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Heavy bar ends and a few miles on the engine and its fine. I have done 30K miles on mine, use it for European tours. Its not as relaxing as say a GS but a lot more relaxing than some of the other bikes I have had and still have 🙂
I think the whole XR vibrations thing is a bit over stated, that or some of them are far worse than mine. The fact little things go wrong is more annoying. I had no dash when I turned on the key in Wales the other weekend. Started and ran, no dash. Dash runs indicators too 🙂 So no indicators. Everything else was fine though 🙂
Owned from new and it was one of the early ones. Fitted the barends, got the handlebar mount warranty upgrade, did 17,000 miles on it all around the UK and Europe. It was just annoyingly buzzy at cruising revs. Apparently some were more than others.
The helpful BMW sales guy suggested I’d not run it in properly…
The dash issue is a concern!
– reliability and build quality are pretty important
I was looking at the Tiger 850 Sport as well, that does look nice.
Are you sure??
The dash issue is a concern!
At least the BMW will run with a dodgy dash. Good luck trying to get a modern Triumph running when the £1K dash has failed...
Z900rs
That’s a good call. Also a Monster. Lovely bikes that you’ll not lose money on.
Triumph Speed Twin, especially now the new ones been released.
A Kawasaki Z1000SX / Ninja 1000SX would tick a lot your boxes. I've got one and it's a great all-rounder.
Alternatively Yamaha TMax 560 ...
... what would you go for?
I haven't bothered to read the thread, because there was only ever one answer for me.
The fastest one. In black.
Try commuting on one of those and you’ll end queueing with the cars etc.
?
I don't. Not even on the GS Adventure.
Seriously, try any of the boxer-twin GSs. Price range of £2k to £20K. All good. You'll only wonder "What if" until you do. Anything after feels a bit flimsy and underwhelming.
I haven’t bothered to read the thread, because there was only ever one answer for me.
The fastest one. In black
For me it’s a Ducati 1098 in red. Genuinely my dream bike.
For me it’s a Ducati 1098 in red. Genuinely my dream bike.
That'll meet the OP's needs perfectly.
That’ll meet the OP’s needs perfectly.
What’s the worst that could happen?
Clearly the list of choices is not long enough as it doesn't include this one:
There's also a long-term owner review on the same channel, but the long and short of it is: this is the one you're looking for.
Try commuting on one of those and you’ll end queueing with the cars etc.
Nah. I ran them for 10yrs and never sat in a queue.
Just in from a 100 miler to Eyemouth for dinner and then over the Lammermuirs back home with Mrs Brads onboard.
Constant rib digging for flinging it about. It's a surprising bike that I love more every time I ride it.
701 supermoto tomorrow morning though, just to blow the old age away.
I could listen to that NTP guy all day.
I could listen to that NTP guy all day.
Same here, it's almost hypnotic.
Work out the exact bike that's perfectly rational and practical for the job you want it to do.
Then, buy one that's 20-50% less rational and practical.
Work out the exact bike that’s perfectly rational and practical for the job you want it to do.
Then, buy one that’s 20-50% less rational and practical.
There is a lot of truth in that.
A motorcycle should always excite you. That might be to ride, look at or just thinking about it!
Never, ever buy a motorcycle that doesn't do that for you.
I've had a few boring ones... they didn't stay for long!
What’s the worst that could happen?
exactly that.. .there's a long long thread if you wanted to read it about a guy who bought an 1199 and took it round the world after flying it to Europe so it could go back home, he wanted an 1199 and that was the tool he picked... it worked... he was happy as anything.
True. I need a commuter bike.
Now actively considering this:
A 250cc Fantic. Totally the wrong tool for the job, but it makes my tummy funny in a way a CB500X, TMAX or Versys never could.
Nah. I ran them for 10yrs and never sat in a queue.
I've sat behind loads of them as they just can't get through the gaps that 'normal' bikes can.
And their mirrors are just at the wrong height, which is why my 1050 Tiger only lasted a year.
Or maybe you just don't realise that these are 'gaps'?
Just in from a 100 miler to Eyemouth for dinner and then over the Lammermuirs back home with Mrs Brads onboard.
The bloke wants a commuter, not a Sunday special.
exactly that.. .there’s a long long thread if you wanted to read it about a guy who bought an 1199 and took it round the world after flying it to Europe so it could go back home, he wanted an 1199 and that was the tool he picked… it worked… he was happy as anything.
I have a Bandit 650 right now and it's a decent bike for what I want it for (some backroad thrashing, some commuting, gaining experience), but the 1098 just has _something_ that makes me want it. I have no idea if it will fit me, but it's rare a bike does. It just looks... amazing and sounds devine.
In red. Maybe the S model for the Öhlins, maybe not.
