View Full Version : What should I get?
Carsick
12-01-07, 06:45 PM
Ok, I'll admit I'm getting a bit ahead of myself so this is a bit of a pointless topic, but I think I'm currently underpar for pointless topics compared to a few people.
I strongly suspect that my SV is going to be written off. This will probably take at least a month to get sorted though.
Potentially I'll have about £2k to spend on a bike. My requirements are that it must be comfortable 2up, not so often touring but it does happen. Hard luggage is preferred. Not insanely expensive insurance. Not insanely expensive to repair.
I've had my eye on a falco for quite a while now, but since I have to
use the bike everyday, I'm a little nervous. I know most of the faults can be sorted quite easily now, but, well, I'm sure you understand.
Another option is an Sv1000. I've liked the idea since I test rode one last year but I can't help thinking that even with all the differences I'm going to get bored.
I could try a VFR. It certainly meets my main requirements and I can't think of any good reason not to go for one, but the idea doesn't really get me going.
Anybody think of any others that I could realistically afford?
Carsick
12-01-07, 07:02 PM
I've had my SV for 2.5 years and done 35k on it. I'm ready to move on.
I would like a TL, but I'm not convinced on the 2up aspect. I'll have to testride one at some point soon.
STRAMASHER
12-01-07, 07:07 PM
Life's too short to buy the same bike twice.
SV1000 is a real bargain, not sure if you would get a decent one for 2k? unless you go damage repairable?
Does effortless two up thanks to a big engine. Does hard luggage. Does cheap insurance. Does start on the button everytime. You would have a pretty good knowledge already of what it is.
VFR maybe better comfort for both of you, but more work with a revvier engine although a piped V4 is a gorgeous sound. Not cheap or easy to service. Even though its a midrange sized engine you get top of the range quality. If you don't ride your bike hard CBS/ABS may be an advantage.
Sorry to hear you are looking at a right-off. Glad your OK fella. 8)
kwak zzr
12-01-07, 07:13 PM
the sv1000 is a diff bike to the 650 i'm learning the hard way to ride again :wink: 2 up riding no problem and power (well) friggin tonnes of it!
the TL would be a no no for 2 up riding.(short hop's maybe but long distance :roll: )
Carsick
12-01-07, 07:20 PM
I know the sv1000 is a different bike to the 650, but I've had a couple of hours on the thou (and yes, I did thrash it) and it seems too familiar to me unless I got a real bargain.
I'm inclined to think you're right about the TL being no good for 2up, but I will give it a go.
The Basket
12-01-07, 07:32 PM
Thundercat...I like the ZZR600...1200 Bandit...CBR6F...
kwak zzr
12-01-07, 07:34 PM
the ZZR600 is really under rated, there a great bike and go well 2 up and are cheap.
Carsick
12-01-07, 07:47 PM
I've considered a few of those, but I think I want something a bit more powerful than the 650.
If I had the cash, I'd be getting an 05+ Sprint ST. I absolutely loved it when I test rode one not long after they were released.
Blue_SV650S
12-01-07, 07:49 PM
the ZZR600 is really under rated, there a great bike and go well 2 up and are cheap.
My first 'big' bike was a ZZR600, great bit of kit, comfy too! How about a CBR1000 if miles and 2up are your thing?
chazzyb
12-01-07, 07:58 PM
Hmm, sounds like you're just about ready for one of these...
http://www.mistgreen.com/images/D1%201949small.jpg :wink:
Just look at those lines. A classic!
kwak zzr
12-01-07, 08:05 PM
I've considered a few of those, but I think I want something a bit more powerful than the 650.
If I had the cash, I'd be getting an 05+ Sprint ST. I absolutely loved it when I test rode one not long after they were released.
the zzr600 is about 25bhp more powerfull than the sv650.
Flamin_Squirrel
12-01-07, 08:06 PM
Thundercat...
Seconded. It does ticks all the boxes.
fizzwheel
12-01-07, 08:10 PM
the TL would be a no no for 2 up riding.(short hop's maybe but long distance :roll: )
As a note. A friend of my mind and her boyfriend used to regularly make two up trips to Scotland from Somerset on a TLS and a TLR, with luggage and I've never heard either of them complain about comfort on it.
