Return to biking, bike advice.......

[TypeR]

After selling my Triton 10 years ago to pay for a house deposit, that itch has started to come back. In the intervening years my motorcycling kicks were provided by green laning and the odd enduro & rally. However at 45 years old, I've noticed that I don't bounce as much as I used to when I take the odd spill!!
So I want to get back on the road, the budget is £3k max, I'd like a V twin for A, the noise, B, the torque and lazy power delivery. The bike will only be used in fair weather/weekends and twice yearly trip to Le Mans. I'd prefer to carry out as much of the maintenance myself, so simple, old school engineering is fairly high on the agenda. I'm not a fast/sports rider so something like a Duke would be wasted on my meagre talents. I'm tempted by a Guzzi 1100S.....
Any advice welcome

[sprinter885]

..and once you have the itch....you just got to scratch it right ?
Welcome back to biking.
Guzzi 1100 sounds like it would fit your bill-not sure about the budget though. If they're a bit less reliable how about the old favourite Yamaha Virago?

[Ballon]

An air cooled Duke might fit the bill 900ss, pretty easy to do most of the servicing and IMHO they are, contrary to popular opinion, pretty reliable.

The other bike(s) you could consider are the earlier Triumphs. Bullet proof engines.

[phillvr6]

I currently have the ideal bike for you...an Aprilia Falco.

You can get a late low mileage one for under £3k, they sound fantastic, they're reliable (touch wood), theyre easy to service. Theyre pretty nippy and have a touring bias so are pretty comfy.

What more could you ask for.

Phill

[aeropilot]

TypeR said:

So I want to get back on the road, the budget is £3k max, I'd like a V twin for A, the noise, B, the torque and lazy power delivery. The bike will only be used in fair weather/weekends and twice yearly trip to Le Mans. I'd prefer to carry out as much of the maintenance myself, so simple, old school engineering is fairly high on the agenda. I'm not a fast/sports rider so something like a Duke would be wasted on my meagre talents.

You can have V-Twin desmo fun without going the sports-bike route....

MONSTER.......

3k will get you a nice M900i or a M750.

[TypeR]

Great ideas, keep 'em coming, I'm just about to Google the Aprilia.
I did consider a 70's Bonneville, and I've not ruled it out, however a Monster in 900cc form is making me slightly moist.
PH at work, you can't beat it!!

[aeropilot]

TypeR said:

however a Monster in 900cc form is making me slightly moist.

If youre serious about a Monster....sign up to the Monster UK owners forum.....best place for Monster info on the net, and a great bunch of people too....

http://www.ukmonster.co.uk/

[TypeR]

Many thanks to all who offered their advice.
However, I didn't take any notice of you, and I've just won this beautiful beast on Ebay. I can't wait to collect it. (Her??)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

Cheers,

Simon.

[blade7]

TypeR said:

Many thanks to all who offered their advice.
However, I didn't take any notice of you, and I've just won this beautiful beast on Ebay. I can't wait to collect it. (Her??)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

Cheers,

Simon.

Wine merchant ?, more of a lager merchant myself, how many bottles had you sunk when you bid on it.