How do you choose a new bike? Update

[defblade]

I've had my Bandit for 3.5 years or so now... from a few of my other threads you'll see I'm looking for something to move up to. I've got a few grand in the bank and the bandit to trade in (I'm guessing it'll be worth less than I paid for it after 3 winters and 25k miles ) so budget is maybe £5k - plenty for something tidy.

But there are just soooo many bikes that tick most of the boxes I have (main use commuting (inc winter); better quality, better handling and more power would all be nice; reasonable mpg a bonus I'm quite happy to twist away most of the time!) I'm just feeling overwhelmed. List would include Sprint 1050, F800st, CBF1000, VFR 800, FZ1, various BMW 1100/1050/1200 inc the K1200, Shiver 750, etc etc

Insurance for all of the above is OK (except if you add an "s" to the K1200!) so that doesn't help decide...

Wobbling cautiously along on a test ride at this time of year isn't going to tell me a lot, either!

Or maybe it's time to become a chopper and changer... it's just that I like to get something sorted for me and stick with it these days, I'm a bit older and slower, and I haven't got the money to take depreciation every year.
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Honda Varadero 125cc => Suzuki Bandit 650 33bhp => 77bhp =>
BMW K1200R Sport 163bhp => Aprilia Shiver GT 750 95bhp

[The Shaggy D.A.]

What do you like about the Bandit that you'd miss, and what doesn't it have that you fancy?
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Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[yampug]

how about a yamaha fjr1300?

[Bendy]

If none of them are screaming "me, me, me" then chances are you'd be pretty happy with whichever you chose.

When you test ride, you'll probably find some have that little something that puts them higher or lower up the list. The ST 1050 engine burble for example - serves no useful purpose but I've bought 2 bikes because of it.

It isn't a science, there isn't a right answer or a wrong answer... maybe one of them comes in a colour you really like, hell it's as good a reason as any other.

[defblade]

[Polarbear]

Shaft drive, the best thing ever!

Problem is bike manufacturers don't agree.

So you have high end (read expensive) modern bikes or something old.

BMW's, Triumph's the odd Japanese now. Not a lot of choice unless you like cruisers.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[yampug]

one other i'd look at would be a cb1300s

[Rogerborg]

The engine from the F800ST is rather nice, even in its detuned form in my "650". Easy torque, not that vibey, decent on fuel - I get real mid 60s pretty much regardless of how I ride.

I really wish they'd put belt drive on the GS, it was the best feature on my GPz305.

So on paper the F800ST should be a great bike. But... but...

I just can't shake the feeling that there are nasty surprises in store. I've heard too many horror stories from modern BMW owners, and far too many cases of BMW Motorrad giving it "they all do that". The paint chipping on that Rotax engine being a point in case.

That's a pretty vague reason to avoid them, and there are plenty of ticks in the plus column. You probably shouldn't listen to me, and go and get one.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[misscrabstick]

I have to admit with me it is mostly looks first, I then do some reading/research and find out all the common/recurring negatives then have a think, then I go for a test ride.

With my Pan though it was about practicality, I just wanted something big and comfy it is not exactly pretty.

[Musketeer]

Why compromise with 5 grand in your wallet?

Get 2 bikes. One bike for winter for £1k (or keep the Bandit for that), and another bike for summer - something nice for £4-5k

Some insurance companies accept 2 bikes on one policy.
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Current Bike: Yamaha XSR900 Previous bikes: Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade, Kawasaki ZX-6R Ninja, Aprilia RS125 2-stroke

[Whosthedaddy]

Choosing a new bike is all about what's the biggest minge magnet.

No idea what bike I'd have as if choosing correctly as a tool for my needs it'd probably be a scooter! I really don't use the bike to any full potential and noting really ticks boxes enough for me to shed out money on finance again.
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[RhynoCZ]

I've got a list of bikes I'd like to have. None of those bikes are rare nor expensive, so it is possible for me to actually get them.

