Where to go from here?

TomGT · Spanner Monkey Joined: 22 Apr 2012 Karma :

Hi guys,

so I passed my test in October, and since november have been riding a CBR 400 RR, almost everyday. I'm looking forward to the summer, and have already been out with mates a few times in the sun, but I hate to say that I am getting bored. What's also not helping is one of the selector forks is worn, and it's burning oil, the bike will be fine for a while but I want to quit while I'm ahead at the same time. The budget will be about 2k, and I'd be planning on switching my current insurance policy.

So as far as upgrades go I'd love to buy a 750, but if I had the chance I'd love a 600. So the options are:

CBR 600 RR: too expensive, seriously ridiculously expensive Sad

GSX-R 600: The SRAD is within my price range, but at this time of year prices are all over the place, and I've seen them go for £1500+, if I had more money I'd happily invest in a much newer one.
ZX6r: I really like the look of them, but prices are all over the place, I saw a '99 advertised locally for £850, but the same year is going for upwards of £2k on the internet, dealers aren't worth thinking about.
Daytona 675: Fantastic bike, sat on a 62 plate the other day, but way too much money.
Daytona 600: Look like really nice bikes but don't know a lot about them, would really be pushing the outside of the envelope price wize.

ZX7r: Great bikes, a mate has one, but prices really are all over the place, and I don't know if it's even worth looking at this time of year, quite a few for sale have stupid mods or paint jobs that I couldn't really be bothered with.
GSX-R 750: The SRAD seems like a ridiculously cheap bike for the money, but they seem to have a mixed following and I don't know much about Suzuki build quality.

What does BCF think? I suppose I could go for a beginner bike like an SV or Bandit, but I really wouldn't want a slower bike than the 400, but if worst came to the worse I'm sure a shit bike is better than no bike..?
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1992 ZXR 400

Benno · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 May 2012 Karma :

Have you considered a 500? Some 500s (like the GPZ) are really quite cheap, you may even find one for 600 quid if you are really lucky. Average price appears to be between 700-950 at the moment.

On ZX6R's, I've seen them going for 1000-1200 on ebay a while ago, considered one myself since it was within my price range.
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I'm autistic. That means I'm smarter than you.

TomGT · Spanner Monkey Joined: 22 Apr 2012 Karma :

Nah, I'd need another sportbike, a GPZ would be to slow. If only I'd have realised this problem in the winter Sad

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1992 ZXR 400

Villers · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Karma :

A CBR6 may be a nice middle of the road both power and insurance wise Wink

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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

Snorty · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Oct 2010 Karma :

TomGT · Spanner Monkey Joined: 22 Apr 2012 Karma :

I do like the F's. But prices are more than I was expecting, except for mid-late nineties ones, has anyone had experience of these?
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1992 ZXR 400

Snorty · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Oct 2010 Karma :

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

BigDan1190 · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 03 Mar 2010 Karma :

I found the Bandit12 to be fast and cheap to insure. Not great handling wise though, needs suspension upgrades.

Slacker24seve... · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 May 2010 Karma :

haroman666 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Karma :

You're bored after 3 and a bit months? Are you actually riding it?!

I've been riding my wee Bandit for 16 months and when I get the chance to wang it round the country roads in the dry I fucking love it! And in comparison to your CBR, the Bandit is heavy and slow. And jumps in 2nd gear. And leaks oil on my left foot. And looks like a bag of shit.

I appreciate a bigger bike is the easy way to experience more fun but i'm just kinda surprised that you're bored so quickly, on a bike that you could have soooo much fun on.
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The mistresses: 2000 Honda CBR600f, 2000 Honda VTR1000

Slacker24seve... · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 May 2010 Karma :

TomGT · Spanner Monkey Joined: 22 Apr 2012 Karma :

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

kestrel · Nearly there... Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Karma :

radicalrabit · Crazy Courier Joined: 27 Dec 2012 Karma :

I came back to biking after a 35 year brake and got myself a 1986 Honda VF1000...... heavy , you bet but stable as hell and lovely to ride, Bearing in mind Jeff Johnson won the 85 TT seniors on one of these beasts and it wasnt the racing version he did it on , it was the bog standard touring bike. THE VF1000F2F Bol D or.

