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Nutsinatin
26-01-17, 08:46 PM
Hi all,
I've had quite the rough week. The other half’s Corsa blew the head gasket on Sunday and now I've totalled my 2nd SV!

Without going into the nitty gritty, about 50m from home a Nissan Micra pulled into a gap behind 3 cars, then decided they could make it past them before I reached them (I was about 3 car lengths away), pulled into the oncoming lane and made it past 2 cars before I ran into them at about 25mph. About 3.5 meters before I hit the car (measured by the damage I did to the road) I pulled the brake even harder, locked the front and slid into them, which is probably what wrecked the bike but saved me from a full head on.

I wrecked my Shoei helmet, Dane textiles and Gerbing gloves, but walked away with just bruising, so really a good result. The only thing I didn’t damage were my A* boots as the toe slider took it all - they were my oldest bit of kit that I was thinking of replacing so sods laws they were fine!

I need to fight it out with insurance about money as I'm third party, and I'm looking like I'm stuck with the insurance appointed solicitor as White Dalton won't take on the case as it's below £10,000 and there was no personal injury (which means I would have to pay solicitors fees which are non-recoverable so it is fair advice that they won't take the case).

Now I should have ridden more defensively and I could have avoided the accident but I misread the situation and hindsight is 20/20, so lesson learned for the future and move on.

Bike is going away for assessment so I'm stripping it for everything of value, engine still runs like a dream but I've smashed the front cowling and fairing lowers, exhaust is now banana shaped and the tank is concave, mirror is missing and I put my head through the screen, forks feel bent too, as well as all the little bits like levers etc. For a 50,000-mile bike that sounds like a write off. Blasted Micra only cracked their front number plate and bumper!

Now while I might be able to repair the bike on the cheap as a Cat C I've been thinking of replacing the SV for the last year. Now I was intending on doing it next March (14 months) but it seems like I might as well do it now.

So back to the title, what should I get?

Now both of my SVs have served me well and have been a blast. However, I'm racking up 20,000 miles each year. I'm at uni part time in Manchester, have two friends up in Aberdeen and one friend on the Essex coast (note to self: make more local friends) so I'm no stranger to longer journeys so do long for a bit of comfort. I also work in Reading so it’s a 50 miles round trip each day, fine on the SV with a mix of 40% motorway and 60% fast A and B roads. The other half also has family down in Alton so that adds several 100 mile round days.

When the better weather comes round I'll be out in the evenings and weekend for a blast, and a 200 mile day won't be abnormal, although I'm only a moderately fast road rider. I've got access to track only bikes so I will never take this bike on track.

I need some pillion provision, better than the SV, and the ability to fit hard panniers and top box as I will do some UK trips and days out with the other half. But mostly this bike will be for me.

Now I found the ~70bhp SV fine for anything on my own, but if I'm taking the other half and her worldly possessions about I really want over 90bhp.
I've never found an IL4 that I've liked have never tried a triple and love the SV twin.

I really want all day comfort for me, and enough comfort for the other half that she doesn't complain too much, the ability for full luggage, cruise control for all those pesky average speed zones as well as my bad habit of getting faster and faster on long motorway journeys. I would like more than 90bhp, and a bike that can filter down the motorway and the outskirts of town, but still scratch at the weekend. I would like ABS as I'm not perfect, if I made a mistake it would be nice if the bike saved me, plus I've already had three front end lock up crashes (1 my fault, 2 someone pulled out in front of me and trying to find 10% more brake when I'm already at 100% before I plough into the front of them) so I would like to keep it that way and traction control would be nice for this time of year but it's not a deal breaker.

Right now I've got £5k saved in my next bike fund, and I'm hopeful to get £2.5k for the SV so I've got a good budget. I've got a rainy day fund that I can dip into too so I've pretty much got a limit of 9k, although I don't want to spend all of it unless I have to! I know it is a lot of money for a bike but as it is my number 1 hobby and I intend to do 100k miles on it in the next 5 years I figure that's not too silly.

However, I am only 22 and have had 2 non fault accidents in the last two years so insurance limits me a bit. I'm fed up of dealing with the longwinded 3rd party claim process so this one will be fully comp. A 2015 Triumph Tiger will cost £1400 a year to give some idea whereas a Versys 1000 is £2000.

So I've ruled out the V-Strom 650 as it's so wide and just a bit underpowered for my liking, similarly for the Versys 650 and Tracer 700.

No Bandits! I've ridden the carbed and FI ones, and whilst they may get you from A to B uneventfully I ride a bike to enjoy traveling, not be bored to death! Same goes for the ER6 and CB650F.

I'm not convinced by the comfort of the VFR 800, and it's a bit porky and pricey.

BWM, Ducati and KTM are nice but too expensive.

The Versys 1000 is too expensive to insure.

The V-Strom 1000 looks very sensible but just doesn't excite me.

