Good second bike

[BWW]

I currently have a CB450, which is ok but under-powered thanks to it having a softer cam or something. Now I'm not getting any younger so my next bike isn't going to be a sports bike, it will almost certainly be a tourer. My budget will be about £1000-£1300 (not much I know but we're off to the US in a couple of months and pennies are tight) and the sort of things I've looked at so far have been the CB500, which I've more or less discounted because it's not much of a step up power wise, and the Triumph Trophy 900, which seems to be too big a jump. I really could use some help here. Cheers.

[SilvaRizla]

Probably out of your price range but you could look at the SV650 or the ZZR600
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I'm Ivan Dobski the Meatsafe Murderer only I never done it, I only said that I done it so they'd take the truncheon out of my bottom

[BWW]

I really like the look of the SV650 but is it realy a tourer? It looks a bit more of a sports bike to me. Another I saw in 'Bike Magazines' used bikes of the year supplement, was the Yamaha FJ1200, but again would that be too much of a size hike?

[SilvaRizla]

Well it'd be a big jump but until you rty something really big you won't know if its too big for you.

I've always thought the SV was a sports tourer, its supposed to be quite comfy to ride anyway
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I'm Ivan Dobski the Meatsafe Murderer only I never done it, I only said that I done it so they'd take the truncheon out of my bottom

[G]

I don't massively like the riding position of a standard faired SV.
Unfaired one might be better.

Providing you're sensible, something like a FJ1200 shouldn't be a problem.

[stinkwheel]

Have you looked at some of the bigger triumph trophies? The early ones can be had for not too much money. I'm talking about the 1200 ones they made when Triumph were just starting up again.

If you have a few miles under your belt on the 450, they shouldn't present too much of a problem as long as you keep an eye on the speedo. Big lardy sports tourers with a fairly upright riding position.

As an outside suggestion, hows about an MZ skorpion? 660cc single sports commuter/tourer. Wont be much faster than the CB but loads more tractable.
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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.

[Rookie]

<<<

[Itchy]

a deuville , shaftie is good for touring lots of luggage non sporty tops out at 117MPH though (the old NTV650 does anyway) , can get an early nice one for £1300 , can get a shite one done 212K for £200 , though that one was raped my a courier.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[BWW]

[Harold_Shand]

Yamaha XJ900, shaft drive too. Cheap as chips.
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BCF's 6th favourite poster 2009-2010

Harold_Shand's theory might be the best explanation.

[Itchy]

the XJ is quite good , but it gets real crappy MPG which is disputed IRL and on this forum.

UBG rates it as 35MPG which is pretty appauling.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[BWW]

My neighbour has an XJ600 which seems pretty good. Wouldn't be much of a step up though, would it? I'll check out the 900. Thanks.

[Itchy]

they key difference between the XJ600 and XJ900 is the shaft drive , which means sod all maintainance cept every 20K you need to change the shaft oil which is a piece of piss.

Though for the shaft drive (saving chain lube labour and replacement chains if abused) is weight , and complexity.
____________________
Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.