Your inappropriate £1500 secret crush.. what is it ?

[Rockburner]

Do you reckon they're any good to ride though?
That one and the Goldwing custom above look nice and would probably look great in a bikers cafe on display, but I always look at them and wonder if they're any good to ride - they don't look like they are.

One of the guys at a courier company I worked for had one as a spare bike, I borrowed it a few times, they're a big, slow handling thing that's one of those bikes that's really satisfying to hustle because you've got to be smooth but firm with it. Can go surprisingly quick whilst sat upright with the radio on, a lot quicker than you'd think possible.

A certain Italian bloke with a penchant for yellow 46 stickers had one when he lived in Mayfair, surprised more than a few hardened couriers with his ability to hustle it through traffic.

The Pan is supposed to be a good handling bike - obviously it's not a sports bike designed for the track, but a road bike designed for doing huge mileages in comfort, but that doesn't mean it has to be wallowy and ponderous. You don't get to do high mileages travelling slowly. It just won't be razor sharp and setup for smooth surfaces. It'll be set up for pliant suspension and low-end torque to pull you through corners and waft you gently (if rapidly) down straights.

I'd imagine that without all the bodywork the performance would only improve!

[Gimlet]

Coming back alone the Bridport coast road last year on the 1190 I came up behind some bloke on a Goldwing with his missus on the back. When he saw me in his mirrors he thought he'd have a try. It wasn't the hardest thing in the world to get past him but fair play to him he gave it a good go. He was pushing it through those bends faster than a lot of the squeaky leather weekend warrior brigade can manage on their spotless sports bikes.

[Skub]

A decent little bike for a lazy,cheap-ish restoration. A 500 quid head start too.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YAMAHA-AS3-1 ... SwDCpesGXH

[moth]

A decent little bike for a lazy,cheap-ish restoration. A 500 quid head start too.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YAMAHA-AS3-1 ... SwDCpesGXH

Early 70s Yams had paint jobs that were really wacky. Remember the pink 200s?

[Skub]

A decent little bike for a lazy,cheap-ish restoration. A 500 quid head start too.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YAMAHA-AS3-1 ... SwDCpesGXH

Early 70s Yams had paint jobs that were really wacky. Remember the pink 200s?

I thought it was just my 'rose tints'.

[hilldweller]

Plenty of Groms around for that sort of money,
Loads of go-faster bits around too

Funny you should say that. I called in to Oulton right before the lock down, bike track day and loads of serious race bike being tested. No-one bothering about distancing. It looked just normal.

But in amongst all the big bikes was a Grom, with a couple of the racers, they had the biggest grins in the paddock, as did I, that is The Grom Effect.

Two days later all MSV track closed.

But Oulton is showing a track day next Tue. 19th. Weather is look good too.

[KungFooBob]

Honda Firestorms are dirt cheap.

semi-sporty, nice user friendly 100bhp v-twin, Honda build quality.

There's a few listed on t'bay at the moment under £1500, however if you look at the sold/completed listings the private ones often go for well under a grand.

[weeksy]

Honda Firestorms are dirt cheap.

semi-sporty, nice user friendly 100bhp v-twin, Honda build quality.

There's a few listed on t'bay at the moment under £1500, however if you look at the sold/completed listings the private ones often go for well under a grand.

Unless I've got very very rose tinted glasses, then these have to be the best value used bike surely? Big meaty stomping twin, grunty power and honda build quality. Awesome

[KungFooBob]

Unless I've got very very rose tinted glasses, then these have to be the best value used bike surely? Big meaty stomping twin, grunty power and honda build quality. Awesome

They're not without faults, water pump seals can weep and the tinternet is full of people worrying about camchains.

One of the big criticisms when they were new was that they didn't handle as well as a fireblade, but as a big lazy 'semi' sporting bike I doubt you could get much better.

