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colchester123 |
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colchester123 Derestricted Danger
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Tracer1234 |
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Tracer1234 World Chat Champion
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Posted: 13:27 - 30 Sep 2017 Post subject: |
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Hello there and welcome.
I cant offer to much advice, but my are; NC750 is, as bland as a bland stale ham sandwich. Does its job, but yawn. Not much fun on the twisties.
DCT wise, it has very mixed reviews, leaning towards the negative side, although some people get on with it.
Best thing you can do is throw your leg over some and see what bikes are comfortable and you enjoy
Im sure the others will come along with some good suggestions. If not, you could consider a Reliant Robin. ____________________ Riding: Yamaha MT-09 Tracer Occasionally Riding: 08 Suzuki SV650, Potato: 2011 Yamaha YBR Custom.
Used to ride: 2015 Yamaha MT-09 Tracer (smidsy) 09 Triumph Street Triple (P/X'd) 08 Yamaha YBR (Sold)
CBT 04/14. A: Mod 1 & 2 13/04/15 |
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Rogerborg |
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Rogerborg nimbA
Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :
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Posted: 13:32 - 30 Sep 2017 Post subject: Re: Which Bike should I choose |
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colchester123 wrote: | What advice/recommendations can you give? |
Get a job outside of London, or move closer to it.
Eff that for a commute, day in and day out. I can just barely tolerate doing 150 miles a week in light traffic at someone else's behest.
Solely for commuting? Stop-start? Comfy? Weather protection all year round?
Burgman 400, or Kawasaki J300 plus muffs and a Tucano Termoscud invalid blanket. The J300 will save you a fair bit more, that you can spend on drinking yourself into your 4 hours of sleep every night. ____________________ 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 |
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colchester123 |
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colchester123 Derestricted Danger
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colchester123 |
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asta1 |
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asta1 Scooby Slapper
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Posted: 15:25 - 30 Sep 2017 Post subject: |
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I appreciate it's not exactly on topic, but I'd really really seriously consider moving/ another job.
Now for context I spent last year doing a 104mile round trip motorway commute to work, using both car and bike. It fucking destroyed me. Seriously, seriously miserable.
Now that commute took on average 1hr30mins each way, so 3hrs/day. Over the year it mounted up to 720hrs of additional, unpaid work over my required 45hr working week (2,160 hrs/yr.) That's 33% extra work for the same dollar. Your situation, 150miles into London, must take at least 4 hours/day, so its closer to a 45% increase. Are you sure you can't find a job closer? Even a 40% pay cut means you're actually better off in terms of hourly wage, even if you ignore vehicle consumables etc.
Just some food for thought... ____________________ CBT Acquired: 09/07/2015
A2 Licence Passed: 12/02/16
Current Bike: Yamaha MT-07 bought 02/07/16 |
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sickpup |
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sickpup Old Timer
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turningCircle |
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turningCircle Renault 5 Driver
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Posted: 16:37 - 30 Sep 2017 Post subject: |
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I would recommend the Kawasaki Versys 650. Beautiful bike, good handling, powerful enough and very comfortable / practical. I bought one earlier this year and loving it.
It also has the same engine (albeit remapped) to the Ninja
Watch this and then get your money at the ready:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-6UaZisUwU |
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ZX-7R |
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ZX-7R Banned
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Enduro Numpty |
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Enduro Numpty Could Be A Chat Bot
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sickpup |
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andyscooter |
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andyscooter World Chat Champion
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colchester123 |
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colchester123 |
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colchester123 |
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colchester123 |
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colchester123 Derestricted Danger
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Posted: 21:48 - 30 Sep 2017 Post subject: |
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Thanks for the thoughts asta1 , certainly food for thought. I have commutted on the trains into London for years. I have tried working closer to home but it hasn't worked out for me and I have gone back to London. But I actually enjoy the ride (in preference to the train/tube journeys). I wouldn't drive the car in since the traffic would destroy me too (and with congestion charge and parking costs on top). Your calculation is spot on I spend about 4 hours a day on the bike.
asta1 wrote: | I appreciate it's not exactly on topic, but I'd really really seriously consider moving/ another job.