Carsick
12-01-07, 08:15 PM
I think I will have a go on all of the bikes mentioned so far. I really wanted a TL last year anyway.
fizzwheel
12-01-07, 08:20 PM
What about and Liz will kill me because she hates em.. a Fazer.. If you could get one I reckon a 1st Series Fazer thou would suit your needs...
Carsick
12-01-07, 08:24 PM
I dislike the older ones too, but that's another one on the list of "if I found a real bargain"
Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint Sprint...
Dan
Carsick
12-01-07, 09:01 PM
I do want a Sprint. You don't need to persuade me. I just need to figure out how to afford one.
darylB's Thundercat is an excellent piece of kit - a 'cat would do everything you want.
Biker Biggles
12-01-07, 09:32 PM
If you fancy a thundercat try a Kwak ZX6R J1/2.Just like a thundercat but better all round.
Or Chazzy's bantam.Many hours of fun stuck at the roadside with that. :lol:
If you fancy a thundercat try a Kwak ZX6R J1/2.Just like a thundercat but better all round.
Or Chazzy's bantam.Many hours of fun stuck at the roadside with that. :lol:
Seconded, the G/J series ZX6R is probably the best of the road biased SS600s, the thundercat is also good, but watch out for corrosion on the frame/swingarm, and ask Joe (Itching2go) about gearboxes and other issues. Jambo, Sid Squid and myself all have G or J ZX6Rs, Ian's has done 70,000 miles so he knows what goes wrong with them. Just don't buy the yellow one, it's hideous.
And having spent some time on the back of one, it is certainly no worse than an SV, although all pillion seats suck when you are 6ft.
The ZZR600 is a bit dated, quick but squishy and the exhausts rot quickly. But they can be found very very cheaply.
HTH
MT
The Basket
13-01-07, 04:41 PM
When I was wee. the zzr600 was certainly the bike for me. Maybe I should have got one. But new ones were rare to find. Dunno if I have been cheated or spared. Would have been comfier and faster than the sv. The build quality of my gpz500 put me right off so...anyone give me test ride? :D
What about a Thunderace? The thou version of the Thundercat. I've ridden on the back of the TL1000R a few times and its not too bad for a pillion actually. Also been pillion on the Thundercat, its very comfy.
Carsick
13-01-07, 06:26 PM
I was consdering a thunderace a while back, so it's a definite maybe.
I've also looked at a mid nineties fj12 as a workhorse with maybe some thunderace ancillaries where necessary then maybe I can afford something for fun on my own.
I've had a few rides on my mate's thundercat.
Its very comfortable, so would be good for long trips
Has an alright amount of power.
Very squishy comfy rear seat. :)
Cheap to insure
Cheap to buy £2000 buys you a very good example.
However, as others have said, get the Thunderace over the cat. You'll get bored with the cat's power quite quickly imo.
ZX6R A1P (first 636)
http://static.flickr.com/61/184261209_8539374c42_m.jpg
How about my bike in for sale section if you want torque and comfort, price is negotiable :)
Carsick
14-01-07, 06:21 PM
^ not nearly negotiable enough, I suspect.
The bike hasn't even been assessed properly yet, i don't see anything happening before the end of feb.
Silver Dream
14-01-07, 06:47 PM
Test the Falco......... you wont look back
Italian exotica with Jap reliability
have a read www.apriliaridersite.com
Loads of good info, and confirmation on reliability, 2 years ownership nothing to report "touch wood"
Easily capable of 400+ miles per day (done that) European touring, scratching and look a bit different at the local bike meet cant beat it
valleyboy
14-01-07, 06:57 PM
ZX-6R B1's are starting to go around the £2500 area now.... some good examples going on e-bay at around that price... not mine though.. wortha bit less with 35K on the clocks... :lol:
Carsick
14-01-07, 07:01 PM
A falco is definitely high on the list and always has been. I reckon I could cope with the minor issues that need sorting out.
