Probably been done many times before but...

[Flemy]

I really need some advice on which bike to get, I'm looking for something that will get me from Birmingham to Newcastle and back at least 3 to 4 times a month on the A1.

I need some ideas on what bike will be able to munch these miles without going pop on some obscure stretch of road miles away from civilisation. Fuel consumption and comfort obviously a big factor and obviously it's got to have personality.

Oh and one more thing it has to be reasonably priced and cheap on insurance... Not asking for much but, hopefully you guys will have some ideas for me.

Thanks
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Prev- Pug speedfight 2 50cc x3 (Write off, blown engine and stolen), Honda Xr 125-L (Nail), Suzuki GSX-R 600(stolen). Current- Kwak ninja 300

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

VFR750, CBR600F steelie, Pan Euro?
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My Flickr

[moppy]

Usual suspects I guess, Honda CBR6 or the VFR, Yamaha Thundercat, Kawasaki ZZR6, SV650?

Any preferences in aesthetics?

[Flemy]

[P.]

Full licence or CBT?

CBT, I'd be going for something along the lines of YBR/CBF

If it was full licence, go with something basic and bulletproof, CB500/CBF600 or the usual GPZ/ER/GS500 group.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Rogerborg]

[G]

If you haven't got your licence: get your licence.
If for some reason that's a big issue, I'd go for an NSR125, but would consider a CBR125.

With your full licence:
GPZ500 for economy.
CBR600F or ZX6R G/J for a bike with some spirit.

You haven't mentioned a budget either.

[Flemy]

[D O G]

What sort of riding are you going to do when not slogging it on the motorway?

EDIT:

I'd rather be doing the mway miles in a car tbh, boring on a bike, potential for significant discomfort if weather is crap, and being wiped out by an inattentive driver in heavy rain does not appeal.

I commuted on mway for 6 months, deadly boring, which led to taking silly risks to make it more interesting. Wasn't saving me much time so I sacked it off and got a banger.

[Flemy]

[P.]

[D O G]

Ah, the toon, a great place, 'tis my home town. Excellent roads around there - go toward Rothbury North West of Newcastle for some great roads or south through Co. Durham onto the A689 to Alston, then down the A689 - Hartside pass onto the the M6 for a nice alternative route to the cesspool which is Brum*.

*I've never been to Brum, but I might as well slate it!

[Flemy]

[G]

The A1 will be 'near as boring as a motorway.
You may find you sometimes what to take a more fun route, but for this sort of journey you often just want to get there is as quickly as reasonably possible.

[stinkwheel]

That's a big run.

Can I suggest a K-series BMW?

Not the cheapest but you'll get an older one for a reasonable amount.

It's going to cost you a fortune in tyres because it's mostly motorway or major A-road and they'll land up square in no time. I'd SERIOUSLY consider darksiding it (running on car tyres). Obviously there are major pros and cons with doing this so research on the subject would be a good idea.

That run, 3-4 times a month is going to see you doing in the region of 1600 miles per month even if you don't use it for anything else so service intervals may also become an issue.

VFR is another option. It truly is a multi-purpose bike. Oil changes every 9k miles. What I did with mine when I was dong a lot of motorway work was to buy a spare rear wheel (about £60 off ebay). I kept a sports tyre on one and a cheap touring tyre on the other. Takes about a minute to change the wheels over (assuming you've fitted a high level or LHS exhaust). Five minutes if you kept the exhaust standard and need to move it out of the way. The downside is that it has a chain drive.

Going up and down the A1 is boring as fuck by the way. It's also got loads of roadworks on it at the moment where it's being upgraded to 3-lanes with a 50mph limit and SPECs cameras.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[GrantT]

[Flemy]

[D O G]

[Flemy]

[quote="GrantT"]

[Apexes]

Long journey on a sports bike - expect to have your wrists hurting towards the end of the journey

I'd go for something a bit more situp - FZ6, Hornet etc
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Current Ride: 2011 Kawasaki Z750

[P.]

[Rogerborg]

That reminds me, a crampbuster really does help on longer trips. I leave mine on even for my short commute, I don't even notice it's there now.

https://www.misviajesensupertenere.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Crampbuster.jpg
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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

[olionel]

Varadero ?
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1989 CG125 - Childhood Sweetheart (she got kidnapped by baddies)
1998 ZXR400 - Teenage Love (lasted three years, then she turned lesbian and left me)
2001 XRV750 - Wife Material (still getting to know her but head over heels in love)

[GrantT]