Do you like challenges? I haveone

[Benjamoki]

I have been riding my Honda xl500 for a few months after i passed my A2 license. However we are not getting along that well.
Its ability and comfort over a long distance are not brilliant.

Im looking for a bike that
-i can buy for roughly under £1600
-good insurance/ easy maitain etc-
-good mpg and comfortable over a distance
-good for a pillion
-under 33bhp

I know im unlikely to get all these things but hey you can try !
Im used to enduro bikes but im willing to give anything a bash

If anyone has any suggestions i would be very apreciative
Thanks in advance

[fatpies]

What you want is a Honda Bros 400.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1989-HONDA-BROS-650-BROS-400-/180742954467?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item2a151e9de3


Its an old pre evil Honda Honda.
About 31bhp.
50ish MPG according to the guy who used to park next to me at work when I used to commute to work. But small tank.
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"It's easy to attack and destroy an act of creation. It's a lot more difficult to perform one"

[Imonster]

While I have a soft spot for the Bros, they're horrible over long distances (take it from someone that at one point covered 200 miles a day on them despatching!) and shite for pillions.

If you like the off roaders I'd consider a Transalp 600 with a restrictor kit, or the 400 if you can find one in your price range.
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Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

[whitedevil]

gpz500, cb500, er5, bandit, fazer, hornet.
They'll need restricting tho.
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GPZ500 sold ~ CBR600FS-2 sold ~ ZX6R sold ~ Street Triple R

[Adamantis]

I'd suggest giving a restricted CB500S a bash.

If it wasn't for the pillion requirement, I'd say a DR350 (I might have recently bought one as a winter hack, and I'm bloody loving it!)
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Rides: '91 CG125 (Sold), '00 CB500S (Sold), '97 Thundercat (Sold), '99 KTM EXC 300 (SOLD), '99 RSV Mille (stolen. Thieving SCUM!!!), '94 DR350 (sold), '10 Vstrom 650 (hated it so much I gave up riding), now on the OH's CBF1000 until I can afford another Mille...

[Benjamoki]

Thanks for your help ! i shall look at all of the suggestions. And i think my pillion requirment is really the least required bit actually

[Benjamoki]

I have been looking at insurance for the fazer etc I have owned a few yam's :L
However on the insurance quotes there isnt any place to say its restricted, will the assume it is or do you have to specifically tell them? Thanks again !

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[Slacker24seve...]

[JoeDougieDoug...]

[Teflon-Mike]

Transalp. Africa Twin, XTZ, Super Ten, TDM, KLE.. in fact KLE is probably a good choice..... depends how far from off-roader to full road bike you want to go..
The old XL 500, was always something of a tractor, and never wonderfully comfy, or capable, on or off road. Wasn't a 'bad' compromise duel-purpose bike in its day, and for a big banger a bit more useful than the rather more err.... 'frisky' XT500.... but standards of the era were not high, & expectations not huge.
Without making a huge leap, Dominator, the XL's more modern (note, newer, Dommies are still an old bike!) decendant would probably do all XL does, bigger, better, more comfortably.... and they and later slightly more road biased SL are a good VFM machine.
Moving away from anything with duel purpose pretensions, remit is wide open!
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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?'

[Radis]

I got a new Yamaha Diversion, may be a bit pricey at around £7k but it is 0% at most places and they are super comfy (I'm 6'1" and 15 stone). Plenty fast with the restrictor and good wind protection on the F version.