Another Wot Bike M8 - what do brah?

[arry]

Throwing this back open again because, just like all things with me and my imaginary budgets, I have seen a couple of things I like which blow through it, being:
1) Royal Enfield 500 Bullet - near brand new at £3200
2) Pre-registered VanVan 200 - Suzuki trying to punt on at £3499 when a 'new' one is £4k, so I get a feeling there might be a deal to be done there.

Given the increase in budget, to say ~£3k+/- a few squid - does this open up any other opportunities I'm currently missing?

Cheers.

[Baffler186]

Superdream? I would have kept my Hondamatic if i had more space. It was light and quirky, great for around town, shit brakes, cost me £750 and i sold it for 850. Just enough torque to be fun and useful.
____________________
Current: 2009 SV650 S, 1990 Kawasaki GT550
Previous: 2009 CBF125, 1998 GSF600, 2004 FZ6 Fazer, 1978 CB400a Hondamatic

[Rogerborg]

[stevo as b4]

https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/bikes/group-tests/honda-msx125-vs-suzuki-vanvan

I found this little article about them, and it does mention the 2nd/3Rd bike syndrome and that it's a popular way of thinking for small simple fun and frolics.

The Van Van 200 doesn't sound bad really for a funky town laugh, (the original RV125 would be better) but as Roger said for such a basic simple and non fast selling bike, I'd not want to spend £3k plus on one. If you could get a new one under that, I'd consider it definitely, but then I'd be pricing up the best deals on an MSX and the cost of a big bore tuning kit as well.

[Pigeon]

£3k isn't that NSR250 / RGV250 territory.

Good luck / enjoy the Enfield if you do. But for something a bit different, a 250cc 2t would be on my list.



.......haven't fully read the thread.

[stevo as b4]

You won't get much more than a project that if your lucky is complete in the world of 250cc race replicas. Any 3grand 250 that actually runs will probably want an engine rebuild for piece of mind, and anything requiring cosmetic restoration or new plastics will be a money pit.

I do agree that 3k plus for a second, small fun bike is rather silly though, but that's prices for brand new machines, which up even around that price can work for someone who doesn't have much time to work on old bikes, or just wants to do more riding and less fettling etc.

[Northern Monkey]

[arry]

Did an actual buy today. Amazing really as I'm never really that decisive and tend to take ages to take the plunge (exact opposite of my work life ironically).

Not too far over budget in the end. No spoilers yet, picking it up this week at some point and then I'll reveal all.

[Hahadumball]

[arry]

[Rogerborg]

Top notch, spiffing. Welcome to performing acts of ostentatious courtesy.

Don't lord it over us with your fancy-pants fuel gauge though.
____________________
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

[M.C]

[arry]

[Rogerborg]

[JonE]

Splendid choice old boy

I picked up a 95 Enfield 350 a couple of weeks ago, if you want hilarity you should try riding one with the right side gear shift and 1 up 3 down gearbox 60 miles home for the first time

[arry]

[Rogerborg]

[ScaredyCat]

[arry]

Fnar; fnar!


More pics.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2870/34203776095_505cfa8c4c_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2839/33393118243_0b1bf6b759_b.jpg

Been out two up today with wifey on back. She loves it. It's alright when it's through first gear but a bit sketchy before that. Still love it though.

[M.C]

[Rogerborg]

[grr666]

Interesting choice Arry.

[lingeringstin...]

I go all over the country and round Yerp on 20hp and to be honest it's a struggle sometimes. If you like that sort of torture (and I do) then 20 horsepower is about the minimum you'd want to be able to go anywhere. But a Ninja 250 does about 30hp for around the same weight and there are a few other sort-of-classic bikes around the 30hp mark that can be had cheap if you want vintage coolness. For instance the old Honda CB350S is a very good engine, basically a bigger Superdream. Vintage bikes have a certain flair but you do have to be handy with the spanners

But if you just want a really good bike at minimal cost that's just boringly superb in every way get a Honda CB1. Old enough to be cheap, new enough to be good and good enough to be fun.

[arry]

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4177/33957257810_e61d73d204_b.jpg

600 mile run in procedure​ achievement unlocked.

First 6.8 miles of full throttle. It's no quicker, just makes for more vibration and noise

[Rogerborg]

There's no top-end to chase. It's all about roll-on, kick-up. When the pedal goes floppy, that's your whack. Enjoy the scenery.

Did Mrs arry give it up yet?
____________________
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