Advice required from any forum motorcyclists please.

Started by Newportnobby, June 16, 2018, 12:58:31 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Newportnobby

My state pension kicks in in 4 months time and I will have extra disposable income. My mind ponders getting a new bike more and more, so much so I have been trawling t'interweb to see what's about, especially as I saw a chap t'other day on a bike I'd really like.
I'm not, and never have been a 'clip-ons, rearsets and bum in the air' type of biker, so am looking for a tourer I can fit top box and panniers to, maybe with a small twin headlamped fairing and an upright riding position. Chances are all my riding will be solo, but I do not want anything where a pillion would sit 6ft up in the air behind me like wot a lot of bikes do ::)
I don't want anything with a huge motor as my insurance as a born again biker is going to be extortionate anyway (might cost as much as a bike! :worried: )
Now I have looked at the websites of Triumph, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki and at what they refer to as 'adventure tourers' and all I've seen are:-
Kawasaki 650 Versys GT (parallel twin)
Suzuki 650 V-Strom XGT (V-twin)
Yamaha 700 Tracer (in line twin)

Which sort of fit the bill but are all sharp edges and pointy bits, whereas I tend to prefer rounded stuff. Being of a pensionable age I'll also want Comfort with a capital 'C' and will most definitely be a 'fair weather' biker probably doing less than 5000 miles per annum!!!
I'm not even sure if, medically, I am OK to ride a bike as constant vibration may affect my defibrillator implant but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

Any advice/help appreciated :thankyousign:

David Asquith

I feel the same way as you do about modern bikes and the pillion sat above supervising (back seat driver).  Also if I had a modern  bike I'd want the top of the range, fastest, most expensive one which as you say would cost an arm and a leg to insure.  My solution though I haven't done it yet is to buy a classic bike that I admired in my youth.  A Honda 750 4.  Love em.  Saw one for sale over here a little while ago for 5 thousand euros.  Very tempted but I had just bought my second scooter.  There's another option.  A big engined scooter

Dave

Train Waiting

#2
Hello Mick

The type of motorcycle you and I are probably both thinking of has kind of vanished from the market.  A kind of 350/500 middleweight tourer with good manners*.  I completely understand your remark about all the pointy bits.  You would be less aware of these when sitting on or riding the machine, of course.

I'm not really that knowledgeable about modern stuff but one manufacturer that you have not mentioned is Royal Enfield.  I believe that there is now an electric start 'Bullet' available if you don't fancy kick starting a 500cc single.  They look like motorcycles ought (in my opinion) and make a reasonable sound.

I suppose that a test ride would help no end.  You'll probably be very impressed with any of the three you mentioned.  They will be smooth and the roadholding due to the fat tyres will be amazing (I expect that TT100s or Avons were the tyres you last experienced).  The Enfield will be entertaining - I tried a 350cc version a few years ago but the 500 is likely to be noticeably better.

A Triumph would be tempting but I think that 900 is the smallest one gets nowadays.

Alternatively, you could look at an older machine but maybe you fancy the piece of mind that comes with a new one.  Perhaps something that was a bit overlooked at the time such as a mid-1960s unit construction BSA twin (the A50).  A Velocette is always worth thinking about, but they can be a tad temperamental (a MSS 500 is a nice machine) and will retain its resale value.  I had a couple of Velos and enjoyed them.  There is an active club and good spares.

Enough of this - you are tempting me to get one of my old motorcycles out!

* Although there are scooters now available in this category...

Best wishes.

John
Please visit us at www.poppingham.com

'Why does the Disney Castle work so well?  Because it borrows from reality without ever slipping into it.'

(Acknowledgement: John Goodall Esq, Architectural Editor, 'Country Life'.)

The Table-Top Railway is an attempt to create, in British 'N' gauge,  a 'semi-scenic' railway in the old-fashioned style, reminiscent of the layouts of the 1930s to the 1950s.

For the made-up background to the railway and list of characters, please see here: https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=38281.msg607991#msg607991

daversmth

#3
Hi,

I would suggest the best way to proceed would be :

Having decided your (realistic) needs, whch it sounds like you have, read reviews and pull up a shortlst. For reviews I suggest motorcyclenews.com , visordown and youtube. Again, it sounds like perhaps you have already done so.

Also, attend one of the big motorcycle shows.
You cannot ride the bikes but you can sit on them and compare static riding position and how that feels side by side all in one place.

Next step, and it is a must, do test rides. Reading reviews is briliant to get to a short list but you will only ever know what suits you until you actually ride them. Voice of experience, believe me.

Above all , take care out there ...

Happy to help further if I can.
Just ask.


Newportnobby

Thanks for the replies so far.
1. I don't want a top of the range, fastest, most expensive one as it would result in my demise no doubt.
2. I really don't want 'retro' having been there and done it before (and, yes, on Avon Roadrunner tyres)
3. The Triumph Tiger 800 looks good but by the time I've configured it as I would like it would appear to be a couple of thousand quid more than one of the Japanese bikes I mentioned in the OP (a triple would sound rather nice, though :D)
4. No more riding around in a waxed jacket and a Griffin full face helmet any more :no: I'd have to factor in decent clothing so there's another £1000+
5. No DIY repairs for me now. Dealer only.

Railwaygun

the only solution is a BMW footwarmer - 500/750 models are readily available, though not up to current emission /noise ( ie water-cooled etc) standards.

Comfort & reliability and an unbeatable tourer

NR ( 750/5 & R69S)
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
Ecclesiastes 2:11

This has been a public service announcement
It may contain alternative facts

Caveat lector

The largest Railwaygun, Armoured Train & Military Rail group in the world!

https://groups.io/g/railwaygun/topics

NGF Military threads

https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?board=146.0

My Military Rail Pinterest area
https://uk.pinterest.com/NDRobotnik/

10mm / N armour Threads
https://www.10mm-wargaming.com/

Motto: Semper ubi, sub ubi

d-a-n


Newportnobby

Quote from: d-a-n on June 17, 2018, 10:46:11 AM
Secondhand Honda Trans Alp on a classic policy?

Looks like the sort of thing I'm after but a bit 'old' now :hmmm: :thankyousign:



d-a-n

Quote from: Newportnobby on June 17, 2018, 03:02:40 PM
Thanks, but please see the OP

My bad, always known them as a DL650 but didn't put two and two together! Anything from the BMW stable of bikes, or if you don't mind a bit more cc, a Honda Africa Twin?

themadhippy

pity the yammy xj900 is no longer as i recon that would suit you nicely,how about a guzzi,always fancied  a california,or if theres not to many bends a baby hog?
freedom of speech is but a  fallacy.it dosnt exist here

joe cassidy

Mick,

Most French bikers in your age group seem to go for Harley Davidsons ?

Best regards,


Joe

Newportnobby

Sorry, Chaps, but in order to carry on living I think I ought to limit myself to 600-700cc (or less if the right bike was available). Italian stuff is both out of my price range and not particularly my sort of thing looks wise. I don't do baby hogs, bobbers or Harleys as I like bend swinging.
I think I may be too fussy ::)

Mr Sprue

For what its worth Mick if you can stretch your budget the Triumph is a really good option. I have had plenty of Jap bikes over the years and it has to be said they were really good and I enjoyed em. But the Tiger looks like a go anywhere bike and best of all it has that sweet sounding smooth reliable 3 pot they are renown for.

Go on go for it!  :)

 

Please Support Us!
March Goal: £100.00
Due Date: Mar 31
Total Receipts: £77.34
Below Goal: £22.66
Site Currency: GBP
77% 
March Donations