Recommend me a London Commuter Bike for ULEZ < £3k

[Amber Phoenix]

So in light of Sadiq causing a tonne of hassle in London and potentially bring in the ULEZ a couple of years early and extending it to North/South circulars; I really ought to start thinking about swapping my Fazer 600 to something else.

So, I've been riding 4 years, the 2003 FZS600 was my first bike, and TBH I still really like it, it definitely ticks all my boxes. I need something that is:-

Good for commuting into central London everyday, all weathers, filtering like a bastard in the ever narrowing lanes.
An enjoyable blast at weekends tearing up rural Essex.
Comfy for some long jaunts up to North Wales or further.
Suitable for a skinny, lanky rider at 6'1".
Good for taking daughter pillion now and again.
Can fit top box or luggage to it (for huge chain, laptop etc).
Super reliable and cheap to run (mpg and maintenance).
Doesn't have crazy insurance premiums for a pikey East London address.
Isn't a huge magnet for thieves.
Got to be Euro 3 compliant (July 2007 onwards).
I do very little motorway work, so a naked would certainly be an option.
Budget: £2-3k.

Whacking that criteria into Autotrader just throws up Yammy XJ6's, Kwak ER6's, Sukki Gladius'/Blandits/GSX or Honda CBF600's/CBF600's.

All seem like they'll be practical enough for the commuting side, but all strike me as a bit of a mundane step backwards from my current Fazer. Except perhaps the CBR600, but I'd probably dismiss that as too sporty, not comfy enough long distance or for pillion.

A more recent FZ6 or Fazer8 might be an obvious choice, but I canna see any 2008+ ones less than £3k.

What else possibly fits the bill?

And no, I canna stretch the budget any further, as I'm gonna have to replace my wife's 2006 CBF500 as well!
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Beginner Biker Adventures Blog
Yamaha FZ6 S2 2007

[cb1rocket]

simples....wait 2 years and the prices come down even further as they get older = under 3k budget
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Honda H100S2 Rebuild - https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=253852

[Rogerborg]

Ouch!

https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/news-and-views/news/2012/2016/june/paris-bans-bikes-with-london-set-to-charge/

Pics of daughter? I ask purely to determine how much pillion provision you need.

If you've ruled out the commuter twins, then I'm honestly struggling to think of anything that meets those requirements better than another FZ6 or 8.

Hornet is the other obvious candidate.

Ducati Monster too small / too twin / expensive?

F800R, you're struggling at that budget. Street Triple is at the top end, although Cat C/D write offs seems to come up pretty frequently, and Paddy can't buy all of them.

You might scoop an autumn/winter bargain if you wait, but I guess it depends when this actually gets introduced and how well publicised it is. Waiting until the last minute isn't really an option as prices are going to get temporarily cray-cray and your 2003 bike will struggle to find a buyer in London.

To highlight the idiocy, my 2008 registered (but 2007 model year) up-carbed and de-catted Enfield is technically ULEZ compliant.
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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

[Amber Phoenix]

Yep exactly, I was thinking of preempting any spike in prices of newer bikes and marked drop in old bike value. However I've already consigned I'll probably have to ship the Fazer up to my Dad's in Wales to flog it.

Street Triples have silly insurance prices where I am.

Monster - yeah maybe, will investigate further, but had thought they were a spot on the small size (both in height and engine power).

Hornet could be a good shout. The 140 mile tank range could get a bit annoying mind. I do like the 230 mile range on my FZS600...
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Beginner Biker Adventures Blog
Yamaha FZ6 S2 2007

[c_dug]

I'm in exactly the same predicament at the moment, live about 10 minutes from you, with an old Fazer that I'm really enjoying, and nothing within budget to replace it with has me frothing at the gash.

I'm on the brink of being debt free for the first time, so I really don't want to finance a newer bike if I can avoid it.

I may even consider the train
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Rogerborg]

[Shaft]

[c_dug]

I wonder what percentage of bikes in London are actually older than 2007 anyway, this is the land of plenty after all, I reckon it's probably less than 20%.

