Good 4-stroke for up to ?1,5k

[Mord]

Before winter I'd like to buy a reliable bike for commutng which can be also a fun to ride. Something what has fairings and can be restricted to 33bhp and takes the restriction well.. It doesn't need to have a good fuel economy (4 mile commuting), it should be quick though

My RS125 is not a perfect bike for commuting. Especially in winter time it's pain in ****

[chris-red]

An old CBR600F would be good or a ZZR600.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[MarJay]

There is only one true answer.

SV650.

That is all.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

CBR600F Steelie.
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My Flickr

[T0MMY]

Normally I'd take this opportunity to point out that my CBR is for sale but maybe a GPZ500 would be a good option? Have to look after it through winter though as the finish isn't great. CBR is a lot more fun and survives winter riding superbly but maybe not so good to restrict?

EDIT: Just looked at your location; you are very close to me if you want to have a look at the CBR
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[Seb]

Plenty of bargains about with this weather, I just recently picked up a tidy 99 GS500 for 500 quid, it's not as quick or smooth as my old ZZR600 was but in all honesty it's far more fun and surprisingly nimble when it's not wallowing
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[yankeedoodle]

sv 650 or bandit 600
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Bandit 600

[BenR]

Suzuki RF600s were quite good.
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Current bikes: suzuki RG125UN wolf. Yamaha MT-07

[Mord]

ZZR600 is not a bad looking bike actually.. CBR600F is nice too.

Bandit, SV650, GS500, GPZ500 bikes.. it's just not my cup of tea to be honest.

It's going to be hard to choose something.. I still have a few months to decide, hopefully after summer the bikes will be cheaper

[Im-a-Ridah]

Well I went with a ZX6R but the SV650/CBR6F ect are all good choices for what you described

[trevoriv]

Ive been using a ZX636R all year round for over 3 years now, gets rusty and paint flakes off the rear footpeg hangers etc but thats mainly as i havent claned it since 2007 and its still very fun.

Just be sensible with your tyre choice for the winter months.
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Past: '96 Thundercat, '02 ZX636R (A1P), '58 KTM 690 SM LC4 Current: '06 ZX636R (C6F)
Mudskipper wrote: Someone just has to sig that...

[extreme3d]

I can vouch for both the GPZ500s and the SV650s as good all round bikes. The SV is naturally more fun when not in commuting mode.

Ultimately though its one main merit for the SV is that being a V twin with a flat power delivery it is very forgiving when riding in the wet and even frost. Something to consider as IL4's can spin the rear very easily on wet roads.

I rode my SV which I bought from new every day (approx 15k a year) including two winters and simply gave it a quick spray with FS365 after each ride and it came out looking like new. (Pics on my profile show it after two winters if you want proof)

[temeluchus]

another vote for an older CBR600
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Some shite cruiser. Now with guns and FREEDOM!

[Mark65]

[D O G]

Let me get this straight. You want to spend £1,500 on a bike to commute 4 miles a day?

Money > sense?

My first response is a pushbike. £200 will see you right, and a bit fitter.

My second response is a CG125 or similar, or even a CB250. Max of £600, for which it would have to be sweet as a nut.

You don't need fairings for a 4 mile commute. If the howling wind bothers you that much you could get a screen.

You don't need speed for a 4 mile commute either. I could cycle that in ten minutes - how much faster do you need to get to work?

[extreme3d]

[aaron0288]

[Mord]

It's actually 4 miles one way (8 miles a day I'm not that fit to ride a pushbike that far.. and I'm a lazy cunt too

I need a bike for 200-300 mile weekend trips too.

[craigs23]

I'd buy a push bike and save £1300 or so.

Or buy a CG as already stated. Mine was good for over 60 miles a day; for the price of a push bike (and change from a pub outing to fuel for a week).

[flimbar]

[Blue_SV650S]

[D O G]

[Blue_SV650S]

[D O G]

Yeah but it was a bit of a bollox point tho - makes it sound as if all IL4's go round uncontrollibly boiling their rears everywhere in the wet.

I've only ever spun up the rear in the wet through deliberate provocation, even full throttle in 2nd on the SRAD on greasy roads would not cause it to spin up.

I do weigh a fair bit tho.

[Blue_SV650S]