Planning for winter

Pie-Roe · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Karma :

I know summer is only just starting, but due to having to pay out quite a considerable chunk of my money come september I'm thinking 5 months in advance.

I currently have an RF900, which I love to bits, I'm not getting rid of it in the forseeable future, however I'm feeling commuting every day on it in the cold and wet will not be fun. It is quite low down, but quite a lot of torque and weight, it was cheap as chips so I'm not /too/ worried about it getting corroded/scratched, it's more that if I did happen to drop it, I wouldn't be able to pick it up on my own (I'm guessing, I don't want to test this theory for the sake of it)

I'm not really fussy what it is that I ride, as long as it's not a 2 stroke (unless it's like an MZ or CZ or similar) but I'm wondering what people think. My commute will be 8 miles 4 times a day, partly through village roads on icy 15 degree hills. I'm thinking any kind of 125 scooter or cg type thing. It might be a case of whatever I can pick up, it's not that much differernt in insurance for a cb500/gs500 or something similar. Maybe an old trailie, but I do feel that with the weight higher up it counterbalances the robustness and droppability of an off roader/sm.

Any thoughts?
Pyro
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hmmmnz · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :

mz500

mine gets used everyday, its a peice of shit but never lets me down, basically its that rotax lump, friggin bullet proof,
but the bike is solid as. i crashed it and it didnt even brake an indicator

if you want something a bit more stylish, then the ccm with the rotax lump]
or if you want the weight a bit lower then a flat tracker style bike,
i don't know if you got them in the uk but the st250
https://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/ST/ST250E/2004_ST250E_blk_540.jpg
or the srv250
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Yamaha_srv250.jpg
or a sr400
https://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq231/lennyway/post%2018/sr400_03wob0.jpg

basically i think a single cylinder bike is the way forward for winter hack awesomeness, aircooled simple awesomeness Thumbs Up

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truslack · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Apr 2007 Karma :

Not quite an MZ, but what about a little 100cc 2 stroke? Light enough to pick up with one hand, thin tyres to cut through snow and not be the slowest thing on the road. My MZ coped well with the winter, but has since had problems which lead me to not trust it 100%.
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Current: Suzuki RG 125 Gamma, Honda H100, Triumph Tiger 800XC, Suzuki SV650 (minitwin)

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

Pie-Roe · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Karma :

I had a cb250 nighthawk, which was amazing in the snow this year actually. I could do with one of them.

H100/rxs100 etc as in a 2 stroke 100?

I don't want to spend more than 400 quid on the bike.

I've owned the 644 CCM before, was not that great, and I am reluctant to use a big single for every day transport, on my experiences with them before. As well as prefering a low seat height and COG for shitty weather.

Pyro
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hmmmnz · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :

bacon · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Jan 2009 Karma :

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

What about an SZR660? Small, light, handles well, not too tall, not too slow.
https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gallery%20%20A/Yamaha%20SZR660%20%202.jpg
Sure they are ugly but they are also cheap to buy and cheap to run.
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stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Certainly sounds like a job for a CG125.

Or maybe an XR125?
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truslack · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Apr 2007 Karma :

iooi · Super Spammer Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Karma :

truslack · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Apr 2007 Karma :

garth · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Karma :

https://i40.tinypic.com/nn1cox.jpg

With a 110 engine is what you want, it's what I commute 9 miles each way on.

It does 120mpg!

Cruises at 45-50.

Bits are silly cheap.

You will look like a tit though.
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AJ · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Karma :

Get a bandit 600 the S type with the fairing, I got one and I ride all year on it. Comfatable riding position, bullet proof engine. mines on 67000 miles and all i do is change the oil every 4 to 5k. Ive been out in some nasty weather and the bike soaks it up. Never had an electrical problem and with a decent set of tyres loads of grip and feedback. I use avon st storms and my mates on the sports bikes well you see them backing it off on the bends and I just go past laughing. Good on fuel, reliable cheap on the insurance loads of mods out there need I say more Very Happy