Hankering for another bike - not sure what.

[c_dug]

I've been off the road for a good six weeks now, maybe a little longer. With my MOT fast approaching and the Diversion 900 being in need of some work to pass I took the forks off to rebuild and it's just sort of sat that way since.

I have been doing work slowly, the forks are more or less ready to go back on the bike now. I've been plagued by a series of wrong and faulty parts and slow deliveries, but the biggest hold up has been my lack of enthusiasm.

I think the problem is that riding the divvy doesn't excite me. It isn't even really that slow, but not being slow and actually being fun aren't the same thing.

I've been toying with the idea of selling the divvy and adding what I can to the pot, so given the below criteria what might you consider with a maximum budget of £1500, ideally closer to £1000?

It needs to be a jack of all trades, ideally:

It would come with (or at least have available) 3 piece hard luggage, as it is currently the only mode of transport for myself and my OH.

Actually be engaging to ride when the luggage is off - doesn't have to be the quickest or the best handling, but I want the grin back!

Suitable to commute 25 miles on daily - a set of tyres every month or two doesn't appeal much! I average about 37mpg on the divvy which is about as low as I'd want to go too.

It'll live outside so preferably won't dissolve in the rain.

Not interested in the CBR600f or ZZR600, owned both before. I've considered a few options but won't mention them just yet so as not to sway the suggestions.

If you reckon I'm best off just sticking with the divvy then feel free to say so.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[wr6133]

I would have suggested a ZZR!

Thundershat? (not sure about luggage options on them though)

Suzuki Teapot thingy? (gsxfrdhsjf 750/600) They seem to sell in decent nick for almost button money.

FJ1200.... though not sure if within budget.

25 miles a day though...... I'd buy a cheap scooter to commute in to the ground and then use the rest for a fun bike without needing to worry about its commuting credentials.

[P.addy]

If you do want a ZZR600, I do have one that can go to you for a minimal sum

[monkeybiker]

I would have suggested the cbr600f but you say no. Maybe give a reason why no might help. Is it just cos you've had one?

[Beehive Bedlam]

FZS Fazer 600/1000.

[Busa1340R]

What age/mileage is the Divvy?

Was thinking CBR1000F, but within £1500 budget they all seem to have been to the moon and back, half tidy one on eBay at the minute for £2k with Krauser triple cases, new Michelin's and only 16k on the clocks....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-HONDA-CBR1000F-/251987033662?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3aab98fe3e

If I remember correctly, around 180 miles to a brimmed tank, not hugely rough on tyres, but can be made to hustle on a good set. No good if you're a 5 stone weakling though..... bastard heavy with all them plastics....
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Current: 2010 Suzuki GSX1340R Hayabusa, 2013 Yamaha YP250R X-Max Sport - Previous: Triumph Sprint ST1050ABS, Honda XL600V Transalp, Honda NT650V Dullsville (don't ask!), Kawasaki ZX9R E1, Honda NX650 Dominator, Suzuki GSX1300RKZ Hayabusa, Honda CBR1000FM, Kawasaki GPZ500S, etc etc

[Copycat73]

[MCN.]

Anything with 120 or more horses.

[c_dug]

The divvy is a '96 on 50k miles. Cosmetically very tatty but mechanically decent. It ticks all of the boxes for me with the exception of the grin factor. It's not that I've never had fun on it, and I'm no slouch on it either, but you have to try to have fun rather than it coming naturally to the bike.

I had a '93 cbr600f and rate it as the best all around bike I've owned to date, purely not after another because I've had one before, variety being the fruit of life and all that jazz. In all honestly it wasn't quite up to lugging myself and the OH plus three boxes around.

I had a zzr600 before and while the engine was a peach the rear suspension was shockingly bad. I considered myself lucky when it was written off non fault.

Fazer 1000 as mentioned above does appeal but I really don't know much about them, they've been on the edge of my radar for a little while.

