My turn for a recommend me a bike thread

[Thelostone]

I have £2,500 burning a hole in my wallet and so am looking to replace the now dead Freewind. Can anybody recommend something similar but newer? The Freewind (a DR650 in a fancy dress) was very capable both on and off road, whereas (as I understand it) the replacement Vstrom is a road bike styled as an adventure bike.

Short term it will be used for a London commute with frequent trips to Devon. Come the new year it it will be used for a 30 mile rural commute including a 2 mile unmade lane.

I would like an upright riding position, and I prefer a gentle bimble rather than scraping the pegs/knee down. And reliability is very important.

Considering the Vstrom or Versys, how do they compare reliability wise or is there something else I should consider.

Cheers

[Beehive Bedlam]

FZS600.

[garth]

Owned two FZS600's, suit hooning more than bimbling.

Replaced my V Strom with a Versys, my second Versys actually, this time a 2011 mk2.

Didn't care for the bulk of the Strom, or how much of a pain it was to work on. Versys handles much better, is lighter, good on fuel, reliable ( I did 2300 miles two up in two weeks ) and generally, for me, more fun. And looks better.

You can have mine for a very large chunk under your budget if you want. 2011, full luggage, red, new exhaust, recent tyres, mra screen etc etc

Mine has an ER6 engine fitted, which gives it a free-er revving nature, but could be changed back with a cam swap if you prefer. (I have still)

Let me know if you want pics.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[garth]

Re reliability, many people have done mega miles on V Stroms, but the thing that made me not want to take it on my euro trip was when the high pressure filter blocked. Changing it was costly, and time consuming. Then the idle control valve went tits, then a wire in the loom broke. This was on a 6 year old 12k mile bike!

Maybe I got a lemon but it annoyed me enough that I sold it on asap.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[Thelostone]

Cheers garth. I hadn't thought of ease of working on, the Freewind was a right pain in that regard.

Yes I am interested in your bike if you could pm me pics/info.

Cheers

[garth]

PM'd.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[yen_powell]

Transalp. Newest model in your price range.
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Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits

[stinkwheel]

Don't feel you need to get an adventure bike just to ride along the lane. I take my fully laden VFR750 along rediculously rough dirt tracks for the last couple of miles of camping runs. You can easily ride a road bike on offroad conditions.

That said, you'll get a very tidy "cartoon" 955 Triumph Tiger for the money you're talking about
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.