600cc budget friendly, London ULEZ-compliant

[czakal]

Hello people,
I'm about to move out of London finally and I will have some need for a bigger bike for occasional trips into London. Seeing that insurance rates are often rather cheap for bikes around 600cc and the choice in that size class is quite large, I'm looking for that type. However most of the cheaper ones are quite old and not ULEZ compliant which wouldn't do for trips into London, which excludes anything registered before around June 2007. So far the three bikes that meet all my criteria are the FZ6, CBF600 and SV6 (possibly the Hyosung GT650), models produced on or after 2007. Did I miss any other good choices if I prefer naked (street) bikes?

S

[Arfa__]

I've turned to an FZ6 S2, and I've certainly seen quite a few around town lately.

There's always the Yamaha XJ6 from 2009, they usually go pretty cheap.
Maybe a Bandit 650, though I've rather an SV650 TBH.
A GSX650F is a popular choice too, but fully faired so maybe not your cuppa tea.
A Honda Hornet CB600 '07-'13 model would probably be more fun than a CBF600.
There's Kwak ER6's two a penny, not too bad a budget bike either naked of faired F model.
Otherwise you find an old Street Triple 675 for reasonable money, and ok on insurance if you won't actually be living at a London postcode anymore...

There's also quite a few older models which, if you grab a Certificate of Conformity will be exempt from the ULEZ. Certainly many older CBF's from the 2000's are. A bit more faff, but be a route to bargain bike.
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Beginner Biker Adventures Blog
Yamaha FZ6 S2 2007

[czakal]

Thanks, very useful tips

S

[Alpineandy]

It depends what you mean by moved out of London.
If it involves fast A roads or motorway then you've just about defined the list, but if it's still inside the M25 then an ADV or SM may be a better option, or even a 250-400 because you'll rarely get above 50mph anyway. Then have something else pre-07 for non-commute fun.
Assuming it is properly outside and does require a bit of motorway then I'd go for whichever one of the ones you've named that comes up cheapest. They're all decent bikes.
Obviously all IMO.
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The above comment isn't necessarily the truth and anyone that says it is, is only correct if it's the truth or they're bigger than me.

[czakal]

I mean somewhere like Luton so a bit of motorway riding involved.

S

[TbirdX]

NC700 or 750 perhaps.
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VFR800X - TTR250

[czakal]

I haven't compared yet but I have a feeling that once you get to 700cc/above insurance rates might start rising? The rates for 600cc bikes may be the lowest (less than 125s at times).

S

[P.]

[DRZ4Hunned]

I'd get the biggest heap of shit I could find so nobody nabs it off you. Supermotos and Street Triples in London, no thanks.
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DRZ400-SM
FZS600

[TaffyTDM]

How often are you actually going to be riding into London though? It may work out better on paper to pick up a non compliant bike for a song from a daily commuter, then just swallow the 12 quid occasionally