Small, reliable bimbling bike?

[Bob_Defly]

What bike would you recommend for someone who needs to leave it for 6 months at a time, and just needs it to start perfectly and run reliably every year?

Needs to be <500cc.

A friend of mine is away for at least 6-8 months at a time, just back for a few months each Summer, and wants something to use when he's back. No need to be super quick, it will just be used for fun. I suggested a CRF300L, as they are great fun, cheap to insure, and just so bloody reliable. What would you suggest?

P.S. Some off-road ability would be a bonus, but not essential.

[ChocolateFrog]

Breaks the 500cc rule but Honda Deauville seems to be the go to answer.

CB500 might be another one.

[ChocolateFrog]

Probably doesn't tick the fun or off road boxes.

So maybe a complete fail of a suggestion

[airsafari87]

You pretty much answered your own question there.

CRF 300L or maybe a CB 500 or one of the other variants they do of the same engine and chassis?

I don’t know what the reliability is like but I really like the look of those Husqvarna Svartpilens and wouldn’t mind one as an occasional bike in my own garage.

MT07?

As radge as it sounds I have a 2002 SV650 that pretty much just sits in my garage for months at a time and only ever gets dragged out when the weather is rubbish and during the winter. It’s been nothing but utterly reliable.

[Neal H]

Fantic Cabellero 500 or wait for the Triumph 400X Scrambler to launch at the end of the year?

[airsafari87]

Neal H said:

Fantic Cabellero 500 or wait for the Triumph 400X Scrambler to launch at the end of the year?

Funny you should say that. I’ve been looking at the 500 Caballero for myself for occasional bimbles. I just wasn’t sure how well it would fit the reliable category though so didn’t include it in my list.

[KTMsm]

Any Japanese injection bike - carbs tend to gum too easily IME

If he likes the CRF fair enough - I find them heavy, slow and joyless