[Skub]

Unless I've got very very rose tinted glasses, then these have to be the best value used bike surely? Big meaty stomping twin, grunty power and honda build quality. Awesome

They're not without faults, water pump seals can weep and the tinternet is full of people worrying about camchains.

One of the big criticisms when they were new was that they didn't handle as well as a fireblade, but as a big lazy 'semi' sporting bike I doubt you could get much better.

A small tank and a taste for fuel consumption gives them a poor range too.

A mate of mine bought one a couple of years ago,in great order and low miles for 600 quid. Bargain all day long.

[KungFooBob]

The post 2002 ones got bigger tanks, HISS and slightly improved mpg, but they're nowhere near as cheap as the 98/99's.

[Nidge]

I(f you promise not to tell anyone, I've always had a bit of a hankering for a CBX..... the 750.....

[Skub]

I(f you promise not to tell anyone, I've always had a bit of a hankering for a CBX..... the 750.....

Plonk.

[Supermofo]

Never really gelled with my Firestorm despite it being the longest I've ever owned a bike. Good bike it just didn't do it for me. It was comfy enough and quick enough, long and slowish steering, not great brakes. Mine was a 53 reg so bigger tank and range was ok about 120 miles normally, sometimes 135-140 in pottle mode. I worried about the cam chains but in the 6 years I owned it the only issue I had was a split fuel tap diaphragm. I found it a pig in slow moving traffic, below 40mph it weren't happy at all.

[Druid]

Never really gelled with my Firestorm despite it being the longest I've ever owned a bike. Good bike it just didn't do it for me. It was comfy enough and quick enough, long and slowish steering, not great brakes. Mine was a 53 reg so bigger tank and range was ok about 120 miles normally, sometimes 135-140 in pottle mode. I worried about the cam chains but in the 6 years I owned it the only issue I had was a split fuel tap diaphragm. I found it a pig in slow moving traffic, below 40mph it weren't happy at all.

I didn't get on with mine either. I thought the seat was too hard, so I fitted a Corbin seat which improved things. Suspension was budget, so I fitted a WP rear shock and new front springs. Mine was an 2002 model, registered in 04 so I had the bigger tank but still struggled to get 120 miles to a tank. It's the only new bike I've ever bought, I kept it 18 months, did 10500 miles on it and lost £2500 when I traded it in against a 955i Speed Triple, which is what I should have bought in the first place

[Druid]

I(f you promise not to tell anyone, I've always had a bit of a hankering for a CBX..... the 750.....

Take no notice of skub, the CBX750 is much under rated. Didn't help that it had to compete with Honda's own VFR, but it was quick, handled well and was reliable - no valve train issues with this 80's Honda

[cheb]

It appears mine was a 2005 XL125R for £1,200. It's paid for, I just need to work out how to collect it. I need a good cover story for breaking lockdown and heading up to the next island.

[Skub]

It appears mine was a 2005 XL125R for £1,200. It's paid for, I just need to work out how to collect it. I need a good cover story for breaking lockdown and heading up to the next island.

Ha! Actions speak louder than words! Enjoy the new bike.

I can't see plod bothering you much where you are!

[Supermofo]

Ok it's not £1500 quid, but I really want this for nostalgia reasons. Same colour I had. If I knew the Mrs had a job after Oct I might well have bought it already. Only 1 other in this colour I can see for sale at the min and that's up for £5800

https://www.khmotorcycles.co.uk/used-bi ... /56326.htm

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I(f you promise not to tell anyone, I've always had a bit of a hankering for a CBX..... the 750.....

Take no notice of skub, the CBX750 is much under rated. Didn't help that it had to compete with Honda's own VFR, but it was quick, handled well and was reliable - no valve train issues with this 80's Honda

There a nice bike, bit bland compared with the GPZ and GSX of the same age, the engine goes on forever so long as you don't mind the alternator drive chain rattling - it rattles but never breaks. Probably the best bike Honda made before 1986.