What bike?

[CoreyDog]

Hello all,

Started a thread fairly recently about going for DAS, well the ball is rolling! Theory is now passed and have my first lessons in 6 days, hoping to get Mod1 and 2 done ASAP so can try and enjoy abit of the summer.

So far I'm running around on a Varadero 125 but obviously with the A License I'll be stepping up in CC... But I really am spoilt for choice as to what to go for! Budget is around £3k and need something suitable for commuting, occasional B Road blast and occasional long journey.

Shortlist so far is:-

Varadero 1000 (Love the 125 so makes sense)
Bandit 1200 or 1250 (Always liked them since the 90s)
BMW F650CS (Don't know why! Just appeals)
Yamaha TDM 900
Truimph Speed Four

Bit of a mixed bag, I know. Basically like the adventure style as find them very comfortable, if not very exciting and naked appeals as if/when I drop it, less expensive plastics to replace and who doesn't like looking at an engine?

Pillion is irrelevant as wife refuses to go on the back and luggage capacity isn't a concern.

Insurance quote on all the above have been very reasonable. Did look at a Blackbird as a completely insane choice but insurance is astronomical as a new rider for obvious reasons.

I'm not the smallest chap (6'1 and 15 stone) and of an age where I don't fancy my knees around my ears and lent over a tank for hours on end.

So any thoughts or opinions? I know a 1000 as a new rider may seem abit much but I'd rather get something now and keep it long term, something like a 600 Bandit I would always wonder about the 1200 instead...

Cheers!

[CaptainSlow]

Avoid the Speed Four, I'd go with a low miles FZS600 Foxeye (2002/3) or SV650

[CoreyDog]

CaptainSlow said:

Avoid the Sped Four, I'd go with a low miles FZS600 Foxeye (2002/3) or SV650

Triumph was abit of a punt, friend of mine warned me off due to reliability issues but I do like the look.

Any reason for the 600 FZS over the 1000?

[CaptainSlow]

CoreyDog said:

CaptainSlow said:

Avoid the Sped Four, I'd go with a low miles FZS600 Foxeye (2002/3) or SV650

Triumph was abit of a punt, friend of mine warned me off due to reliability issues but I do like the look.

Any reason for the 600 FZS over the 1000?

Ive got a Daytona 600 which shares a lot of parts with the Speed Four.

No reason for the 600 really, I had one as a first big bike and it was plenty enough.

[ThreadKiller]

Friend lent me a 1200 bandit for a trip to Belgium. Really liked it and thought about buying one. But i didn’t.

[Tonberry]

FZS1000
FZ1
Sprint 1050
Bandit 12**

Any of those are decent bikes. If you ride a 125 then you aren't a new rider - I wouldn't worry about the step up in performance.

[CoreyDog]

CaptainSlow said:

Ive got a Daytona 600 which shares a lot of parts with the Speed Four.

No reason for the 600 really, I had one as a first big bike and it was plenty enough.

Seen a good few Triumphs and like the look of every single one, few ST1050s about well in budget but seat just looks alittle too low for me. Speed Triple would be very high on the list but they seem to hold their money very well unsurprisingly.

Thanks everyone else for input too. Bandit 1200/1250 is the favorite so far, seems the right balance of everything I want and good to see its getting some thumbs up.

If anyone else has some left field options that I've missed, feel free to throw them out there.

[ThreadKiller]

Weight could be more of an issue than power. I was quite conscious of it when jumping from my 675r to the bandit. Get used to it I suppose.

[BroadsRS6]

Bandit 1250. Better than the 1200 in most ways including an extra gear i i r c.

[hiccy18]

Realistically you are not going to hold onto your first bike for all that long, just look at your shortlist, a pretty varied selection of bikes! And rightly so too, it'll take a while before you know what you want.

I have to say the Bandit 1250 loaner I had a couple of weeks ago really impressed with its user friendliness and it was a very sweet steer; I see no reason why a confident rider couldn't have one as their first big bike, and it's a great all rounder.

[_Neal_]

CoreyDog said:

CaptainSlow said:

Avoid the Sped Four, I'd go with a low miles FZS600 Foxeye (2002/3) or SV650

Triumph was abit of a punt, friend of mine warned me off due to reliability issues but I do like the look.

Any reason for the 600 FZS over the 1000?

I'd have a Speed Four over the Yamaha or an SV650 to be honest, and I'm not aware of any particulalr reliability issues with them. Bit of an overlooked bargain I think, if the riding position suits you.

ETA Speed Four is a sporty riding position, and an SV650 has a low seat height and sporty-ish position, also a physically small bike - sounds like either may not be right for you.

Edited by _Neal_ on Friday 14th May 23:48

[Birky_41]

Of that list my money would be on a bandit

Then over time bar end mirrors, tail tidy, sporty without being obnoxious exhaust, some better tyres as typically they have plastic things on then a maxton or similar rear shock finally booking in with MCT or FTR

Would be a fairly capable bike, lots of torque can munch up the miles

[Drezza]

FZS600 are very good bikes, 94bhp and bulletproof engine. I've got the Foxeye model and with a new rear shock it's a great bike. Only paid £1100 for it too!

[Jag_NE]

VFR800 is a lovely all rounder. Comfy, fast enough, good quality, reasonably sporty.

[KTMsm]

Bigger guy wanting an adventure bike as a first bike...

Versys 650

Cheap, reliable, comfortable, rides well, relatively light, more than fast enough

[CaptainSlow]

CoreyDog said:

CaptainSlow said:

Ive got a Daytona 600 which shares a lot of parts with the Speed Four.

No reason for the 600 really, I had one as a first big bike and it was plenty enough.

Seen a good few Triumphs and like the look of every single one, few ST1050s about well in budget but seat just looks alittle too low for me. Speed Triple would be very high on the list but they seem to hold their money very well unsurprisingly.

Thanks everyone else for input too. Bandit 1200/1250 is the favorite so far, seems the right balance of everything I want and good to see its getting some thumbs up.

If anyone else has some left field options that I've missed, feel free to throw them out there.

Yeah the Sprint ST1050 is a good bike, reliable except for the usual charging system issues. Seat does feel low when riding and whilst the engine is lovely it isnt particularly fast turning. You get a lot of bike for your money though.

[Kawasicki]

If you are considering a Bandit, then maybe consider a ZRX too.