Ideas for my next bike.

[eddypeck]

I do a 300 mile a week commute, 95% motorway. All year/all weather.

That equates to around 14000 miles a year.

I only use the bike as transport to and from work and very rarely ride for social or pleasure reasons.

I very rarely take a pillion.

My last bike was a ZX9r E2 which I have to say I was very pleased with. But I'm wondering if I could cope with something less sporty or would I get bored.

My criteria is:

Purchase Price - I could maybe push to £3k, but ideally £2-2.5k The 'nicer' the model, the older I need to go - with age comes reliability and maintenance.

Reliability - this will be my daily transport, so I need to know it will get me to work and back all week.

Affordability - Reasonable maintenance cost or less frequent maintenance.

Running costs - Good MPG, large tanks, long range - I don't want to be in a petrol station every other day. (I could get 55mpg and 190 miles to a tank on the 9r)

Good weather protection - full faired ideally or at least good top fairing.

Performance - I do enjoy a good blast, not like a loon everywhere but it's nice to know it's there when I fancy it. And I have got used to a certain capability with the 9r.

Weight - although the 9r isn't lightweight like modern super-sports bikes, and previously I had the weighty zx7r. So 200kg is fine. Maneuvering it isn't a problem for me, but due to the motorway miles I'm worried about a big heavy tourer eating rear tyres!! adding to the running costs.

Looks - Yes I am vane, I still like the cool factor but may need to back down on this and settle for sense over style. But there are some 'sensible' bikes that I just don't fancy even if on paper they would be perfect.



I've been looking up the facts and figures and on paper I have a bit of a short list, however I'm concerned the 'sensible' option might get boring. Some are at the upper end, or even over budget which is fair enough, I'd just need to keep it longer. I cheaper bike I might be looking to replace in 2 years, but over £3k and I'm going to need to hang on to it for 3-4 years at least to get the same value for money.

Quite high up on the consideration list is the larger BMWs; R1100s, R1200RT, K1200S (RS is probably over budget) I've seen some cheap ex-police bikes which get a lot of bike for the money. Shaft drive seems like a good idea, and many come with standard features like heated grips and seat. I prefer the look of the R1100s but fear it may leave me disappointing on the performance side. And I'm concerned on over complicated mechanics/electrics and related maintenance costs of high milers.

I like the idea of XJR1300, ZRX1200 and similar big engine retro bikes. But apart from looking cool I think they're most impractical for my requirements. So should drop it there.

An R1, Fireblade or Zx10 would be nice, would keep me interested but I'm at an age now (40) where I'm wondering if I need to grow up. The characterisitc of the bike sometime make to ride to match them maybe it's time for something less sporty. I'm a family man afterall, don't want to end up in prison or dead. Running costs - Tyres, chains, and service intervals are a consideration for sports.

Maybe a more nimble 600 is the way to go, I could pick up a CBR for a lot less than a BMW. I've had a Thundercat and ZZR 600 in the past, both sensible all rounders. I just like the idea of bigger bikes now.

Maybe there's something I've overlooked all together. I know there's a lot of personal preference involved here, but would be great to hear some thoughts and experiences if anyone has owned any of the above.

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this and indulge me.

[Eddie Hitler]

CBR125.

[stevo as b4]

Fair play to you, but it don't sit right with me someone needing/wanting a fully faired 1000cc sportsbike especially a modernish one, just to use as a daily A-B beater and fuck up the finish through scabby salty winters.

I'm afraid I don't really get the just run one bike mentality that is a bit of everything you want, but will never be gleaming. I also think fully faired bikes are a bitch to keep clean for winter use, and id really want something I wouldn't be precious about, or want for the looks/tart factor if it was to be a winter commuter. I mean how can a scabby late 90's blade or similar look good or look cool. If I see a scuffed up really tatty sportsbike hack, I either think the rider is doing it all wrong using one bike for everything/a good bike for a shit purpose, or is just a wanker for letting a nice bike deteriorate through winter.

I've always been of the mindset that if I need a vehicle for a shit daily trudge to work, through traffic, poor road surfaces, motorways with loose chippings, or just in shit/icy/wet/muddy roads, that car or bike it needs to be a hack that I put fuel in, kick the tyres now and then and don't give too many shits about. And even more so if you have to park in in the street in built up area's, or on muddy construction sites, or in crap areas with scum all around you.

A nice bike or car will get love, care and only the best looking after and maintenance. I wouldn't avoid using it in wet weather, but it would get a clean after every wet ride or if it had been down muddy lanes etc. I'm either precious over things, or I don't care about them past being safe and legal, but for me there's no inbetween I would say.

[eddypeck]

I hear what you're saying and in an ideal world I'd love to have a winter hack and a summer toy, and at one point I was in a position to do just that:
https://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i61/eddypeck/zx7r/DSC00210.jpg

The ZZR was a cheap hack, saw me good for over 5 years, and sold it with close to 60k on it. Cost me a grand and I think I still got over half that back. Hideous colour, which is probably why it was cheap but it was transport. The Zx7r only saw sunny dry days and was fantastic fun.

I used to have a varied commute, some rural lanes and dual carriage way ring road, plenty of bends and roundabouts. Then I changed job, which ended up being 2 miles to the Motorway.... 28 miles up the motorway then 2 miles into work. That kind of ride took all the fun out of the 7r so I sold them both and got a 9r which muched the motorway miles, returned great MPG and was all round perfect. I'd happily have another but just want to try something different.

Regular cleaning, some winter protection products, good maintenance and a ridged service schedule and running a bike all year isn't that big an issue.

I'm currently using a car but that last 2 miles off the motorway and into work can take up to 25 minutes (as long as the rest of the journey) due to traffic and it's driving me bonkers! and getting me in trouble as I'm always late. Otherwise I'd stick with a car.

I'm never going to have show stopper, my bikes are work horses, but loved, enjoyed and cared for.

The more I think about it the big BMWs are appealing to me, with high milers and ex-police bikes you can pick up a lot of bike for the money. These aren't going to be pristine examples in the first place so I've got no issue using them as I intend.

Does anyone have any experience of the R or K 1100 and 1200 ranges? Especially when they start to get a bit long in the tooth.

I am able to garage them at night and park securely at work and during the winter it can have a hose down before bedtime and a good clean on the weekend. I usually run a scottoiler but if I go for shaft drive I won't need to worry.

[c_dug]

I notice you mentioned the r1100s, it was what sprung to my mind too. My dad has commuted on one since 2005, done around 40,000 miles on it in that time. It has only left him at the side of the road once when a fuel pump failed. Check out the boxertrix forum for more specialised advice
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[eddypeck]