Looking for new Motorbike, your thoughts.

[chunkolini]

Budget is about three grand, which is on the low side for European bikes.
I have seen a couple of K1200RS around that budget.
I will have a look around and see what I get offered in Pex for the bimmer.
I was amazed when I chopped my doggy Honda Dominator, they offered me £600 for it, which is what I paid two years earlier for it, and it was well tired.

At present my budget is a virtual one, but in a good year this is when I get work in. We are sorted for the next three months, so I just need one nice commission and I am off.

Chunko'.

 

[tigler]

Yes, 3K is a little low for a big Guzzi, you would get a 750 for that.

 

[michael1703]

I would go for the guzzi too, theyve still got a stigma of bad electrics like all italian bikes but i reckon they are good value for money and a modern classic, a good investment as you dont lose money on them

deauvilles are ****, steer clear, pan euros are huge and horrible to ride

 

[tigler]

Honda Africa twin ?

 

[johnakay]

what about a Kawasaki Versy. cheap as chips to run and service but road tax £70!

 

[Shox Dr]

Honda Africa twin ?

I've got one, amongst the rest, excellent bike but no good for two up if either of you are... well large

 

[chunkolini]

Africa Twin?
I would love one but I doubt she could jump that high.
The Versys? cant even pronounce it, if I was on my own maybe but i doubt it would like two of us on board.
Keep em coming.

Chunko'.

 

[tigler]

Hinckley Triumph ? Huge choice on your budget.

 

[chunkolini]

I have wondered about the sprint.
Chunko'.

 

[slimjim]

its easy, choose another BMW, but go for the F800, belt drive, lighter weight, and decent mpg, and just as grunty as the 1100

 

[pedrobedro]

If his budget is £3000 including his old bike the F800 might be a bit outside it.

 

[Wedg1e]

pan euros are huge and horrible to ride

Cobblers. You just have to monster them a bit, that's all. I've only had one person ride my ST13 who didn't get off laughing like a drain as they found their preconceptions were all to cock. Granted it's no sportsbike but it's as much sports as it is tourer (faults in both areas).

The old ST11 is more of a barge but also more stable, better seat and sounds nicer. For £2.5K you'd get a VERY tidy late one (as in, no later than 2002 'cos that's when they ran out)... I had a tidy '98 S-plate that I bought with 99000 miles on for £1800 in '06, got £1850 when I sold it 8 months later Last I heard it was still going with 107,500 miles up...

 

[Chipper]

Rode an Africa Twin, it was duller than a dull thing... very disappointing.

Hinkley bikes - carb stuff is cheap, generally reliable apart from poss sprag clutch issues. I've got a Daytona 1200, and ridden 900s. Much prefer the 12s - far more power/grunt. Price would be £1k-£2k, and should be vgc at the higher price.

Injected things I don't know much about, but have ridden mates injected Sprints. Physically a bit smaller than the earlier stuff. Good reliability. Lovely torquey engines, great midrange. Not masses of character, but good at what they do.

All chain, but in the scheme of things, a stand and a squirt of oil isn't much bother. Could always nail on a Scottoiler.

 

[chunkolini]

I think my chainaphobia comes from always having ridden big singles in the past and they do tend to eat chains.
I have to take widey tp have a look at some bikes in the next week or two.
I am of course depending on money coming in, but I have a few active enquiries going on at present.
I was impressed by some of the prices on Triumph's.
Love the new Tiger 800.

Chunko'

 

[Shox Dr]

Rode an Africa Twin, it was duller than a dull thing... very disappointing.

I have to disagree there, they are not the fastest bikes for sure, a mates P reg Tiger has lots more grunt than my N reg AT. However I can sit at 85 all day long had the front up on small rises on the way up to The Shetlands last year with out trying to, and didn't miss a beat. I like big twins, lots of engine breaking, guess it harks back to my Enduro days Pity Honda stopped production in 03.

I wouldn't mind sticking an SP2 motor in one

 

[chunkolini]

I find this fascinating, one mans cheese is another mans chalk.
At the moment I am thinking most seriously about Pan Euro or 1200Bandit, but it must have hard luggage.
BMWK1200 seems a bit over powered.
Maybe another Boxer?
Who knows?
Life is so complicated.

Chunko'.

 

[Robotstar5]

At the moment I am thinking most seriously about Pan Euro or 1200Bandit

You've GOT to have at least one "hooligan" bike in your life, go for the Bandit!

 

[Shox Dr]

2nd for the 1200 Bandit. Plenty of Hard luggage available. Once your bored of it, you can let your mind go daft on a project for it

 

[chunkolini]

Banditry?
I will suffer meciless mickey taking from my mate Mr Fred, an ex Bandit owner, who gave me a pipe and slippers when I bought the bimmer.
Things that concern me about Bandits, tyre life? chain life? finish. I have heard horror stories regards corrosion on Bandits.
Handling? are they notorious for bouncing around on bends?
Are there any particular year models to avoid.
Servicing? how expensive are they to get serviced? I can do oils and filters etc myself, but stuff like valves how often does that need doing.

Chunko'.

 

[Chipper]

I was hoping for more low-down dirty grunt from the AT, nice ride otherwise. SP2 that would be fun. On the twins front I'd love a go on a Raptor and one o'those 950(?) KTMs. But not at the same time.

Bandits should be easy to service, screw & locknut tappets, no plastic bodywork. Recent ones are efi. Plentiful parts in the breakers. Was built to a budget but std setup may be fine, or upgrade suspension bits is do-able.

ZRX1100 is similar, bit more revvy. Also a bit soft in the forks but that can be sorted. Shim and bucket valves. Mates have had these and done lots of miles, but they eat wheel bearings (easy job though) and the std exhaust rots while you count out the cash...