Recommend me a bike, please!

Wil · Trackday Trickster Joined: 05 Jul 2008 Karma :

Hello!

In the next week or so I'll be looking to buy a bike to replace my GSX750f. I've had a loan approved to pay off my overdraft and the like but it will leave me with around £3k on top to get a new bike. My GSX is a bit tired, heavy and could be a money pit over winter due to its age.

Thing is, I change my mind like its going out of fashion and I'm still not 100% sure what I want. Some suggestions would be ace.

Things I would like in a bike:

Low down punch - I'm not a fan of having to dance around the gearbox or rev the nuts off something to make it go. I want to be able to open the throttle and wallop along without an angry wasp under me, basically. I never go over the ton, I value my licence too much, and I prefer to get my kicks in the twisties but I do need to be able to cruise at 80/90 on the motorway comfortably.

MPG - My GSX, for some unfathomable reason, gets 30mpg when ridden sedately. I've not been brave enough to work out what I get when I'm ragging it, but suffice to say I can watch the fuel guage drop in front of me as I ride. 90 miles to a tank is my current reality, I would like much better...

A fairing - I love the look of nakeds and considered a few, Ducati Monsters, Hornets, even sodding Moto Guzzis, but my commute is all motorway and in winter I know I will curse the day I bought a naked if I get one.

So basically, I'm after a faired all rounder that is economical and that I don't have to rev the nuts off for around £3k. I was looking at the BMW R1100S (expensive, heavy?), CBR600f (too revvy?), and that's about all I have at the moment.
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'07 Triumph Speed Four

Aw look, a baby driving a car. And look, there's a dog driving a bus!

mattsa21 · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Karma :

a V twin?
Something like an SV650?

mattsa21 · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Karma :

or the older version of the Triumph Sprint 955? Or Daytona 955i?

Both fantastic bikes and wont break the bank

neatbik · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Karma :

What about an sv1000?
Or maybe a vfr750/800?

mattsa21 · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Karma :

Wil · Trackday Trickster Joined: 05 Jul 2008 Karma :

Thanks for the replies, guys. I looked at the SV650 but was concerned at their tendency to turn into rust whenever water touches them. Plus, I think it might be a bit underpowered after coming from the GSX. I certainly don't want less power, more if anything Laughing

Do SV1000s suffer the same finish issues? Nice looking bikes, don't know much about them at all.

I considered a VFR, the V4 layout sounds like its got a lot of shove, but the cost of buying one, and then the cost of servicing puts me off a bit. Only a bit, mind Cool

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'07 Triumph Speed Four

Aw look, a baby driving a car. And look, there's a dog driving a bus!

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

Wil · Trackday Trickster Joined: 05 Jul 2008 Karma :

mattsa21 · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Karma :

Dayontas a fantastic bike...not as sporty as a jap bike, so really comfortable...and not slow either!

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

Wil · Trackday Trickster Joined: 05 Jul 2008 Karma :

Ah, I should mention the bike is my only form of transport and I will be commuting 40 miles each day all year round Smile

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'07 Triumph Speed Four

Aw look, a baby driving a car. And look, there's a dog driving a bus!

Mal · Brolly Dolly Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Karma :

Not sure if it's sporty enough for you, but it was one I considered before I got my FJR - a 900 Diversion? Maybe not the prettiest of bikes, but even a 2001/2 one will come in under your budget.

Mal
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Current: 2002 FJR1300, 1999 Thundercat, Previous: 1998 XVS650 Dragstar

"In the end we're all just chalk lines on the concrete - drawn, only to be washed away."

Zen Dog · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Karma :

Servicing costs on a VFR aren't too bad, a little bit more hassle than an IL4, but not much really, its only the plug position different on a standard service. Try the first 800 version, loads of them in nice condition around. VFR's arent massively torquey, but its plenty, and you've got 3 gears for any situation so you can be really lazy.

