Searching for a new bike for next season

[Copyhat]

Hello out there.

My Kawasaki GPZ500 S was totalled earlier this month. A plumber backed into it while it was parked, and I am awaiting a call from the appraiser tomorrow. Expecting to get £1700.- for it (we have 150% vehicle tax in Denmark) and I want to spend some extra cash on my next bike; my license will automatically be upgraded from A2 to A over the winter.

It should be bigger and more comfortable than the GPZ, I am 182 cm tall and I felt a bit crammed on it (and my first bike, a Honda NTV 650), I cover a lot of distance on the highway but also ordinary commuting within the city.

I can get a decent mid 2000's Suzuki GSX 750F for my budget of £3900.-
Also looking at a mid 1990's Honda VFR 750 for roughly the same price. I have access to a workshop and have done a lot of maintenance work on my previous bikes so I am not afraid to do a bit of work to save money. Alternately, I can get a loan of £900.- if there's better value for money in a higher price bracket.

Do you have some suggestions for a nice "big" commuting bike with touring qualities? Shaft drive could be nice to have but not essential

Best regards,
Copyhat

[Beehive Bedlam]

FZS 1000.

[P.]

What is your exact budget..

You mention a loan but mention £3900...

You can get very capable bikes for very little money these days.

[Suntan Sid]

My FZ1-N is for sale for considerably less than that if you're interested!


https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=307905
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"Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!"

[Copyhat]

[Polarbear]

The obvious ones with shaft drive are a Divvy 900 or a Deauville. Well within your budget for good one going on UK prices.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Beehive Bedlam]

[Polarbear]

[Copyhat]

[Robby]

If prices are that high, it's worth buying something in poor condition and fixing it. Find something from the late 80s or 90s and drop a grand into fixing everything that needs doing.

[stevo as b4]

Agree with Robby. Don't keep getting stung with high registration tax's, and buy a good bike of the size/type you want, that needs some work, or has had a light spill that is a cosmetic restoration project.

It's not worth changing bikes very often where you are by the sounds of it, so buy one you can make nice, fix and run really well with some work and money spent on it.

[Val]

[Copyhat]

[Polarbear]

[stevo as b4]

Was also part of the RF's sales fail the looks being quite different, though not offensive?

But more so in the 600cc class it was Suzuki's cutting edge sportsbike (Well all they had in the early 90's).
And the 900cc was up against the Blade/ZX9R etc and never quite made the grade.

Years later it's become a pretty much cult bike for a small number of people, and it's very comparable in abilities to the YZF1000's and ZZR11's of this world, especially for cheap comfortable speed.

I'm one of the weirdo's that would really prefer the original teapot GSXF range, especially in red/white /blue sporty colours, as a sort of slightly more crap and less well built CBR rival.

[Copyhat]

[Vincent]

I've heard good things about RF's...at least the 900. They're reliable and robust. I know a few peeps that bought immaculate examples back when they were sprouting out of the woodwork and turning up a lot on eBay. Not sure there are that many good examples around now...not in the UK anyway.
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Space Is Deep

[Polarbear]

[Copyhat]

I've found a beautiful '91 VFR750 at a dealer. Full service history and a fairly new Ixil slip-on, sale includes service, indoor winter storage, registration plate and MOT at £3400. The salesman told me that the original owner is getting too old to ride (is that even possible? ). That V4 rumble is much more enjoyable for me compared to the RF's inline 4.

I think I'll seal the deal sometime next week. I know the thread is worthless without pictures, to here you go:

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/Hammer1993_photo/12375460_10208533861843375_1050716521_o_zpsaucj5pys.jpg

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/Hammer1993_photo/12358512_10208533861803374_747900589_n_zpsrt03rd4e.jpg

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/Hammer1993_photo/12334229_10208533861723372_486645162_o_zpsazrx0ihr.jpg

A pic from the advert
https://images.guloggratis.dk/91/147946991_906_1024_0_0_0_0_2.jpg
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Past: '91 Honda NTV650, '93 Kawasaki GPZ 500S
Current: '91 Honda VFR750F, '83 Suzuki GSX400F

[Vincent]

'Looks a clean bike...what's the mileage?
£3.5K would get you a mint low miles 800 pre-vtec here, or a VTEC if you were so inclined.

Appologies if already mentioned but what's the snag with importing?
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Space Is Deep

[Copyhat]

[Polarbear]

[Polarbear]

Oh, meant to say I think that's a much better choice then the RF and looks good. That was a time Honda still had some pride in how they made their bikes.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[JonnyFoxtrot]

As the owner of a 96 VFR750 I think you're making a great choice!

Its mighty expensive, but if that's Danish prices then there you go!
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'89 Honda NS125F (SOLD) -> '92 Suzuki GS500E (SOLD) -> '03 Kawasaki ZX6R B1H (SOLD) -> '96 VFR 750 RC36 (SOLD) -> '02 Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird

[Pie-Roe]

I've had several of the RFs, they are quick, but really heavy. The 900s are roomy, but they both suffer from poor build quality, and the electrics can be a bit of a pain in the wet.
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