Different Bike??

[Jake]

Now that I’ve retired, I’ve been thinking about buying
a new (secondhand) bike for a while now....I’d still keep
the NTV but fancy something a bit more powerful to go
alongside it....

The bikes I’ve thought about so far are the Yamaha
FZS 1000 Fazer, the Honda CBF 1000 or maybe the
Honda Hornet 900....

www.visordown.com/reviews/motorcycles/naked/honda-cbf-1000/424.html

www.cartestsoftware.com/fz1/

www.mcnews.com.au/testing/honda/CB900F_Hornet/Page_1.htm


Weighing up the pros and cons I’d sooner have a shaft
drive bike (with centre stand) to avoid messing around
with chains and sprockets, and because I’m a short arse,
the bike can’t be too tall and heavy. The obvious choice
would be a Deauville, either 650 or 700, but I don’t fancy
the look of all that plastic....

I’ve also thought about a belt drive BMW F800ST but
apparently it’s not that easy to service and is not as
reliable as a Japanese bike.... Spares are also expensive.

www.motorcycle-usa.com/photogallerys/07_BMW_F800ST.jpg

www.reviewcentre.com/reviews120867.html


I’ve looked at the Kawasaki 750, and various Moto Guzzi ‘s
(e.g. Bellagio) but I just can’t find that perfect ‘universal’
motorcycle that ticks all the boxes.....

www.kawasaki.co.uk/product.asp?Id=B630EC044A&S=6549116

www.motoguzziguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/moto-guzzi-bellagio.jpg


Any suggestions?
Anyone else got a second bike?

At the moment, I’m resigned to a 900 Hornet, even though
I’m not sure about it’s luggage capabilities with those high silencers....

[professore]

How about a CBR 1000 F ?

www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikereviews/searchresults/Bike-Reviews/Honda/Honda-CBR1000F-1987-97/

Won't break the bank, bulletproof reliability, fast, easy servicing, economical, only thing is it's a chain drive, but otherwise ....

Quite fancy one myself when funds allow.

[Jake]

Dec 9, 2010 8:05:09 GMT -5 professore said:

How about a CBR 1000 F ?

Cheers Bob,

If I see one at Millenium bikes or Marriots (local)
I’ll take a look....One thing I really like is wandering
around a decent bike dealership that has plenty of
secondhand stock....

I was looking around Millenium bikes in St Helens the
other day and I found a tidy old Suzuki GSX 750X for £1500
which wasn’t even advertised on their website....(tempted).

www.pistonheads.com/sales/2277499.htm

www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikereviews/searchresults/Bike-Reviews/Suzuki/Suzuki-GSX750-1997-02-/

[professore]

What about a bandit 1200S? www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikereviews/searchresults/Bike-Reviews/Suzuki/Suzuki-GSF1200-Bandit-1996---2006-/

And it has screw and locknut valve adjusters.

[Jake]

Mar 15, 2011 16:54:07 GMT -5 professore said:

What about a bandit 1200S? www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikereviews/searchresults/Bike-Reviews/Suzuki/Suzuki-GSF1200-Bandit-1996---2006-/

And it has screw and locknut valve adjusters.

Hi Bob,

It’s a big, heavy bike....and being a short arse
not really suitable for me.

As I noted in the post above I had the chance of
buying a retro looking GSX 750 Suzuki but, I waited
too long and somebody else snapped it up.

www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikereviews/searchresults/Bike-Reviews/Suzuki/Suzuki-GSX750-1997-02-/

Serves me right for dithering. The bike would have
been ideal for me, low seat height, fairly upright riding
position, bulletproof engine, right price at £1500 and
only 17,000 miles.....I feel a bit gutted to be honest.

[professore]

Looks like a really nice bike.

The first sentence of the MCN article is: This was Suzuki's answer to the Kawasaki Zephyr 750

I used to have a Zephyr 750 www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikereviews/searchresults/Bike-Reviews/Kawasaki/Kawasaki-Zephyr-750-1992-1998/Kawasaki/ZEPHYR-750/_/R-EPI-289. It might suit you, or maybe the ZR7 - basically the same bike tarted up a bit - www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikereviews/searchresults/Bike-Reviews/Kawasaki/KAWASAKI-ZR-7-1999--2004/Kawasaki/ZR-7/_/R-EPI-290 as the Zephyrs are a bit long in the tooth now. It has a low seat. It is a bit heavy compared to the NTV, but you only notice that if you have to pick it up !

I found it a good solid bike, handling was OK especially for longer cruises. I would add progressive springs to the front forks though.

Engine is bulletproof, and it pulls like a train. It does have shims for valve clearance though which is offputting to me personally.

The only issues I had were the exhaust 4-into-1 bit was prone to rust and you felt like you were floating in the air with the speedo floating in front of you instead of "in" it if that makes any sense. Never did get fully used to that. Also mirrors vibrated a bit. I sold it a few years ago to get a car .... big mistake that I have now rectified. For me the Revere is a better bike all round, except maybe on the motorway, where I find it a bit light in strong winds compared to the Zephyr.