Now for context I spent last year doing a 104mile round trip motorway commute to work, using both car and bike. It fucking destroyed me. Seriously, seriously miserable.
Now that commute took on average 1hr30mins each way, so 3hrs/day. Over the year it mounted up to 720hrs of additional, unpaid work over my required 45hr working week (2,160 hrs/yr.) That's 33% extra work for the same dollar. Your situation, 150miles into London, must take at least 4 hours/day, so its closer to a 45% increase. Are you sure you can't find a job closer? Even a 40% pay cut means you're actually better off in terms of hourly wage, even if you ignore vehicle consumables etc.
Just some food for thought... |
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colchester123 |
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stonesie |
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stonesie World Chat Champion
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Posted: 22:40 - 30 Sep 2017 Post subject: |
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I had a quick ride on a Versys 650 the other week and it shocked me, what a fun thing it is, soft and comfy as you would expect but ignore that and lean the thing and it was keeping up with bigger bikes in the twistys, also a very nice induction noise...
That being said, my Multistrada could romp motorways at 60mpg all day long, even more if just tooling along with traffic, would not recommend though, I got more than my moneys worth out of the warranty they sold me.
From your short list I would bag test rides on the Tracer900 and Tiger, the Tracer will be more fun I think but for a reason that escapes my mind, Yamaha fitted the headbanging supernaked MT-10 with cruise control, but not the Tracer, it makes those average speed camera zones easy especially if the sneaky gits have rear facing cameras. |
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colchester123 |
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colchester123 Derestricted Danger
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Posted: 23:07 - 30 Sep 2017 Post subject: |
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Thanks Stonesie, I will definitely have a ride of the Versys 650 and Tracer and Tiger.
stonesie wrote: | I had a quick ride on a Versys 650 the other week and it shocked me, what a fun thing it is, soft and comfy as you would expect but ignore that and lean the thing and it was keeping up with bigger bikes in the twistys, also a very nice induction noise...
That being said, my Multistrada could romp motorways at 60mpg all day long, even more if just tooling along with traffic, would not recommend though, I got more than my moneys worth out of the warranty they sold me.
From your short list I would bag test rides on the Tracer900 and Tiger, the Tracer will be more fun I think but for a reason that escapes my mind, Yamaha fitted the headbanging supernaked MT-10 with cruise control, but not the Tracer, it makes those average speed camera zones easy especially if the sneaky gits have rear facing cameras. |
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turningCircle |
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turningCircle Renault 5 Driver
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Posted: 00:42 - 01 Oct 2017 Post subject: |
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colchester123 wrote: | What sort of regular mileage you doing on the Versys (bear in mind I am doing 150 miles per day 4 or 5 days a week) how different an experience is it from the Kawasaki ER6F?
Thanks TurningCircle
turningCircle wrote: | I would recommend the Kawasaki Versys 650. Beautiful bike, good handling, powerful enough and very comfortable / practical. I bought one earlier this year and loving it.
It also has the same engine (albeit remapped) to the Ninja
Watch this and then get your money at the ready:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-6UaZisUwU |
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You'll find for long rides, it's really well suited. Good comfort, very little vibration through the bars or pegs and well suited for nipping in/out of traffic despite it's relatively large size. The long haul is really what this bike is suited for but it'll be more than happy getting you through city traffic.
The seating position is upright which gives you a good, commanding position. If I wanted something sporty-looking (which I don't), for commuting only, i'd probably grab the ER6F of the two but if you want a bike that can do a bit of everything, is practical but can put a smile on your face - take the Versys.
The only thing I would suggest is to think about is seat height and how much weight you are comfortable with. I'm 5ft 8", I think if I was any shorter, the Versys could be a struggle.