So that really leaves me with either the Tiger 800 or a Tracer 900, I'm 5, 10" so just about tall enough

The Tracer has a 17 litre tank and a 150 mile range - so fill ups every three days, I can live with that. It also has 17 inch wheels, the style is exciting and up to date, but there is no factory cruise control, only aftermarket, which has good reviews on their forum and Google, but it’s about £1000 extra after fitting. It comes with ABS and traction control too; however, it is very new so there are not that many cheap ones out there.

Now the Tiger is popular but I'm not sure about it. It runs a 19" front which spooks me, as I'm still grappling with the idea of a sit up bike unlike the pseudo sports SV (bike designed for what I do, not trying to make a bike do things it was never meant for). Cruise control is an option, but that triple sounds mechanically whiney and a bit thirsty.

I've got an insurance Bandit for a few days whilst I get the CBF 125 up and running and MOTed/insured etc. so I've got a bit of time, but I don't want to be relegated to the 125 for too long!

So for anyone who has stuck around all the way to the end of my ramble, thank you very much, and for anyone who has just skipped to the end, what do you think, Tiger 800, Tracer 900 or something else altogether? Obviously I will be test riding these bikes in the near future, but help deciding what to try is appreciated, as it's time to move on from the SV, although I really will miss it.

Mr Speirs
26-01-17, 09:15 PM
I found the front suspension on the Tracer 900 to be massively vague and unsettling, especially when riding at pace. Was all ready to put a deposit down until I actually rode it and completely ruled it out.
Apparently the 700 is supposed to be a lot better but I wasn't keen on the lack of power.

Ended up going for a 2014 Honda VFR and it is easily the best bike if had. Comfortable, fast enough, rides so well and got luggage. Picked it up for just over £7k with 2500mile on it.
Only downside so far is the VTEC kick is severe when the engine is cold, like a misfire...once it's warmed up though is not noticeable at all.

Good luck with your choice, you have enough cash to pretty much take your pick.

Oh and as a wild card out of your budget choice have a look at the BMW S1000XR. Totally amazing thing!

Bibio
26-01-17, 09:16 PM
go try a bmw k1200r. if you can see past their looks its a great bike. cheep for what they are as the looks seem to bring their value down.

synXero
27-01-17, 12:38 AM
I'd reconsider the VFR800 VTEC bikes if I were you. Think you've maybe prematurely written off the winner!

Craig380
27-01-17, 08:03 AM
Sorry to hear about the incident, hope you get the insurance settlement quickly, by the sound of it there's no way the Micra driver can be less than 100% fault for that.

Crawling Finn
27-01-17, 12:47 PM
R1200GS would do well for you if you can put up with the image. And they are well plenty within your budget.

Talking Heads
27-01-17, 03:59 PM
Make sure the next one has ABS ;)
Have you considered a Triumph Sprint GT...?
Would the budget stretch to a Z1000SX...?

Heorot
27-01-17, 07:55 PM
Have you considered the Triumph Sprint ST. Seems perfect for your requirements to me. MCN consider it the best sports-touring motorcycle of its generation by some margin and better than the VFR's. If you are lucky you may find a used one with factory hard panniers. I'm going to look at an old 955i tomorrow.

littleoldman2
27-01-17, 10:41 PM
Sprint, BMW K1200GT, BMW1300GT, Honda VFT1200F, Crossrunner, Crosstourer. Not necessarily in that order

DomP
28-01-17, 05:51 PM
Sv650?

shiftin_gear98
28-01-17, 08:38 PM
Glad, you escaped unharmed. Good luck picking a new toy. Personally I'm no help as I've only owned the SV, however I'm loving the idea of an Z1000 as a next bike. However I don't have 900 quid let alone 9000 budget. Happy hunting.

L3nny
29-01-17, 02:08 PM
The V-Strom 1000 looks very sensible but just doesn't excite me.


I've got a V-Strom 1000 and while it isn't very exciting to look at it is great fun to ride. I haven't been able to fall in love with it but every time I think about selling it I go for a ride and decide not to. As far as value for money goes you can't really beat it and you'll get one easily for your budget.

If I didn't take a pillion so often though I'd have got a Hyperstrada, the test ride I had on one was great fun.

Tomor
31-01-17, 12:33 PM
I have the MT-09 Tracer and love it. Should be able to pick up a used one for £6500 ATM. The suspension isn't the best, but it is a hoot to ride :). Stick it in A mode, have he suspension set up to you and it is good enough for most riders. I don't want to chuck £1500 at it as it isn't THAT bad. I'd go test ride one if you can.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nutsinatin
05-02-17, 09:56 AM
First of all, thank you to everyone for your suggestions! Sorry for the slow reply but work has been busy this week!

The biggest killer of bikes has been the insurance, I’m not a big earner and the only reason I’ve got this budget is due to saving for the last year + so I can’t afford a huge insurance bill next year too.

