Next Bike - BM or Dullville?

[Shaft]

Might as well start this now (sorry Barnoe)

So, much as I like my old bikes, it's time to go for something more modern, with the tyres, brakes and suspension that go with it.

I have a 50 mile a day round trip (50/50 NSL/heavy traffic) that I don't do all year round, but it can be in all weathers.

As my username suggests, shaft drive is pretty much all I'm interested in, because although I will look after my bikes, I'm not big on weekly maintenance regimes, I can't be arsed with adjusting and lubing chains (or topping up Scottoilers).

I don't do sports bikes and I'm not Guy Martin, so ultimate handling and performance aren't anywhere near top of my list, but I do want comfort, stability and a certain amount of confidence.

Budget is 2 grand - could be a little bit more, happily less, but it will have to last a while, so mega miles to get the price down isn't an option.

There's two bikes I keep coming back to.

Deauville - upsides are reliabilty, comfort, weather protection and built in storage capacity, but (having said it's not a major concern) I'm worried about the performance; I used to have a VT500 (which has the same basic engine, the same power output, but in a much lighter package) and that used to run out of steam so easily, I'm wondering if I'm going to have to cane it, just to maintain 70mph in the slightest headwind.

BMW R1100 R/RT - a bike I feel very comfortable on, it has enough performance to hold it's own in most of the conditions I'm going to throw at it and I have a tame BM mechanic if it goes badly wrong - but I still don't fancy the parts bills.

Coming in from leftfield is the Yamaha Bulldog - I really like the look of this, lazy cruiser motor, combined with the modern stuff I want, but I don't know much about them, especially when it comes to reliability; plus they seem to be fetching good money these days.

Thoughts people?
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Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[RhynoCZ]

A BMW could get expensive/complicated to fix pretty soon enough. If you need a workhorse, then go for the Honda.

Other shaft final drive, quite modern and affordable, bike I can think of would be the Suzuki VX 800. I don't know much about them, but they sure have bigger displacement engines, in comparison with the 650cc Deauville/Bros.
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'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

[ZX-7R]

XJ 900 Diversion.

Shaft drive and can easy get one for under two grand.
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Current Bike - 2000 ZX-7R

[Shaft]

And that, Barnoe, is why people ask on here

Thanks, Rhyno, I'd completely forgotten about the VX800, which I gave a glowing review to, when I tested it for a magazine in 1990.

Might be a bit old skool for me now, but it's a consideration.
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[Shaft]

[ZX-7R]

[RhynoCZ]

I was gonna suggest the xj900 as well, but I have noticed you've alread had one.

Kawasaki GT motorcycles also have final drive shaft, but the affordable bikes are very old now, early 80's technology old. The GT 550 is an interesting motorcycle, it's a detuned GPz550 with bigger tank and final drive shaft. It's got better MPG and definitely range, as the tank is 22L, instead of the standard 15L tanks. I'm not sure, but I think they ended the production in 1993, so nice exemplars still might be out there. Not really an upgrade through.

EDIT: The GTR 1000 was in production a bit longer (1986-1999), mcn review: https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-reviews/kawasaki/gtr1000/1986/
28.5L Tank
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'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

[Shaft]

[Polarbear]

A mate had a 650 Deauville which he used for touring Europe with me when I had my 1800 Goldwing. He never struggled with it and thoroughly loved it. It had done some stellar mileage when a white van man took it out in London.

700 is mean to be even better.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Mawsley]

[Stalk]

St1100?

[G]

What about belt drive?
The F800s is getting down to your budget these days.

May be a bit 'sporty', but got some fairing for weather, not too extreme position and good on fuel.

[kgm]

The F800s/st will be a comfy bike if its anything like the GT. Maybe a struggle in budget but doable with effort.

ST1100 is where I'd be looking but realistically the deauville will likely manage just as well.

Might be able to get an older FJR. There's one near me for 3k that's been up for sale for months.

Can't think of many other shafties that either haven't been mentioned, fit within budget or aren't as old as your other bikes.

[ThatDippyTwat]

My suggestions have already been mentioned, VX800 and ST1100.

