Fun bikes for < 2k

B0ndy · Spanner Monkey Joined: 25 May 2015 Karma :

Ride a VFR800 to work and back Monday to Friday, brilliant commuter can't fault it for that - but no fun taking it out for weekend blasts.

What's a fun toy for less than £2k?

MPG, insurance etc none of that matters.
____________________
CBF 125 -> CB400SF -> GSX600F -> ZX6R (G1) -> GSXR1000 K4 -> ZX6R (B1H Stunt bike) -> VFR800 -> R1 5PW -> Sprint 1050 -> Fireblade 929 -> ZX10R C2H

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

KTM200 EXC - go get muddy. Smile

(Though if new to it, you may be better to start on a 250 or 300 which are generally more sedate.)

redeem ouzzer · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Oct 2015 Karma :

Get a track bike. More lulz than anything on the road.
____________________
Be a REAL MAN!

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

For that money i’d probably go Hornet or something, or a nice SRAD600 or 750 if I could stretch to it.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

kramdra · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Oct 2010 Karma :

Hornet. As a fun bike? Laughing

Vtr1000

trevor saxe-coburg-gotha · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Karma :

Agree w/ g on off-road suggestion - even slow going is fun. In fact, the slower sections can be and often are more involving than the easier, faster bits. All that looking ahead, picking a line, then trying to stick to it - through gloop and slime - is loads more fun than it should be.

Also agree w/ vtr.
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

doggone · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 May 2004 Karma :

Definitely a 250-ish off-road/trail + winter bike, though I guess it depends where you live.

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

Firestorm?

Fun bike?

Power and weight?

Fuel consumption?

Laughing

stevo as b4 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

Fun bike: A bit subjective really depends on what you class as fun, and what you want to do with it or where you'll ride it.

To some a 90's 600 sports bike would be a fun weekend bike, but to others they are too cramped, too heavy and too revvy to be any fun?

A litre V-twin might well be someone else's fun bike, but the too big and heavy thing could still apply.

A WR450F might be a fun bike for others, but it's not much of a road bike. Similarly a 125 or 250cc sports bike might be fun for someone, but you're hardly going to want to do serious miles on one.

Basically need more info from OP on what he classes as fun?

kgm · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jun 2015 Karma :

You could maybe...just get an early Tuono. Much fun.

Or cheap supermot but the search for something decent might be tricky.

ThatDippyTwat · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 Aug 2016 Karma :

B5234FT · Brolly Dolly Joined: 28 Sep 2009 Karma :

A very cheap street triple

Irezumi aka Reuben · Carrot Top Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Karma :

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

My idea of fun is light and revvy, but not too powerful so you don't need to hold off on the throttle.

The Street Triple is one of the most fun bikes I've ever ridden, but I doubt you'll get one in budget, which is why I thought Hornet first off. The competitors aren't really that good of that era, so it's either that or a '90s Sportsbike.

I might consider something like a ZX6R or similar but considering the OP's main bike is a VFR800, I assume he'd want to go unfaired rather than faired. That is an assumption on my part, but I think it's valid.

If I personally wanted a bike just for fun, I think it'd probably be a 250 two stroke, but you won't get one in budget at all.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

Assuming this is for weekend fun on backroads, something as light as possible, and naked. I wouldn't concentrate on the power.

There is also something to be said for owning a bike which is so cheap to fix that you don't care if you crash it (at low speed) or destroy the engine. It is nice to ride without mechanical sympathy from time to time.

I wouldn't go down the Hornet route. You already have a Japanese 4 cylinder middleweight bike.

So, things I would consider:
Any sort of proper supermoto.
Sinnis apache 250, for a cheap, light bike to cock around with and not care about.
Any of the Italian litre class naked V twins, for silly grins and making Paddy shake in terror.
Anything old, or an Enfield, because they're just different to ride.
Any kind of 2 stroke - particularly 90s 2 stroke 125s - because they're fun, and can generally be tuned.
Out of budget choice - Buell XB12. The most fun I've ever had on a bike. Having just had a look on ebay, way out of budget. Shame.

stevo as b4 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

I'd not waste time suggesting a ZX6R G-A model, as it's not that different from a VFR and can do everything a VFR can with just a touch sharper handing and touch less comfortable riding position.

Oh and you know who you are, but you really need to get/build another KX500 supermoto, as you mention them more than I do my Rover. It's such a specific bike that has to be built not bought, you obviously have alot of enthusiasm/nostalgia/ longings for one, so how come you've not re-scratched this niggling itch?

Build one and show it on a build thread for us all to look at. Thumbs Up

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

What about a GSXR750-Y (2000)?
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

almostthere · Traffic Copper Joined: 28 Oct 2013 Karma :

zx9r much fun and comfortable too Thumbs Up

____________________
Beer, It's the reason I get up every afternoon
www.mfairco.uk

stevo as b4 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

I don't get 750's for fun on the road, and haven't got them or understood why they aren't irrelevant since the mid 90's>?

Ok sure for a track bike, or because you want to create an authentic WSB replica, but for a fun road bike when OP already has a 750cc 4cylinder faired bike?

It seems like we arnt doing all that well as BCF these days with bike suggestions? Is it a lack of imagination or is the £2k budget that much of a fun killer these days?

Bozzy. · Scooby Slapper Joined: 07 Aug 2017 Karma :

What about selling the VFR and adding the £2000 cash to that and buying one bike that can do everything?
____________________
SV650S>>>Street Triple R

struan80 · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Nov 2014 Karma :

A 90's cruiser is what you need.

kgm · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jun 2015 Karma :

ThatDippyTwat · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 Aug 2016 Karma :

Enduro Numpty · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 31 Oct 2012 Karma :

If you can stretch your budget a bit and if fun really is what you want then a KTM690 Duke will be hard to beat. I have way more fun on the Duke than I ever did on my Fireblade. I know guys with the supermoto models with the older LC4 engines and they love them. Might get a half decent one for your budget.