mikkydoos Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 Haven't been out and test ridden any bikes yet but its coming soon. Any experienced riders want to give me some suggestions what to test? I'm almost sold on a Yamaha MT-07. Maybe a Kawasaki Er6n. Did my test on a Yamaha XJ600 Diversion. That was nice. 700cc max!
Oaktech Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 (edited) Having done this excercise with a friend recently, check out the yamaha XJ6 and the Honda CB650F as well as the above. My friend did her test on an ER6 and was going to get one until she tried the XJ. The CB was a touch short for her as she is 6'1" A secondhand Divvy will do fine, but it's dull as dishwater! Edited February 29, 2016 by Oaktech
mikkydoos Posted February 29, 2016 Author Posted February 29, 2016 Having done this excercise with a friend recently, check out the yamaha XJ6 and the Honda CB650F as well as the above. My friend did her test on an ER6 and was going to get one until she tried the XJ. The CB was a touch short for her as she is 6'1" A secondhand Divvy will do fine, but it's dull as dishwater! The Diversion was alright... the MT-07 looks much better tho. I'm 5' 10" so might just fit it. its an 805mm seat. Problem is that there aren't many 2nd had MT-07's around. I'd probably have to go new - £5700 with ABS. Ouch.
foofighterjim Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 I can completely recommend the Suzuki SV60S or the Yamaha FZS600. Having ridden the former for 11 years I can testify as to how brilliant it is to ride a v-twin all year round.
Andrew_C Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 From the left field; when I was in your position, I thought "I'll not be riding forever, what is out there a bit different?" I went for Guzzi Breva 750. Quite a small bike, very manoeuvrable and lots of torques, even if the HP is only around 50. The power is available where it is usable, you don't have to wring its neck to have fun. I'm 6' and find it perfectly comfortable for everything I do on it. Don't put too much faith in the "nay-sayers", no mechanical problems in 5 years, and cosmetically ok for a bike ridden in most weather (unless I'm feeling like a wuss, or management thinks I shouldn't) although I don't ride everyday through the winter. 1
mikkydoos Posted February 29, 2016 Author Posted February 29, 2016 Im also thinking Ducati Monster. Should I / shouldn't I ????????????????
bald_pig Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 ER5/6, divvy, sv650 or cb4/500 are bulletproof bikes as well. I didn't like the MT myself, found it uncomfortable. Much happier with my vtr.
bald_pig Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 Im also thinking Ducati Monster. Should I / shouldn't I ???????????????? Only if you want to ride twice a year 1
mikkydoos Posted February 29, 2016 Author Posted February 29, 2016 Only if you want to ride twice a year lol. u could be right
Oaktech Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 From the left field; when I was in your position, I thought "I'll not be riding forever, what is out there a bit different?" I went for Guzzi Breva 750. Quite a small bike, very manoeuvrable and lots of torques, even if the HP is only around 50. The power is available where it is usable, you don't have to wring its neck to have fun. I'm 6' and find it perfectly comfortable for everything I do on it. Don't put too much faith in the "nay-sayers", no mechanical problems in 5 years, and cosmetically ok for a bike ridden in most weather (unless I'm feeling like a wuss, or management thinks I shouldn't) although I don't ride everyday through the winter. I had a v65 which is what the Breva is based on, and whilst mine was oldschool and required constant fettling, it never actually let me down and I was doing about 30k a year on it for 2 years. The Breva is a much better bike than the v65 was and MG have sorted all the issues with that motor package - the issues were that it had a 4 valve head where it was only originally designed to have 3 and the head eroded between the exhaust valves, and the solidstate ignition system was some weird spanish thing that missed if the temp got below about 15 degrees or it got wet. I would have no issues recommending one on it's technical merits, but the riding experience isn't for everybody, test one and find out!
Dos_Box Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 My last bike was a ZZR600. It was great because once you've fitted a touring screen to take the wind directly off your helmet it was a great sports tourer and you could ride it all day long without getting cramped up. It's shape and design also made it good for strapping loads of luggage too as well. Reliable as hell too! I miss that bike
bald_pig Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 I'd like to add that the last yamaha I had did not stand up to winter well, and rusted quite badly!
mikkydoos Posted February 29, 2016 Author Posted February 29, 2016 I'd like to add that the last yamaha I had did not stand up to winter well, and rusted quite badly! I'll be a bit of a fairweather Sunday rider tbh. I've got bored of my Nissan 350Z so its going in favour of a bike. A little Polo or something will do me for the winter
bald_pig Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 I'll be a bit of a fairweather Sunday rider tbh. I've got bored of my Nissan 350Z so its going in favour of a bike. A little Polo or something will do me for the winter In that case, go for an sv650 or zzr600
mikkydoos Posted February 29, 2016 Author Posted February 29, 2016 (edited) The SV is an ugly bike... there are some very good cheap ones out there. The new ones dont look too bad Hhhmm do I spend more or go budget ? Edited February 29, 2016 by mikkydoos
bald_pig Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 The SV is an ugly bike... there are some very good cheap ones out there. The new ones dont look too bad Hhhmm do I spend more or go budget ? pointy or curvy? I'd say go budget for your first bike, you won't be so upset when you fall off! 2
mikkydoos Posted February 29, 2016 Author Posted February 29, 2016 pointy or curvy? I'd say go budget for your first bike, you won't be so upset when you fall off! Harsh m8 lol. But fair. Point taken.