Or a firestorm? Loads of grunt, but the petrol consumption is pretty appalling and the tank range is rubbish. Apart from that though...

Bandit 1200?
Older Blade?

Zen Dog
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Current - '94 VFR750FR (Dead), '00 VFR800FI, '11 600 Hornet - Previous - '11 CBF125, '10 Street Triple R, '92 MZ ETZ301, '05 TTR250, NSR125R, KMX125, "Honda" Win
My bike trip around S.E. Asia 2010/2011

Wil · Trackday Trickster Joined: 05 Jul 2008 Karma :

I'd never insure a blade (23, no ncb, licence held for under a year), and I'm sure it would make it far to easy for me to lose my licence on the motorway anyway which I want to try and avoid.

Bandit looks a bit lardy tbh, as does the divvy, I want something a bit more flickable. I'd love a firestorm if it weren't for the fuel range and MPG. I guess that's just something that goes with the territory with a big twin though, eh?
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'07 Triumph Speed Four

Aw look, a baby driving a car. And look, there's a dog driving a bus!

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

Wil · Trackday Trickster Joined: 05 Jul 2008 Karma :

I might see if I can test ride a few of these suggestions, its hard to know what I want when I haven't ridden them Neutral

It's given me a few more to consider at any rate!

Thanks for all the advice, chaps!
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'07 Triumph Speed Four

Aw look, a baby driving a car. And look, there's a dog driving a bus!

neatbik · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Karma :

I quite fancy a 955 daytona myself, i reckon they are lovely.
Then again fazer 1000's are always getting raved about, what about one of them?

Wil · Trackday Trickster Joined: 05 Jul 2008 Karma :

Fazers never really did much for me - they seem a bit bland, and the word Fazer always seems to be followed with "aren't as good as they used to be..."

If only Suzuki didn't make their bikes from butter I'd really be considering the SV1000s right now. I just know it would turn into a pile of rust over winter though Confused

A Firestorm would be a great choice, I bet it would be a bloody hoot, and reliable, but that tank range... its one of the things I hate about my GSX so I would hate it just as much on the VTR. Maybe I can bolt an extra tank on my back Laughing

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'07 Triumph Speed Four

Aw look, a baby driving a car. And look, there's a dog driving a bus!

Wil · Trackday Trickster Joined: 05 Jul 2008 Karma :

Oh lordy lordy, I've just seen a bright red Triumph Speed Four within my budget and it's threatening to knock all my practical sensibilities out of the window. Eep.
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'07 Triumph Speed Four

Aw look, a baby driving a car. And look, there's a dog driving a bus!

Docca · L Plate Warrior Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Karma :

neatbik · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Karma :

Wil · Trackday Trickster Joined: 05 Jul 2008 Karma :

neatbik · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Karma :

The minimum i get is about 140 miles to a tank, and that ragging it - think that works out at about 42 mpg.
I have manged 190 miles on a tank once on a long run at car speeds.

Its a very comfy bike, the bars arent too low and the seat is comfy, a lot comfier than a gsxr or similar. Motorway is fine, after about 90 mph or so you start feeling the windblast, but i dont mind this as it keeps my speed down and hopefully will save my license Laughing

You can get a little screen thing called a laminar lip which sits on the little cowl which apparently reduces windblast significantly Thumbs Up

Ive had mine a year now, ive done commuting, long motorway trips, hooning and a track day and for me it does everything brilliantly Thumbs Up

Insurance (for me at least) is a lot cheaper than a same year cbr/r6/gsxr 600 too Thumbs Up

Wil · Trackday Trickster Joined: 05 Jul 2008 Karma :

Right then, Speed Four it is, you've just sold me on it! Very Happy

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'07 Triumph Speed Four

Aw look, a baby driving a car. And look, there's a dog driving a bus!

neatbik · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Karma :

marjay on here has one, and chris red too, if you want any more opinions Thumbs Up