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 ) 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

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

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

Matt

[yorkie_chris]

Gpz500

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Gpz500

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

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Gpz500

+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 )

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by Alpinestarhero

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

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

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

[dizzyblonde]

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!

[fastdruid]

CB125RS? SRX400? GB500?

Druid

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

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!

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.

[dizzyblonde]

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