After the Bandit?

[chris_hu_cheng]

Ok so I have had my Bandit 600 for just over a year, and full licence for slightly longer than that. Am a 50 something late biker.

Love 2 wheels absolutely addicted, spend a lot of time on 2 wheels for occasional commuting, pleasure rides and travel. Will ride anything for fun.. garage currently has a 1972 Mobylette AV50, a 125cc Chinese derived GN125 clone thing (older carbureted and better imho), a Honda Dylan 125cc Scooter and the Bandit. The Bandit was in very good condition low mileage 1999 model, I love it.... but..

Despite knowing I can learn to ride the Bandit better, I have been pushing things a little and can feel the weight, and suspension limitations. The 125s are mainly for Wife who has the bike bug now, one might go soon for a 250cc or similar, and the mobylette will go now I have had fun working on it and maintaining.. possibly replaced with an old 100 - 125cc 2 stroke when I find a half decent one.

Assuming I have those bases covered to scratch the itch under various circumstances, am considering a more sporty bike to get some more skills and experience and possibly the odd track day (although ultimately I think I will be heading in the direction of dirt and green lanes).

I ride the Bandit hard sometimes, in the high rev range and as I get more experience can start to understand the limitations of chassis, suspension etc. Did improve things a little with heavier fork oil and if I keep it probably a better rear shock in the pipeline. I know I can get more experience etc.... However what would I get, experience wise if for example I replaced with similar age GSXR 600 (plucked that one as someone recommended as next step alternative recommendations gratefully accepted).

I am not looking for expensive, and happy without traction control, sports modes, ABS, stupid silly BHP etc. etc. I push my limits incrementally, have had one or two slightly to very scary moments on the Bandit but would be looking for bit of training for the track etc. and never expecting to be be a proper racing snake. Seems like a decent 20 year or so old sports bike would offer a new experience with a bit more punch and a lot more agility??

I am trying to cram a lifetime of experience into the remaining years, endgame can be an electric thing in my 70s with so many safety measures it can't fall over (and I will still be having fun), that comes later though. I am still pretty bendy and fit so not afraid of a moderate sporty riding position.

Or should I stick with the Bandit, it is quick enough sensibly speaking and still lots more I can learn in it.

[pepperami]

Any of the big litre/1100/1300’s will give you a new perspective on the ‘muscle’ school of thought. They’ll all be quick , handle better than you can cope, stop on a sixpence, and destroy your wallet , but you’ll have a massive grin on your face.

Do it, you only live once
____________________
I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

mt09 maybe
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

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

[wr6133]

You can pick up decent GSXR1000 K1 or K2's (2001 & 2002 years), now for little over 2k. Some with shite cosmetics go for under 2k.

That's crazy cheap speed. They are surprisingly versatile as well I used mine as a commuter for a couple years quite happily till relocation meant I needed a car.

Similar vintage 'blades and R1's are worth a look as well. Though really you want the GSXR coz it's a GSXR

*edit to add* your map shows you quite near me, you are welcome to have a try on mine to see if an older litre bike suits (dry day though she doesn't come out in the rain anymore).

[JackButler]

[chickenstrip]

Sports bike at 50? Lucky you if your body is up to that kind of contortion still!
No reason why not if you're supple enough (mucho jealous if so!).

But I'd say Street Triple if you're not bothered about mega bhp. It's a good step up from the Bandit in terms of performance and handling. It is sports bike handling, but with a comfortable riding position. Great fun, great bike. Everyone should try one. Go for the R version, better suspension.
____________________
Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[Polarbear]

Agree with the chicken. A stripple is a wonderful bike. I loved mine but being a naked didn't suit me for touring so it had to go. If I could have afforded 2 decent bikes at that time I would have kept it for sure.

The only problem is they do command a premium so whether you would be willing to pay that much I don't know.

Also there are a good few 1000+'s that are excellent bikes as Peppers said. All fun with just that bit extra over the 600's. I like the XJR and the Kwack ZRX1200 but there are many more.

Also, if you are talking sports bikes, take one for a good ride to see if you can handle the riding position.
____________________
Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[doggone]

MT07, XSR700 or 900 maybe, you really don't want a serious sportsbike.
The Bandit was good in its day but a lot of mid-range bikes now handle much nicer.
You might look at something with a degree of off-road ability.

[chris_hu_cheng]

Lots to think about there, thanks.

Step one, going to get myself a test ride on something sporty I think I should be OK but pointless continuing if not. been working on fitness and flexibility last year or so fingers crossed.

I was considering a 600 sports bike as the step up, but now going to factor in bigger capacities.

Street triple path sounds nice, but fundamentally don't want to blow too much money as I want to be able to refine a small collection of bikes to scratch every itch. I have a bit of cash to spend on the hobby (now the kids are adults) but If I spend too much on the next Big Bike will clip my wings for other options.

