Best 600 for ?1500 ish?

[AppleJoe]

Passed my A2 today ( !) and am looking to upgrade my YBR125 to a 'big bike'. Reqs:

Budget of £1500 ish. However, I could probably stretch closer to £2000, but wouldn't mind paying closer to £1000

Is going to be 33bhp, at least for a start

Doesn't have to be good for long distances etc

Am completely open to style, from fully faired to naked/streetfighter (although not enduro/off road, because they are in general very tall and I am not exactly lanky ).

Insurance is a factor, as I am 17 with no NCB, so however much I would like an ER-6n or R6, bikes like that are out of the question

The ones I can think of are Bandit 6, SV650, Hornet 6 and CBR600F. Opinions on these, plus suggestions on others are much appreciated

Cheers
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Full licence from 16/4/08
Previously: '56 YBR125 - Current: K1 SV650S

[Keir]

some sort of big single.....
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Current : '08 Yamaha FZ1s
Previous: '99 Honda CBR 600FX, 03 ZX636 B1H, 99 Fazer 600 (red), 02 GSX-R 600 K2, 00 SV650s (red), 2008 ZX10R, 97 Bandit 1200N, 04 ZX6RR K1H, 04 GSX-R 1000, 98 Fazer 600 (gold), 05 Madness 110 Pit bike, 04 CR125R, 00 SV650s (black), 06 KTM 625 SMC, 99 SRAD 600 track bike, 03 SV650, 98 Bandit 1200N, Bandit 600SY, 03 GSX-R 600 K3, 01 GSX-R 600, 01 Fazer 600 (black), VFR 400 NC30 x3, 78 Honda Dream, 00 Speedfight 50

[T-b0Ne321]

Why is the ER6-n out of the question thats what i will be getting in a month or 2. Insurarce will be 1300 fully comp on a restricted license with cover in europe.

How much do you want to spend on insurance and what cover?
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Current bike: 08 ER6-N

[yankeedoodle]

the old shape bandit 6s go cheap. i bought a 1997 full standard one for just under a grand.insurance is also cheaper on a bandit than hornets and similar in my experience.
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Bandit 600

[yankeedoodle]

[TheDonUK]

I have owned a Bandit 6 and currently a Hornet 6, there will be legion of hornet fanbois along any minute to promote the good cause...

The Bandit is the cheapist option, you could get an ok one for around a grand.

Hornets you are looking at closer to the 1500 (although i paid 1200 for mine).

SV650's are supposed to be a good bike, and they sound nice with a race can, i havent ridden one so i cant really comment, i know some people on here race them though so they cant be too bad...

CBR600F solid bike, strikes me as slightly barge like but again i havent ridden one so my comments are unfounded.

Bandit: Cheap and Reliable (Heavier)
Hornet : Reliable and Lighter (Better handling??)
SV650 : V-Twin, More grunt and would probably take to being restricted quite well...

Lol i have talked myself into the hornet fanboi camp now, They are reliable and good little bikes, if not the most exciting ride ever.

[yankeedoodle]

it seems we're all too keen to give out our advice and have forgotten the most important part of this thread

congrats on passing
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Bandit 600

[AppleJoe]

Can't really spend that much on insurance unfortunately Plus as they are so new (2005 and later) the bike alone is out of my budget for insurance and the bike Nice choice though

[T-b0Ne321]

[Huambo81a]

Hornet all the way.

Bandit 6's are not in the same league for handling, the Hornet is so forgiving and fun, absolutely fantastic bikes.
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Present: 2017 KTM Super Adventure S
Past: 97 Bandit 600 / 05 Bandit 1200 / 03 ZX6-R / 2006 Tuono R / 2001 VFR 800 / 2010 Street Triple R / 2013 Speed Triple S / 2017 S1000XR

[Blackwolf]

Where as I have just bought a CBR600F and I love it, handles OK, its comfy, and not to bad with pillions eather.

Sounds good with a can on (as do all bikes) takes restriction well (not as good as V's i've head). Not sure on insurance wise for you, as I have 1 NCB and its £700 TPFT, as its a Honda; its solid like the Hornet, just depends if you like a plastic fantastic or naked bike....

Well done on passing, makes you feel all good inside
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Current: Ducati Multistrada 1200s

[AppleJoe]

Just been looking at CBR600's; they seem to be more pricey than I had thought. Thanks for all comments so far
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Full licence from 16/4/08
Previously: '56 YBR125 - Current: K1 SV650S

[neatbik]

Well done on passing mate
How about a triumph tt600 or a speed 4 (basically a naked tt)
They handle brilliantly, the brakes are spot on and they arent exactly slow either - they are also a lot cheaper than a cbr600.
You could pick up a tidy tt600 for £1500
My bike was restricted before i got it, i still have the restrictor however

[gmanxiii]

Seem to be a few of the steel frame CBR600's (<1999) for around 1500. Generally decent mileage 20K+ on them too.
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I kills hondas

VFR400NC30 > ZZR600 > CBR600FX > CBR1000rr

[Seb]

Cost wise, the ZZR600 is pretty much the cheapest overall fully faired 600 going, the Thundercat comes in fairly close, a CBR600F of similar age will not only be more expensive to buy, but oddly a lot more to insure too.

I guess the ZZR and Thundercat are classified as sports tourers whilst the CBR600F is still pigeonholed into the sportsbike category?
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[McGee]

GSXR 600 SRAD.
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◙◙► K6 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 1000 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► 96 RF600r ◄◙◙
◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►
Its pronounced Jixxer!

[Ben.]

ive got a mint sv650 up for sale. new engine with 14000 miles and the rest of the bikes done 21000.

recentley been resprayed and all new fairings. lots of mods on it as well
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follow my racing season
Race bike - R6
Road bike - sv650

[McGee]

[.Chris.]

SZR660
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Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[McGee]

[.Chris.]

Shh... they do look cool
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Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[Ben.]

[Blackwolf]

He hasn't fallen off his....
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Current: Ducati Multistrada 1200s

[Ben.]

[Blackwolf]

Na, got a better bike
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Current: Ducati Multistrada 1200s