What new bike?

[Slenver]

The trouble is , like what has been mentioned in another thread recently,,the roads are utterly fucked, full of potholes and loose gravel, so where there is a decent bit of road it makes for the ideal place to put a speed camera ,van or policeman with a radar etc.
Which sadly in my mind makes the litre sportsbikes and supersport 600s utterly pointless really unless you're going to do track days.
The adventure bikes,tall rounders and supermotos make a lot more sense in reality, to me at least.

What he said ^
It's the same with cars, anything focussed and needing smooth tarmac is a liability on the UK roads today.

I'd have a naked bike probably, as long as it wasn't a KTM or a transformer styled one, but anything sporty would be an exercise in avoiding potholes and speed cameras, although I suppose you could get caught speeding on any bike.

The roads can be dodgy, definitely, though there are very few speed cameras where I live... and I know where they are.

I don't want anything too focussed anyway.. but I would like to be able to enjoy a bend or roundabout when the opportunity presents itself.

[Slenver]

What about something budget, small and easy to live with? An SV650?
You can get a new one for peanuts and it would probably be huge fun, you wouldn't feel like you had any cash in it and you could just blast about on it for what it is.

Yeah... I have had an SV back in the day (plus one I raced), and I have great memories of them, though I wouldn't want the same again. That's where the Street Triple idea comes from really, something small and light and not crazy expensive. I do tend to get drawn towards shiny things though, like many people.

[Yorick]

https://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/en/models/m/m1000r.html

A bike with that much power and no fairing is as much use as a chocolate fireguard. Or a car without a windscreen.

[Slenver]

Rucksacks on a distance ride get old, real quick and so does looking at permanently mounted luggage. So, MT09 with a (removable) top box ftw!

I have a rack on my GSXR, but use the tank bag if I need to go shopping.

I have a top box on my SDGT currently. So, so uncool, and so, so practical! I hate the idea of big side panniers though, although they can look so much better and be fully removed without leaving brackets. I'd never be confident about the width while filtering.

All I really need to carry around in most cases is a set of normal clothes though (although putting a lid and boots in a top box is very handy), so I'm not sure I really *need* luggage above a tank bag and occasional rucksack. Which frees me up to get anything I fancy really

[Taipan]

Rucksacks on a distance ride get old, real quick and so does looking at permanently mounted luggage. So, MT09 with a (removable) top box ftw!

I have a rack on my GSXR, but use the tank bag if I need to go shopping.

[v8-powered]

Rucksacks on a distance ride get old, real quick and so does looking at permanently mounted luggage. So, MT09 with a (removable) top box ftw!

Mate of mine has just picked up a brand spankers SP model with Akra etc for not much over 9k - he rates it highly.....

[Noggin]

I have a top box on my SDGT currently. So, so uncool, and so, so practical! I hate the idea of big side panniers though, although they can look so much better and be fully removed without leaving brackets. I'd never be confident about the width while filtering.

All I really need to carry around in most cases is a set of normal clothes though (although putting a lid and boots in a top box is very handy), so I'm not sure I really *need* luggage above a tank bag and occasional rucksack. Which frees me up to get anything I fancy really

The bike I'm using has a top box and there are side panniers for it too. My mate was a bit shocked when I said I won't use the side panniers! LOL But, my first experience of them (although soft ones) was forgetting they were there after parking on a pavement on the IoM and nearly taking a bin with me as I pulled out onto the road! (Mind you, he was also shocked when I asked if he still had the original screen - he's got an aftermarket one with a flip up bit that plays drums on my head - he's about 5-6 inches shorter than me!!)

I do so hate the look of a topbox but have found it incredibly handy. I always used Ventura luggage before so am more used to having the luggage in the same line as the bike, not sure I'd get the hang of side panninis fast enough!! LOL (Cos I do filter a fair bit )

Rucksacks cause too much pain for me after not very long, so not worth it. I've also got a roll bag that I'll maybe take on my trip south - strapped to the pillion seat!

[Bigyin]

I quite like the look of them in black. I think again that it's too close in purpose (and weight) to my KTM. I'd like something noticeably lighter and probably smaller.

You want a nice little black 636 like the one my eldest has

[Yorick]

I quite like the look of them in black. I think again that it's too close in purpose (and weight) to my KTM. I'd like something noticeably lighter and probably smaller.

You want a nice little black 636 like the one my eldest has

I imagine they're even better than the original which (IIRC) you had?

[Bigyin]

You want a nice little black 636 like the one my eldest has

I imagine they're even better than the original which (IIRC) you had?

Yeah i had the B1H model which was a race bike with lights and tiny with about 112 BHP according to the stats. The C model later had slightly higher and wider clip ons, lower pegs and a softer seat as the riding position on the B was deemed too extreme in comparison to the R6 and CBR' RR's of the day



The boys one was the last of the proper 128 BHP 636 Ninjas Kawasaki made before they dropped the model in 2021 and joined the parallel twin 650 bikes like the R7 that put out about 70 bhp which compared to my 24 year old Fazer at 95 bhp is a shopping bike in a posh frock.

They have reintroduced it this year though and are selling them as no R6's or CBR's or GSXR's to compete with

He turned up tonight with that huge standard exhaust removed and a nice Mivv end can on instead which gives nice growl tone without being offensive in the slightest

[Whysub]

I was going to suggest something interesting like an RGV250, but then I saw you want to be able to cover distances easily and in comfort, and it sounds like you want something that also feels a bit special, so on that basis I think a Ducati Multistrada would be the perfect bike, they have some very nice versions if you don't mind spending a bit.

Saw this in Andorra a couple of years ago. UK registered and the biggest tank bag I have ever seen.

20220610_121514.jpg (1004.26 KiB) Viewed 861 times

[Horse]

You're overthinking, go to bike shop, see a bike you like, buy it.

If you waste time thinking about buying a bike, you don't buy a bike.

I think this is probably the best approach tbh.

Another method is to write a detailed list, with all the data. Be sure to include access to dealers, spares availability, known issues, all running costs, including servicing, tyres, etc. Possibly even to colours available.

Then tear it up and buy the one you want

[KungFooBob]

Panigale.

[Skub]

Another method is to write a detailed list, with all the data. Be sure to include access to dealers, spares availability, known issues, all running costs, including servicing, tyres, etc. Possibly even to colours available.

Then tear it up and buy the one you want

Second son does that with everything. He made a bike list to help him decide,then bought 4 of them....

[Noggin]

Another method is to write a detailed list, with all the data. Be sure to include access to dealers, spares availability, known issues, all running costs, including servicing, tyres, etc. Possibly even to colours available.

Then tear it up and buy the one you want

Second son does that with everything. He made a bike list to help him decide,then bought 4 of them....

Excellent - dos he still have any of them?!!

[Skub]

Excellent - dos he still have any of them?!!

Yep. Employing the same logic and lists,he's been thinking of selling some........for the past couple of years.

[Slenver]

Another method is to write a detailed list, with all the data. Be sure to include access to dealers, spares availability, known issues, all running costs, including servicing, tyres, etc. Possibly even to colours available.

Then tear it up and buy the one you want

That is basicallly how I usually operate. I'll make a spreadsheet, do endless research, spent months pontificating, and then buy something at a moment's notice.