The Tiger 800 will be noticeably smoother and has the gadgets - but it comes at a price which may be slightly out of budget. Personally, I just can't come to like the Tracer but that's just me. |
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Tracer1234 |
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Tracer1234 World Chat Champion
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ZX-7R |
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ZX-7R Banned
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Posted: 07:54 - 01 Oct 2017 Post subject: |
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colchester123 wrote: | Thanks, the Z1000sx looks pretty, so worth considering adding to my possibles list, seems quite expensive so would probably have to go for a 2014 / 2015 model (to get one with luggage and heated grips). Does the Z1000sx screen give good wind protection, it looks pretty low?
How's mpg and servicing costs, as I'd be doing over 30k miles per year.
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Big Kawasaki engines are pretty strong,but with that mileage you are gonna be looking at a full service,fluid change and valve clearances annually,plus i would do an oil and filter change 6 months after,and you are gonna get through a fair few sets of tyres,brake pads etc..
Fuel consumption seems to average around 40mpg.
The Z1000SX is consistently Kawasaki's best seller in the UK. ____________________ Current Bike - 2000 ZX-7R |
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bamt |
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bamt World Chat Champion
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Posted: 08:15 - 01 Oct 2017 Post subject: |
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The Deauville is a good shout, as is its bigger brother the Pan.
I have a Pan 1300 and do around 90 miles per day to the outskirts of London. M25/M40/A40 stuff. It is a beautiful machine to do that on, smooth, fast, comfortable and once you get to know the size will filter through surprisingly small gaps. They really are built for eating up the miles - I can do 500 miles in a day and still walk, as fresh as if I'd just got on.
Big luggage capacity (especially with a top box) - I can put a suit in a soft carrier folded in thirds (rather than the usual folded in half), and going to a customer site store all my bike kit (jacket, boots, helmet, overtrousers etc) locked away on the bike.
It's still a bit barge-like for tight and aggressive filtering in the centre of town, and eats tyres compare to the Deauville (I get about 8k on a rear, probably half again on the front).
Reliability is legendary on these, no 12K suspension services, 8k oil changes (though I tend to do 4-6), shaft drive etc. The only minor irritation is the recommended 12K brake fluid flush, which involves 7 bleed nipples in the correct order (linked brakes with ABS) - but that takes less than hour including pulling off the side fairing.
I paid just over £4k from a dealer(!) for a 55 plate with 26k miles on it last February. It now has just under 60K, with nothing more than routine servicing. |
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andyscooter |
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andyscooter World Chat Champion
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bamt |
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bamt World Chat Champion
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Posted: 10:37 - 01 Oct 2017 Post subject: |
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High mileage commuting in towards London skews a lot of conventional wisdom. 150 miles per day isn't going to be fun, and in many, more civilized, areas of the country it would be better and cheaper in a car.
Down here, parking is a pain and expensive, then when on the outskirts you have the "is it going to take me 30 minutes or 3 hours to get to the M25 today?", and you don't know until you are there. Even in a comfy car I found that soul destroying.
On the bike my commute is an hour each way, give or take 10 minutes, regardless of what is going on. In the car it could be 50 minutes or three hours.
With the bikes, serviceability is important. On a burgman do you need to strip plastics to do an oil change? That's going to be done every six weeks or so, paying a garage gets expensive and taking off plastics yourself eats into leisure time. No plastics in the way means a 10 minute change. How easy is a tyre change? There'll be several of those a year too. Is a burgman more likely to be a target for the scooter chavs?
What age/miles/depreciation do they have, and what life expectancy? Doing 30k+ miles per year is going to reduce the value of the bike to zero very quickly, but for how many years can you keep it running at reasonable expense?
There's more to think about than high mpg and cool looks. The Burgman may be the answer, but I'd also have to factor in the cost of the divorce if Mrs Bamt caught me riding one! |
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 6 years, 251 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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