New Member: “Hi” & What ‘fun’ bike should I buy?!

[Grantwils]

Evening all

This is my first post so be gentle...

I always wanted a bike, I had two framed pics of bikes, a Thunderace and a 916 on my wall from the age of about 10. There was a lady draped over the Thunderace in the pic but although I can’t tell you much about her, I still remember every detail of the bikes.

I started at 17 on a Sym Jungle 50 in 2001. In 2003 I bought a brand new SR125 which was stolen and launched in a river with under 750 miles on it. I moved onto a 2001 GPZ500S in 2007 and a 2003 Thundercat in 2009. I still own the remains of the GPZ and the Thundercat is in showroom+ condition.

I haven’t been on the bikes since 2015 when my firstborn came along other than a couple of hundred miles in the summer in between lockdowns on the ‘cat. The Mrs didn’t want me going on the bikes as a new dad and secretly hoped I’d give them up but, the calling never leaves you. She now understands I won’t give up bikes and I’ve put her mind at ease including trackers with a real-time speed reading and collision alerts on her phone. I’ve had 2 ‘incidents’: 1 was on the Sym Jungle on an oily roundabout in the rain (C.2001), the other on the GPZ500S at knockhill (in the bike park, at 3mph, on gravel, no further questions your honour C.2005). I’ve done bikesafe and IAM. I’m not sure what else I can do but I understand her concern.

In March I nearly bought a used X-Diavel S but things were starting to go pear shaped with covid so I bottled it. With lockdown and losing my old man suddenly the money I’d saved was spent on a hottub and a deposit on a new car for the Mrs. The new car can tow my mum’s caravan since my old man isn’t around and the hot tub brings the whole family together. Buying another bike seems selfish in comparison.

I’ve now, once again, got some cash burning a hole in my pocket and REALLY need to buy a bike. I can’t justify £15k+ on a X-Diavel S (Sexiest bike on the planet ever, no question) but I can justify around £5k on a ‘fun’ bike. I live less than 10 minutes from the a82 near Glasgow in a surprisingly rural area with single-track, hilly, shitty roads all around me.

I’m no Valentino Rossi, I’m 5’11 and 18 stone. I don’t even reach the limits of my 2003 Thundercat, I have no interest in getting my knee down.

My questions is this:

Given the above... what would you spend max £5k on?
I love the F650GS Dakar, I even considered a Honda Monkey. Adventure bikes really get me going but I have no interest in spending as much on off-road gear as I do on the bike. I have nowhere to ride ‘off road’ but I know enough farmers to have the occasional blast.

I just want something ‘fun’ which I can pop to the shops on or go for a lunchtime blast, fire up the A82, or just sit and look at. From an uneducated point of view a G650GS Sertao ticks a lot of boxes, as does the monkey. What else should I be considering?

[TravisBickle]

Monkey would be cool but I suspect you'd get bored of it very quickly. WR450F?
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2024 BMW M1000XR
2021 Honda CMX500 Rebel S
2016 Triumph Tiger 1050 Sport

[jeffyjeff]

have you thought about a Triumph Scrambler?
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History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of men - BOC

[TravisBickle]

That's a good shout.

Or an MT-07 or an MT-09?
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2024 BMW M1000XR
2021 Honda CMX500 Rebel S
2016 Triumph Tiger 1050 Sport

[wr6133]

[arry]

Ducati / Triumph Scrambler - the Duke 800 version has a lot more oomph but both a good ride on the type of roads you're talking about.

Interceptor 650 because why not - you'll pick up a brand new one for that cash and for a tootle around in that sort of scenery, it's a good shout.

Something completely different like a KTM 690? That might get your missus pissing in her knickers mind.

[A100man]

[Easy-X]

At 5'11" you might find some of the the smaller bikes uncomfortable. I still have a picture in my mind of my old riding instructor (>6' >20st) going round the course on my Superlight 125

Adventure bikes, even small ones like the CB500X, tend to have higher seat heights. Surprised no one's yet suggested the RE Himalayan
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Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[WD Forte]

At 5'11" and 18st
I'd say you want one with pedals mate
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bikers smell of wee

[F1.ash]

You can have regular road gear on an adventure bike. A V-Strom 1000 like this is good value for money. It's a well engineered no frills bike.https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-details/202010205215725?sort=price-asc&price-from=500&advertising-location=at_bikes&cc-from=600&radius=1500&maximum-mileage=15000&make=SUZUKI&postcode=po92fr&model=V-STROM%201000&include-delivery-option=on&page=1

Quite a young bike with decent mileage and a well proven engine.

[stinkwheel]

£5k?

An enfield himalayan AND another GPZ500 with upgraded suspension and front brake.

EDIT: A Kawasaki Versys.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Robby]

This is just going to a thread where everyone says what their favourite bike is for the budget.

What do you want to do with it that you can't do with your thundercat?

[F1.ash]

[kgm]

[hellkat]

[bhinso]

[hellkat]

Clearly Nobby is busy elsewhere, nobbying.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Kentol750]

Duke 690 (or if you can get a good one in budget a 790). Gsr750 or the gsx-s750 as it's now called if you want 4cylinders. A Ducati scrambler would be high on the list too, as would Mt07 and z650 or sv650 (post 16) all are quite cramped if you're a lumpy 18stone and 5'11. Versys and vstrom650 are a little better. I ride a duke 790 for 400 miles a week on Michelin road 5s and it's not uncomfortable. (I'm a lardy 6ft and it works.)
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Some bikes.

[Ste]

[Kris]

[TravisBickle]

[Keithy]

Anyone like the Hypermotard?

I’ve only sat on one but it looks like it’ll make your tail wag.

[TravisBickle]

[A100man]

..meanwhile OP is sheltering under a rock.
or busy on ' VisorDown..'
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Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600

[Blah blah]

Things must be slipping on here, OP mentions 'hot tub' and 'mrs' in the same sentence and no-one asks for pics?

As for a bike, I'd also consider a Hypermotard (if you want to go mad) or the Enfield Himalayan (for pottering around)