What bike are you thinking of buying next ? What's the shortlist ?

[weeksy]

Get the Sprint ST MOT’d and sell it. Buy a Triumph Explorer. Loved the previous one, sold it to buy a Ducati which I never quite gelled with. Found a 2015, needs a tidy up, it’s the XC so a few extras but at a good price. Just awaiting a call back from the garage and I think it will be relocating to Northamptonshire.
Well, that’s the plan anyway!!
Mick

So, it happened today. Bought the Explorer XC, 2015, 17.5k miles, all the toys. Bought it unseen but that’s not the first time, long chats with the garage so happy what will need tidying. Delivery sometime fairly soon as part of the deal.
Happy day.
Mick

Pics man pics!

[636mick]

I will when it’s delivered!!
Mick

[KungFooBob]

I watched this and now I need a Desert Sled!

[weeksy]

I like em. I could easily own a Ducati Scrambler

But they're £11k against £8k for an XSR

[maccecht]

Taking some pensions at 60 in May so going to sell the tracer 900 and get a Honda Forza 750 I know WTF am I thinking. But having arthritis in my hips means anything over 100 miles on the tracer becomes a chore. Foot forward for me is very comfortable and I can ride my Burgman 650 all day long. My X-Adv was great but got nicked. The Forza has better weather protection and a few more extras hopefully there will be a pre reg one so I can get a few pennies off

[Potter]

I like em. I could easily own a Ducati Scrambler

On paper yes, and they look good, but have you ridden one?
I honestly didn't see the point, it's heavy so no good offroad, but not great on road either.

Mind you, I tested one when they first came out and I was riding a ZX7 (and I couldn't wait to get back on it) so maybe they're better now.

[Gregor]

I’m tempted by this, haven’t seen a decent one for a while but .........£3895

I had a full power kmx 125 and it’s the bike I had most fun on but always wanted it’s bigger brother.

[Asian Boss]

I’m tempted by this, haven’t seen a decent one for a while but .........£3895

I had a full power kmx 125 and it’s the bike I had most fun on but always wanted it’s bigger brother.

It'll probably make that too, or at least three and a half.

I remember looking at mint, low mile DT125R YPVSs when they were about two grand. Not any more.

I guess they'll hold their value so if you buy one you shouldn't lose much unless you trash it.

[Gregor]

I’m tempted by this, haven’t seen a decent one for a while but .........£3895

I had a full power kmx 125 and it’s the bike I had most fun on but always wanted it’s bigger brother.

It'll probably make that too, or at least three and a half.

I remember looking at mint, low mile DT125R YPVSs when they were about two grand. Not any more.

I guess they'll hold their value so if you buy one you shouldn't lose much unless you trash it.

Unit 5 have got a rather nice DT200 at the moment

£3695

[Asian Boss]

I’m tempted by this, haven’t seen a decent one for a while but .........£3895

I had a full power kmx 125 and it’s the bike I had most fun on but always wanted it’s bigger brother.

It'll probably make that too, or at least three and a half.

I remember looking at mint, low mile DT125R YPVSs when they were about two grand. Not any more.

I guess they'll hold their value so if you buy one you shouldn't lose much unless you trash it.

Unit 5 have got a rather nice DT200 at the moment

£3695

Three seven! I remember when RGV250s were 5k and thinking that was high. I imagine it has to peak at some point and then they drop once the 'bike of my youth' lot stop buying them.

[Potter]

Unit 5 have got a rather nice DT200 at the moment

£3695

I briefly had one, but I remember being underwhelmed because it didn't feel like a very fast 125.

If you tweaked the 125 you could get it singing, so I expected the 200 to be a screaming missile, but it seemed to have been tuned a lot differently and it was more of a plodder. Some years later I had a KTM200exc and that was a screamer, the 300exc was better still in terms of screaming but there were lots of vibrations on the road.

I'd definitely have that DT200 for nostalgia sake and for getting around town, but don't buy it expecting a screaming super-fast 125 style bike.

