Spec me a bike

britboy4321

britboy4321

britboy4321

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This is a motorbike question ..

OK .. here's the gig

As a few of you may remember, about 3 months ago I passed my CBT.

I currently have been enjoying (absolutely loving) a Honda CBF125. However I'm starting to want something bigger now and my missus wants to ride on the back (and I need to go faster than 60mph, and legally, on motorways!). I am going to do my DAS.

So -- it's a 'spec me a bike' thread. So

1) I hate the idea of a 'HOG' or a 'Harley Davidson' or anything that has that type of styling .. This is an absolute no-go area ..

2) I want something that is comfortable to ride .. but this is below (1) on priorities. I do not want to be humping the petrol tank .. sitting pretty upright sounds good.

3) I want something which commands a BIT of respect on the road. So it must go at least 100mph and I must be able to beat just about any car away from the lights (if not every car). However to reilliterate -- I do not want to be humping the petrol tank all day ..

4) This is going to sound bizarre -- but it HAS to have heated handlebars! Anyone that is still riding nowadays will know exactly why! Also I want a rev counter just because I currently don't have one.

5) It will be used 80% for commuting through slow traffic to get to work and back .. 20% for more fun things!

So -- budget .. well, I want brand new .. and this is going to sound arrogant but really anything < £10,000. Now, that certainly doesn't mean I'm not interested in a £5000 bike. In fact if a £10000 bike is not TWICE AS GOOD as a £5000 -- I'd rather choose the £5000 bike.


Insurance costs don't bother me. Oh, important -- I am only 5 foot 9 - remember this alongside the 'comfort' requirement!

Dont care about MPG. Will rarely be doing long distance travel )more than 90 miles in a journey) but want the capability.

My missus will be on the back so 2 seats a must. Also without her in a MASSIVELY higher seating position than me because someone at work says bikes that do that are horrible ..

ABS optional but nice ..

Any initial ideas?

Much thanks in advance .. I don't even know the 'cc I want.

Britters ..
 
Fazer thou/600, You know i dont really know what bikes have heated grips apart from BMW's though im sure many of the tourers do, BMW F800GS maybe?

Thought you can retro fit heated grips to any bike so not sure what else to suggest, there must be a certain style you like? I know humping the tank is out so sportsbikes are out! and 80% commuting so you will want something with a screen really.
 
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£10k... are we talking new? If so does it have to be new? Used bike prices are low at the moment with it being a crap summer and cold winter, get a reliable 6/650 commuter (it'll still most stuff up to supercar level off the lights) for <£1500 and add heated grips for <£100.
 
Any of the semi naked sports tourer road bikes would do you fine.

Honda CBF600S ABS £5853

Suzuki Bandit 650SA £5500
Suzuki GSX650F £5440

Kawasaki ER6F ABS £5425

Ducati Multistrada 1100 £8750

Yamaha XJ6 Diversion F ABS £5450

Take a look at any of the above, few if any will come with heated grips but you would have a good chance of getting the dealer to throw in a set and fit them for you as an extra to get your business. 0% 3 year finance is available on almost all bikes at the moment.

On the comfort stakes your best bet is to finish your DAS and try to get a test ride on as many bikes as possible first. I'm only 5'6" and can fit almost any bike comfortably, up to 5'10" you also shouldn't be too big for any bike either. However you will find some bikes fit you better than others so find out for yourself.

Although all lower end models with smaller engines the above bikes are still capable of at least 130-140mph and sub 4 second 0-60's. Anything less than a supercar isn't gonna stand a chance against one.

If you want a spend another £1-2K of your budget then you could go for the larger engine version of most of the bikes I listed. They will generally be around 1000-1300cc in size and have 120-140bhp compared to 80-100bhp for the 600 class. Acceleration will mainly improve in the 60mph+ range of speed as below that traction and not flipping the bike play more of a part. Top speed will increase to 140mph-165mph.
 
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This is very tricky . Moving from a 125 to a big bore bike is maybe not the wisest of moves . And i dont think 3 months exp is enough for you to go to a 1000cc + bike .

But having summit you and the mrs can go on has its problems to . My choices would be Hornet/cbf600/new shape fazer / Bandit 650 . All will be fine for your hight and have around 100 bhp so 140ish top end and enough go to beat most things of the lights .

There are lots of other options but my best advice is get some proper training AFTER yer das (most decent schools can do a 3-4 advanced course) then go and sit on some bike and take the Mrs with you and get her to sit on the bike with you . No matter what we say some bikes just wont suit .

