2k for a bullet proof commuter shed. What?
Discussion
VFR750. If more economy is required CB500. If you can stretch to £2,500 then CB900 Hornet.
That's 3 of the most reliable bikes you'll find and the first 2 were from the late '90s when Honda's build quality was legendary. With those 2 your £2,000 will enable you to pick something really nice with sensible mileage - low mileage bikes are often less reliable as you effecitvely need to recommission them. They're all fun to ride too.
That's 3 of the most reliable bikes you'll find and the first 2 were from the late '90s when Honda's build quality was legendary. With those 2 your £2,000 will enable you to pick something really nice with sensible mileage - low mileage bikes are often less reliable as you effecitvely need to recommission them. They're all fun to ride too.
In this category I like the Japanese 400cc bikes, and their often slightly larger capacity UK equivalents.
Things like the CB400SF , Kawa Zephyr 400/550, Yamaha XJR400.
The great thing about these bikes is that the inline fours are just brilliant for docile smooth commuting and navigating through traffic, but can really put a good turn of pace on when the cams come on at the higher revs, and are much more sporty then people realize.
Because of their popularity in Japan, there is a huge aftermarket scene and particularly the 90’s bikes are already appreciating classics
Things like the CB400SF , Kawa Zephyr 400/550, Yamaha XJR400.
The great thing about these bikes is that the inline fours are just brilliant for docile smooth commuting and navigating through traffic, but can really put a good turn of pace on when the cams come on at the higher revs, and are much more sporty then people realize.
Because of their popularity in Japan, there is a huge aftermarket scene and particularly the 90’s bikes are already appreciating classics
stang65 said:
VFR750. If more economy is required CB500. If you can stretch to £2,500 then CB900 Hornet.
That's 3 of the most reliable bikes you'll find and the first 2 were from the late '90s when Honda's build quality was legendary. With those 2 your £2,000 will enable you to pick something really nice with sensible mileage - low mileage bikes are often less reliable as you effecitvely need to recommission them. They're all fun to ride too.
not sure a 25 year old bike will make a super-reliable commuter without being prepared to put some work in?That's 3 of the most reliable bikes you'll find and the first 2 were from the late '90s when Honda's build quality was legendary. With those 2 your £2,000 will enable you to pick something really nice with sensible mileage - low mileage bikes are often less reliable as you effecitvely need to recommission them. They're all fun to ride too.
Depends on the nature of the 'commute'. Mine has varied from 3 miles to about 80 miles each way.
Motorway or B roads?
Not quite what you’re after, but I’ll recommend the bike I always do: FZ1.
Was chatting to a guy local to me who was looking to scrap his after an attempted theft ruined the steering lock.
I think I managed to talk him out of just scrapping it, but bargains like that are out there. Probably £1500 or so and someone will have a super, albeit grotty, bike.
Was chatting to a guy local to me who was looking to scrap his after an attempted theft ruined the steering lock.
I think I managed to talk him out of just scrapping it, but bargains like that are out there. Probably £1500 or so and someone will have a super, albeit grotty, bike.
I was looking at this for almost exactly the same reasons. Very minor crash damage (not recorded), with a very good MOT history (no fails and only minor advisories). I think shows it's probably been looked after well. Under budget and a cheeky offer wouldn't go amiss!
Hornet 600
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265884918178?hash=item3...
Hornet 600
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265884918178?hash=item3...
Get a Honda Silverwing scooter, a very reliable 600cc twist and go from Honda's peachy period.
It's got secure undersest storage, plenty of fairing to keep the weather off, ABS, motorway capable, what's not to like? Plenty about in the £2 - 2.5k bracket.
See also Suzuki Burgman 400, kind of the same thing but slower.
Two major problems; nobody on a bike will wave to you and you'll end up riding it everywhere.
It's got secure undersest storage, plenty of fairing to keep the weather off, ABS, motorway capable, what's not to like? Plenty about in the £2 - 2.5k bracket.
See also Suzuki Burgman 400, kind of the same thing but slower.
Two major problems; nobody on a bike will wave to you and you'll end up riding it everywhere.
Steve_H80 said:
Get a Honda Silverwing scooter, a very reliable 600cc twist and go from Honda's peachy period.
