, far cheaper to buy something a few years old and spend a big chunk of cash on a massive service.

Have you ridden any restricted bikes at all? Particularly up against a bike that naturally makes 33bhp or less? I find my old 25bhp 250 far nicer to ride than a more powerful restricted bike.

Still, you'll buy new, get bored, sell it after a year because its too slow, buy another restricted bike and find it's just as slow, then finish your restriction period and wish you'd kept the first bike. I've been watching people do this on the forum for the last 8 years.