Lost interest in sportsbikes, putting miles on a single?

[T0MMY]

I've been getting a bit bored of my CBR600 and wanted a cheaper commuter so I've put it up for sale. Thing is, I bought an XT350 to get into greenlaning and I really enjoy it on the road as well as off and it handles my commute fairly well too but it's pretty old and high mileage so I don't want to use it on the road that much.

Question is, when I sell the CBR do I:-

1. Buy a commuter like a GPZ500 and keep the XT for greenlaning.

or...

2. Sell the XT too and buy a newer dual sport like a DRZ400 or CCM404E to handle commuting, weekend blasts and greenlaning.

Thing is, putting a lot of road miles on a smallish single cylinder engine doesn't seem that great an idea, you don't hear of bikes like that with 60,000 miles on them like you do with 4 cylinder bikes and buzzing along at 65 all day can't be good for them.

Also, any opinions on what my CBR is worth? I've got it on here for £1300 with no interest at all so is that too high or are there just not a lot of buyers on here? I haven't advertised it anywhere else yet as I was unsure about selling it so maybe it'll fetch that in biketrader or something? It seems sports bikes are ridiculously cheap compared to greenlaners though!
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[Kickstart]

Hi

Would think for general road use the XT350 should be fine if you treat it well (taking into account regular oil changes and more rapid use of chains than you are used to). The pokier more modern bikes are probably more fun but not sure they would be a long lasting and low maintenance.

Not sure that many 4s manage 60000 before problems (gearboxs, cam chains, worn out carbs or even just people crashing them). The off roaders are probably more destroyed by being used off road long before they reach a high mileage.

Personally I would go for something simpler and lighter for off road use (maybe Bendys Gas Gas) and something more road biased for the road.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[kungfupoodle]

Seperate bikes I think.

I wouldn't think the single would take too kindly to the mileage and the thrashing from being almost flat out every day on a commute.

Plus you'd always have something you can get to work on if the other one is being services / wrapped around a tree (delete as appropriate)

[JAMSXR]

The price of the CBR seems reasonable, I would not worry about lack of interest so far. From my experience you will be lucky to get any interest from advertising it on here, but it's free so worth a try! I would personally recommend Autotrader or ebay for selling, I have sold all of my bikes through autotrader and it's always been quick and painless.

Oh and if your anything like me you will miss the CBR after a few months and end up buying another IL4/sports bike.
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Honda SFX50 > Aprilia SR125 > Aprilia RS125 > Honda RFV400 > K4 GSXR600 > KTM Duke > C1H 636 > K3 GSXR1000 > Aprilia RSV-R > Triumph Street Triple R > Ducati 899 Panigale > Aprilia Tuono 1100 > Triumph Daytona 675R > KTM SuperDuke 1290 2.0

[kungfupoodle]

[JAMSXR]

[kungfupoodle]

[T0MMY]

[JAMSXR]

[kungfupoodle]

[T0MMY]

Probably would veer more towards the GPZ side rather than CB500. The other consideration about commuting on a trail bike of course is the fact that I would need to employ an armed guard to watch over it 24/7. It's a bit annoying that I have to lock it up even when nipping into a supermarket as the chavs just love them
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[Clanger]

Or you could trade them both in and get an XT660...just a thought!
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[T0MMY]

I'm not too keen on them really, to be honest I quite like puttering around on the smaller lighter XT350 so I'd probably stick to that sort of size, not that the XT is massively light. I don't think single cylinder engines should ever be bigger than 400cc
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[garth]

Baghira? Mine? It's Red.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[T0MMY]

Don't know much about them...maybe. I'd need to sell my CBR first though, haven't got space for 3 bikes in the garage
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[garth]

It's big loud and red, and is now sporting Diablos. XT engined. WP Suspension, Acerbis bodywork, Behr rims etc etc. 9000 kms (5k miles?)b FSH 02 plate.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/dscn1393_190.jpg
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[T0MMY]

Sounds expensive How much do you want for it? or would you consider a p/ex against the CBR
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[garth]

I just put a price, but I'll PM it.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[mad4it028]

my xr600 has 35000 miles on it still starts 1st kick and rides like new
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/mad4it028/SDC11509.jpg
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always looking to buy bikes crashed ,unfinished projects,none runners pm me
currently riding kawasaki z1000 only bike ive ever loved

[craigs23]

How many miles are you speaking of?

60 miles a day seems fine on my little single.

[T0MMY]

My commute is about 52 miles total but I just meant generally racking up miles on these kind of engines. My CBR's on 36,000 miles and my XT's on about 32,000 miles. The way I see it, the CBR is half way through it's useful life whilst the XT's in it's twilight years despite the lower mileage. I would have no qualms about riding the CBR for another 20,000 miles but I think the XT would need a major rebuild to do that
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[craigs23]

I'd generally think, engine wise anyway, a CBR600 of that vintage should last longer than another 20,000 miles before requiring extensive engine work. Suspension and brakes would definitely require looking at at that age though.

Dad always used to say that racking up large miles on a little bike will kill it - it being used for work it wasn't intended for. Generally, I found that to be very much untrue. I can't recall any major engine work needed on any of my bikes - and the highest mileage example I had was my 54,000 mile 400/4.

[stinkwheel]

Nath, who occasionally posts on this forum has gone pretty much halfway round the world on a DR350 that by all accounts, was pretty much fucked when he left.

So. Mileage on a single which in this case, will have been subjected to extreme neglect and only the most basic and halfarsed bodgery to keep it running.

Most definately worth a look:
https://nath-in-russia.blogspot.com/
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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.

[T0MMY]

I'd love to do something like that, much rather do it on a DR350 than a monstrous BMW adventure type thing as well!
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[stinkwheel]

Incidentally, I used to have one of those MZs.

Fine on the road , I used to tour all round Scotland on mine but a bit of a handful on anything rougher than a forestry track.

The Aussies all ride about on KLR600s and XT600s.
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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.