Buying a bike in the UK after 10 years.

[tatters]

After 10 years living in Canada with only two short trips back to the UK in that time. l am going to have to start spending much more time for the next 2-3 years in the UK due to my father being terminally ill. Apart from the much better winter weather l don't have the urge to return.

I am going to be travelling without the wife and kids for the most part so am looking to buy a bike to use when l am over which makes the most economical sense staying on the outskirts of London.

I still have a copy of my UK Full bike license which l presume would be easier to use when it comes to getting insurance etc than my Canadian one? Can you still get monthly insurance?

Has much changed in and around London since l last rode there? I have heard of the ULEZ anything else to be aware of?

Bike wise l would love to get a VFR750 again l am leaning towards a upright riding position due to having spinal surgery a few years ago. Kawasaki Versys 650 seem to look quite good but might be too small for my 6'1" size budget is around 3k.
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Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650 Present:G650XC,C12,KZ750,1190ADV

[Nobby the Bastard]

Do you have a UK address that you can justify as your home in the UK? Do a change of address and get your licence delivered there.

Monthly insurance hasn't been a thing for decades. You can pay monthy but what you are doing is paying the loan for your insurance every month, you are still liable for the full annual amount.

ULEZ means really old bikes and about 15 year old and younger bikes are allowed free, everything else incurs a daily charge.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

[stinkwheel]

The VFR crossrunner sprang to mind but it would blow your budget.

Multistrada 1000? Pig ugly but sweetie money.
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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.

[tatters]

[tatters]

[Pete.]

[P.]

You can have loan of my CBF600 if its of any use? Its just sitting here and I expect I will not be out and about on it, break it/it gets stolen you just pay the 2k I paid.

[MarJay]

VFR750 is not ULEZ compliant. Any bike after 2008 is compliant and can easily be shown to be compliant. Bikes in between? It's a mess, but many are compliant and many can be certfied as compliant by a bike dealer in East London who charge through the nose for it.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Ste]

[P.]

[MarJay]

[Pete.]

[Easy-X]

Don't get bogged down in all the emissions rubbish just buy a new-ish bike

My tips for London: check your bus lanes. All TFL ones are fine for motorbikes but some roads still maintained by cunt-cils (looking at you, Lambeth) and say "oh no, the laws of the universe don't apply to us" and will fine you.

Watch out for the Deliveroo crowd as they will pass you on the outside, inside, via a pavement, levitate if they have to even though you can leave them for dust when the lights change On the upside (if you consider it an upside) no one bats an eyelid at two-wheel conveyances doing 40 in a 20 zone. "Except the police?" how quaint, they're as rare as unicorn poop.

Less of a problem these days but eye any >300cc scooter with two-up and black helmets as potential hijackers. Not that I want to put you off the City or anything, #JustSayin'
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Pete.]

The biggest risk I face from the deliveroo crowd is when they do a u-turn from a standing start at the kerb-side, right in front of the bus you're passing. Nearly collected a few like that.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[MarJay]

[A100man]

[Ste]

[Polarbear]

[MCN]