Also heated grips can be fitted to any bike so dont pick something just because it has them fitted . I would not buy new but a decent 1-2 year old and keep yer cash for when you have abit more experience and then look at bigger stuff .

This is prime time to get a good cheap bike as prices are low and sellers are keen to haggle .

But get yerself to a good dealer and have a sit on some stuff and see what suits .

Persil
 
990SM.jpg


Upright? Check
Fast enough for you? Check
Great for commuting? Check

But that's just one of loads of bikes that fit your description.

Btw, any bike can have heated grips.

That said -

2) I want something that is comfortable to ride .. but this is below (1) on priorities. I do not want to be humping the petrol tank .. sitting pretty upright sounds good.
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A sports position isn't all bad IMO, I had much the same opinion til I rode one and was pleasantly surprised.


3) I want something which commands a BIT of respect on the road. So it must go at least 100mph and I must be able to beat just about any car away from the lights (if not every car). However to reilliterate -- I do not want to be humping the petrol tank all day ..
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A bike with 20HP can find its way to 100, and still beat most things off the lights.

4) Also I want a rev counter just because I currently don't have one.
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Fair enough but trust me, you spend 0.0000001% of your time looking at the dials. You can feel and hear your engine. Want a fuel gauge too? ;)

someone at work says bikes that do that are horrible ..
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That's just their opinion ;)

ABS optional but nice ..
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How do you know if ABS is nice on a bike if you've never ridden a bike with it? ;)

Any initial ideas?
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Sit on and ride a load of bikes, then form your own opinions, then buy one that you like :)

Some bikes i'd be considering off the top of my head:
KTM 950/990 SM/Superduke
Triumph Street/Speed Triple, Tiger or even Sprint ST?
BMW of some description
Yamaha Fazer Thou
Honda VFR
Aprilia Tuono


:) :cool:
 
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As others have suggested, seems the semi-naked/streetfighter style bikes are kinda what you're after, once that hasn't been suggested so far though is the Triumph Street Triple (R or normal version, both are good :p)

Can get the non-R reasonably priced second hand, and it's a basic ~£5300 iirc brand new, but you'd want a good £4-500 of accessories (fly screen, belly pan, gel seat, etc etc) if not more. The R is a bit more at ~£63xx (again iirc) but it's got better suspension and brakes, although again the same £4-500+ on accessories is 'needed'

But best bet would be to ride a few, the Triumph 675 engine is beautiful to ride, but I'm sure the other suggestions aren't too bad :p
 
SKILL said:
As others have suggested, seems the semi-naked/streetfighter style bikes are kinda what you're after, once that hasn't been suggested so far though is the Triumph Street Triple (R or normal version, both are good :p)
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I would have but at over 100mph it tries to rip your head off :p

Depends where his commute is really, if its 80% motorway then he will tire quick of no wind shield.
 
my work m8 today bought a winter hack to save his chrome intruder getting messed up...

he's been riding for 1 month now since test, and found a mint '98 fireblade, 1850 quid only 20k miles

had a quick blast and it's a lovely bike, sure it aint the fastest thing about, but it's comfy, quick enough (170mph and faster then everything bar hyper cars away from lights) and handled really nice.
 
Fireskull said:
I would have but at over 100mph it tries to rip your head off :p

Depends where his commute is really, if its 80% motorway then he will tire quick of no wind shield.
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I test rode the non-R, iirc it had the flyscreen + the other actual screen bit, and that was fine on my brief blast on the motorway on the test ride,

But then motorways are far too dull on a motorbike anyway, if at all possible I'd take the a-road route :p
 
SKILL said:
I test rode the non-R, iirc it had the flyscreen + the other actual screen bit, and that was fine on my brief blast on the motorway on the test ride,

But then motorways are far too dull on a motorbike anyway, if at all possible I'd take the a-road route :p
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Yea all the ones ive been on have had flyscreens too, im not that tall only 6'1 but I personally would not want to do more than probably 30 miles at motorway speed, just didnt like the sustained wind blast but as you said I would take the A road route, as you dont really notice it then even at 100+ not that I would ever do that of course..
 
Fireskull said:
Yea all the ones ive been on have had flyscreens too, im not that tall only 6'1 but I personally would not want to do more than probably 30 miles at motorway speed, just didnt like the sustained wind blast but as you said I would take the A road route, as you dont really notice it then even at 100+ not that I would ever do that of course..
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I'm a bit shorter at 5'8 which probably helps, I really really want the new black and gold street triple r, only problem is can't afford to get that and go racing again next year :(

and of course ;)
 
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