It's got secure undersest storage, plenty of fairing to keep the weather off, ABS, motorway capable, what's not to like? Plenty about in the £2 - 2.5k bracket.
See also Suzuki Burgman 400, kind of the same thing but slower.
Two major problems; nobody on a bike will wave to you and you'll end up riding it everywhere.
Not sure Steve, I thought that big capacity scooters were at the highest risk of being stolen. So it would worry me if commuting to a big city It's got secure undersest storage, plenty of fairing to keep the weather off, ABS, motorway capable, what's not to like? Plenty about in the £2 - 2.5k bracket.
See also Suzuki Burgman 400, kind of the same thing but slower.
Two major problems; nobody on a bike will wave to you and you'll end up riding it everywhere.
Got a NC750x for exactly this at this budget - getting high 60's MPG too
Otherwise my vote is for a a CBF600 - never put a foot wrong, bought a 2010 for £1k on 55k miles - didn't service, wash it or anything - a fork seals needed doing (plus all normal bearings) and I could get £750 for it so did the latter with no hassle.
Otherwise my vote is for a a CBF600 - never put a foot wrong, bought a 2010 for £1k on 55k miles - didn't service, wash it or anything - a fork seals needed doing (plus all normal bearings) and I could get £750 for it so did the latter with no hassle.
kiethton said:
Got a NC750x for exactly this at this budget - getting high 60's MPG too
Otherwise my vote is for a a CBF600 - never put a foot wrong, bought a 2010 for £1k on 55k miles - didn't service, wash it or anything - a fork seals needed doing (plus all normal bearings) and I could get £750 for it so did the latter with no hassle.
Nc750's seem to have shot up in value.Otherwise my vote is for a a CBF600 - never put a foot wrong, bought a 2010 for £1k on 55k miles - didn't service, wash it or anything - a fork seals needed doing (plus all normal bearings) and I could get £750 for it so did the latter with no hassle.
2.5k would scrape in at the very low end with very high miles.
FZS600 - older fazer 600.
Had mine for 8 years now I think, daily abuse, cracked plastics looks terrible, left outside all year.
Mechanically it’s all good. I do all the work on it myself, not much actually goes wrong though.
Great commuter and much more fun to ride than a parts bin special.
Not sure why you CAN’T ride your bike you have at the moment? Is it scared of the cold or something - thought that would be a great bike for all year work.
Get it clean, get some ACF50 on it… ride it, do some safety cleans when needed and get on with life??
Had mine for 8 years now I think, daily abuse, cracked plastics looks terrible, left outside all year.
Mechanically it’s all good. I do all the work on it myself, not much actually goes wrong though.
Great commuter and much more fun to ride than a parts bin special.
Not sure why you CAN’T ride your bike you have at the moment? Is it scared of the cold or something - thought that would be a great bike for all year work.
Get it clean, get some ACF50 on it… ride it, do some safety cleans when needed and get on with life??
the cueball said:
FZS600 - older fazer 600.
Had mine for 8 years now I think, daily abuse, cracked plastics looks terrible, left outside all year.
Mechanically it’s all good. I do all the work on it myself, not much actually goes wrong though.
Great commuter and much more fun to ride than a parts bin special.
Not sure why you CAN’T ride your bike you have at the moment? Is it scared of the cold or something - thought that would be a great bike for all year work.
Get it clean, get some ACF50 on it… ride it, do some safety cleans when needed and get on with life??
Yes to the FZS600, excellent choice with decent tank range; get a later "Foxeye" for headlights that actually light stuff up though, the original square light model looks better (IMO) but the "lights" would be better called "darks".Had mine for 8 years now I think, daily abuse, cracked plastics looks terrible, left outside all year.
Mechanically it’s all good. I do all the work on it myself, not much actually goes wrong though.
Great commuter and much more fun to ride than a parts bin special.
Not sure why you CAN’T ride your bike you have at the moment? Is it scared of the cold or something - thought that would be a great bike for all year work.
Get it clean, get some ACF50 on it… ride it, do some safety cleans when needed and get on with life??
No to the suggestion of using the existing bike, silly person, you know fine well the best solution to any problem is "buy another bike".
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