Want to upgrade

[Kaneda80]

so, I finally got my A licence in November last year, took out a loan and went and bought myself a brand new CBR500RAE for my 160 mile commute from Ashford in Kent to Chiswick.
She's a real beaut and I love my bike, I've put around 4k on the clock and lovingly cared for her and spent a bomb on her.
Although I got an A licence I went for the 500r because I didn't want to jump straight on to a crotch rocket the day I passed, I've seen enough crash footage on YouTube to put me off being "that guy", the fuel economy is very good and insurance was ok. Even the wife saw the sensible practicality of it all.

There's always a but...

Trouble is, it's only three months down the line and I'm already feeling like I've outgrown it. I'm 34 and have two kids so don't want to wrap myself around a tree but I'm humbly confident that i can handle something bigger and want something with a fair bit more oomph.
I'm not after a litre bike yet, but mid size (600 to 800) really appeals.
I paid around £5,500 installed an Akrapovic exhaust, sports screen, honda heated grips, seat cowl, hugger etc I'm thinking of part exing her for one of the following bikes, all have ABS, heated grips and around 3 to 6000 miles on the clock and are in the price range of about £4,500.

2011 Yamaha XJ600 diversion
2012 Honda CBR600F
2013 Suzuki GSX650 FAL2
2010 BMW F800R

Questions are:
Are any of these bikes exceptionally good for a long all weather motorway commute?

Or exceptionally bad?

I know I'm not going to get the same money I paid for my 500r back but what am I likely to get back for it on px? I have all the original parts but surely the extras should help boost the value a bit right?

Am I mad? Should I just suck it up and live with the 500r for a year or two... While pining for something bigger? The wife won't be too pleased if I have to chuck a grand at upgrading the bike so soon after buying it.

Any helpful advice and opinions would be appreciated

Thanks
Ellory
____________________
I like turtles

[Skudd]

There is nothing wrong with 1000cc ++ bikes, sometimes the larger bikes grow better with ou and your needs (wife on the back too) It does depend on your main use for the bike. I like my 1000cc as it is comfy and hold me well. Remember the throttle is controlled by you, not he other way round. You are more likely to potter on a lazy 1000cc than a nippy 600cc - 800cc.
____________________
Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[stevo as b4]

I'll get shot down bad here, but in real world and roll on and in gear acceleration, all used in everyday riding, a 600cc 4cyl sports bike will not be a shocking difference in performance from the 47bhp CBR500 most likely.

Say something like an R6 with circa 120bhp. It'd feel like it needs to be ridden much differently to how you or I would typically ride a bike to work or in everyday road conditions, to make he large difference in power known.

You'd probably find a 100bhp? VFR800 etc more noticeably different, but not alarmingly so due to a more progressive delivery and more real world useable performance?

Needs G and his torque at the wheel and thrust graphs, along with the 2cyl vs 4cyl and gearing charts, but the feeling is that the taller geared bike with 2more cylinders while maybe smoother, does not have a huge thrust advantage until it's ridden quite hard.

[barrkel]

I kind of agree with stevo. Are you wringing the neck off your CBR500? Pinging off the limiter, running out of puff? With only a few months experience, I'd bet you're a long way short of using all the power it can give you. And there's more to bikes than thrust.

I don't feel a huge difference in power or torque between my old ER6f (70 hp at most) and my VFR (100 hp) until I'm going at higher speeds. The ER6 is much lighter and easier to chuck around, and in some ways is actually more fun. I prefer it for city riding. My GF still has one and I occasionally ride it, so I'm not remembering it over-fondly. On the other hand, the VFR is more composed going around corners, is better at cruising on motorways, and has much more go at higher speeds. You can't reach 150mph on the autobahn on an ER6, whereas I crossed a chunk of Germany like that.

What kind of gear and revs do you ride at? When I have occasion to ride my VFR in London, I'm mostly in first gear, with occasional steps up to second if there's no traffic to filter past. Lower gears means higher revs, more power, more rear wheel torque, and more responsive throttle. If you're short-shifting, you're not using most of the bike.

One thing power does give you is easier single carriageway overtaking. But practice on a slightly smaller bike stands you in good stead, you learn to time things instead. And timing rather than raw power is safer in poor traction conditions, so it's worth learning.

Oh, and if you sell the CBR500, selling the extras separately will be much better value. But if you could afford all that on a new bike, you may not want the hassle of selling everything separately. I'd probably bother for the exhaust.
____________________
Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[Polarbear]

I'm in the 1000cc+ bracket.

A big engine and you can be as lazy as you want. It will handle any motorway at any speed. Two up + luggage, no problem.

Its just a case of choosing a stykle of bike you like!
____________________
Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Rogerborg]

[Matt B]

[Baffler186]

Another shout for larger displacement. You find that most IL4 600's make 40-50 foot pounds of torque, whereas the GSX1250 is nearer 80. Add to that, it will still go nuts at higher revs if or when you need it. A chap at work has one in black and they do look really nice, comfy, adequate weather protection, and also look very at home with a large top box.

IME the 600 is fine for me, but you do have to rev it high to get the best out of it, which also means going up and down the gearbox quite a lot.
____________________
Current: 2009 SV650 S, 1990 Kawasaki GT550
Previous: 2009 CBF125, 1998 GSF600, 2004 FZ6 Fazer, 1978 CB400a Hondamatic

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

Was drunk - didn't see the 160 mile commute. Damn. That's way too far.
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Skudd]

[Rogerborg]

[P.addy]

[chris-red]

[Polarbear]

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

I love bikes but:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Ford_Focus_2004.jpg
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[P.addy]

[Rogerborg]

About 220-240 working days in a year, so 37,000 miles.

Is still 6+ sets of tyres, 2 chain and sprocket sets or a shaft lube, between 4 and 8 oil changes.

Fuel at 50mpg is 3364 litres, so £3500 a year.

What's the plan for foul weather and breakdowns?
____________________
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

[RhynoCZ]

160 mile commute calls for a TDi engine with 60-65 MPG. You would commute in dry, warm interior of a car all year long, regardless of the weather.
____________________
'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[chris-red]

[barrkel]

[RhynoCZ]

Or what Chris says. But, to be honest, I'd just move closer. If it's a long term job and if living closer would cost the same or even less than commuting, it is the smart thing to do. Time spent commuting 160 miles a day seem to be wasteful and very tiring.

We are talking about what, 2-3 hours to do 80 miles? So that's 4-6 hours commute + 8 hours at work, results in 12-14 hours a day, from which you're gonna only get paid for the 8 hours you spend at work. I do not know the route to your workplace, but let's assume you'd get 35-40mph avg. speed on/in your vehicle. All that if the road is empty enough, a traffic jam can easily make the commute more time consuming.
____________________
'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Matt B]

I did 60 miles each way. Mostly fast A roads and dual carriage that took just over an hour. 80 miles may not mean 2-3 hours.
____________________
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.

[chris-red]

[Rogerborg]

https://rogerborg.dnsd.info/ashford-chiswick.jpg
____________________
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