need a bike....any suggestions?

[flumpy7]

Hi all

Having been bikeless for a month (wife on mat leave, new baby = broke) i am finally able to get another bike. Unfortunately im not allowed anything silly. The wifes rules are

1 - Reliable
2 - Not more than 20 years old
3 - Cheap to run
4 - Well maintained and up together (wont let me play in garage now boo hoo)

My rules are

1 - Looks nice.....no ratters
2 - Not a scrambler or a cruiser
3 - Able to cruise at 70-80 comfortably

Budget, max £1600.

Any suggestions APART from the boring 500 twins people usually buy in these siutations?

Any one got anything applicable? Cash waiting!!
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2012 Sinnis apache

[trustno1]

98-00 Honda hornet 600?

[moppy]

ZZR6, Thundercat, Diversion, ZX6R/ZX7R, the world is your oyster really.

I'm fairly sure you could pick up pretty much any +10yr old bike at that price.

[multijoy]

VFR750/800 (non VTEC)?
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'11 CBF1000A, '99 C90, '98 CB500
silky666: He rode amazingly well considering his bike is the weight of a small van and had slicks on.

[MarJay]

SV650.
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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.

[Eddie Hitler]

[Teflon-Mike]

750's fall into an insurance grouping 'dip'. Often reported that GSZR750 SRAD is cheaper to insure than same age/value 600, likewise, VFR750 oft cheaper to insure than CBR600. So worth checking out whats in that niche.

For me, VFR750 is bang on budget, and ticks pretty much all your boxes, and in anticipation of insurance co paying out thats exactly what I was looking for this summer, as a 'ready rider'.

But, also have absolutley no qualms reccomending the CB750 'Retro'. You can pick up a VERY tidy late model for that kind of money, and they are a bludy good all-round motorcycle. What I like about mine, is the hydraulic tappets..... needs fairly regular oil changes.... BUT, you never have to worry about buckets & shims or fiddling with screw & lock-nuts! They are a nice 'easy' to live with DIY able hence also cheap paid mechanic maintainable 'big' bike. Not as all-road excelant as the VFR, they have a certain 'retro' charm, and some moan they are a bit squidgy, but mines been sharpened a little with Hagon shocks, and makes a world of difference. Very easy to live with motorcycle.

Kawasaki Zephyr falls into same catagory; prices can be a bit stronger on them & quality a bit more varied though, and I don't know what they are like to live with long term.

But plenty out there, on a what takes your fancy basis; With idea of a read rider, with insurance money; and encouraged by G to stretch my horizons a bit from the usually fairly 'sensible' bikes I'd pick; e-bay search by price range threw up loads of ideas, from ZX6R to Pan Euro; Cagiva Mito, to Jelly-mold CBR1000; I even looked at some... shhhhhh (cruisers!).... ZX6R actually got more consideration than I ever thought it would, as its just NOT my kind of bike, but a 'what the heck give it a go and PROVE its not your kind of bike' perversion kicked in. Virago's & Shaddows are not my thing either, but again, I think it was a 750 Shaddow, cought my eye, and looked a lot of bike for the money, for a way to test my testosterone, and walk on the wild side in a Lou Reed kind of way!

Veritable shmorgas board of biking out there, in reach at that kind of cash.... go sample & enjoy!
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[P.addy]

[sidewinder]

cbr600f ?

600f


600f
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"Nitrous is like a cheap hooker, you want to hit it but are scared of the consequences

[Slacker24seve...]

Hoooooooooornet.
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Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
Banger rallies are ace

[N cee thirty]

03 fazer 600
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[Maruchino]

ZX6R G can be had for less than 1500 notes in good condition

[TheDonUK]

Yeah was going to say G/J ZX6R, Actually probably going to get another myself.
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[Current Bikes - GSXR-750 K5 & C90-97 ] [Previous Bikes: Runner 125, YBR 125, GS500, Bandit 600, Hornet 600, ZX6R-99, C90-99, R1-99, XT600E-04, GSXR-750 K4, CRF250L '16]

[stevo as b4]

VTR1000?
RF900?
Z750?
Bandit 1200?
TRX850?
TDM900?
FJ1200?

[flumpy7]

[flumpy7]

[flumpy7]

[Nick 50]

Have to agree with the "Look past the 600" camp.

Strangely, bigger capacity bikes can be cheaper to insure as i found out.

My Case............

Passed test 5 months, so no NCB. Garaged:

97 CBR600f
Quote: £450

03 Tuono 1000
Quote £320

Weird I know, but hey insurers
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Current Bikes: ZX7r 97 (Black Beauty), VFR400 NC24 (The banana)
Previous Bikes: Aprilia Tuono 03 (The Beast), CBR600f (97)
First bike: A GZ125 Lemon.......

[evoboy]

TRX850 would be a good bike. If you can put up with checking the oil after every ride. Does 50mpg and will sit at 70 easy. Alternative to an SV650 anyway.

But to be honest for that budget, no matter what bike it is will still need to be looked after.
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Suzuki GT250 x7------- Fazer 600------CB250RS------Aprilia Rally 70----- Bandit 600

APT Motorcycles

[flumpy7]

[P.addy]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CBR-600-F-/160918693586?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item25778066d2

Reliable.
Cruises at 70.
Less than 20 years old.
Fairly average to run, not so juicy.

[Chalky.]

Might sell my CBR600F at some point, but I'd say the model suits your requirements.