What to get? - I need some help.

Yep, I have decided to keep the two purchases separate, a bike for here/the islands, and a nice RS250 forever as a keeper....

[Paul the 6th]

Have you looked at the r125 or ninja 250 thing? Modern reliable but powered to your spec, good handling, pillion? Maybe, not mega expensive but possibly over your budget, frügal on fuel, and both very cööl

[embee]

Reading your first post my mind was wandering in the direction of a BMW, but forget the R90S (or genuine ones at least).

I have one of the earliest R90S and if they're genuine (people fake them) and in good nick they go for big money, £4k is not unusual. Having said that I saw a R90S "declared copy" on ebay a few weeks ago go for not a lot over £1k. Series 6 onwards are probably worth considering, I wouldn't go back to 5 series.

BMW's of that era had all sorts of niggly weaknesses, everything from breaking gear selector springs to wearing out rocker shafts to leaking rear crank seals etc etc, but if you're handy in maintaining a bike they can be a very usable "classic" and looked after they'll do big mileage quite happily. There are good websites chronicling the changes and faults to watch for.

The R80 (series 7) was quite a nice compromise, not greatly sought after so can be found quite cheap.

Does the R80 some in that metal flake sunburst colour?

Originally Posted by Paul the 6th

Have you looked at the r125 or ninja 250 thing? Modern reliable but powered to your spec, good handling, pillion? Maybe, not mega expensive but possibly over your budget, frügal on fuel, and both very cööl

Cool if I was 17 (I presume the R125 is the Yam) or on a restricted licence

Trying too hard to be sports bikes, I want something that doesn't want to be a GSXR when it has grown up. I want the other side of the spectrum. And yes they'll cost way too much out here!

[embee]

If you mean the "smoke" effect, it was only the R90S which came in smoke-orange (gawdy) or silver-smoke (very tasteful and the best paint scheme of any BMW ).

Not sure what the R80 colours were, they did some metallics, blue and green certainly, pretty sure red also and a plain black at some stage I think, but not a smoked scheme.

Originally Posted by Tim in Belgium

a lot of policing, both cop cars AND speed cameras, no hills and a very conservative tight fisted population

Originally Posted by Tim in Belgium

the dutch in general hate high speed ).

Could've told me this before I went to Assen!

Actually, it kind of surprises me? We bombed it all the way through Holland averaging probably about 90mph, pretty sure that was a fair bit above the limit, barely saw any police (actually the only police car I remember seeing was at Assen), and at any traffic jams most of the cars made a big effort to move over so we could filter through!

I'd have expected to see lots of police at Assen (was there for the WSBK weekend) but as said, just the one, and in addition there's a lovely bit of road next to the circuit which I'd think they would police if anything was to be!

Originally Posted by muffles

Could've told me this before I went to Assen!

Actually, it kind of surprises me? We bombed it all the way through Holland averaging probably about 90mph, pretty sure that was a fair bit above the limit, barely saw any police (actually the only police car I remember seeing was at Assen), and at any traffic jams most of the cars made a big effort to move over so we could filter through!

I'd have expected to see lots of police at Assen (was there for the WSBK weekend) but as said, just the one, and in addition there's a lovely bit of road next to the circuit which I'd think they would police if anything was to be!

It's different if you're on dutch plates and not a tourist... on my old UK registered bike I sat happily at a ton.....

Originally Posted by Tim in Belgium

It's different if you're on dutch plates and not a tourist... on my old UK registered bike I sat happily at a ton.....

Ah...a bit like here then...!

What about something a bit retro - Royal Enfield or the suchlike? Not going to get yourself in too much trouble there, and can look fairly cool - particularly if you get a ****pot helmet....