£2000 will get you a mid to late 90's ST, mileage isn't really an issue if they look to have been maintained, according to the fanboy that lives a street over and is into double digits with them.
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'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)

[stevo as b4]

BMW 800's seem a pretty good bike for the requirements IMO. Not too big or heavy, good on fuel for the cc, enough power for a daily bike/commuter and as long as the belt and it's replacement costs are reasonable it seems a good option.

What I like is that it's not that heavy, and not that weird for a BMW. Engine is the right way round, it has proper forks etc. Being a twin should mean lower servicing parts costs, and they look ok and comfy too.

While a VFR800 spaceship style model looks very cool and is probably very nice to ride, I wouldn't want to clock up the miles on one if I wanted to do all my own maintenance, but then I've never worked on a V4 bike so wouldn't know if it's a nightmare or a dream.

[G]

And VFR is chain.
I'd always consider a ZX9R with some higher bars/lower pegs if looking at a VFR800 - better engine, less weight, better suspension. 6 Pot brakes for the E model, but can be swapped out for some that don't need so much work.

[Rogerborg]

The BMW 800 twins are indeed decent enough, and cheap to run if you self-service. Nothing tricksy in there. I'd prefer belt drive on mine, so if you can bag an S/ST in budget, I'd say give it a go, if you can stomach the looks.

They're not massively popular bikes, and private sales are particularly tricky. I put mine up for a few months, undercutting everything else around, and had no interest at all, none, not even TIEM WASTARS. So if you do see one advertised privately, don't hesitate to make a lowball offer, as it might be the only one they get.

The F650CS may be another candidate if one comes up, although that single won't be great at "NSL" speeds.
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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

[Enduro Numpty]

As far as I'm aware this FJR is still for sale. A really low mileage bike for a great price.

https://www.fjfjrbiker.co.uk/index.php?topic=23366.0

[Shaft]

Had a look at the F800, which could be available in budget, but I'm not feeling the love.

[Beehive Bedlam]

You're writing off a lot of good bikes wanting shaft drive only.

My chain very rarely needs touching with the scottoiler fitted and I do 400 to 600 miles over 5 days.

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

I agree with that. My only two points would be that firstly I don't do many properly wet, rainy miles - and that when I have, I've noticed the chain gets way, way filthier and requires a lot more tlc to get clean. Secondly I would ideally want a chain driven bike to have a centre stand, or else be relatively light. Cleaning and oiling a chain takes a fraction of the time when you don't have to fuck around with a paddock stand - even when you're very used to using one.

But with those few points in mind, looking after a chain is *very* quick and easy, and barely registers on the faff-o-meter. Literally a few seconds after each ride, a spray of paraffin at one pass of the chain, a second pass holding a folded piece of kitchen roll round it, and then a third whilst squirting a bit of EP90 on it. Less than a minute's work. Fwiw this is my speedy regimen and with it I honestly expect to get about 50k on a chain and sprox - NB and albeit with 90% dry miles.
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

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

[Shaft]

Here's my speedy regimen:

1. Drain 100ml of oil
2. Refill
3. Forget about it for 12 months.
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[redeem ouzzer]

Yeah the problem with shaft drive bikes is there is always a handling penalty, as well as a massive weight increase. They will never corner as well as a chain drive bike. The best place for shaft drive is an outfit or a car.
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Be a REAL MAN!

[stevo as b4]

Why the fuck didn't someone tell that to Kawasaki when they designed the Z1300 or to Yamaha when they did the V-max.

I believe the Z1300 would have had a big page in a tuning parts catalogue then, maybe they'd have done a moto Martin or Harris frame for them too?

It would also have saved owners of the VMX thousands of quid they have given to PDQ engineering to convert to chain drive in the search of better handling and tyre choice.

[Robby]

I had a VX800 about 10 years ago. It was alright, but not great. Felt like it needed 20 more horses - and this is coming from me, who thought a CB500 had plenty of power (just in the wrong places).

It would probably feel like a step down after an FJ900. Less power, not as smooth, doesn't like going below 2k rpm (and doesn't rev very high). Geared slightly too low to be comfortable on the motorway.

Go for the BMW, you can't have had one for years. Anything you buy for that money is going to have a few niggles, but with a decent BMW mechanic you should be able to find and fix them. Should mean you can avoid a repeat of the top-box death weave on the XJ.