400cc, Luggage, Huge MPG, £3K, Thoughts?

[Bikerjon]

Thinking about using a bike rather than car this autumn/winter to visit customers on the dry days. Not long commutes as such, just fairly short journeys up to 20 miles max. Don’t mind if it’s a bike or scooter, but I do need to carry a laptop and light tools, so panniers, top box etc will be required. The simplicity of a scooter appeals a lot, but the roads where I live and places I need to visit are full of pot-holed nastiness, so something with bigger wheels/better suspension is probably more suitable. Must be cheap to run too, so anything up to 400cc.

I’ve got a couple of ideas, but I always forget that certain bikes exist so yes, it’s another what bike thread!

Edited by Bikerjon on Friday 5th August 11:42

[Pebbles167]

You could do worse than a Suzuki Burgman 400.

[Bikerjon]

Pebbles167 said:

You could do worse than a Suzuki Burgman 400.

Always liked them and was very close to buying a 650 a couple of years ago. I do wonder what they're like over the bumps though as the two other scooters I've owned in the past were painful on country roads, but brilliant in towns.

[_Neal_]

What about a Sinnis Terrain 125, would seem to tick all your boxes?

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

Honda CB500 or NC750 are about as cheap to run as it gets as motorcycles

[Bikerjon]

_Neal_ said:

What about a Sinnis Terrain 125, would seem to tick all your boxes?

That's the kind of bike I would have missed, now added to my "must research" list, thanks!

[Bikerjon]

Marquezs Stabilisers said:

Honda CB500 or NC750 are about as cheap to run as it gets as motorcycles

Both great options, but not sure my budget will get me something decent with luggage included. Will check.

[A500leroy]

Royal enfield scram/ classic 350 / meteor.

[Pebbles167]

Bikerjon said:

Pebbles167 said:

You could do worse than a Suzuki Burgman 400.

Always liked them and was very close to buying a 650 a couple of years ago. I do wonder what they're like over the bumps though as the two other scooters I've owned in the past were painful on country roads, but brilliant in towns.

I've ridden a big Peugeot scooter, that the reviewers said was a worse drive than the Suzuki, and I thought it was fine riding it over the bumpy roads near me, so can only imagine the Burgman would be perfectly acceptable.

In my experience pretty much everything bar big tourer and adventure bikes suck over potholed roads, and most of the more modern bikes under 400cc tend to have suspension from the budget parts box.

You could probably pick up a late 90's early 2000's bike with some luggage fitted for under £2k, but I definitely wouldn't write off a big scoter. Also, bikes are a bit less predictable with their fuel economy than cars, sometimes something with a bigger engine might surprise you. My Guzzi 750 regularly does over 70mpg and I'm using plenty of throttle.

[_Neal_]

Bikerjon said:

_Neal_ said:

What about a Sinnis Terrain 125, would seem to tick all your boxes?

That's the kind of bike I would have missed, now added to my "must research" list, thanks!

My pleasure

If it's not on your list, a Royal Enfield Himalayan would seem to do the job as well - a few on Autotrader with luggage for around the £3k mark.

[patchb]

310gs?

[bogie]

A biker friend of mine changed jobs and had a 70 mile daily commute to do through/around the city, he ended up with one of those 3 wheel Piaggo 400cc MP3 scooters. Reckoned it was fantastic all weather commuter and saved him a fortune in fuel, parking etc. He ran it until he retired and still has it now as a runaround. They are in demand though and over £10k new (!) so even an older one is a struggle to find for £3k

[Bikerjon]

I suspect the MP3's would be a great tool for the job, but I'm nervous about the ones that fall into my price range being money pits for suspension work.

BMW 310GS could do the job. I'm also interested in the similar V-Strom 250 as they're just within range too.

I'm unfamiliar with Royal Enfield bikes, but I'll take a look at those too. Himalayan perhaps.

[Pica-Pica]

Marquezs Stabilisers said:

Honda CB500 or NC750 are about as cheap to run as it gets as motorcycles

Anything in the Honda mid-weight range would be my choice.

[stu67]

Yep I'd go Vstrom 250 or didn't they do a Versys 300? that was meant to be pretty good.

[Pebbles167]

stu67 said:

Yep I'd go Vstrom 250 or didn't they do a Versys 300? that was meant to be pretty good.

Versys 300 is supposed to be good, the Vstrom 250 is underpowered I believe.

I'd forgotten about these small adv bikes, should fit the bill reasonably well.

[Moulder]

Gilera Fuocco?

Slightly over maximum CC at 500cc but good on bad roads and fun to ride. Will carry everything required with a top box.

3k will get a good one as well. The earlier ones can't be ridden on a car licence and aren't hugely popular with people with a bike licence, so fall into a cheapish niche.

[KTMsm]

Commuting, dodgy roads, bullet proof and 80mpg

CB500X

Tatty / higher mileage ones have sold on ebay sub £2k so £3k should get a decent one if you look about

[Bikerjon]

Thanks everyone.

I'm leaning towards either the Royal Enfield Himalayan or Suzuki V-Strom 250. I accept both are going to feel a little underpowered, but that's not the focus of the bike. Can get lightly used examples of either just about within budget or thereabouts with luggage included.

[CAPP0]

In 10 days time, I'll be in Shimla, India, and about to depart on a 2 week tour of the Himalayas on, er, a Himalayan. I'll let you know what it's like on dodgy road surfaces