FragglePete Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 The SV is an ugly bike... there are some very good cheap ones out there. The new ones dont look too bad Hhhmm do I spend more or go budget ? SV650's is are more than capable bikes - depends on the style your after. Over the Years my bikes have been Honda VFR750F > Honda CBR1100 Blackbird > Suzuki V-Strom DL1000 > Honda VFR800Fi As you can see, I've gone back to the VFR. Just love them. Hated the Blackbird; can't fault it's power and handling, but I found it heavy and thirsty. V-Strom was a great laugh, lovely sound, lots of thud from a V-Twin 1000cc motor but struggled with it being so tall since I messed up my Achilles a couple of years ago. VFR800 is just lovely. Pete
frazzlesgrant Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 I have a KLE500, not the most popular bike but its good fun on and off road
frazzlesgrant Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 this is the Kle when I decided to go for a ride in the ice a few weeks ago
bald_pig Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 Currently got the vtr, before that was XT660X, CBR600F, CB750F2, GPX250Rii. I only passed my test in '09!
Andrew_C Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 One thing on the SV. I was warned to watch for ones that had been used for track bikes. Can't remember the jist of the conversation though. Popular for thrashing?
Oaktech Posted March 1, 2016 Posted March 1, 2016 SV650's is are more than capable bikes - depends on the style your after. Over the Years my bikes have been Honda VFR750F > Honda CBR1100 Blackbird > Suzuki V-Strom DL1000 > Honda VFR800Fi As you can see, I've gone back to the VFR. Just love them. Hated the Blackbird; can't fault it's power and handling, but I found it heavy and thirsty. V-Strom was a great laugh, lovely sound, lots of thud from a V-Twin 1000cc motor but struggled with it being so tall since I messed up my Achilles a couple of years ago. VFR800 is just lovely. Pete I went: Honda CG125, Honda CB250n, MotoGuzzi V65, Honda NT600 Revere, (I still have this.), Honda NTV650, Kawasaki KLR650, a Honda VFR800 vtec, and a BSA B25 (I still have this one too.) At one point I had the 250n, V65, Revere, NTV and KLR all at the same time! In 2009 I acquired my Ex's bikes because she gave up riding because her new partner hated bikes and wouldn't look after them for her. So I kept them. I didn't get them for actual free, but they got lumped in with her financial settlement from the house and they were cheap. This meant I acquired: An H reg Kawasaki ZZR250, an H reg Honda CB1, an E reg Honda Bros (I still have this), an 02 Yamaha R6, an L reg Honda XR125 trail bike and an 04 plate Triumph Daytona. I sold on the ZZR, the R6, the Daytona and the XR almost straight away as they weren't my cup of tea. I kept and rode the CB1 for about 6 months and it always put a ridiculous grin on my face, but someone made me an offer I couldn't refuse for it. The KLR was way too tall for me really, but it was on ebay for £250 not running. I made an offer of £125 and he bit. A £30 carb diaphragm and a £7 water temp switch later and I sold it for £900! I guess you could say I'm a bike hoarder! My Ex bought the Daytona from our lodger when he left to teach in vietnam, I think she paid him £2k which covered his travel out there! It was only 3 years old when she bought it so it have been worth closer to £8k! I sold it on for £4k just to have the space in the garage back!
crc-ict Posted March 1, 2016 Posted March 1, 2016 Watching with interest here as I am starting DAS at the end of the month so will be in a similar position soon. I like the idea of touring or adventure style bikes, so thinking about maybe a Honda Deauville (heard they are dull, but super-reliable) or maybe a V-Strom 650 with panniers. I did my big bike conversion on a Diversion 600 (the older XJ600 version) which seemed OK, but they are a bit older than I wanted to be looking at really, and the newer XJ6 Diversion is quite different. I would also love to hear any other ideas. I'm not into sportsbikes or cruisers though, and although I'm 6' I have relatively short legs (29/30 trousers) so doubt I could manage anything super-high.
mikkydoos Posted March 1, 2016 Author Posted March 1, 2016 I'm 6' I have relatively short legs (29/30 trousers) so doubt I could manage anything super-high. Penny farthing for you lol. Are you on an A2 now then ?
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