New Bike Musings

[Ditchfinder]

Despite me saying I never would, I'm thinking it might be time for the Griso to go. It's a lovely thing to look at and ride on flowing smooth roads but these are in short supply near me and I rarely get more than half a day at the weekend to ride so end up riding the same roads all the time.

As I've got the Triumph roadworthy recently, and although it is in much rougher condition and not quite as nice to ride, it is after all a 80hp naked roadster and suited to flowy A/B roads. Unfortunately because of it's condition and high miles it would never sell for more than £750/800 which doesn't get me anywhere.

The Guzzi could probably fetch around £4.5k if I got the headers polished up and this gets me into something else.

I have the Dales, Forest of Bowland and Pennine Moors on my doorstep with lots of nadgery quiet lanes which neither the Guzzi or the Triumph are really suited to. I've been thinking about a small ADV type bike for some lower speed scenic meanderings with the odd bit of easy green lane.

Bikes in the running so far:

Himalayan 411 - 2nd hand so I don't have the boring running in period and would feel less guilty about modding it to my own taste. I think prices for 2nd hand need to come down to £2k though before I would go for one. If I could sell the Triumph for £800 (or find somewhere suitable to keep it in France) this is the only case I can see the Guzzi staying.

Himalayan 452 - obvs new but I'm not really into the styling and don't want the depreciation hit. But it might be exactly the right tool for the job.

Voge 300 rally - Might be a bit too off-road focussed, not many about 2nd-hand though so people must like them. Seat height could be a problem.

CFmoto 450 MT - None here yet but looks to have the right blend of on/off road for what i'm looking for. Might be best to wait until next year for ex-demo's and see how owners find them.

I'm not likely to go touring on it, mainly commuting and minor road meandering. Just thinking I might try and get a few test rides in this year in prearation for a purchase early next year. So thinking try and sell the Guzzi this summer, get the Triumph absolutely straight mechanically (mainly a front brake rebuild and a new throttle cable). If the Guzzi doesn't sell this year it can stay until early next year and be ready for something else in the Spring.

Anything else on the used market worth considering bearing in mind I'm barely 5'6" with stumpy legs?

[KungFooBob]

700 Transalp or a Wee-strom?

KTM 390 Adventure?

[Ditchfinder]

700 Transalp or a Wee-strom?

KTM 390 Adventure?

Transalp is a bit on the big side for me I think. I'm after something on the smaller side I think.

After having a duke 390 I don't think I want an engine like that for pottering about, it wanted revs all the time and was too snatchy at low speeds.

[Dodgy69]

Reckon you've pretty much named the best contenders for your intended use, maybe add the RE 500 trials, very light off rode mind, but great for chugging around on.

[Ditchfinder]

Missed one - Fantic Caballero 500 - the Rally version if it's not going to give me vertigo - looks to be a bit lighter than the CFmoto and Himalayans but still has 40 ponies.

[Skub]

Kawa Versys 650?

Been around for a while,so plenty of low miles examples in your price range.

[KungFooBob]

Or the Versys 300, it's often overlooked.

There's a 250 V-Strom too, but the Versys looks more purposeful with it's spoked wheels.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

CB500X

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Missed one - Fantic Caballero 500 - the Rally version if it's not going to give me vertigo - looks to be a bit lighter than the CFmoto and Himalayans but still has 40 ponies.

Who wouldn't want a bike with a Chinese copy of an Italian engine

[ChrisW]

Are you only thinking of stuff around 40bhp or would a Yamaha Serow be worth considering?

[Cousin Jack]

Another vote for the CB500, f or X.

Genuine does everything bike.

[KungFooBob]

If you got a CB500X, you could spend the rest of your life buying bolt on bits from Rally Raid Products.

www.rallyraidproducts.co.uk

[Ditchfinder]

I won't rule out a serow, can I get a decent 500x for the dance price as a new CF Moto 450?

[Ditchfinder]

"Who wouldn't want a bike with a Chinese copy of an Italian engine"

What could possibly go wrong? I once had a Nissan cherry Europe, a 1.2 alfasud engine in a nissan beige grandad mobile?

It lasted 4 days, 3 of those were waiting for the AA

[KungFooBob]

If the CB500X is a consideration, you also have to look at the NC7x0X.

I had a 700X and it was alright if a little bland, but it sipped fuel. Probably no worse off road than the 500X with no mods.

The DCT gear box version might be an attraction if you're a bit lazy

[Whysub]

Test ride both the Himalayans.

I have the 411, a great bike for pottering around locally on the green lanes, gravel tracks, and tour on. 30,000 kms now, no issues.

I've a 452 on order, as the extra power will be handy on longer rides and some of the tracks here. Riding position very similar, but I found I won't need bar risers when standing up due to the slightly higher bars fitted.

My only concern, which may sound daft, is the side stand. It leans the bike over quite a way, and at 5'8", its a real heave to get it upright when sitting on it. Something I will have to get used to, or see if I can get something fabricated to make it stand more upright.

[Supermofo]

My only concern, which may sound daft, is the side stand. It leans the bike over quite a way, and at 5'8", its a real heave to get it upright when sitting on it. Something I will have to get used to, or see if I can get something fabricated to make it stand more upright.

That must be a thing, not just you, as Nathan the Postman mentioned it in his review on YouTube

[matt]

The new triumph 400s sound perfect for what you want.

[Ditchfinder]

The new triumph 400s sound perfect for what you want.

By some accounts they're not much good off road and I'm starting to like the idea of a bit of gentle green laning.

After some thought I'm going to get a test ride on a 411 Himalayan and if it's a goer look for a cheaper used one.

[Sadlonelygit]

#KFB
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