[Gregor]

Well for another grand I could go for a brand spanking new crf300l.



No demonstrator in my local dealer yet,they should have the rally version by the end of the month so I’ll book a test ride on that.

Whatever I get will be greenlaned so probably not wise to go down the 30yr old 2 stroke route.

[KungFooBob]

It's looking like in the next week or two I'll have up to £6k to spunk on a momocycle.

As regular readers will know, I quite fancy an early 90's GSXR1100...

but I can't help looking at other stuff, the short list so far is...

950/990 KTM Supermoto
CB1300/ZXR1200/XJR1300
4C8 R1
Triumph T140
Tuono V4
RSV1000 Factory
Monster 1100

If I had another couple of grand it would be between the Z900RS, R Nine T or CB1100RS.

[Asian Boss]

If you fancy the early 90s GSX-R, what about the 750 rather than the 1100? It looks almost identical (I'd miss the second exhaust...) but from memory it's a much better bike to ride.

I had a CB1300S and it was really good. I'd love a Tuono V4, KTM 950/990 SM or maybe a Monster 1100 but they might all be a bit aggressive for my current slow riding.

When I have a list of 'maybes', it's generally the right example coming up at the right price in the right location which makes up my mind, not the make/model.

It's a fun place to be regardless of whatever you end up with. Sweet!

Edit - in your position I'd get an MT01, a Diavel or the right Harley - but I don't think any of those are what you're after.

[KungFooBob]

I'm tempted to buy a fucked early GSXR750 and a Blandit 1200 motor.

Apparently if you put the 750 cams in the 1200 motor you get something ever more betterer than the 1100 lump and it bolts right up (once you drill the rear engine mounts out a bit).

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Unless you've got the upper body of Jean Claude Van Damme and the legs of Danny De Vito, you aren't going to get on with a GSXR1100, they're fantastic in a straight line, but really don't want to go round corners, they're are much better bikes out there, if you want a 30 year old big bike, buy an EXUP or a Fireblade, even a ZZR1100 is better than the GSXR, if you must have a GSXR1100 get the water cooled one, or with £6K you could buy a Bimota SB6, you might find a Harris or a Spondon for that money.

[KungFooBob]

Edit - in your position I'd get an MT01, a Diavel or the right Harley - but I don't think any of those are what you're after

I've been looking at Harleys today, think I'd prefer a Buell XB12 tho'

[KungFooBob]

Unless you've got the upper body of Jean Claude Van Damme and the legs of Danny De Vito, you aren't going to get on with a GSXR1100, they're fantastic in a straight line, but really don't want to go round corners, they're are much better bikes out there, if you want a 30 year old big bike, buy an EXUP or a Fireblade, even a ZZR1100 is better than the GSXR, if you must have a GSXR1100 get the water cooled one, or with £6K you could buy a Bimota SB6, you might find a Harris or a Spondon for that money.

I've a mate who has an 'L' 1100 he's had since it was new. He had to repaint it after the paint on the tank wore through from his knees trying to make it steer.

The handling on the 1100 doesn't worry me, more the ergos. I'm quite tall and the pegs look quite high, hence looking at all the other shit.

[Asian Boss]

I'm tempted to buy a fucked early GSXR750 and a Blandit 1200 motor.

Apparently if you put the 750 cams in the 1200 motor you get something ever more betterer than the 1100 lump and it bolts right up (once you drill the rear engine mounts out a bit).

Again just me, but I'd leave it standard, an early 90s GSXR 750 will be over 100bhp and in a 25-30 year old chassis that'd be enough. Plus leaving it standard is good for when it comes to sell it on (yes, I tell myself all my bikes are forever, but they never are).

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Any GSXR750 is loads better than any 1100, 7/11s never seem to quite work, in the other hand I know someone who built an 11/7 from a Slabby 1100 and a 750L engine he had going spare, and that worked really well, it was a lovely bike to ride, better than any of the cradle framed 750s or 1100s.

I quite fancy building a 7/6 using a 750 slabby with a 600 teapot engine.