Commuter bike with a £5k budget

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

GSXS 750 and a Polaris fairing from the 1970s

[Dodgy69]

Versys 650.

[Dodgy69]

I don't like the new tracer, 18 - 20 MY.

[Couchy]

Honda forza 350

[Taff]

Versys 650.

On dry days over the summer I'm going to be riding my wife's ER6N, but given their reputation for dissolving in salt I'd be weary of having one for all weather winter riding, unfortunately, They're decent bikes

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Versys 650.

On dry days over the summer I'm going to be riding my wife's ER6N, but given their reputation for dissolving in salt I'd be weary of having one for all weather winter riding, unfortunately, They're decent bikes

Forget my Suzuki suggestion, they don't like salt

[Rockburner]

Versys 650.

On dry days over the summer I'm going to be riding my wife's ER6N, but given their reputation for dissolving in salt I'd be weary of having one for all weather winter riding, unfortunately, They're decent bikes

The Honda equivalent then?

[Supermofo]

Would say a GSXS 1000F but
a) they are horrifically ugly
b) they won't be £5k unless big mileages or older

Other than that it'd be aces. This one isn't much over budget
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-detai ... sc&fromsra



VFR800?
Get a later shape one for £5k
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-detai ... sc&fromsra

[Taff]

If it's genuinely just for commuting then a CB500S will do that job standing on it's head.


(edit - just saw the need for a screen - added the S)

The Honda equivalent then?

I'm getting there slowly

The CB500X looks interesting, I can't say that I've ever looked at a CB500 since doing my DAS 20 something years ago

you can't see it in the picture but this has got a huge screen fitted



https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 9c08aa9183

[Mr. Dazzle]

It is of course the boring answer, but I don't see why you'd turn down a CB500 in favour of any of the larger options floated like 800s, 1000s etc. If it's just for commuting the performance difference is wasted and the smaller CB is gonna be cheaper in almost every regard? Plus it's lighter and sit-uppier which is a better score for commuting.

Like I said, boring answer, but since when the fuck was commuting interesting anyway?

[Taff]

This has just bumped itself up the priority list, I'm normally the polar opposite to some here in that I'll decide to buy something, and then a year or two later it gets bought
But the tiger has a bit of a radiator issue at the moment so is of the road.

Currently looking at cbf1000s and Fazer 1000s, both can be had with low milage for £3k, they're both a hell of a lot of motorcycle for that money.
But the big question is, would I be able to restrain myself and ride normally with a 140hp Fazer

[Rockburner]

Like I said, boring answer, but since when the fuck was commuting interesting anyway?

Of course there is the point that to make commuting bearable, it has to be something that you can do in an engaging fashion, ie make it interesting: the conclusion there being that the bike should be fun and engaging to ride. Note that doesn't necessarily mean a powerful bike.... something fun and engaging over the distance involved.

Which brings us back to the CB500....

[Taff]

My head knows that something like a cb500 is the right answer, but I really can't see it happening. I need to have an element of 'want' about it and that simply doesn't happen when I look at the little CB500 any more than looking at a cb125.

[Rockburner]

My head knows that something like a cb500 is the right answer, but I really can't see it happening. I need to have an element of 'want' about it and that simply doesn't happen when I look at the little CB500 any more than looking at a cb125.

Tbh, I didn't "want" the Zephyr (Mirthcycle) until I'd done a winter on it and realised that it was a lot more than the sum of it's parts and i was really enjoying it.

[Cousin Jack]

My head knows that something like a cb500 is the right answer, but I really can't see it happening. I need to have an element of 'want' about it and that simply doesn't happen when I look at the little CB500 any more than looking at a cb125.

I have a CB500F. It does everything I want, it is fun around traffic and back roads, and will keep up with big bikes if they are cruising a long distance. I have done 10k miles on mine, 4k on the last tour, as a comuter it is only missing a fairing. You just have to re-calibrate your right hand, and work the little bugger a bit hard at times.

[Taipan]

What about one of these?



https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/295622635657 ... R_yenv__YQ

[Taff]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-detail ... obcid=soc3

I keep coming back to this one on autotrader, it is very tempting but I can feel my winter bones creaking by the nakedness of it

[Taipan]

G'wan! They are a hell of a bike apparently!

[KungFooBob]

Search down the back for the settee for another £499...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225562425477