New Bike (Yes another thread!!)

Trev1740 · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 01 Sep 2012 Karma :

Morning all..

Apologies first of all for posting yet another thread regarding what new bike to get.

I am looking at buying a new set of wheels in a few weeks time ready for post Mod 2 success (ever the optimist!!) and am looking a naked, more sit up right type of bike. (Too old to be hugging a tank)

I'm after something that will comfortably do motorway speeds (with 2 up) whilst not being so stupidly fast that I leave a trail of brown adrenaline down the road.

Currently on my short list are :

CBF600
ER5
Bandit 600

Can anyone offer any pros & cons to the above or indeed offer any alternatives..?

TIA Fellas Smile

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CBT-26 Aug 12 Theory-15 Sep 12 Mod 1-30 Oct 12 Mod 2-15 Nov 12

Vespa PX125E - For Fun & Recapturing Youth-SOLD Yamaha YBR125-For Learning Kawasaki ER6N. - 1st Big Bike

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Naked SV650.

Cheap and light weight, but with more go than the ER6 (similar to a bandit).
If the CBF600 is a Hornet (new ones may not be I think?), then this probably has a bit better suspension than the SV along with the most 'go' of all the options, but also a bit more weight.

ginny · Nova Slayer Joined: 24 Feb 2012 Karma :

Hornet? A good compromise between bandit and cbr from what I understand, and a nice upright position. Tame (ish) as you like until 6K revs, then it gets faster and faster.

My first bike and I'm loving it, can cruise below 6k with plenty of power for overtakes etc, saving petrol, or put it above 6/10k and have some fun. Only recently felt comfortable to venture into the 7-10k area so I won't be getting bored or the power any time soon.

94bhp, probably more than other non-sports 600s?

ginny · Nova Slayer Joined: 24 Feb 2012 Karma :

Double post

evoboy · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Aug 2009 Karma :

UnspeedySam · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Nov 2009 Karma :

The CBF600 is not a hornet. The hornet is the CB600F. The CBF is much more practical (180 mile tank range rather than 100), but arguably is slightly more dull to ride. One of my best mates has one and it is bullet proof, will do over 60mpg and I personally think it handles and goes pretty nicely. Great first big bike. Also really good 2-up. Get the bikini faired S-model.

The ER5 is not a great bike really; the build quality isn't great and it is quite a lot slower than the other two bikes in your list. The ER6 might be worth a shout but I don't personally rate them. I'd rather have a pointy bikini faired SV650.

The Bandit is a good solid bike although in my opinion not as good as the CBF by some degree. It is prone to frame rust and handles a bit oddly. Other than that you won't have issues.

In my opinion you'll want the faired versions of all 4 bikes I've mentioned if you plan on doing any motorway work or wet weather riding. Go and test ride an SV650S, ER6F, GSF650S (faired bandit) and a CBF650S and make up your own mind; despite my own opinions that you should go for the CBF or the SV650 you won't go far wrong with any of them.

My mate's CBF600 with Givi luggage:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/150142_10152160914945237_755193511_n.jpg
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Riding: BMW R1150RT `02 bought mildly crashed
Fixing: Also the BMW as I get less broken bits
Gone: ZZR600 '00, TRX850 '97, RXS100 '93, JS125-6B '07, BMW R1100RS '93, Kawasaki ZX-6R-J2 '01, Honda Bros NT400 NC25 '88

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

AL- · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Karma :

FZS600 (preferably the 02/03 model)- Fits your needs perfectly. Cheap to buy, cheap to insurance, cheap to run. Good bike. Really enjoyed mine, so much so when I got rid of it I got the FZ1! Thumbs Up

UnspeedySam · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Nov 2009 Karma :

ToGGoT · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 25 Jan 2009 Karma :

Depends on your budget too, and whether you intend to keep it, and keep it in good nick.

My brother got hold of an ER-5 for, i kid you not, £100, and after a quick service it went though its MOT. He's run it for a year or so while he's rebuilding his BMW F650GS, and granted, it is an utter rot-box hack, it owes him pretty much nothing other than fuel.

If you're going to put in a lot of practice in the next year, and you're pretty confident/a reasonable rider then i'd be tempted to buy something a bit more... well built, and maybe spend some money and get something that you actually want.

If on the other hand you just want something bigger to get used to, doesn't matter if you drop it, leave it outside, etc etc, then a cheapy ER-5 would be my choice - cheap, easily available, and parts are everywhere.

I loved the Er-5 i did my DAS on - mind you, i'd only ever ridden a 125 before, so it may have been rose tinted glasses!