A quick google search suggests 45,000 people a day commute into London by motorcycle. Compared to 2,000,000 by public transport.

Even if all of the non compliant bikes got the train, I feel pretty confident that the public transport system would suck it up without flinching.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Undinist]

Or you could keep your Fazer, have a wardrobe malfunction and ignore the congestion zone cameras. Some people are already ignoring speed cameras, bus lane cameras, red light cameras and illegal turn cameras. Might as well add congestion zone cameras to the list.

[Val]

[c_dug]

It's not just the power either. New bikes are so heavy, and hard to work on.

Honestly going from my VFR8 Vtec to this fazer should have been a huge step back in every way. But it was the opposite.

Also the VFR did 35mpg on a good day, the fazer gets mid 50's.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[0l0dom0l0]

Just get a 2007+ S2 FZ6.

When I bought mine 4 years ago I got a 2006 model with 6k on it, PC3, custom mapped, scorpion end cans etc etc for £2.5k.

There's been load of 2007+ models for 2.5K since then.

Look harder
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CBT Passed: 30/08/2009, Theory Passed: 31/08/2010, Mod 1 Passed: 6/9/2010, Mod 2 Passed: 13/09/2010. Restriction ended 13/09/2012.

Bikes: 2007 Derbi GPR 50, 1998 Yamaha Fazer 600 (written off), 2002 Yamaha Fazer 600, 1994 CBR 600F, 2003 Triumph Daytona 600, Kawasaki ZX6R J1.....Current: 2006 Yamaha FZ6, 1998 Suzuki TL1000R and a Honda VFR 400 NC30.

[0l0dom0l0]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-fazer-FZ6-S2-low-milage-/201606701413?hash=item2ef0b22165:g:CZMAAOSwOVpXV9v2

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2008-YAMAHA-FZ6-FAZER-S2-BLUE-with-large-top-box-only-and-15k-miles-/282068193796?hash=item41ac931204:g:RvcAAOSwbYZXYDSb

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-FZ6-S2-5500-miles-/162101404735?hash=item25bdff243f:g:5DMAAOSwuhhXXRfU
____________________
CBT Passed: 30/08/2009, Theory Passed: 31/08/2010, Mod 1 Passed: 6/9/2010, Mod 2 Passed: 13/09/2010. Restriction ended 13/09/2012.

Bikes: 2007 Derbi GPR 50, 1998 Yamaha Fazer 600 (written off), 2002 Yamaha Fazer 600, 1994 CBR 600F, 2003 Triumph Daytona 600, Kawasaki ZX6R J1.....Current: 2006 Yamaha FZ6, 1998 Suzuki TL1000R and a Honda VFR 400 NC30.

[0l0dom0l0]

Just to add, I've had mine for 4 years, it's now on over 20k, it's done 8 trackdays or something - brake pads are still original front and rear, replaced the fork seals and oil because they started to leak from my wheelies, did the headstock bearings too (turns out I didn't need to bother) it's been serviced every year - and it's required nothing other than those couple of bits and tyres etc. Chain is still original - not even half way on the adjusters, sprockets are fine.

Been a fantastic bike - I'd highly recommend. Looks like it's not depreciated either lol. Shame I crashed it!
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CBT Passed: 30/08/2009, Theory Passed: 31/08/2010, Mod 1 Passed: 6/9/2010, Mod 2 Passed: 13/09/2010. Restriction ended 13/09/2012.

Bikes: 2007 Derbi GPR 50, 1998 Yamaha Fazer 600 (written off), 2002 Yamaha Fazer 600, 1994 CBR 600F, 2003 Triumph Daytona 600, Kawasaki ZX6R J1.....Current: 2006 Yamaha FZ6, 1998 Suzuki TL1000R and a Honda VFR 400 NC30.

[M.C]

[Alpineandy]

[Doink]

[Rogerborg]

Bike thieves will be rubbing their rat paws in glee then. Silver linings and all that.
____________________
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