Change of bike required and can't decide where to go??!

[Baldy881]

OK, I've come here for some inspiration.

I'm about to do oil & filter change on my GSXR-1000 K4, clean her up and then put up for sale. I've had the bike for 2 years and not used it much at all, so I want to sell it buy something cheaper and smaller. But can't decide what...

The GSXR is a tremendous bike, handles, looks, goes like the clappers but truth is I don't have time to use it much and when I do it's just too quick for what I want these days. I don't trust myself on it to be honest and it's totally wasted on me.

I'm never going to do mega mileage, or even average mileage for that matter, but I want a bike in my garage and that's a given. I've always bought high quality/2nd hand few year old bikes but have always felt these too good to track. I'd like a bike that is presentable, chuckable and capable of doing an odd track day. Bulk of my riding is always going to be an hour or two here and there in the warmer months, odd short commute to work, maybe a weekend away to Scotland once every couple of years. And maybe an annual trackday or two.

Budget is going to be max £2500, but I think I could find something anywhere from £1500 up to that.

I've considered an older Fireblade, RRV ('96/'97) being my favorite as I had one that I should never have sold!

I'd like to scratch the 2 stroke itch I have, but don't think i'd ever find an RGV250 in budget that isn't a complete nail.

I've always wanted to try a Ducati ST4 which, although some within budget, is probably not the right bike for short couple of hour blasts!

I like the idea of a 600 sit up bike, Ducati Monster or Triumph kind of thing but again budget probably won't allow as especially with the Ducatis, I like the look of the Monster 696 most and these are looking like £4k and up.

I could always go for an older 600 sports bike, ZX6R/CBR600/FZR600 etc but I have had a few 600's and these are probably still faster than what I really want.

I could go looking for another 400 sports bike as I enjoyed the NC30 & FZR400 i've had before now, but again there are a lot of nails around and i'm not as svelte as I used to be! Even thought about one of the newer 250/350's but budget could be an issue and performance might not be quite there.

So as you can tell, really undecided on where to go.

I guess the remit is a bike that I can have a quick blast on when the sun shines, complete a longer journey in comfort on, and wouldn't be the end of the world if I threw it into the gravel on a track day

What, if any, ticks the boxes?

[Baldy881]

RizzoTheRat said:

If you go for a lower powered IL4 sports bike you'll always be comparing it unfavourably to the GSXR, well worth something completely different.

Yes, I guess i've covered the IL4 sports from 400cc to 1000cc. Whilst I love the thrill of cracking open the throttle on a 1000 it's just too easy to see substantial 3 figure speeds. I'm quite honestly frightened of losing my licence and/or worse, as much as I enjoy the thrill... The 400's are by far the most involving and rewarding experience (once you condition yourself to lose all mechanical sympathy ) to hustle down the fave stretch of road, even then you're tickling 3 figure speeds often. And most 600's can wap 160mph quite readily so seems the perfect mix between the thrill and involving rides.

However, this

trickywoo said:

Suzuki SV 1000 / 650

is a great shout. Just had a quick look at SV650's and the later ones, 08 on, are waaay better looking than I remember SV's being! I rode a much older model back home for a mate years ago when he'd bought it, and it wheelied with ease and think I had knee down on the first roundabout Definitely a contender!

Really like this!

[Baldy881]

Touno or SV1000 is probably still a bit wacky for what I want to be honest. Quite like the idea of having to work harder to hustle a 650 along. Never thought I'd say it but if I want scary thrills I've got the Integrale in the garage

[Baldy881]

Rubin215 said:

My leftfield choice is a Triumph Speed Four.

Great brakes and handling (it's based on the TT600), oddball looks (amazing how much attention they still get!), naked so you won't risk the licence too much but fast enough you can still do the odd trackday (it's a naked 600cc sportsbike after all).

£2.5k will get you a nice condition late bike with maybe a few extras on it.

Sorry not responded to this, having had a look today I really like them. This is the reason I needed help, open my eyes to things I didn't know about

[Baldy881]

Rubin215 said:

This one has to be worth a cheeky bid!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-speed-four-/1220...4cAAOSwVyRXTeBf

Ha! Yeah seen that one, love the black as well. Just wish it was closer to me (York).

Hopefully the GSXR will sell quickly then i can be ready to pounce on a bargain, really does seem like the ideal bike for what i'm after

[Baldy881]

Rosscow said:

I can't help but think coming from a GSXR1000 to an SV650 will be a very difficult transition to make.

It's like going from a Porsche to a 1.6 Golf!

I've gone from a 954 Fireblade to an FZR400RR before now and it wasn't the be all and end all. Sure, i'd miss the outright speed and grunt but that's what I want to get away from!! The GSXR is just too fast and I cannot suitably restrain myself Plus the smaller bikes make up for it in involvement & rewarding ride factor.

Fact is, if I keep the GSXR i'll continue to do next to no mileage through fear of being nabbed by North Yorks growing fleet of mobile vans...

[Baldy881]

Just checking back in chaps and thanks for all the replies, lots to look into

The GSXR has sold quickly and for good money too but then again it is a superb example of the bike and worth every penny!! Being picked up on Friday and I have been paid a deposit already so all is good.

As for the keeping the GSXR and doing evening track days, I've always maintained it was too good an example to take on the track, knowing what I am like The thought of busting it up (and effectively left owning a pile of scrap) was always a worse thought than selling it and getting something tattier/more sedate that i'd care a little less about...

[Baldy881]

Replacement found



2004/54, 22k, bit tatty here and there but what I wanted really and cheap enough. Stupidly loud Two Brothers can on it that will have to go!