In fact, the only real thing I have aganst falcos is that there isn't really a hard luggage option.
Biker Biggles
14-01-07, 07:35 PM
Have Aprillia sorted out their dreadful customer service,three week wait for parts and patchy dealership network yet?Nice bike,shame about the hassle.Or am I out of date?
Carsick
14-01-07, 08:18 PM
I never buy brand new parts anyway.
wheelnut
14-01-07, 08:44 PM
Im going to be stuck with a new R1 on the 19th January :P
www.yamaha-motor.co.uk
I wish :D
Jelster
15-01-07, 08:47 AM
Blundercat is good, ZZR6 - never ridden one but good reports, don't forget the CBR600F, it's in the same ballpark, and there's plenty of good used ones about.
If you try a Falco (which is very comfortable) you will deffo need a pillion belt, as the grab handles are awful. Alex lost all confidence on the back of the Falco until I got a belt. But if you only have £2k, I doubt that you'll find a good one, and please don't get a dog when it comes to Aprilia....
Fact is, for that money, an older IL4 is more likely to be the option as there are so many around. The "facelift" Fazer is a good investment though, and they are extremely comfortable.
Good luck....
.
Carsick
15-01-07, 11:56 AM
I'm pretty much all over the place here.
I really enjoy scratching and so a bike made for that would suit me well.
I commute to work in all weathers so a bike with decent weather protection is definition useful.
I regularly carry luggage (and a girlfriend) so hard luggage is necessary.
I occasionally do longer trips (with said luggage, including girlfriend) so some comfort is essential.
There aren't many bikes that cover all of those and even rarer are examples that I will be able to afford. Maybe I should just pay off the last tiny bit of finance on the SV, get a ZX9R with what is leftover and wait a couple of years till I can afford what I really want. I strongly suspect that 9R would suit me well, and the only thing that worries me about it is the carb problems.
Jelster
15-01-07, 05:22 PM
I'm pretty much all over the place here.
I really enjoy scratching and so a bike made for that would suit me well.
I commute to work in all weathers so a bike with decent weather protection is definition useful.
I regularly carry luggage (and a girlfriend) so hard luggage is necessary.
I occasionally do longer trips (with said luggage, including girlfriend) so some comfort is essential.
There aren't many bikes that cover all of those and even rarer are examples that I will be able to afford. Maybe I should just pay off the last tiny bit of finance on the SV, get a ZX9R with what is leftover and wait a couple of years till I can afford what I really want. I strongly suspect that 9R would suit me well, and the only thing that worries me about it is the carb problems.
Mike,
Honestly, the CBR600F fits that list quire well, apart form the "hard" luggage. But my mate rides two up on a "semi-sports" bike all over Europe with decent soft panniers and a topbox. Unless of course you either don't want a Honda ( :roll: ) or want more power than the 600....
.
Carsick
15-01-07, 05:27 PM
I suppose there is also the advantage that there are a lot of cheap ones about.
I reckon I could probably sort something out re full hard luggage since so many people do use them.
I wouldn't mind a bit more power than that, but I reckon I could probably be satisfied.
The honda thing doesn't bother me, considering what else I get up to I think that would be the least of my problems.
Carsick mate, make sure you collect up lots of Autotrader ads for bikes similar to yours. As mine was on 33k when it was written off and its a Curvy Y (2001) plate and I got 2650 for mine, I sent only ads of similar bikes with that mileage and about that value.
The Basket
15-01-07, 05:54 PM
GSX750F :D
I would ask about an early CBR600F...Or even a very early Z750...
Carsick
15-01-07, 07:41 PM
Grinch, cheers, I might start collecting them this week.
I won't even consider a GSXF. I had a 600 a few years ago and it was a lardy, underpowered pain in the ****.
wyrdness
15-01-07, 08:03 PM
Falco or Sprint ST or Sprint RS. The RS is supposed to be one of the great underrated bikes and used values are low. This one (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2002-TRIUMPH-SPRINT-RS-BLACK_W0QQitemZ120074658821QQihZ002QQcategoryZ3609 3QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) looks like it could be a bargain.
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