Next bike?

Change time, the Versys has been up for sale about a week now and while I've got 20 watchers on eBay, none have been brave enough to make me an offer yet.

I've been testing bikes through the summer but didnt quite manage the number I would have liked.

So far I've tested the Aprilia Shiver, Street Triple R and BMW 1200GS. I also rode an RT but that was in full police livery! They do hustle well though

Whilst the Shiver looks superb and there are some good deals on them, when I rode the ST R, the engine just didnt match the Triumph and it ran out of revs far too easily. Brakes and handling were excellent though and I didnt notice the extra weight.
The 1200GS was a bit of an afterthought as I though of buying my Dads off him but after I rode it, whilst the torque was ok, I just think I would be in the same position as I am now (riding an old man's bike) and no tarting up would make me think otherwise.

So I've got a test ride booked tomorrow to test the Street Triple R and standard back to back. If I get up in the morning and its raining, its cancelled until next week. I dont want to test ride anything in wet weather.


Alternatives include the KTM 950SM (servicing costs are worrying me), GSXR 600 (bit too revvy maybe?)

The leftfield choice is to buy another SV, sort out the suspension (pretty catastrophic outcome last time) and buy a DRZ for a stablemate. Dont know if going back is the best idea.

Last alternative is to keep the Versys and enjoy the great riding, but still not be certain over its image/looks (Shallow I know but its a toy after all). Possibly add a power commander to it to remove the baffle and make a hell of a racket.

You would think with a £5k budget, I'd have a wealth of options but I'm a bit too picky. It ideally needs to be low mileage and under 5 years old.

[Bri w]

Have you thought of trying the Speed Triple?

I'm saving my pennies for the R. Tried both the standard Triple and the R and found the R far better, inc the ride position. Also tried the Shiver, and like the looks too but it just didn't do it for me - think I'd already made my mind up by then coz it is a nice bike. Z750 had a very strange ride position, I'm a shorty and it still felt like my legs were under my armpits.

[Paul the 6th]

GSX-R 750... http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/u...625cc_to_825cc

handles like a really powerful 600 but without then insane 1000cc devil sat on your shoulder.. Loads of aftermarket bits for it on ebay to make it your own... don't be shy rob, you know you wanna

p.s. ignore all the top 5 or 6 cheapest results - they've been dropped or bumped. I popped in a ts4 postcode for ya to make life easy

[SoulKiss]

Z750 - 07 onwards...

Depends what you want. I say because your worried about having "an old mans bike" you want something with a brand behind it or something that others think highly of. Ie. Get the trumpet. For 5k though i would be thinking an old speed tripple

Well the bike is a tool, but not in the daily sense. Its all about journey not whether I need to get somewhere so from that point of view, why settle with something which you dont think is quite the bike you want? Ok, like I said, maybe its a bit shallow looking at image, however I think a lot of the motorcycle scene relies on image, especially in the UK. I'm not sure you would have as many race reps if image, and the desire for something beautiful in the garage wasnt required.

[Paul the 6th]

bikes are basically expensive toys Rob.

Some buy the most beautiful/expensive/desirable models to put them on a pedastal in the garage and polish them while their mates are round. Others buy absolute dogs, fix 'em up enough to make them run, ride them til they blow up and then move on to the next one. Others like to go to Europe on them, some like to do track days or off-roading......

All things to all men etc. It's not shallow at all to buy into image/desirability if they're you're toy/hobby

i would vote for a 750 like paul did, i love mine and its such a nice bike to ride around on. It just amazing, it made me a much better rider with 100% more confidence than when i had the sv, I will happily ride about resonably hard (obviously within the speed limits) and know the bike will turn in and stop when i need it to, not as crazy as a 1000 but not as revvy as a 600. perfect i think is the word

how is your wrist these days? my left wrist after my crash hurt a bit on long rides but after fitting the stomp grips and testing some different angles on the clutch lever its all sorted, moved the foot pegs up aswell and that helped alot.

ive said it before and the offer still stands if you want a test ride just pop over and borrow it for a bit

Nik I think I will take you up on the offer, as if its a bit too much ill demo a 600. I'm gonna try and find a KTM to test also. Nik ill pm you later

[andrewsmith]

Rob how about the outing Vtwin Aprilia Tonnos