Next Bike - Looking for quality

[wytco0]

Hi All, new rider here passed Mod 2 in June and bought my first bike a week later its a Kawasaki Er-6f and I love it and its perfect for me to learn about riding and improve my skills, but ......

I am already starting to think about my next bike which I will probably buy in about a year from now, it may well also be my last bike (I am getting on a bit)

Much as I love the ER-6F I would like something which if it was a car would be a bit more Audi/Merc/BMW/Porsche like, something build really well with quality components and which is smooth and relaxing to ride. It need to be comfortable for 250+ mile days and I would like it to be reasonably economical, It doesnt need to be the fastest bike around, build quality and comfort are more important than outright speed. It will need to have a reasonably low seat height as I am short (the ER6f is fine but I can't flat foot it and it has an 805 mm seat height).

So could you help me work out which are the best made bikes so I can out together a short list.

I don't want to pay silly money but I am prepared to pay a decent amount for what will probably be my retirement present to myself. I will probably buy new or nearly new.

[Knacker]

What you need is a Gsxr 1000.

All other bikes are just Ghey
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Current: Gsxr 600 Srad - GS125 - DT125
Previous: K1 GSXR 1000

[recman]

[Itchy]

BMW?


Buy something from the golden era 1995-2005 before manufacturing went down hill and monkey metal became common.

15 year old CBRs stored outside on the coast have less corrosion than new big 4 bikes.

My CBR has a lot less corrosion on it than the 2012 CBF1000 in the next street and mine has more miles and is stored outside and uncared for.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[MC]

As above, more expensive doesn't necessarily mean better quality. I had a 2014 CBF1000 for 2 months and wasn't that impressed with it, for 9.5k you could buy a few mint used bikes and have change left over.

Going by your list if you want German then it'll have to be a BMW However they have a reputation for being a bit *looks over shoulder for Rogerborg*... sterile. The Japs still rule, although if you want to buy something for the badge (like a Porsche), Ducati?
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Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[wytco0]

[wytco0]

[wytco0]

[c_dug]

I'm not sure that what you're after really exists in a bike, from a quality and long lasting point of view, I think it comes down to how well it is looked after, rather than who it is made by or how much it costs.

I think the problem is that there isn't the price variance between low end and high end bikes to provide that extra quality. And when you get to the high end stuff you are generally paying for performance rather than quality or luxury.

What I mean is that, say your er6f is the equivalent of... a Mondeo? The equivalent Audi is probably an A6?

A Mondeo can be had new for £20K book price, the Audi is £10,000 more expensive!

For comparison, lets throw a BMW F800 up against an ER6F, a shade over £6000 for the ER6, and about £8000 for the F800. That £2000 doesn't buy you anywhere near the quality difference that you would expect to find between the Ford and Audi.

Instead of worrying so much about the luxury/quality side of things, I would think more about what you want from a bike? Shaft/Chain/Belt? Sports/Touring/Adventure? Faired/Half faired/Naked? Luggage as standard? Traction control? Heated grips? You get the picture...

When you get an idea of what you want in a bike, you can really start to whittle it down to a shorter list.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[wytco0]

[c_dug]

There are certainly trends that show up over the years.

For instance, Suzuki's are known to suffer from corrosion, and Honda's through the 90's were really solidly built but suffered from chronic Reg/Rec issues and dodgy cam chain tensioners.

My dad commutes throughout the year on a ~2003 BMW R1100S and it lives on the street rather than tucked away in a garage, it's pushing 50,000 miles now I think and still polishes up very nicely, very little corrosion on any of the metal parts, and for the most part aluminium rather than Steel, so very little rust at all. But then, some of the newer BMW's are said to suffer with electrical gremlins that will undoubtedly leave you stranded at the side of the road at some point.

Sort of making the same point as my last post

To add something useful, the VFR's are often said to be the best of the bunch when it comes to sports tourers, with such a long lineage there is a model to suit all budgets too. The new ones do look quite tasty to me.

I'll stop babbling now!
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[mjn51]

I would recommend the Trophy SE !

[Spireite]

Kawasaki Z1000SX Tourer (new)
Easily removable panniers and no framework for them
50mpg and comfy.
Poke if required
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Z1000SX ABS TOURER

[blueglue]

Honda VFR800 (New) purely for comfort i suppose. Newer one looks a bit less plain jane, but apparently you can only buy them in red (or pink if they are older).

[andymach23]

The quality of the CB1100 is supposed to be top notch. It gets good reviews as well.

It's available a fair bit cheaper than the RRP on the web...

https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/naked/#!/cb1100ex/

Some 2nd hand examples around the 7K mark.

[Conzar]

Why is that noobs find petty small things to put them off a well made bike, ffs just go test ride one and see if those minor things still matter.
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Current ride: ZX6R 636 ------- Previous:KTM EXC 450 Supermoto --- ZX6R B1H --Hornet 600--CBR 600--SV650
11:05:35 Rob Fzs: i just wanna own an rd350 valve before they send us to war with durkadurkastan

[deadwolf]

Buell Lightning XB9sx?

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Buell_Lightning_XB9SX_CityX.jpg

Uses parts from Ford cars, belt drive (like a car ), decent MPG according to reviews, durable, very light and compact. Upright naked bike like your ER6. Dunno about comfort though. Not sure how much of an advantage the Harley parts connection will be, doubt the UK has as many dealers and stock of Harley bits as the US.
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Motorsapien Art

[robbyb]

Yamaha Fazer 1000?
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Yamaha FZ8

[Polarbear]

If you are looking at the 800 class (for want of a better word) Try a Tiger 800. A much nicer road engine than the BM twin in my opinion.

Triumphs are pretty good as far as quality control goes although my bikes have had their issues. (fixed under recalls)

Money certainly doesn't guarantee quality (check stuartts thread about Victory) and I've seen a brand new Pinigale try and wear through a swing arm.

There really isn't a Rolls Royce of motorcycles.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[MarJay]

[c_dug]

Was it that bad a bike Marjay?

The buells sort of appeal to me every now and then, but it would have to double up as a day in day out commuter, and I always get the feeling they wouldn't be up to the job.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[DrSnoosnoo]

I had a quick go on this:

https://media.popularmechanics.com/images/honda-dn-01-430-0109.jpg

Can be had for cheap(er than a brand spanker) it's automatic, got a big engine and with a bigger screen on can be very comfortable too
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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[Rogerborg]

[stonesie]

All I can say is, Test ride lots of bikes after your first year or two and buy the one that makes you grin like a kid in a sweetshop and you don't want to take it back to the dealer.

That's what I did and very nearly bought a Tiger 800, then I rode the Street Triple and thought 'I need it, gotta have it' so I bought one.


Other advice is to do a bit of advanced training, you will be surprised how capable the ER6 is if you ride it right. Bikesafe is a good start.

[MarJay]