A cheap hack for bad weather?
 

I've been home this weekend, and my dad has done alot of major work (clutch, valve clearances / replacing some cam buckets...thanks neeja!). Upon his workings, he's found the bike to be in a right state. Which I knew, but not as much as it is.

Soooo

I want to get a cheap, reliable bike...smallish capacity, for the not so dry days and for the winters ahead of me. It'll be mostly used in london, for a 45 mile round commute. Ideally it'd be something really easy to work on aswell. I was thinking of a sort of enduro / motard type bike, like a DRZ400 (spoke to luckypants about this a while back :D) but I am also thinking I would be just as good off with a 125, like a honda XR125. My dad has an old yamaha XT250 which would be great for what I want that sort of bike for....but he isn't giving that up too easily :lol:

Suggestions please, and any comments about buying and ownership you care to make :) I also don;t want to have to spend alot :lol:

Scooters could also be included, easy peasy twist 'n' go, get me home when its 5 below

Matt

Re: A cheap hack for bad weather?
 

Gpz500 :)

Re: A cheap hack for bad weather?
 

lol the OP said 'cheap' but does he dare go 'ratty'??:smt081

Re: A cheap hack for bad weather?
 

+1 Ride magazine has it included in the 6 bikes to buy for a grand or less. (5% commission to me on the sale YC :p)

Re: A cheap hack for bad weather?
 

I enjoyed riding my wifes scooter, twist & go, plus electric start. Feet stay dry too. But I always wanted it to go faster, so I'd opt for one of the bigger cc models.

My C90 is ok, but temperamental to start, and is so sloooooooooow :-?

Re: A cheap hack for bad weather?
 

Na, don't want a GPZ500 ;)

I want something thats simple and easy to work on (something that I can work on easily) and dosn't need alot of money to keep it maintained. A single cylinder bike would be perfect really...and minimal plastics means less to break if I drop the bike in an icy car park

Mav....yea, I was thinking about a big capacity scooter, like a suzuki burgman or something. No fuss (and no frills) riding really, but oh so uber comfy

Re: A cheap hack for bad weather?
 

I know what you need.

An SRX600, single cylinder, comes in both electric start, and kicker (but you need the knack)
Cheap, nakid, cafe racer style, cheap to insure, nifty,

And old!

Re: A cheap hack for bad weather?
 

CB125RS? SRX400? GB500?

Druid

Re: A cheap hack for bad weather?
 

Good on fuel, bugger all to insure...
BUT they rot and the electrics are SH*TE!

IMO you want a reliable charging system for decent lights, depending on how long and trafficked your commute is.

Re: A cheap hack for bad weather?
 

Plenty of ways to play and learn though Chris, can fix em easy enough. Some fine examples out there.

Although even the scabbiest rottenist SRX600 refuse to die, and start after a year of sat still and silent, only a little gentle persuasion and away they go. The rust holds it together quite nicely :-)

And on occasions rotten SRXs leave sports bike left at the lights coughing and spluttering, or beat em round corners, as they handle so well..hehehehee