winter hack for a grand?

[Ribenapigeon]

I'm soon going to be getting an XJ6n but my WR125 did so well this winter I'm thinking of getting something simerler but on a budget for a winter hack. Obviously I'm not going to be restricted to 125s but a lower power bike seems a good idea for when its icey or there's snow. i've thought about a CCM as i've seen some in the £1000 range. But what else might be good to look out for.

[Matt B]

How about an indestructible GS500? Not much of a step down from the 600 but...
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stinkwheel: He had an animated .gif of a cat performing fellatio. It's not socially acceptable. It can have real life adverse effects on other people.

[Sako]

DT125 would be fine.

[Pie-Roe]

Cb250 suited me well for a winter, rode it in snow and all. I had the gay nighthawk cruiser looking thing.

I'd imagine there'd be nothing wrong with an xj6n in winter, it's not exactly mental power or size or weight.
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Previous: GSF600, FZR600 x2, ZXR750, XT600 Tenere, CB125, CZ125, ETZ 250, ER5, CCM R30, DRZ400, RF600x4, RF900x2, GS500, VTR1000F, 640 SMC, CB250 NIGHTHAWK, GT550x3, GPX750 TE610, CB500, X11x2, SV650, ZING 125, TL1000R,CB250 Superdream, CBR1100XX

[P.]

[Teflon-Mike]

Winter 'Hack'.
- Something you can neglect to buggery & it will still work and pass an MOT. You dont want to be outside freezing your danglies off keeping chrome clean now do you?
- Something Ugly. Looks that road salt, slime, and the inevitable icy morning spill can only really improve.
- Something nimble & easy to manage. If its cold, damp and half dark, with limited grip; dodging SMIDSY drivers, with fewer targets to prey on; you want all the responsitivity you can get.
- Something Comfy. Winters are miserable enough. Cold, damp, dark, and uninspiring. You ought to have some solace for not taking the car.
- Something 'Cheap'. Which is relative, but, if its going to be neglected, abused, ridden through all weather, probably crashed and bashed and isn't pretty or inspiring to ride to start with, you dont want to be paying a fortune for its upkeep.

So, what fits the bill?

Top choice, probably an MZ250. Closely followed by a Kawasaki GT550 or 750, the despatchers favourites. Despatchers making thier living from all weather, all year riding of course, have tended to find the bikes that best display these sort of virtues. But wouldn't touch thier all time favourite, a Maggot (CX500) these days; too few left with any life in them. Certainly not at sensible money, but suggests later derivatives; the VT500, NVT600 Revere, or the Dullseville.

Other contenders might be an air-head BMW; which if you look hard enough you might find end of season just creeping under budget, and give a touch of class for your cash, and a lot of comfort, with the pluses that they do tend to scrub up pretty good come summer, and do tend to hold thier value pretty well.

Pan Euro? Bit big and unweildy, and possibly not in budget to get one worth having, without swing arm mount rot or cronic pinion problems.

Other wise? There's an awful lot of disposeable hack-bikes out there that can be picked up for pocket money prices; ZZR6's are hardy and unloved; Suzuki Tea-pots (GSX's) and RF's. Could even get a 900 on budget if you took sommat a bit scruffier, or pre-ratted.

Remit is wide open really; but, for you, if you are getting an XJ6 as summer bike? And if you want something a bit trailie like to replace the WR.... Honda SR650 or slightly older, but possibly better built, Dominator. Perhaps a slightly care worn Transalp or Africa twin.
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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?'

[dan_flash]

I might be selling my ER5 at some point soon, if that's something you're interested in.
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Yamaha XJ600S, Volvo v40.

[Matt B]

[Teflon-Mike]

[Matt B]

Just that he didn't want something he was liable to dump on the tarmac in the ice/snow.

We have to remember Mr Boozehawk is not used to something the size and weight of a Pan.
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stinkwheel: He had an animated .gif of a cat performing fellatio. It's not socially acceptable. It can have real life adverse effects on other people.

[Teflon-Mike]

[Ribenapigeon]

i've been offered an ER5 that's been sorned for a couple of years and needs an MOT but I'm thinking would be simpler just to get something with an MOT at the end of the summer.

Pan Euro is an interesting left field choice but I think something more like my WR125 but with more poke would be better. I was out about town on my WR today and was such a blast getting in and about the traffic. So even though I'm looking forward to the XJ I'm going to miss the in town flick-ability of a supermoto style machine.

Ill keep an eye out on gumtree though for the above suggestions though.

[Ribenapigeon]

https://m.gumtree.com/gsxr400-gk76a-motd-good-runner/v?adId=1019276675#400

What do you guys think?

[Pete.]

[Ribenapigeon]

Yes probably not the best bike for winter use but looks like an interesting looked after bike.

[Slacker24seve...]

It's May. Bike prices may well be lower once 'summer' is over, I'm the meantime splash the cash on tyres and fuel!
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Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
Banger rallies are ace

[Shinigami]

grand for a winter hack... my main and only bike cost that haha had to struggle it through the winter conditions which it didn't much like
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Current: Honda City Fly CLR125 2003 Honda CB600F Hornet 2008 Yamaha FZ6 S2 + 1991 Kawasaki GPZ500
"Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes sense.

[Ribenapigeon]

[Notj7]

I know it's 1991, bloody old! But I *really* like the look of the GSXR 400 - how nippy are they?
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Left the forum.

[Matt94]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1994-YAMAHA-XT600-XT-600-33BHP-SWAP-BEST-ROAD-BIKE-OFFERED-/330920795225?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item4d0c6a9c59

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1990-Suzuki-DR650R-/121114243615?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item1c32f8b21f

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/kawasaki-kLR-600-/181144244272?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item2a2d09d030

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kawasaki-KLE-500-/161031744504?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item257e3d6bf8

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-R-Honda-CB-500-CB500-CHEAP-BIKE-/321127725926?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item4ac4b43b66
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current; beemer 5 series!