No I haven't found the limits on the Bandit for sure, I ride it a lot in all weathers for proper travel and recreation, and keep pushing my riding incrementally but I know there is a lot more to learn (and always will be). There again, I didn't find the limits of my 125cc the five months before I got my full licence, learnt a lot more when I got access to another one in the summer (there are some roads around that are more riding a 125 to the max I feel).

Will update and compare what happens after the next move, something is going to happen, there will be a bit of a shuffle of my two wheel options.

If I don't get some sports bike experience I may always regret it, the window of opportunity is slowly closing.

[chris_hu_cheng]

[doggone]

[Easy-X]

Maybe focus on a simple choice: do you want a racing bike where the speed, in part, comes from fairings and being scrunched up or a litre bike where you just throw raw power at the problem
____________________
Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Teflon-Mike]

Scratching itches it's pretty much whatever takes your fancy when it comes along and then do you have the time/money/space... end of the day its a bike not a woman, they don't get jelouse and start throwing saucepans at you if you have more than one, or storm off and sue you for your house... so go for it...

Mention of 250's instantly makes me think KR1S.. but then two-stroke makes me think 'spanners'... and a whole raft of fantasies float through my id like the magician's nephew notes...

Personally the big-bore sports idea doesn't really inspire. Sooo much shear XS of everything except perhaps 'comfort' the suggestion of nerve ending response and reactivity just isn't there, and I'd not espect them to be particularly demanding to ride or beg me to up my game as a rider.. in fact the converse, so much XS they tend to flatter the numpty and let you get away with so much less finesse.

I actualy discovered that twenty odd years backl on a launch year ZX6R, that responded on the nerve endings and was just about the most clinical bike I have ever ridden, utterly 'cold' there wass almost nbo rider engagement what-so-ever, and I got off with the distict idea that the thing was lsulking and looking at me sideways, asking "So, are you going to RYDE ME or WHAT?" it just didn't start to 'work' until seriously illegal speeds, or utterly daft on the edge situations....

Far more 'fun' was actually a Cagiva Mito 125... which begs some thunk.... I would still like an original round lamp 7-speed mito... and mostly as a tinker-toy. First fun would be a decent resto project to undo a quarter of a century's worth of kiddie go kwik ideas of 'maintenance' and 'tuning'... but then I'd have a bike, that is pretty nerve ending sharp and responsive, and that does beg some pretty demanding rider involvement, and at the kind of speeds you can achieve on public roads a bit before seriously endangering life and licence.... wouldn't want to try riding to Edinborough on the thing though!

Soooo.... notion does chuck up a couple of ideas or so. A-N-D For twenty years I have lived with my old CB Seven-Fifty, as all-round general dolphin road bike, and backed that with a couple of 'projects' or so.

On that basis, I would look long and hard at the bandit, and wonder exactly what is lacking, and if I could do much about making it better... and/or of it was worth it... Seven-Fifty over the years has gained a couple of inches in its back shocks, slid down its stanchions 1/2 an inch got some Hagon progressive wounds and heavier oil in the front, acquired some pretty hill-billy rear sets and a pair of elsie bars etc... b-u-t I haven't had back-ache before even wheeling it out to load it up with luggage for a two-up trip to wales or where-ever... it's served, and I have got a 'bit' of tinker fun from it, as well as riding.

The 248 Cota, has, for thirty five years offered 'dirty fun' in competition trials, and plenty of spanner fun between events fixing whatever I broke in them!!!!

THAT begs a very big bit of ';oy-dear' for you, actually... I think that I have now got to give up on the aspiration of competing on very age class of school-boy to over 50's on the thing... I still have a few months to go to be eligible for the over 50's... anbd I'm now a cripple! B-u-t.... trials is incredibly 'cheap' compared to track-days or anything else, and gives plenty of chances to go get muddy, and as hintimated theres the 'old-boys' classes for over 50's. be warned... the one time I actually won my class, and was feeling pretty pleased with myself about it, I watched an 'old boy' who when I was only about 30, looked like he''d fallen out of his tortoise shell, came pottering past me on an old rigid framed Phelon & More Panther!! What was even MORE dispiriting was when the results sheet came in, and I observed that not only had I taken my 'class' (T-Shock)... that old boy on the Panther had beaten me in his class with less penalty points!

