Bikeless and yearning

[ocatoro]

Evening folks...

recently sold my zzr after somehow finding my way back onto one and I think this one's spoiled them for me. it never felt as "right" as my old one which I owned twice.

Monster was sublime to ride if sometimes a little slow for covering distance perhaps. But it did have it's irritating foibles, more so with extremely wet winder riding.

Plus my situation has changed somewhat.

So my question is, for a grand maximum budget. what would be your choice?

must haves
- cheap to buy and own
- at least as much go as the monster I had, so say 60hp
- comfortable
- all year reliable

would like
- still fun
- not boring pig
- luggage easily found
- something interesting

most interested in naked style and sports tourers but as I'm getting older I've pondered on adventure style but I'm not the tallest and might be pushing my luck budgetwise. looking for a change from anything I've had before.


(TL:DR - I've got a grand, what bike bro?)

PS. I know this is the annoying question, just semi disillusioned and looking for some inspiration and a change
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CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600

[Robby]

Realistic answer - whatever you can find. A grand will get you very little. To be more accurate, a grand will get you something that needs another grand at it.

Bike-specific answer - CB500 ticks the boxes (just) and may be found within budget (just).

[Easy-X]

If I managed to sell a Chinese 125 for more than that (a few years ago too) I think a bag is a bit optimist. 2 bags and your choices open up considerably.
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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

[ocatoro]

yeah you might be right. especially at the moment. But I thinkk you're a little on the pessimistic side, I'd expect to get something mechanically sound and fairly presentable once the sun comes out and the market floods though.
____________________
CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600

[jeffyjeff]

[ThatDippyTwat]

Prices are silly now, and will only get worse until October-ish, given nice weather and a lifting of restrictions (Wales can go play out past 5 miles from Saturday). I'm hoping for prices to reset over this coming winter though, when all the failed projects and hoarded bikes start appearing on ebay/Marketplace etc.
____________________
'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

a grand bike is usually a two grand bike because, firstly, it'll need consumables (chain and sprox, brake pads, tyres and probably a valve check because the receipt paper trail will be non-existent) and secondly, grand bikes almost always have a hidden surprise (e.g. fork seals, shit rear shock, etc.).
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

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

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[ThunderGuts]

A grand bike will probably need to a be a private sale from either a desperate or clueless seller. You might be lucky and get yourself something sound, but there's considerable risk at that end of the market.

You can't get everything for that price; whatever you find will be a compromise somewhere. I'd be looking at fugly bikes with galactic miles on the clock and probably significant "age related marks" (tatty bodywork); these will be least appealing to people and possibly more affordable. Perhaps even consider cosmetic write offs but make sure someone who knows what to look for gives the bike a careful look over in case something more serious got bent and wasn't spotted at the time. Forget really mainstream stuff as people think to search and buy these (therefore pushing the price up), you're probably better off trawling through the ads based on price and CC and see what comes up with an open mind to make and model.

A quick search brings up a 26 year old Triumph Trophy (possibility? Don't know the bikes though so they might be useless) and a VFR (almost certainly knackered at that price point).

Alternatively look at a commuter twin; I got my old ER5 for £800 and it needed a new set of tyres and fluid changes and it was good to go. It was a write off mind, but only a cosmetic one. Not sure it ticks your boxes though.

Any bike at that price point will probably need the fluids changing when you get it anyway and quite possibly new hoops too.
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TG.

[A100man]

I've seen a few Thundercats for a grand, maybe a fazer or a bandit (600), even a divvy might push 60 horses on a good day.

You might be lucky and get one with some decent tyres chain etc..(as mentioned) otherwise it's another 300 to spend on consumables.. Take your time and choose wisely and you might surprise us all.
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Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

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

[Keithy]

Stretch that budget!

https://www.motorbikes4all.com/single-listing.php?Location=&Make=KAWASAKI&Model=ER-6F&StockNo=3765&Id=3765

[Tdibs]

Worth trawling through the owners groups on facebook, the ultra cheap usually comes up on there and marketplace. Obviously set your expectations for buying at the bottom of the market though.
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Previous : 09 Vanvan 125| 02' Sv650s || Current: 1999 Xj600n | 1992 DR650 RSE | 2005 Fazer 1000

[Evil Hans]

[spongefinger]

I've been pretty much constantly checking out FB sales for about a year while trying to get my full license and as said here before if you can go to 2 grand do it the difference in the bikes available in that bracket is night and day.

[Robby]

The other way of looking at this depends on your circumstances. If the absolute budget is a grand, then go with what comes up. If it's more a case that you're crap at saving and have a grand burning a hole in your pocket, but otherwise enough space in your income, you've got a deposit on PCP deal there and dealers wanting to shift stock of new bikes.

From experience, the costs of keeping a cheap bike running can be more than the costs of financing a new one.

[Bhud]