Here it is:
ZXR400
ZXR750 L, J, P - owned P1
ZXR750 H1
VFR750 RC36
VFR400
Zephyr 550/750
Z 400/500/750/1000
GPz 400/550/750/1100 - owned '88 550
GPz 400R/600R/900R/1000RX
GPx 600/750
GSX-R 600SRAD
GSX-R 750
VTR1000 F, SP
YZF750R
FZR400
TT600
ZR7
ZX6R
CB750 (Freddie '80-'82)
CZ 250/471
CB400SF
CBX550
VF1000F/750F/1000R/400
CX650E
RGV 250 Gamma
CBR900RR ('93)

By the way I made the list 4 years ago, so I'd might change a thing or two, today.
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Pie-Roe]

Any of the bigger nakeds will do the same stuff you like on the bandit. If you are a keeper type person, buy the best example of one of the ones you like for 2-2.5k then spend some money on upgrades you actually want or need after riding it for a bit.

For me, I'd buy a low mileage x11/zrx1200/cb1300/fjr1300, in that order of preference, then do suspension, exhaust and luggage.

I do not know much about the new style nakeds though, I gather the Z1000 and CB1000 are very capable bikes and within your budget.
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Previous: GSF600, FZR600 x2, ZXR750, XT600 Tenere, CB125, CZ125, ETZ 250, ER5, CCM R30, DRZ400, RF600x4, RF900x2, GS500, VTR1000F, 640 SMC, CB250 NIGHTHAWK, GT550x3, GPX750 TE610, CB500, X11x2, SV650, ZING 125, TL1000R,CB250 Superdream, CBR1100XX

[Ribenapigeon]

Throw five grand at finance on the new yamaha mt-09 you would have it paid off in a year. probably only £100 per month.

[defblade]

[defblade]

[1198]

Seems you're happy enough with your Bandit for the the time being, so why not hang on to it for the time being, at least until March next year, and let it see another winter?
Ps then get a Bandit 1200?

[deadwolf]

Kawasaki GT550 with a round headlight? Shaft drive, old school looks and ebay tends to have a selection of reasonably priced examples. Might be a bit dated and not sure what character itd have, though.
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Motorsapien Art

[hellkat]

I don't really choose bikes, they just sort of happen to me.

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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Shaft]

[defblade]

OK, so the answer is: go and ride some

The weather's been nice enough to get a decent ride in, so I did.

VFR: as other thread, the one I rode was very probably a bit on the knackered side. Nice at speed, still not entirely out of the running.

Shiver: booked for Thursday.

Sprint: lovely bike, shame about the seat and general position somehow (I'm a lanky git).

CBF: feels too... boring, old man. Even before I fired it up.

F800st: nice, in a sorta bubbly twin way, probably wouldn't pay loads to swap from the Bandit for it though.

Various size and ages of BMW full tourers: hmmm. Not that old yet.

FZ1: didn't get around to (yet?) as my heart is with the...

K1200s: sod the insurance cost, sod I'll lose 6 months no claims, sod the doubtless expensive servicing: I LOVE THIS BIKE! Even when I go to ride the Shiver, I'll really be looking for a deal on the K they've got And if I can't sort a deal now, I'll hang on till May when the insurance comes up and buy one then instead...
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Honda Varadero 125cc => Suzuki Bandit 650 33bhp => 77bhp =>
BMW K1200R Sport 163bhp => Aprilia Shiver GT 750 95bhp

[Davenaylor]

I've just moved from a bandit to a sprint. I'm 6'3 so also lanky and it's fine for me. Which sprint did you try? Mines an 05 and I love it!

I wouldn't rush if I were you. A 5 k budget will get you more bike for the money in the dead of winter than it will even now. I think looking at my lovely sprint now, I wish I could of kept the bandit for the winter months. Next year I think I will get a winter hack.

[defblade]