CBR1000f is an interesting suggestion, not something I'd thought of, that weight though . Heavier than my divvy, that's good going!
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[c_dug]

[Robster]

No ones said VFR yet?

If you can find a decent one for £1500, that'd probably do everything you've asked of it

Edit. Just saw above post.

I'm picking my 750 up in a week, can't ruddy wait!
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Up the bum no babies.

[stevo as b4]

Id say the late spec Mk1 VFR750's 89/90? The most sporty VFR they ever made, and some people say they were real world faster than a GSXR750 Slabbie, and I'd say cooler too TBH!

Otherwise if a tidy FJ1200 is in budget id look out for one, as they have masses of grunt and again at the time they were launched, they were quite sporty for a sports tourer.

I remember reading a road test of one, where the tester said you hook 5th gear as the engine red-lines at 145mph in 4th and it drops back into the power again pulling you into the 150's like a big elastic band. I suppose 1188cc's is always good at that sort of thing.

[garth]

Fazer thou is what I immediately thought of.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[chickenstrip]

[garth]

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=303629
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[garth]

Or a post 98 ZX9R.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[chickenstrip]

[Shaft]

You could always have a go with a good pre divvy XJ.

I had another ride of a Diversion recently and, even accepting it wasn't the best example, it wasn't a patch on my F.
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Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[Polarbear]

You metion a ZZR1100. If you can restrain your right hand the consumables aren't too expensive.

The engine is a peach and bomb proof however while a cracking sports tourer and fast as fuck, a fun bike I'm not so sure.

Don't get me wrong, I love big engined fast bikes but the thrill is seeing how close to the edge you can get and live! Give a busa/ZZR11 a hand full on a fast sweeping bend and have the back step out on you and you will see what I mean!

A FUN bike is an STR. or similar or a 600 supersport. Something you can use the horses without it trying to kill you.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[struan80]

This sounds like a job for yet another 'Fireblade'

VFR for that sort of money?

[Aspire2]

You could get a nice TT600 or a speed four for those prices. Good suspension & fully adjustable, good brakes, light and a brilliant chassis.

You will get a lower miles version than the equivalent honda, yam etc

[c_dug]

The pure sports bikes and sporty sports tourers won't take a set of hard luggage though which strikes the likes of the TT600 and zx9r off the list.

I do quite fancy a VFR, just worried about whether it'll tick the fun box.

What I really need is two bikes
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Polarbear]

[el_oso]

The thundercat, I've found is by far the worst bike I've ridden through London. It's too revvy to filter easily. It feels heavier than your divvy. Got a much smaller turning circle. It's just completely wrong. If you was still doing that Tunbridge wells journey, or blasting down a couple of A/B roads then it's a barrel of laughs. Still fun, but also quite practical.

Is two bikes out of the question? Buying and running the CBR125 cost me less than an equivalent train ticket for the year. The 125 is probably slightly too slow for that A13 journey. Maybe a CG250 or a scooter or similar would work. The second I hit limehouse link I'm glad I'm on the tiny, lightweight, highly manoeuvrable 125. Honestly prefer it to the gixxer. So much more comfortable through stop start traffic.

VFR would be on my list if there was one bike though.
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Duke 390
Previous: '05 XR125L | '96 XJ600S Diversion |'05 Suzuki GSXR1000 | '05 Honda CBR125-R | '97 YZF 600R Thundercat | '11 Honda CBR250
Car: Jeep Wrangler 4.0L

[Carvel]

Early B12. Bulletproof, mega fun especially with a shouty pipe, comfy, great two up, great through town/filtering. If you tickle it they're not too bad on fuel (terrible when giving it abuse )

Still a few bargains to be had, easily with in budget.

https://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/RxsOllie/IMG_1836%202_zpswgkkegi9.jpg~original
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2002 Aprilia RSV1000R, Cbr600Fs, Mk1 B12, Vfr400 NC30...

Matt B: I can deal with crushed nuts to beat Ollie.