Thinking of upgrading my aging Fazer 600....and recomendations?

monkey_boy · 23 Apr 2009 at 13:45

Flukester said:
also not a thundercat, it's just too old... even a well looked after one will feel very dated

how about a SV1000 , can get them just over 2k for a 2003 model or later with reasonable milage, would be a nice commuter tool and with some race cans would sound like thunder. a ton of bike for the money

£2k would see a 99/00 model. I think they look a hell of a lot better than an SV650.

Would an SV1000 be available for the budget? For the price of an SV1000, I would go for a VTR1000 Firestorm every time.

Draeger said:
Yes.

You would be very surprised just how resiliant to Winter conditions the Aprilia is.

Agreed. A lot of modern bikes would be, but it would still show signs of winter use and that would affect the resale value massively.

Matt Clarke · 23 Apr 2009 at 13:53

I'd say get an SV650. I've got the naked SV, it has a more upright position than the SV650S faired version. You can get them dirt cheap and the engines are really reliable. If you get a post 2003 model they were injection and not carbs too.

Sagalout · 23 Apr 2009 at 14:08

Aprilia Falco? Much of the good bits from the RSV, but a bit more practicality and comfort for commuting, and can get them within budget.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/b.../Aprilia-SL1000-Falco-1999-2005/?&R=EPI-20198

CGrieves · 23 Apr 2009 at 14:29

Flukester said:
deffo not a gsx750f, it's an aweful aweful bike... even when released let alone now

Not THAT bad- shares a lot with the old Bandit 600, which isn't a bad bike at all. Both use a variant of the old oil cooled GSXR-750 motor. Reliable, cheap to run and can be bought for peanuts.

For 2K though, you can do a lot better.

Agree that a Thundercat would be a bad choice- same engine as you've already got, except the 'Cat had a lot of gearbox problems reported.

ThunderAce? Lot of bike for the money if you can find a clean one.

Personally I'd go for an SV1000 over a Firestorm, the TL motor is great, even when slightly detuned. However I definitely WOULDN'T suggest a TL1000S after commuting on one for 2 years. How my licence has survived is really anyone's guess.

Bat · 23 Apr 2009 at 14:50

monkey_boy said:
Do you commute on it? How do you find it at motorway speed or in cold weather?

Yeah I commute on it. Not every day, but in bad weather sometimes. It's spot on, really well planted and predictable, but also very light and nimble for a 900. I put a little fly screen on which actually made a big difference at higher speeds. Without anything above 80 was not pleasant for long, but with the screen 90-100 is perfectly fine.

Master Skooter · 23 Apr 2009 at 16:45

Mmmmmm the SV Thou or Falco both attract me.

Been wanting a V-Twin for years...with open cans you can't beat em!

Are they available for around the £2-2.5k mark?

Matt Clarke · 23 Apr 2009 at 16:53

The SV1000 must be quite a beast. My SV650 doesn't hang around.

It's more than enough on the lanes on a sunny weekend.

Master Skooter · 23 Apr 2009 at 21:54

Had a quick scout around, the Falco's seem a fair bit cheaper than the SV's & get really good reviews.

But then i found this on the bay :cool:

That seems a good price....think it would last a winter?

Draeger · 23 Apr 2009 at 22:03

Yep, no bother.

I ran my 2000 RSV through a few winters a couple of years ago and it never missed a beat. Hardly showed any signs of it being ran through any salty winter roads either. I do however, take good care of it and it got washed down after each outing on a salty, gritted road.

Forget Falco's......go for an RSV, they are sat at ridiculous prices just now and it is a good time to buy.

Once you have sat your backside on a Mille and experienced the grunt the Rotax V60 990 gives you on the road, along with the sublime handling, you wont ever look back.

Trust me.

CGrieves · 23 Apr 2009 at 23:26

Master Skooter said:
That seems a good price....think it would last a winter?

Where's the price? £2000 with 3 days to go? Expect it to hit £4000....

Build quality is good though, but while it will work year round, seems a bit of a shame to subject a bike like that to the British winter (although I can't really talk as I did it with a TL).

Snaggle · 24 Apr 2009 at 01:35

Yeah new shape Rsv will be 3500-4000 im afraid . If yer not fussed about fairing a pre 06 Tuono ? Sv1000 would be my bet or 600 hornet if you want a decent fun 600 .

Persil

Master Skooter · 24 Apr 2009 at 07:32

Yeah that RSV has gone up a grand since last night lol

As much as I love the RSV's, I'm thinking the Falco would be a better every day/all weathers bike, and the right price.

I'll keep my eyes peeled to see if anything comes up.

CGrieves · 24 Apr 2009 at 09:10

Master Skooter said:
Yeah that RSV has gone up a grand since last night lol

As much as I love the RSV's, I'm thinking the Falco would be a better every day/all weathers bike, and the right price.

I'll keep my eyes peeled to see if anything comes up.

Falco is pretty much the same motor in a slightly less focussed chassis. Same grins, less compromise. A mate of mine had one until very recently and commuted on it, loved it. He only sold it for a Ducati because he's an aircooled twin weirdo