Tracer is a bit pricier to insure than the Tiger (£1600), and soft suspension can be sorted (just like the SV). Is that the original A mode you’re in or the remap? It just appeals to me as something I can commute and scratch on like the SV, but if I want to pop over to Essex to visit I can without all the discomfort and the pillion can enjoy the trip in relative comfort. It’s the spirit of the SV in a bigger package.

Due to the VRFs popularity I decided to give it another try, £2500 to insure the current model, even going back to the 2001 model it’s £1600 to insure, so still on the no list but if I come across one I’ll give it a spin, it must be doing something right if you all like it so much! Is the VTEC really as bad as the reviews say on the pre 2015 models?

BMW S1000XR, not a single insurer even gave me something sensible, £4k+ to insure, no way, and I don’t know if I could bare to ruin one through the winter!

BMW k1200r does look like a wild card, ugly as sin but only about £800 to insure (despite being two insurance groups higher than the VFR??) I’m not afraid to admit that 160bhp scares me and the duolever front end sounds scary, and it might be a bit lacking in wind protection, but for that price and reading the reviews I need to give one a test ride.

R1200GS, the oil cooled 10 – 13 model is about £1200 to insure (13 on water cooled is £2k+), think it might be a bit big (having filtered behind several) and too touring (that scary duolever front end again), but I’ve only ever sat on one, so I guess this is the push to at least test ride one.

Triumph Sprint GT just doesn’t inspire me. It might be a competent bike, but much like the VFR it’s heavy and dated and hot. They are cheap and not too bad to insure and a friend has had one since before I even started riding (first time I rode a bike was pillion on it). But it just doesn’t appeal to me.

The Kawasaki Z1000SX is not something I really considered. It seems a bit more like a comfy superbike than what I’m after, but there a few out there at reasonable prices. For some reason the insurance is the same as the Tiger so if I get the chance this is another oddball to give a test.

BMW K1200GT, BMW1300GT, Honda VFT1200F are all great touring bikes, but are just not what I want as my only do it all bike at this point. I’m more comfortable with more of a middleweight bike at this point and for their excellent touring ability I think it’s just too much of a trade-off for commuting and having fun for now. I did really consider the Crossrunner 800 but it pretty much has all the same problems as the VFR 800 for me. You might be able to boss that big old Beemer around but I just don’t have the chops for that yet!

I’ve done my time on SVs, I’ve written 2 off over 4 years and 80,000 miles and I just don’t think it has anything more to offer me. For my commute there isn’t a better bike, narrow for the city, sporty for the twisties and comfy for 25 miles each way, plus I get 200 miles from a tank so only fill up every 4 days. However, it hurts if I’m doing the north circular and back in a day or doing Manchester in a day. Aberdeen is a two-day affair, but I would love to make it a one-day affair so I could spend two more days with friends! Obviously I would love to take the fun route but for these I normally need to just get from A to B as quickly as possible so it’s a motorway slog. Although the two up work has reduced, with a pillion and luggage the brakes were at their limit stopping. All this can be ridden around but I think this time I want a bike more in tune with my needs, so I can enjoy it rather than riding around it. There is only so much you can do with bar position, reworked suspension, memory foam seat, rebuilt callipers and different pads. If I could have two bikes I would keep the SV as a commuter and get another bike for all the other bits but that just isn’t possible this time.

I totally agree with you about the V-Strom 1000 in terms of value for money. Emotionally it does nothing for me, but as a tool it ticks most of my boxes. If it’s more fun than it looks then I might need to give one a go if any Suzuki dealers still exist around here. It’s a safe option for a year if I can’t decide on what I really want by March.

I was meant to take a Tiger out for a test ride today but someone crashed it yesterday so I’ll have to try again next weekend. I’ve got this month to try and find a bike as I don’t want to have to take a new policy out in March only to cancel and insure a new bike.

Thanks all for your advice, I need to get on and book some more test rides to decide on the one. You’ve definitely given me some ideas I would never have looked at and convinced me to give the VFR and V-Strom another chance.

Ta.

L3nny
05-02-17, 06:18 PM
Another thing about the V-Strom, if you're interested. Make sure it's had the new ECU fitted. I had mine replaced under warranty and it makes the power delivery much smoother.

sputnik
06-02-17, 10:24 PM
How about a BMW F800st? Starting to wonder about one of these for my next bike. No screaming sportsbike and not everyone likes the looks but a bit more power than the sv. Faired, panniers, optional abs and computer etc, still quite light and manoeuvrable, potentially comfortable for rider and pillion. Likely to be more reasonable on insurance than the 1000+cc jobs, particularly given your previous (!). Belt drive. You'd be looking at used only for this model but there are cheap ones to be had - a 2012 one on eBay/auto trader for £6k with only 650 miles on it! Or if you are desperate to spend more, the newer version? (GT?)