Please recommend me a replacement hack for GPZ500

[dn38416]

Internet bike people, it's been a long time since i've been on here or tried to look at the current offering of bikes so I need a bit of direction...

I've been using a GPZ500S as pretty much my only means of transport for coming up to 10yrs, but it's now getting to the point where replacing stuff and electrical gremlins are making it less-viable. It's more or less for commuting and run around town jobs since i haven't had a car in years. I would actually buy another GPZ but good ones are v.hard to find now so considering alternatives.

Commute is about 30 miles of motorway into London and then c.7 miles filtering through crawling traffic. My 'fun' bike, the VFR750, pretty much melts once it gets into the city, and is too nice to use year around anyway. So the requriement:

- Needs to be capable of holding 80-90mph on the motorway;
- Ideally not fully faired,....when strong cross-winds catch me on the VFR on the motorway I find it quite hard to control, and it shits me up;
- Cheap to insure (I've had the GPZ anywhere between £80-£120);
- Good fuel economy, I get between 60 and 65mpg on the GPZ because average speed cameras and smart motorways have conditioned me into riding like a wooftah. And I am cheap;
- Cheap to maintain, good parts availability, decent build quality;
- Bonus points: narrow, handlebar width less than 800mm to fit it down the side gate and help filtering;
- Bonus points: Shaft drive!

The GPZ also benefits from the fact that no one in their right mind would nick it, and most people except me think it's terribly uncool. From a quick look around I spose I should be making a bee-line for the CB500X?

Thanks very much

[jeffyjeff]

Either of the Honda CB500's (F or X) would meet most of your requirements with the added bonus of reliability and durability. Do not overlook the Royal Enfield Interceptor or Continental GT. These bikes have been in production for six or seven years now, and are well-regarded in terms of build quality. The engines are low-stressed, and performance should match up pretty well with the GPZ500.
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History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of men - BOC

[A100man]

GS 500 ? Has the bonus that folk will stuff £10 notes under the seat strap out of pity or MT03?.
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Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600

[mrbox]

+1 for the cb500x would probably return better than GPZ economy like for like too.

More nickable the the GPZ mind and insurance might end up being more.
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Current bikes: RE Himalayan, Bandit 12, MZ250ES

[sickpup]

CB500X is expensive on tyres. An older CB500 or ER-6, even a faired one would likely be better bikes.

[stinkwheel]

Super scooter.
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“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.

[MarJay]

I'd be thinking CBR500R to be honest... CB500X might be too wide to fit down the narrow alley that was mentioned.
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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.

[dn38416]

Thanks very much everyone, maybe I'm being too precious about the wind protection here. I've probs only ever ridden about 4 or 5 different bikes so haven't really got a feel for some of these. I had a taller flip up screen put on the GPZ and along with the rest of the fairing creates a nice little bubble. Would something like the cb500f still hold up well on long stretches of motorway?

It's been a while since I've looked and honestly the used prices have thrown me a bit! Not only the lack of change out of say 4k for anything built in the last 10yrs. But also the observation that vfr750 values are so low so more pricey to switch up.

[dn38416]

[to v or not to v]

you can pick up RE Interceptors for around £3k now that are in good condition.
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current bike Yamaha Thunderace.
Moto Guzzi V7.

[c_dug]

Maybe a BMW F800S?

Ticks most of your boxes, and it's a belt, so not quite shafty but still less faff than a chain.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[FF68]

Every time I see the letters "GPZ" my nuts shrink like walnuts.

Why?

My first experience of bikes was being on the back of the local hoon who had a GPZ750Turbo. I thought we were just going for a gentle ride around town, but oh no, he took me on the motorway to show me how fast it could go. He did 150 with my feet hovering off the pegs, clinging on for dear life, and I proper shat myself.
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Honda H100s. Aprilia RS125. Honda CBR600RR. Aprilia RSVR1000.