What bike shall I buy?

[jonny.boyd]

So I am currently looking around at different bikes - I am going to be in the position to buy in March and am getting a head start to find out what I want!

So I'm currently looking at:

SV650S (Curvy)
VFR800
Kawak ZX6r

What are your thoughts? Strangely enough the VFR800 came up about £200 cheaper in insurance compared to an SV650! but they are about £1,000 more expensive.

Bike will be mainly used for long miles - so comfort is key!

Has anyone ridden the latter two bikes on my list or are there any other budget sports / tourers that I should be looking at?? Budget will be a max of around £2,500

Cheers!

[DanSp]

I went from 2x curvies, to a gsxr600 to a VFR800 and now have a pointy! If I could choose any of them again for what your after (or for anything other than 100% pleasure riding) I would take the VFR any day of the week! They are a little more expensive (and really quiet with the standard can) but that would really be my bike of choice, comfy on long runs, pulls like a train even when 2 up, and enough kick to keep up with some mates on sports bikes on sunny days (down to the riders I know blah blah blah).
If you've had your license long enough try and find a local dealer with a viffer or anything else and go for a test ride and see what you think!


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[jonny.boyd]

Yeah that seem to be what I've seen from reviews over the web! What's a good price for the older 2002 / 2004 models? They're looking around £2,500 mark dependant on milage.

I would definitely do that, although with me currently being in Australia, that would make it a little complicated ;)

Thanks for the advice Dan

[Runako]

VFR for your use. But make sure its a good example as they can be expensive to put right if they have some of their notorious issues.

[jonny.boyd]

What are the common issues to be looking out for?

[Runako]

I know the VTEC had some engine issues and I know one that had a factory gearbox issue. Both are expensive to cure and on the 2002-2003 models you wont have a warranty to fall back on. Some with the VFR's on here might be able to give more info, otherwise you can check on the VFR forums.

Edit: Just found a link to this http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/community/Forums/Categories/Topic/?topic-id=426194. Problem 3 refers to the fuelling issue I heard of.

[suzukigt380paul]

never owned a vtec,dont know of any real issues with them,the cam chain tensioners can play up,much like they do on a sv,and if you have the valve shims done it is a expensive job,some people never touch them and never have trouble even after a 100k,i own a vfr800 pre vtec,probably the best vfr ever made,only thing that will go wrong is the psb in the clocks and the reg/rec,the engine is good for at least 250k,and the build quality puts all other jap bike to shame,you can pick up a nearly mint 98/2001 pre vtec for well under 2k and it will still be going strong for another 200k or 20 years or so,dont worry about what milage it has done as its unlikely to cause any problems,nodoubt you are looking for a newer bike but i would would say the pre vtec is the best to buy and will only cost pennies to run,and once the shims have been done on this engine i doubt they will ever need doing again as to long distance comfort,stick a gell seat on it and youl be good to go

[richwill68]

Buy my curvy! It's in the fastest colour too... Yellow!;)

Regards

Rich.

[Scythe92]

Buy my curvy! It's in the fastest colour too... Yellow!;)

Regards

Rich.

Same! I will be selling in February / March (depending on insurance quotes on my next bike)

[Teejayexc]

This one...


http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=188749


Ykuw2.

[L3nny]

I have a VFR V-Tec, it is, on paper, the best all round bike you can get. It's plenty fast enough for the road, it handles well, it's got luggage on it, it's comfortable, well built, reliable.

However it doesn't really excite me much. But that's why I also have a GSXR 600 :D

You should be able to get an early VTEC for your budget, it will have a lot of miles but don't let that put you off as long as the big VTEC service has been recently done.

You'll probably find the late pre-vtecs are more as they have a cult following.

[SUPERSTARDJ01]

Zx6r

[suzukigt380paul]

rI have a VFR V-Tec, it is, on paper, the best all round bike you can get. It's plenty fast enough for the road, it handles well, it's got luggage on it, it's comfortable, well built, reliable.

However it doesn't really excite me much. But that's why I also have a GSXR 600 :D

You should be able to get an early VTEC for your budget, it will have a lot of miles but don't let that put you off as long as the big VTEC service has been recently done.

You'll probably find the late pre-vtecs are more as they have a cult following.you should be able to pick up a late pre vtec as a private sale for £1200-£2000 depending on condition and year, i picked my 98 vfr in vgc locally with a low 35k on it and fsh for £1400 nearly 2 years ago,prefer riding my vfr then my blade,and although its no sports bike its not far off the mark,easily clock 145 in 5th with plenty more to go and one more gear,and lose a speed triple mate any day,the standard seat is a killer,but thats sorted with a gell seat,and the engine will rev well into the red line with out problems,dont even know if it has a rev limiter,800 pre vtec difenitley the best vfr built,and im not biased in anyway,the vtec i assume handles and brakes aswell if not better,but is let down by a engine that has less power(3hp) more peaky and camchains,one step forward two steps back comes to mind,honda did much the same with the pan when they brought out the 1300,rant over!!!!!!

[L3nny]

I've ridden both and prefer the V-Tec so each to their own I suppose.

I would admit that the V-Tec system is pointless though as I am in the V-Tec range 90% of the time anyway.

[suzukigt380paul]

I've ridden both and prefer the V-Tec so each to their own I suppose.

I would admit that the V-Tec system is pointless though as I am in the V-Tec range 90% of the time anyway.im told not all vtec's are the same,as honda altered the way and rev range they come in,with some older stock vtec's having a real flat spot then a kick when it comes in,and later ones having different software or what ever and less noticeable step when the vtec cuts in

[L3nny]

I have a 2009 and I have been told that they did improve the V-Tec in that year, there is still a noticeable kick in the first 4 gears when it kicks in though.

I've got V-Tec in my car too so I am used to it, I love it :D

[Thunderace]

So I am currently looking around at different bikes - I am going to be in the position to buy in March and am getting a head start to find out what I want!

So I'm currently looking at:

SV650S (Curvy)
VFR800
Kawak ZX6r

What are your thoughts? Strangely enough the VFR800 came up about £200 cheaper in insurance compared to an SV650! but they are about £1,000 more expensive.

Bike will be mainly used for long miles - so comfort is key!

Has anyone ridden the latter two bikes on my list or are there any other budget sports / tourers that I should be looking at?? Budget will be a max of around £2,500

Cheers!

You can have the Ace for £900?

[Spank86]

But then you really would have to change your name to chuckle bunny.

[thinone]

Yeah that seem to be what I've seen from reviews over the web! What's a good price for the older 2002 / 2004 models? They're looking around £2,500 mark dependant on milage.

I would definitely do that, although with me currently being in Australia, that would make it a little complicated ;)

Thanks for the advice Dan

here is a bike on offer:

http://macsporran.simplesite.com/

[jonny.boyd]

Looks like a good bike, but no mention of price or contact info...

[thinone]

Looks like a good bike, but no mention of price or contact info...

CHeERS for looking

contact link on LEFT hand side