Nope I filtered with the rest on the beemer. Never been held up due to it's size but I suppose some can't ride bigger bikes through smaller gaps.
Mirrors at wrong height ? no idea what that is.
To be honest, there are loads of negative comments every time you mention big GS's but tbh I think most are from folk who have never owned one or even ridden one. Not sure what that's about actually ?
I should have mentioned that the run yesterday was on my Z900rs and I'm curious to what the difference is between a bike you ride on Sunday to one you ride on Monday ?
I'll just keep posting bikes that are on my radar.
The latest one that has caught my eye is the Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX 2021 model.
Sports & tourer combined into one so might fit the bill. Might be able to find a nearly new model for under £10k.
I’m curious to what the difference is between a bike you ride on Sunday to one you ride on Monday ?
In my world the 'sunny Sunday Princess' gets used on special occasions,the 'Plain Jane' bike gets used for the everyday stuff,also it's less desrirable to light fingered scrotes so security isn't as much of an issue when you're considering where you're going to park it.
The difference between a Sunday bike and a Monday bike depends on having a job
Going on the OP's criteria, there's one bike so far that strikes me as the best tool for the job, and it hasn't even been mentioned yet...
The BMW F900 XR... Looks good, seems to tick all the boxes, and will undoubtedly do the boring commute well and yet provide enough fun come the weekend too.
Apologies for Rory Reid content...
The other would be the Tracer 9 of course...
Personally, I'd go with the BMW. I rode an older model Tracer 900 for nearly 100 miles when my MT-10 was in for warranty work, I loved the engine, but the overly light and wandery front end when pushing on was a concern!
However... Can I seriously suggest, as others have already, that if you're commuting on this seriously, a 20yr old Honda VFR800 is a much better prospect (and there's still plenty of good ones about to pick from!). It's probably the most comfortable bike to do distance on that I've ever owned, minor niggles aside (there's extensive knowledge on these bikes on the forums and facebook groups) they're as reliable a bike as Honda has ever made and they'll do huge mileage easily with little more than regular oil changes! Sure, you don't get ABS, but in all honesty the way that the dual-CBS brakes work on these bikes acts like a kinda ABS in sub optimal conditions anyway. My biggest criticism of them is that the suspension was pretty soft when new even, so at 20yrs old it will likely need a refresh. YSS do a rear shock for about £300 that transforms the bike, and you can re-spring the forks and change the oil and seals for £100 or so, so all is not lost.
The best thing about the VFR800 is that it just does everything really bloody well... The newer VTEC ones are still great bikes, though have added complications, hence the "5th Gen" with its gear driven cams is still regarded as the best. You can commute all week in comfort, the weather protection from the full fairing is second only to a proper touring bike like a Yamaha FJ or BMW RT, yet they'll scratch with the best super nakeds and sports bikes at the weekend (You can use almost all of the VFR800's 105bhp, where a 1000cc Superbike is barely using 50% of its capability even ridden quickly on the road!). But chuck some luggage on it, and go touring, and it'll embarrass pretty much everything else too... I've had 2, if I needed a bike for commuting on I'd buy another in a heartbeat. You can find really good ones for £2k, absolute minters for £2500... For me, I'd rather spend that on a commute bike and then use the remaining budget towards a fun weekend toy like a KTM Duke 890R or something similar.
As for me...
There is a lot of truth in that.
A motorcycle should always excite you. That might be to ride, look at or just thinking about it!
Never, ever buy a motorcycle that doesn’t do that for you.I’ve had a few boring ones… they didn’t stay for long!
Exactly... I don't commute on a motorbike fortunately, but even if I did, my requirements are quite different... I spend 50% of my time on a motorbike 2up, so a big torquey motor and electronically adjustable suspension make a big difference! My SuperDuke 1290 GT might seem like overkill to many, but with 173bhp and 141Nm of torque on tap, it NEVER fails to excite, that's for sure!
Yep, VFR800 5th Gen is still an awesome bike. And the sound, oh the sound...
For me, I’d rather spend that on a commute bike and then use the remaining budget towards a fun weekend toy like a KTM Duke 890R or something similar.
Exactly what I would do. And did. VFR800 for the commute/touring. Tuono factory for the weekend
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Will be a sad day when the Tuono gets sold but I've had my fun on (motor)bikes and have moved on now.
I'd be happy with anything with a sidecar attached :D.
Great things, though they look a bit 'last of the summer wine' just having all your stuff safely with you, not affecting balance or making it unsteady and difficult to get on/off. Great 😀
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-details/202106143821571?advertising-location=at_bikes
Naked, classic looking and under £10K 😉
I saw one of them Yam XSR700XTributes today.... oh, I want one!
Naked, new and easy under £10k