So while they are not the fastest from 0-60 and top out at 150 mph THEY ARE A THING TO BEHOLD and cheap to buy and maintain unless you drop them and damage the fairing. dirt cheap to insure too.
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VF1000 F2F, BLACKBIRD with carbs, 2nd VF1000F2F just need somewhere to go now..

radicalrabit · Crazy Courier Joined: 27 Dec 2012 Karma :

I came back to biking after a 35 year brake and got myself a 1986 Honda VF1000...... heavy , you bet but stable as hell and lovely to ride, Bearing in mind Jeff Johnson won the 85 TT seniors on one of these beasts and it wasnt the racing version he did it on , it was the bog standard touring bike. THE VF1000F2F Bol D or.

So while they are not the fastest from 0-60 and top out at 150 mph THEY ARE A THING TO BEHOLD and cheap to buy and maintain unless you drop them and damage the fairing.https://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/radicalrabit/038ee2e2.jpg [img] not that heavy that my 12 year old cant hold it up .[/img]
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VF1000 F2F, BLACKBIRD with carbs, 2nd VF1000F2F just need somewhere to go now..

katana · Trackday Trickster Joined: 04 Jul 2004 Karma :

The cbr 4 is a lovely bike and fun little thing. Engine wise they are reliable and about as reliable as anything else.

I've got a few bikes and really like my nc30. I also like my ducati monster and both are fun.

I'd spend the money on getting the suspension in to good condition and then a few track days to get your head round what the bike can do. Learn things like how to corner and sight lines....then show your mates up.

AlanC · Scooby Slapper Joined: 31 Jan 2012 Karma :

polar · Nova Slayer Joined: 11 Jan 2013 Karma :

TomGT · Spanner Monkey Joined: 22 Apr 2012 Karma :

bezzabsa · Scooby Slapper Joined: 24 Jan 2013 Karma :

SRAD's ae good bikes...600 and 750 ARE cheap - because most people think they are too civilised to be an out and out sports bike, Bandit - well 600's are cracking, can be tuned to buggery or get the GSX750F engine and drop it straight in, 1200's even more so than the 600, very tractable but can easily be on the wrong side of licence losing quicker than you think..

Dont rule out things like the RF600 and RF900 ...the 900 can have the GSXR1100 cams and carbs fitted...its already a 160MPH machine, that can just as easily take 2 people and luggage on a UK tour...the 600 is a capable 'entry' level sport bike, handles like a dream and tops 140 quite easily...both are extremely cheap as they are classed as 'old' by the 'must have the latest' brigade...they also tolerate large mileages quite easily..

they also produced a RF400 if you want something to rev the nuts off.. Very Happy

Dean-J · Crazy Courier Joined: 30 Oct 2011 Karma :

i seriously doubt after 3months on the bike your anywhere near pushing its limits enough to warrant a bigger bike. Dont be in such a rush to buy something faster, there is a massive amount to be learnt riding a smaller bike. i should know as i did precisely what you want to do and if im honest, i 100% regret doing so!

I got rid of my first bike in a couple months because i thought it was too slow, it wasnt, I was! i bought something faster and spent the best part of a year wondering why the fuck my riding wasnt improving! It was because id bought a bike that was far more capable than i was, and it was enticing me into fuckups left right and centre, and as a result my confidence suffered.
im past that now and am learning in leaps and bounds again because im happy with my new ride.

My mate bought his dream bike as his first bike, Ducati 748 with all the trick bits you can imagine bolted on, after a couple years he got rid and bought a bandit 600. He was MASSIVELY faster on the Bandit, and then bought a CB400 and was faster still.

What you ride is not important, most bikes will be capable of far far more than their riders could ask of them!
I had a guy on a full blown crescent works suzuki GSXR 1000 couldnt shake me for shit on my SV1000, despite his rather large power advantage, weight advantage, suspension and brakes advantage etc. Take the time to learn some roadcraft before you go willy waving down the pub with your mates about your new ZX6r etc.

Having all the gear and not being able to use it is like having a 12" cock and not being able to get a chubby on!

stonesie · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jul 2010 Karma :

I like the Daytonas Wink

A bike that is missing from your list is the Thundercat, more torque than any R6 that followed it, good brakes and handling and comfortable for most riders.
A mate had a ZX6R G model and said it was the best bike he had ever owned...

I could go on, ideally you need to get a list and go test ride crazy and then pick a winner.

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

For 2 grand you could get your pick of ZX6R G or J, R6 (carbed), CBR600 (maybe even RR if you don't mind a tatty one) or GSXR600/750 SRAD or maybe early K.

I think CBR400RRs are lovely bikes but if it's got problems it's worth getting a 600 as they're better value.

Either way, the trackday advice is good...you'll really learn how to ride fast if that's your bag. Jumping on a litre bike would probably stall your progress.
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ZX6R + CBR600RR