MT07 in all weather?

[KnightsFall]

So the time is hopefully near when I can get me some new wheels (mod 2 in a couple of weeks) and I am starting to look more seriously at what bikes are on offer. I get that conventional wisdom is to go cheap for first big bike but my intention is to look at either cut price new models (2015 versions, pre-reg and suchlike) or low mileage second hand. I'm aiming to get a fun bike that is not too impractical for commuting and have a preference for naked versions in general, aesthetically since I am unlikely to do all that many miles at NSL or higher for now.

On that basis, it seems silly to not at least consider the MT07 so I was wondering how these tend to do when ridden in all weather. As well as handling, I mean mainly in terms of things like how much crap tends to get flung places and be a nightmare to clean. I gather that nakeds are all going to be a bit weak in this area but the MT07 looks like it leaves some stuff more exposed than some of the competition, with no belly pan, rear hugger, etc as standard.

Any other recommendations for all weather commuters? I'm mainly looking at the 600-700cc range, since this seems like a decent enough amount of power to start with and some are still moderately economical. That said, I am certainly willing to consider other engine sizes.

[talkToTheHat]

Road salt gets everywhere. If the bike is covered in plastic it's harder to clean the expensive bits but you can make it look nice faster.

I'd prefer a bit of a screen or a bikini fairing to keep the worst of the weather off. The bandit is so much nicer in shit weather than anything i've had before, which have all been cruisery, although i had a big bolt on screen for the laat year of the 535.

ACF 50 will keep the hard to reach areas uncorroded.

It's a shame the mt07 tracer isnt out yet.

What luggage can you get fitted on the mt07, hard topbox and/or some slim side boxes are handy. I like givi e21 side boxes as they are really slim. Consider sw motec if you can't find oem or givi kit for a bike you like. I have their quicklock system on mine and it's really solid. Friend of mine is over the moon that he can get some touring luggage onto his sv650 with such.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[stevo as b4]

I might be inclined to run a naked MT07 and smother it in anti corrosion treatment and wax, and just put up with it, as it's the darling of the under 750cc twin cyl bikes at the moment, is getting a little cult following and is also nice and light too!

I think it's a far better bike than the MT09, and it's better finished too, though don't read too much into that with modern Yam's, as like anything else they are far from brilliant with build quality and the standard of anti corrosion treatment and plating on fasteners etc.

Should be a fun bike with a good loud pipe, and a set of Renthals, I'd not turn my nose up at one if forced to have a modern bike that is.

[ADSrox0r]

I'd much prefer to run a naked bike in winter if I could afford a second hack. Full fairings are great for keeping the elements off you (especially with a lardy wide bike like a VFR) but all those plastics just hide the inevitable corrosion from your inspections and make proper cleaning a pain in the arse.

I use ACF50 fired through an HVLP gun on a compressor at the start of the shitty season but all sorts of grit and shit ends up sticking to the innards that aren't easy to clean without a strip down.

Being able to hose down everything in plain sight is a big advantage in winter.
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Current bikes: '08 VFR 800 VTEC(yo) , '07 ZZR1400 Winter hack: '95 Aprilia 650 Pegaso Currently lusting after: RC30

[Rogerborg]

Another vote for squirting sticky gloop over your naked bitch.

I'd go with MT-07 as your default, then ask the local Suzuki and Kawasaki dealers for reasons why you should buy an SFV650 (Gladius as-was) or the new "SV650" (*cough* still a Gladius *cough*) or an ER6 from them instead.

Oh, fender-extender on any bike, haggle for a hugger, and fit rubber fork gaiters. You wouldn't buy a car without wheel arches, right?
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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

[JasmineJasmin...]

Naked bikes are fine, they're not for breaking speed records, you ride it in good weather and enjoy the wind and the extra power is not really to add speed but power when you carry something or someone with you.

[DrSnoosnoo]

The MT-07 Cage makes my willy tingle with chavvyness.
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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[KnightsFall]

[Alpineandy]

[Tdibs]

Anything you ride will get dirty.

Just clean it and enjoy the bike
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Previous : 09 Vanvan 125| 02' Sv650s || Current: 1999 Xj600n | 1992 DR650 RSE | 2005 Fazer 1000

[KnightsFall]

[KnightsFall]

[Alpineandy]

[ZX-7R]

[adam277]

Get a BMW.

My Nan has a Suzuki Alto, so I would avoid Suzuki's.
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Bikes: Previous Bikes: Piaggio x8 125: 2012/2013, YBR 125: 2013/2013 BMW R1150GS 2013/2017, Honda CBR600RR 2017/2017, Honda CB500 2018/2018, Suzuiki Address 110cc 2019/2020, BMW R1200GS 2021-2023
Current Bike: Honda CBF 125: current

[ZX-7R]

[sjc]

I'd be tempted to pick up something cheap for a few months and see if you still want the same things from a bike a little further down the line.
Riding pre and post test has been somewhat different for me, so you may well change your mind on the sort of bike you are after.
I know what I thought I wanted straight after mod2 isn't really what I\d like now.

[Alpineandy]

[KnightsFall]

[KnightsFall]

[Rogerborg]

[KnightsFall]

Not sure about PCP. With hire purchase I may end up owning the bike eventually. But there is still some scope for trading in if I am willing to keep paying. Even then it may be possible to reduce the monthly payments while doing so. With PCP, assuming I understand it well enough, I think I would just get tied into paying about the same each month for a long time. Especially if I went for something like a Striple or other option where I do not have any real chance of paying the optional final amount. That said, I can see why people do it. I mean, you can get some seriously up market bikes for the same a month as some low end options.

[M.C]

[stevo as b4]

People will call me a boring cunt. But the 01 and 03 are head and shoulders better bikes quality and spec wise. They weren't perfect though, but still good bikes and will be sought after in future due to low sales and being hard to find.

It's just my opinion that even the frame on the 09 does not look as well finished as the minimal steel tube effort on the 07. Its also not about being as light as possible and I think compromises away from fun have been made. Its trying to appeal to more people than the triumph street3 and I don't think it has as much of a pure balls out fun appeal to it. Hence all the extra versions like the tracer to water it down even more.

I'm not a person to automatically get wet and lie down for three pot engine, but my take is that the 07 budget suspension aside is all about a narrow and light IL2 to make 75bhp go as far as possible in a naked flickable bike. The only thing the 09 has more of is engine performance and electronics that make real riders go floppy.

It's a bike a nit closer to the FZ1 and Z1000 in that they are nothing like a naked hooligan R1/ZX10 so are not just pure fun bikes but trying to have a different or wider appeal?

[KnightsFall]

What about the NC750 range? I gather they are not the most exciting bikes going but it seems like they might tick the practical commuter but good for a few laughs boxes. I've seen a place out Derby way with both the s and x versions (I think DCT in the x as well but I'm not fussed about that I think). The s is going for £4,699 new and unregistered, which sounds pretty good.

It's East Midlands Superbikes, by the way, if anyone is familiar. They also have MT07s advertised at a chunk off if rrp.