Any how, trials is cheap and easy to get into, and c-a-n offer a life-time of very engaging 'fun', and you dont need to have the latest most trechno trick bit of tackle to do it on; you can do it on pretty much anything... just how masochistic you want to be really! If you want to get muddy, then pretty much any of the more contemprary machines will be more than up to the job, and you can pick up a late Montesa 315R or similar for around a grand ready to go... if you want more spanner fun in the mix, then there's the classic classes, for pre-65's, mainly old Brit bangers like Triumph Cubs or BSA bantums, the rigid class for older iron like that Panther, or the more contemporary T-Chock class for things like my old Montesa, Yam TY's, and Fantics and like like, which all tend, especially the Yamm TY's be pretty well supported for the spares you inevitably need... oh-key maybe not the Frantics, b-u-t.... they even do it on e-bikes these days I believe.... so there's plenty of opportunity for most tastes.

And keep the Bandit for the road and sunny sunday's and popping to the super-market.

Ie the options are all 'open', pick your poison. b~u~t

Split the variables; horses for courses, road bikes for the road, track bikes for the track, dirt bikes for the dirt... and project bikes for the work-shop... and where can you get some over-lap?

Your call.. but don't make a camel of the compromise, and trying to get even a little extra out of a road bike on the road is the tail of a camel.... if track-days and road racing are what grabs you, here and ow I would be looking at something like an old ZX6R as dedicated tack-day toy and maybe novice class racer, and saving the tax and insurance for the entries.... and looking to get some uncompromised high adrenaline kicks out of the thing, and a bona-fide time sheet to tell me just how fast I'd gone (or not) rather than bar room bragging that probably ends with a tale of picking Hawthorne out my arse! But VFM track tome tends not to be so cheapo.... so how much you got to spend, and how much of a camel you wanna make.....

I would recommend you leave the Bandit as is, for now, and go check out the costs to go do trails, and maybe enduro, as green-laning has already been mentioned as appealing, and go look at what bike you might want to do that on....

Your Call.... but fuel for thuought and open the horizons a bit and look beyond just road bikes, and what kind pf masochism most appeals...
____________________
My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[chris_hu_cheng]

[Teflon-Mike]

[JackButler]

[chris_hu_cheng]

Thanks again for all the comments, I feel like one of those Nasa space probes, collecting so much data it will take months to analyse.

I have a plan now.

Get a test ride on sports bike, assess how I feel about the position etc. Fortunately I am like a magnet for sales guys, I look like a walking mid-life crises target market for em. Most bikes I look at someone pounces and after talking for a min or two they are already talking about test rides.

Probably book a session at the Ron Haslam school, looks like it will be a fantastic experience whatever happens and they have sessions in spring which will qualify as an expensive birthday present (I am owed one).

Don't jump too fast, one thing I forgot in my excitement, a sports bike at this time of year will be a bit limiting. Cold, dark, wet vs warm, dry and bright.

Probably replace another element for my itch scratch in the present, as Teff pointed out replacing the vintage moped with another project ie a 2 stroke geared bike with more poke and I can have some fun thrashing around, trying to keep in the powerband.

Possibly find the next upgrade for the Bandit, maybe rear shock.

[recman]

Far too many words.

Yours sincerely,

50 something Street Triple rider.

[chickenstrip]

[stinkwheel]

Bandit's built to a budget so get something with decent brakes and suspension and a bit more refinement?

CBR600? If you like top-end revs and the supersports feel, it will reward you and the chassis package is sublime. More = More. Most riders couldn't outride the capabilities of a CBR6 but wringing to power out of it takes some determination which si why many go for something bigger. The F has a slightly more relaxed riding position than the RR.

With supersports bikes. I think this is the last chance to see, they are going to be a thing of the past soon.
____________________
“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.

[almostthere]

zx9r cheap comfortable and fast what more do you need
____________________
Beer, It's the reason I get up every afternoon
www.mfairco.uk

[Polarbear]

[JackButler]

[garth]

GSXR750 - K4 onwards.

600 weight (mines 163kg dry) with a decent amount more grunt, while retaining revviness, without going to a 1000 which require less input, IMO.

A decent step up, and don't cost the earth.

Will be parting with mine shortly, if you're interested let me know. Don't want a lot for it.

I've also had a zx9r - while they are cheap, and fairly comfortable, they're a bit of a barge. I personally found all the cbr600s I've ridden to be typically Honda. Do everything, but not exactly exciting.

Anything is going to be more fun than a 600 bandit at the end of the day. They're heavy, have basic suspension and brakes, and were built to a budget.
____________________
You ain't a has been if you never was

[Skudd]

I'm at the age where top end isn't the priority (never really was) ow you get to the high figures and get back down again is where I'm at now. Comfort and an all round tool is what I like. I've always had a thing for Big Trailies and now have a 1200 GS Adventure. Nice comfortable riding position, big tank range, can go and stop well within my needs. Has a turning circle so small it still amazes me. Nice and tall for me, but you can change the seat height. Big enough to be seen, but can still filter. Commute or tour, depend on how I feel that day.
Brand new OE parts are fucking expensive, but pattern of second hand are fine.
____________________
Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".