Choosing a bike.

[Robby]

Well its been well over a year since I did one of these, so I think its about time I drew on the collective knowledge of BCF to pick out a bike for me.

This is to be a toy - I use the car for day to day. I like fettling, I don't like 2 strokes, I don't like cleaning.

What I really want is a guzzi V65 - I know it misses some of my criteria, but it gives you an idea.

Of course, chance of me buying anything you lot suggest is slim, but lets see.

I want:

Upright riding position. The VX800 was nice, the CRM250 was better. Bolt upright, weight on my arse not my wrists I like.

Nice wide bars. I just like it like that.

Comfy seat. VX was a winner here, bandit seat is quite nice too.

80+ bhp. VX always wanted that extra 20bhp and 50 less kg.

Some semblance of handling. I only potter around lanes fairly slowly, but I want something that will lean over without my getting off and pushing it over, and I don't want mid corner weaves.

Twin discs up front, unless its very light and can get away with a single.

Less important bits:

Same diameter wheels at each end. Bikes with different diameter wheels never feel right going into corners to me.

Not offensively heavy.

I don't care about:

Running costs. I'm an ultra low mileage kind of guy, so if it does 15mpg, so be it.

Shinyness. I don't do in depth bike washing, so bikes in my care just corrode. I don't mind a little corrosion here and there, as long as its not terminal or structural.

Budget:

£1500 is a nice easy number, but as always the cheaper the better, and if it needs work I can do work.


What can you all suggest?

[jay12329]

I always seam to be sugesting this but how about a Hornet?
Upright rideing position, around 85bhp, not to heavy either. Handles great, and wil lean well over with little effort. I got my peg down without shifting my arse around.
£1500 could get you a '98 model if you look around and dont mind a few miles. The bikes can handle the millage, herd of bikes hitting 100,000 miles and still carry on strongly.
HTH
J

[cliff]

Maybe an older faired bandit? Seems like youv'e just described one in what you want.
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Sweet reggae music.

[fazed]

Something what kills you . Hopefully.

How about a nc24 located in ireland?

[stinkwheel]

Virago, a big one.

Or an oddity for interest: Honda Magna, liquid cooled V-twin.
https://www.roxbox.dk/picpages/honda/custom/magna_1.jpg
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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.

[McJamweasel]

It sounds like a Bandit is the way to go - the 600's are about 80bhp and the 12's about 100.
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BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

[Kris]

Robby - are you after a particular style? You mentioned Guzzi's, are you after a classic styled older Italian bike? Are Jap bikes okay?

As an aside (sorry Robby) does anyone know how much difference the running costs are between Bandit 6's and 12's? Oh and tank ranges too. Cheers
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NSR125RR - ZXR750H1 - ZX9R E1 - GSF600S - GSF600SK3 - VFR400-NC30 - SV1000N - ST1100-R - CBR900RR-R - GSF1200SK5 - GSF600SK1 - VFR1200FA - GSXR1000K2 - ZZR1400 D8F
www.prisonplanet.com

[Kickstart]

Hi

Price wise you are limited at that level. You might well get a 600 Bandit but forget finding a 1200. Cannot see you finding a Hornet that would be worth touching.

Maybe for an older bike you could try a Kawasaki Zephyr (sp), either the 550 or the 750 (or as you don't mind the fuel consumption you could go for an 1100).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Kris]

If you can find another £300 you could get a Kwak ZR-7. Upright position, comfy seat. twin disk brakes, decent range, 76 bhp (with k-trik), engines are bombproof oil/air cooled design.
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NSR125RR - ZXR750H1 - ZX9R E1 - GSF600S - GSF600SK3 - VFR400-NC30 - SV1000N - ST1100-R - CBR900RR-R - GSF1200SK5 - GSF600SK1 - VFR1200FA - GSXR1000K2 - ZZR1400 D8F
www.prisonplanet.com

[Dr Nick]

[Bendy]

I can't see robby on a hornet or a bandit somehow. It would go against his principles.

[fazed]

[Robby]

I could own a bandit, its a possibility.

Not a hornet, I don't mind plain bikes but hornets are just offensive ugly.

I hadn't thought of zephyrs, one of them could be a nice choice.

Stinkywheely - does the magna destroy camchains in the way that hondas do?

[iCraig]

How about something along the 750 roadster/naked bike catagory, like the Honda CB750, or the Suzuki GSX750W, or the Kawasaki Zephyr 750.

All have dual discs upfront, decent tank ranges, handle ok, and are reliable and fit within your budget.

Or how about this, https://i6.ebayimg.com/01/i/02/93/98/a1_1_b.JPG

[Robby]

That police guzzi has been on my ebay watch list since 10 mins after it appeared on ebay.

You kids are tempting me with the zephyr, either the 750 or 1100.

[stinkwheel]

I told a lie, the magna is a V-4

They are popular bikes to rat, I have seen some VERY high mileage examples of the more 'tourer' orientated ones using the same engine used by DRs, I think they are pretty reliable.

They certainly have something of a cult following, kind of a fast cruiser style thing going on there.

There is a BBS on these honda V4s, have a look and see what people need help to fix.

https://www.v4hondabbs.com/
____________________
“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.

[Demonic69]

Goldwing?
One on ebay
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=9806&item=2492484565&rd=1
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Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

[Demonic69]

BMW R1100?
There're a few of those on ebay too
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Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

[Doddmaster]

You can never go wrong with a GS500

[Wave2k]

a nice bandit 1200
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Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299