Help me find the right bike

[Pie-Roe]

Hi there, basically, moving out of home into rented accomodation, so can't afford to keep 2 cars and 3 bikes


Pretty much only want to have one bike, no car, at the moment I have a DRZ400E (sm) and an rf600r with +8 rear sprocket. Neither of these are really /that/ practical.

I used to think that all I wanted was a very fast sportsbike but since having the drz I've found that so much fun can be had going slowly, sliding round corners, wheelies, stoppies etc.

My specs are:
Can sit at 80 comfortably
Can take a passenger (not often mind)
Not more than £1200
Not expensive to insure for 18yo
Can attatch luggage
Winter useage.

My thoughts are maybe towards a klx650 or similar, with sm wheels and tyres, should top at around 95, still be wheelie and stoppie fun, and a little easier to commute on come wintertime.

Pyro
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Previous: GSF600, FZR600 x2, ZXR750, XT600 Tenere, CB125, CZ125, ETZ 250, ER5, CCM R30, DRZ400, RF600x4, RF900x2, GS500, VTR1000F, 640 SMC, CB250 NIGHTHAWK, GT550x3, GPX750 TE610, CB500, X11x2, SV650, ZING 125, TL1000R,CB250 Superdream, CBR1100XX

[arry]

Gah, must, resist, shameless, plug....

Too late *cough sig link cough*

[J D]

Did you get my pm about the drz pyro?

I seem to be having trouble with my Pms
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m0l0t0v wrote: Chris, just so you know, JD is a nutter

[G]

Why is the RF not practical? Seems ideal, apart from maybe having too much power.

[J D]

G did you get my Pm?

I have PMed about 3 people with no reply yet they have been posting, might just be ignoring me
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m0l0t0v wrote: Chris, just so you know, JD is a nutter

[G]

I was just ignoring you (been a bit busy) - have replied now.

[Charlie]

Hornet 250 if you can find one, £118 for me 3 years NCB and I am 19.

Sits at 80 fine (although it feels like your thrashing it), can take a pillion-ish, anyone over 11 stone isn't great though. Winter riding is fine, and the luggage is probably its down fall.

A Transalp might be a better choice.
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Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[carlperkins00...]

[Pie-Roe]

[G]

I suspect even with +8 an RF600 will still be a lot taller geared than a KLX or similar.
With a decent chain splitter and riveter there's no problem altering length either way - think the chain on my CRM has three different 520 chains in it, all split and attached as appropriate with standard links.

I quite like the high position for town-commuting, however the wide bars that go with that position put me off now.
I was actually using my 690 for commuting on the motorway, but changed to the ZX9 through town because it can get through narrower spaces thanks to less-wide bars.
The easy power is nice, too.

RF is a bit heavy, but I bet you can do all the same things you do on the DRZ if you try (presuming ok tyres!)
Were it me, I'd also be considering an SV or TRX, but not sure I'd bother if I already had an RF and didn't have a pile of cash sitting around ready to burn.

[Scouse]

If I were you I'd be looking to do a swap for an R6 :nudge: :nudge:

[G]

Incidentally, it's the 'sitting at 80mph comfortably' that'd put me off the lighter low-powered bikes you're considering. Sure they can sit at 80mph, but not usually with that much 'comfort'.
With a big fairing and up-geared my KTM690 isn't too bad, but that's still not amazing and is better than most options (ie 138kg weight without fairing, 58hp or so and I upgeared to do a theoretical 125mph in top) - still didn't feel near as nice as a SV or similar at those speeds.