Which 300cc?

[Kingbroady]

Hi all.

After having my YBR nicked during lockdown, I've decided to do the full test and get something a bit bigger. I mainly used it for a short commute. Didn't really take out for ride outs as it felt laboured in doing so due to engine size.

Anyway, I've been going round in circles on what bike to buy once I hopefully pass the full test.

Cheap insurance
Good MPG
Thinking no more than 300cc
Upright seating position
Something with more torque to get out of trouble, should it be needed.
ABS
Budget 4k top end

I'm looking at Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and KTM so would appreciate your views, please.

Thank you in advance

[Nobby the Bastard]

How old are you? If you can get more than 300cc legally then do so.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

[Kingbroady]

42 so unfortunately easily old enough.

[Nobby the Bastard]

Don't bother with a 300cc then. Go for 600 minimum.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

[Evil Hans]

I guarantee that within 6 months you'll be bored with it.

If you're not, you have no business owning a motorcycle!
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Triumph Sprint ST 1050. And it's Red.

[Easy-X]

Small bikes? I'm over them A "bigger" bike is barely bigger in size and weight and there's no law that says you have to rag the thing all the way... although plenty here will disagree
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[arry]

[Ribenapigeon]

£4k gets you a lot of choice in the 600cc market and after twelve years of tootling on a 125 you must have seen something that takes your fancy.

[barrkel]

The answer is ... an SH300 scooter!

The reality is a 300cc engine probably isn't going to have enough oomph to "get out of trouble" no matter what chassis it's in. It'll be a lot better than a 125cc, but you'll be accelerating slowly at 70mph, and if you're going to be in any kind of trouble that acceleration could be a meaningful help, it's on a motorway (IMO).

Otherwise, SH300 has cheap insurance, good MPG, upright seating, with ABS and is available for 4k very close to new. They were only £4.3k brand new a couple of years ago and the model has been superseded by SH350.

It's not what you're looking for, of course. It's practical and excellent if most of your journeys are on sub-50mph roads (city, suburbs, occasional dual carriageways). But most people don't want bikes for practicality.

Otherwise I recommend looking at bikes that focus on torque over power. So a CBF600 rather than CB600F (Hornet), or CB1000F rather than CBF1000, by Honda's way of classification. Or a twin cylinder, those tend to be tuned for torque over power, e.g. an ER6. Look for bikes in the 6xx cc class with lower power figures rather than higher; they'll tend to have more power on tap at lower revs, for that "torque to get out of trouble", where you'll probably be in too high a gear.
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Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ

[Andy_Pagin]

Which 300cc? One with a 600cc engine.
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They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[Fat Angry Scotsman]