Yet another "What bike?" thread.

[ThatDippyTwat]

New job on the horizon. Much better money, so I'll be looking for something to do mainly commuting and a bit of hooning on, while I pull the VFR off the road and sort the list of non-essential, but "I know it needs doing" stuff to it. Budget £3K-ish.
Things to note.

I'm dubious about inline fours*
I like midrange.
I'm 6'3" - No CBR/VFR400's for me.
Not scared of wielding a spanner or three, but would rather ride it than fix it.
Older models are fine within reason, but see above point.
No budget exotica. That's reserved for the purchase after the VFR is sorted.

*I can't afford the ones I really like, possible exception of the ZZR1200 which is fugly but affordably fast.

Fire at me. Will be buying in the next couple of months, depends on how fast the process goes in transferring.
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'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)

[MarJay]

Street triple. Then you'll sell the VFR and never look back.
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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.

[ThatDippyTwat]

[MarJay]

Street Triple is 675cc (or later 765cc) the Speed is 955cc or 1050cc depending on model, I think the current version is 1200cc.

Either way, the Street Triple has the same power to weight ratio as the 1050 Speed Triple, but it weighs so much less that it's so much more fun. The 1st gen Street Triple has the same power to weight ratio as a '93 FireBlade!

You can pick them up for around £3000 and they ride so well.
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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.

[weasley]

Blackbird?
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[droog]

Early BMW R1150GS?

I confess I haven't ridden one of these, but it's a bike I'd like to have a go on - get the feeling it's the kind of bike you are gonna wind up loving or hating - which is why it intrigues me as a bike.

Reviews say it handles well, is torquey - so should be up for hooning.

As a commuter: Big, rangy, comfortable bike for tall people, Shaft drive, 200 mile plus tank range.

Higher mileage examples can be had for around 3k - if it's been well maintained then the extra miles shouldn't be an issue on these old boxer twins.

[Zen Dog]

Resisting the urge to say Street Triple (since I've just bought one to compliment my own VFRs), if you love midrange (and it seems you already like the look), the Speed Triple is a great option.

I've tried my mate's 1050 Speed Triple, and the grunt is staggering, at any revs, in any gear. I let it rev all the way up in 3rd from low revs, and its a solid slab of torque all the way up, and as you approach the redline, the front wheel just starts to lift... Not super nimble, but solid and planted in the corners. Riding position is comfortably upright, but the seat isn't suitable for proper touring really. I seriously considered one after trying it.

Ultimately, for me, I like small nimble bikes and I like engines you have to rev to get the best from, so the Street Triple was a better match. But the triple engine's mix of torque and revs is a great one in any form.

Do you count exotica as pretty much anything rare?
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Current - '94 VFR750FR, '00 VFR800FI Previous - '10 Street Triple R, '92 MZ ETZ301, '05 TTR250, NSR125R, KMX125, "Honda" Win (chinese copy of an old Honda design with a C90 engine)
My bike trip around S.E. Asia 2010/2011

[ThatDippyTwat]

[ThatDippyTwat]

[wr6133]

I wouldn't rule out earlier litre bikes (circa 2001 gsxr, blades, etc). I commuted on my k1 gsxr 1000 for a few years. Bigger and comfier than newer stuff, bags of grunt low down make the half asleep morning commute easy and the afternoon hoon home fun. Pre-electobollocks makes spannering easy.

Your budget gets good ones.

[SirFallalot]

Since wr6133 mentioned the gsxr, I'm loving the zx9r, I suppose it's similar. I've done entire rides under 6-7krpm when following behind slower bikes, it's useable and enjoyable due to the torque, as you rev it up, well it still scares the shit out of me tbh. Also found it to be moderately comfortable unless your commute involves lots of traffic/narrow filtering, then it's too wide, gets handy/wristy crampy and heats your legs. A streetfighter could do the trick
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Lexmoto Valiant 125; 94 CB400; 96 CB750F2; 81 CB750 (restoring, lol not gonna happen); 2001 ZX9R(It's about to go :c); 2012 R1200R; 2015 R1200RS

[droog]

Suzuki TL1000S (with the rear shock upgrade).

[ThatDippyTwat]

I thought about Litre bikes, but I'm not a fan of IL4's, and I know that kills a lot of bikes straight off.
If I went that route, the ZZR1200 and Blackbird are possibilities (I've ridden both, they're both happy commuting, both will get a hustle on). ZRX11/1200, XJR12/1300, CB1400 are all nice and right up my street, but prices are silly for any of them. I can get one for 3Kish, but it won't be as nice as 3K blackbird, ZZR etc.

ZX9R? Pretty sure the bars are low on that. VFR position is about as low as I want to go, I'm not 20 any more.

Streetfighter? Love them to bits. Depends on finding a properly sorted one, not a crashed, fairingless ZX6R with Renthals. I suspect my insurance should be managable now.

TL1000? Yeah, no reason not to have a look at them. On the list. Good to know about the shock.
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'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)

[arry]

What's wrong with IL4?

Would you get a Tiger 800 for that sort of money? Possibly. Mainly commuting that wouldn't be a bad shout.

[droog]

[ThatDippyTwat]

[arry]

Aprilia Shiver 750, maybe?

[SirFallalot]

[Irezumi]

[chickenstrip]

[droog]

Suzuki SV1000 - either the naked or half faired version depending on taste. Worth checking out.

[ThatDippyTwat]

[Zen Dog]

Been thinking about your requirement of "mainly commuting and bit of hooning".

Depends on the length and nature of the commute, but maybe a DRZ400SM or a Duke 390? Both are slim and nimble, so good for traffic, but maybe not the best if it's a long commute. DRZs aren't cheap for what you're getting really, but they seem to hold their value incredibly well. I met a guy a couple of weeks ago with a 390 and an S1000RR, and he said that he usually takes his 390 to the track because it's such good fun.
____________________
Current - '94 VFR750FR, '00 VFR800FI Previous - '10 Street Triple R, '92 MZ ETZ301, '05 TTR250, NSR125R, KMX125, "Honda" Win (chinese copy of an old Honda design with a C90 engine)
My bike trip around S.E. Asia 2010/2011

[chickenstrip]

[ThatDippyTwat]