Help finding a new bike

[dgo1212]

I'm currently riding a 125 Varadero to and from work and whilst I love everything about the bike and it does it's job very well it isn't going to cut it when riding with mates on weekends once the weather picks up, I was looking at cbr 600's not to long ago as I'm in the process of doing my test however it quickly dawned on me that a cbr would no doubt get wrecked on my daily commute in all weathers. I need something strong and comfortable but with enough power to keep up with mates on 600 sports bikes in summer, I don't want to overtake them or race them just don't wanna get left behind, there's also a good chance it will be going on it's side if it snows bad next year so it needs to be the kind of bike I can pick back up and carry on riding(it will have panniers and crash bars to minimize damage the best I can), up to now all I can find in my price range is an older transalp,whilst I like the look of them a lot of the reviews I've read aren't too good, a 1000 varadero is well out my price range as is a BMW GS.

Any ideas on similar bikes and also opinions on the transalp(believe it's a 660 or somewhere around that cc), running 2 bikes is out the question as funds from my varadero will go towards next bike and budget is around 1500 possibly push to 2000. TBH I wish the varadero 125 had a bit more power as I'd keep running it even after passing my test

[J D]

Why would a cbr get wrecked ?
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m0l0t0v wrote: Chris, just so you know, JD is a nutter

[Teflon-Mike]

There's a 70mph speed limit in this country, and if your mates egg you on to go faster than you are comfortable, or wont wait for you to catch up, then are they really the kind of mates you want to be riding with?

That thought aside, first question is test, You going A2 or DAS?

If you are going to have a 33bhp restricted licence, then no point looking at big-bikes, they take too much restriction & your lugging around far too much excess weight and paying far too much for expensive consumables your not getting the use out of.

If DAS, more options. But nailing your budget on the head, something like this would fill the bill very well.
https://www.stormclub.com/images/webboard/2/00005729-6.jpg
That's a CB750F2N 'Retro'. £1500 should get you a minter, a grand a very tidy stocker, but you can pick up something rough and ready for £500. No fairings to break, a 'useful' 75bhp, which doesn't sound impressive, but its detuned from a 95bhp CBX750 motor, and had a very very strong mid-range, so the power is much more easily managed, and you have more of it to play with more often than a sports 600. Bit wallowy in the twisties compared to a CBR6, but capable. Has CBR6 front end & brakes. Firming them up with stiffer shocks transforms them. For 'sensible' riding, more than enough to keep up with mates on sports-bikes. Comfy, ecconomical, and easy to manage, a good all-rounder, and useful all-weather bike, with little plastic to worry-about.
Alternatives would be 750 Zephyr, but they tend to either fetch more money, becouse they are prettier, or be ratted to heck! Bandit 600, similar virtues but a bit rev-happy and not as lusty in the mid-range and even more asthmatic up top. Or any of the commuter twins, CBR5, ER5 etc.
GPZ500S is the bike every-one will reccomend though as a bit more sporty, but still 'sensible', and restrictable if on 33bhp.
But if I was on 33bhp restrict, I'd be looking at dirt bikes or motoards, and a suzuki DR350 wold be my bench-mark for that.
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[dgo1212]

[dgo1212]

Thanks for the suggestions mike, some good recomendations however have my heart set on an adventure style bike at the mo, may change my mind once I pass my test though so will bare them all in mind, doing das so no restrictions, as for the speed thing it's more a case of them overtaking and going up hills and me falling behind, yes they would wait for me but that makes me feel like a bit of a burdon on them, also will have the missus on the back once I'm allowed and luggage so the extra power would be handy. This is the sort of bike I'm looking for, something similar with a 400 rather than a 600 would be spot on but 400's don't seem to be popular in this kind of bike https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1994-HONDA-XL600V-BLUE-TRANSALP-TRANS-ALP-/330531481869?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item4cf536290d

[Teflon-Mike]

[Vincent]

How about a cagiva Canyon? Just make sure it's had the loose flywheel nut attended to, if not, it will destroy the crank eventualy.

[dgo1212]

Canyon will be considered when the time comes.
Mike, sorry I didn't make myself very clear and could have explained a little better, sports bikes such as the CBR were what I was looking for until I took into account the daily commute, the missus and luggage, however the cb750 is very nice and looks very capable, if I happen to come across one whilst looking at adventure bikes I would be very tempted to buy one

[G]

[dgo1212]

[G]

I choose a sports bike for commuting. If I stick to the 30/40 speed limits when I was commuting I wouldn't get over 2/5ths revs in first gear or around 1/10th revs in 6th gear! Definitely have to rev an 'adeventure' styled bike more, relatively.
Fuel - big twins aren't known for their fuel economy either and adventure bikes have a larger frontal area than a sport bike.
Keeping it shiny - I expect an 'adventure bike' (BMW GS etc) to only be used on the sunniest days, maybe for an occasional commute to the bank the rider works at, etc. So I generally expect them to be kept a bit more shiny. While an older sports bike you'd expect might have been owned by a rider who 'tests the limits' a little and the like.

I'd choose my GSXR1000 over a Varadero for the snow anyday, presuming similar tyres.

[rac3r]

Speaking of snow I was thinking the other day that one of those three wheeled Piaggio MP3's must be fun in the snow
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[fiveus]

how about a f650 /gs plenty around the £1500-£2000 mark.

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikes-for-sale/searchresults/detail/BMW/F650/1999/_/R-NXGN-2098717

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikes-for-sale/searchresults/detail/BMW/F650/F650-FUNDURO/1994/_/R-NXGN-2080893

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201048374187270/sort/priceasc/usedbikes/price-from/1000/price-to/2000/model/f650/make/bmw/page/1/radius/1500/postcode/sy162ez?logcode=p

[Rogerborg]

If you're worried about dropping a faired sportsbike, then you could look out for one being sold as an unfaired "streetfighter", i.e. pre-dropped. Get one that's mechanically sound you could save a bundle up front, with less of an "ouch" factor if you drop it yourself.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[dgo1212]

[G]

Even harder to 'keep up' with 600 sports bikes, as they're pretty slow and heavy. But sounding more and more like you're wanting it for the image, for which it's a good start towards a R1200GS .

[Robby]

I wouldn't agonise too much over which bike to buy, or getting the perfect bike as soon as you pass your test. You're hardly going to have one bike for life, most of the people on here, particularly the kiddies, change bike at least once a year.

Also, don't get too hung up on the reviews in bike magazines, particularly when they talk about power. Anything with a mid sized engine (500-650cc) is going to feel very fast indeed after a 4 stroke 125.

If you're planning on restricting the bike you get to 33bhp, then there's no point in buying a sports 600 for performance, only buy it if you like the style and riding feel.

For reference, I've been riding 10 years and had a lot of bikes. I had a CBR600, but it was too quick for my riding. Made it very easy and very comfortable to go too fast, without feeling very involved. The current steed is a CB500, which does everything well and has enough power to make me smile if I feel like using it.

Don't worry too much about keeping up with your friends either. If you can't keep up on a transalp or 500 twin, you're probably trying to ride too fast for your abilities. I would be sceptical about you saying they don't go fast because they haven't been riding long, after seeing the kiddies at Mollie's BBQ riding like dicks.