Boring old MPG question

[TheShaggyDA]

Sorry Bendy, I know how you love MPG questions

I've been offered a contract that's a daily 130 mile round trip, of which 95% will be motorway or dual carriageway. My previous commute was of an 80 mile mixed road variety, which the Enfield was quite happy with, but I don't think the poor girl will be up to that kind of treatment. This means that I may be shopping for a new bike quite soon, so what's out there that is :-

Reliable
Economic
Happily cruise at 80mph
Upright riding position (weak wrists)
OK for a short arse (29" inside leg)

I'm guessing I'm looking at the 500 (CB500/ER5/GS500) range, or a GT550 if I can pick one up that's clean, or maybe a 600 (Divvy, Bandit, Fazer) but the main consideration is reliable and cheap to run. So, what have you got that could fit the bill, and what's it cost to run?
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Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[cc123]

I'd say and ER5....
Never owned one but I know folk that do. Cheap to run, insure and to get parts for....

I'm sure it will 'cruise' at 80mph too....
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Old bikes >>> https://www.bikepics.com/members/cc123/

[WildGoose]

Tiger
Tiger
Tiger
Tiger
errr... shite
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So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976

[iCraig]

GPZ500S will suit you sir, will easily cruise at 80MPH, very upright riding position, and it has a low seat. And I know of an A Model GPZ thats for sale which has a brand new Kawasaki rotor that cost £280!

[El_Bandido]

My bandit does 50mpg. I have fitted a fly screen and now it is quite comfortable at 80. Nost sure about the height issue as i am 6 foot.

I understand they are cheap to maintain though i havent had to do anythignto it yet (touch wood)
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Hold my beer and watch this!

[carvell]

I'd have thought that if you will be doing 130 miles of motorways you'd want something a bit more powerful than an ER5.

A divvy 600 or 900 (shaft drive, ideal) would probably be a good bet.
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Yamaha TDM 850

[Phoenix]

I'd say a GPZ500s, but get a nice one. No point buying an old nail when you can get the latest model (not the latest year) for £1400 in excellent condition, it's got a fairing to keep the wind and some rain off you, plus you've only got 2 cylinders to worry about rather than 4 with something like a bandit or fazer.

[mr.z]

? if you are rideing 95% on motorway you WILL want a faring...

If your looking for a second bike then i'd suggest a GL500/650, yes they are quite hideous but they are designed for this sort of thing, upright position, shaft drive, easy to ride, i can get on one easy (5'8) and a very very nice example can be got for £1000 no problem.. in fact theres no bike this side of £6000 that i'd want to use for this sort of thing...

Dunno if i'd want one as a MAIN bike but if most of your rideing is motorway then you'll be glad of it...

Diversion is another good one, if you have much money to throw about a deuvale is another...
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[tribal_tiger]

[TheShaggyDA]

[0ni]

https://www.suzuki.co.nz/motorcycles/bike.gallery/an650ak4.500.jpg

+

https://dubhe.free.fr/gpeint/magritte6.jpg

+

https://www.nznature.co.nz/images/moccasins.jpg
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Its a lovely day, just wait until some bastard spoils it.

[TheShaggyDA]

Oooohhhh - feet forward! I can have my tartan travel rug over my knees too!
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Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[biggerjohn]

I have to say i love my CBF600s it starts every morning without fail more than happy to cruse at 70-80mph the half faring does do a good job although with the amount of motorways you will be doing up may want a taller screen.

Top that all off I get about 160 to 170 out of a tank before the fuel light makes an appearance or about 48mpg.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Depends whether you are talking new or old.

GPZ500 has a fairing and is cheap on petrol (we get 60mpg out of one, and have managed 220 miles before reserve). Get a D model and the main problem (self destruct rotors) no longer applies. Build quality is not great but not bad. Chain drive which might be a pain, or might just justify a Scott Oiler. Only down side is the power delivery which is a bit weak at lower revs.

Divvy. Probably ideal for lots of motorway use. Use more petrol than a GPZ500 and has a smaller tank. Get a later one with twin disks and (most important) an electric fuel pump (early ones had a vacuum fuel pump that is fairly useless). Just do not expect a bike that is fun to ride on back roads. I sold my Divvy as I found it boring to ride on my commute which is 95% back roads.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Wave2k]

tigers aint for short asses
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Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

[Frost]

[mr.z]

The two common problems you'll ever encounter on a cx/gl are

Mechanical seal, absoloute git of a job to do but ive know of a bike going for 10 years without the owner paying any attention to it (just refilling the coolant)

Startor coil, Not a massive problem, they can be rewound and its not all that common for them to go...

Appart from that theres no other design related problems, one thats been looked after (and its easy to look ofter them) will be solid, i'm currently looking for another to replace my ta sometime soon because i'm so frickin sick of the niggles and the fact its just not as good a bike!
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[Davo]

I'd suggest a Hayabusa.

Reliable
Will cruise at 80mph without thinking
Comfy & Upright Seat Position (good wind protection as well)
Low Seat Height
Still fun to ride.

Although it is a little bit more expensive to run. GPZ also good.

[instigator]

Faired bandit for less than £2k.

My daily commute is looking to change from 4.5 miles to 80 miles so I'll be taking the bus/train instead. I can't be arsed riding all that way on a bike that'll be depreciating and getting serviced regularly. Well, perhaps if I had a second bike, then I would use my er5 for the commute (95% motorway) But...you want something with a little more poke in my opinion. Bandit all the way. Or a divvy

P.S Most I squeezed out of my er5 was 178.8 miles before hitting reserve, which was about 65mpg. That was at 70-90mph, all on the motorway. Haven't had that good again but thats because I don't take the motorway very often.

Running costs:

-Front tyre - £60 (10k+ miles)
-Rear tyre - £75 (7000 miles?)
-New shocks(when they go...last for ages) - £60
-Still on my original front brake pads, mileage now at 13.5K Replacements only cost £11

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