ToGGoT
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2005 BMW R1150R

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

You can chew over what is 'best' til the end of time... fact is, chances are you'll think whatever you get is awesome.

So unless you have specific requirements like 'MPG is the whole world to me', in truth just pick the one you like the look of best, or the one that's the best deal. You can't be expected to know what you really want until you have some miles under your belt and get a handle on what matters to you.

Polarbear · Super Spammer Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Karma :

Why an ER5 rather than an ER6? Is it just budget?

I would much prefer any of the 600's over the 500's. The 500's are purely budget commuters (not meaning to denigrate anyone pride and joy here) whereas the 600's are that bit more accomplished in all departments.
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c_dug · Super Spammer Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

Haven't read much at all bad about the latest generation Diversion 600, seems to fit in with your requirements pretty well spot on.
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Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

the_quick · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 03 Mar 2012 Karma :

Motorways, defo half faired bike - so I would not recommend sv650 naked, but faired should be absolutely fine.

I have bandit and it is my first bike, did ride sv as well.
Bandit is everything I need from bike, good on high speed roads thanks to fairing, good engine and cheap insurance.

Bike from '00 cost me 1200 and insurance for me was £140, but included RAC breakdown cover - I'm 35 and had car license long before.

Tried gs500 and after a day raidng on it, I was very happy to change to SV, bit dull and gearbox was not great (it might be just that bike problem)
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Bandit GSF600 '00

Trev1740 · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 01 Sep 2012 Karma :

Apologies Gents...

I actually meant ER6 and not ER5 Blame a cheap Government keyboard!!

Also, many thanks for the replies so far.. Beleive it or not they have actually been quite informative Laughing

As for the "naked" thing.. Rogerborg you are correct, it is all about the riding position, would probably pop a hip if I was hugging the tank for too long.

Am looking at a budget of approx £2000 max if I can get away with it. Anymore than that means it would be a dry old Christmas this year not that I'd care as I'd be out riding the thing!!!
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CBT-26 Aug 12 Theory-15 Sep 12 Mod 1-30 Oct 12 Mod 2-15 Nov 12

Vespa PX125E - For Fun & Recapturing Youth-SOLD Yamaha YBR125-For Learning Kawasaki ER6N. - 1st Big Bike

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

No reason you can't have an upright bike with a fairing.

gorillaonabik... · Nearly there... Joined: 31 Jul 2011 Karma :

Polarbear · Super Spammer Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Karma :

Bandit, or Fazer. We have had both in our houshold and both are good bikes. We still have the Fazer as hack, track bike, a 'something to thrash the arse off when I'm bored' bike. I love it Thumbs Up

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garth · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Karma :

I've had a Hornet, SV, Bandit, Fazer and CB500.

Out of the bunch for an every day bike I'd choose the Fazer. It had the best suspension, best tank range and best brakes. The Hornet is prettier but buzzy and a rubbish tank range.

Bandit I'd have as a good all round hack, the CB500 is fairly dull but dependable, and the SV I had was in dire need of the suspension sorting, which kind of ruined the whole package.

The Yamaha trumped them all in build quality too.

T0MMY · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Jun 2008 Karma :

Fazer's a good bet but pretty quick if you don't want something scary.

GPZ500S too is a good option if you want less power...cheaper to buy and run than a Fazer or CBF600 but it's definitely more agricultural and cheap feeling. They are very good commuters though and good mile munchers despite the capacity. I used to do 800 mile round trips on mine fairly regularly. Great MPG.
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

0l0dom0l0 · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Oct 2009 Karma :

Another vote for the 02-03 Fazer.

However, for not a lot more you can pick up an 04-06 model, which although haven't got great reveiws are actually great fun to ride!

I've done 3 trackdays on mine, and 6k miles in 5 months and wouldn't change it for anything. Fantastic bike.

So far its the only bike I've learn to ride properly.... learnt to knee down on it, learnt to wheelie etc etc.

Most people will tell you they are shite, and I listened to them which is why I ended up with the 02-03 but I wish I'd gone for the 06 straight away.

Oh and go for the N model if you can. But if you're doing motorway miles get the fairing haha Laughing

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CBT Passed: 30/08/2009, Theory Passed: 31/08/2010, Mod 1 Passed: 6/9/2010, Mod 2 Passed: 13/09/2010. Restriction ended 13/09/2012.

Bikes: 2007 Derbi GPR 50, 1998 Yamaha Fazer 600 (written off), 2002 Yamaha Fazer 600, 1994 CBR 600F, 2003 Triumph Daytona 600, Kawasaki ZX6R J1.....Current: 2006 Yamaha FZ6, 1998 Suzuki TL1000R and a Honda VFR 400 NC30.