What Bike? Up to £6.5k??

[TiminYorkshire]

So I'm looking to get back in to biking after a ten year break. Previous bikes have been pretty sporty (although the first one was a little more sports-tourer-allrounder).

My biking history started with a Honda XLR125, but really started about twenty years ago woth a little Suzuki SV650s. I gave it a few choice mods,hagon rear shock, ohlins uprated front fork springs and oil, stainless lip on can, double bubble, 45 teeth rear sprocket. I did all sorts on that first proper bike, toured the Alps a couple of times, numerous track days and Nurburgring visits. Great fun, but lacking a little power in the end. I even imported it back to the UK after working a stint in Belgium.





From there I moved out to Holland for a bit, so bought a Suzuki GSXR750 K6, a great bike for weekends at the Nurburging, I did a fair few other track days on it (Spa, Zolder, Zandvoort) and toured the Alps, a great bike. I very briefly had an SRAD 750 which I failed to race in the No Budget Cup, and an XR600R which I did the engine in pretty quickly...





I then moved back to the UK, this time selling the K6. After a year bikeless I bought a Yamaha R1 and shipped it out to Nurburg, where it was registered for insurance reasons and used as a DRT (Dedicated Ring Tool). I found heading across to Germany for weekends and holidays soon started eating up a lot of cash, combined with meeting the future Mrs in Yorkshire (which was also a long distance relationship...) meant that after one season I sold it. The additional power over the 750 was useful on some of the long uphill drages at the R'ing



Basically for the last ten years I've ben bikeless but have a hankering for getting back in to it. However I don't want to get sucked back in to speed, the 'Ring and track days. I'm fortunate to live on the edge of the Yorkshire Moors, and I'd love to do a few more touring trips, some of which may head on slightly wilder roads/trails, and perhaps some local green lanes (plenty of nice gravel routes here). I'd also like to take the wife pillion occasionally.

First thoughts are getting a KTM 990 Adventure R for this, it seems pretty capable off road, enough power to be interesting on road and a bit more lithe than some of the other big adventure bikes, but still pillion friendly.




Second thoughts are get an Aprilia Mille RSV1000R, the first Gen as I think they've aged in a nice Retro way, but it really doesn't fit my brief above! May be I should get a KTM, then add to the stable after a year or two!




Any other ideas for bikes up to £6.5k?

[Bob_Defly]

The 990 seems like a great choice.

[NITO]

Aprilia Caponord ETV1000, it has the same engine as the mille but detuned a little, great for pillion comfort and still v fast point to point with that great low down v twin grunt.

[Lungauer]

I’ve a 2013 990 Adventure I’m considering moving on if you’re interested. Not an R, but low mileage (about 17k I think) and in excellent condition. White one. PM me if you would like more info. Edited as I’m not actually sure PMing is a thing on here.

Edited by Lungauer on Saturday 7th December 22:10

[KTMsm]

I love my 990s great off road and with real character but I'll admit that for touring and pillions the GS1200 is arguably better - although I find them dull

[Chicken Chaser]

KTM 1090r? Bit more modern than the 990, more than enough power and space for a pillion. Reportedly does the off road stuff well for a 210+kg bike but there's always going to be concessions for a bike that needs to do it all. I'm looking about for a 1090s as it's got the basics but not too much. The R has that tilt to the off road, and it's a taller bike. Seems to fit within the budget too.

The SV was a great bike, if you remember a lad who wrapped a blue one around a tree....that was me

[trickywoo]

2020 ish v strom 1000 is in budget or a newer 650.

[Hugo Stiglitz v2]

Wife pillion etc?

I'd say a 1090. Modern and can do everything. It also sounds fantastic with a decent exhaust.


I regret selling mine

[carinaman]

trickywoo said:

2020 ish v strom 1000 is in budget or a newer 650.

Bromley Moto have a 2023 Suzuki DL 800 DE with 2,300 miles on it for £6600. The 800cc twin is supposedly a successor to the SV-650 powered bikes.

Less go than the suggested KTMs and a 270 degree parallel twin not a V-Twin. I think I've seen a new one for not much above £7K

If it's to be used as a tool on green lanes and gravel tracks perhaps pre-loved rather than new is best.

[Biker9090]

carinaman said:

Bromley Moto have a 2023 Suzuki DL 800 DE with 2,300 miles on it for £6600. The 800cc twin is supposedly a successor to the SV-650 powered bikes.

Less go than the suggested KTMs and a 270 degree parallel twin not a V-Twin. I think I've seen a new one for not much above £7K

If it's to be used as a tool on green lanes and gravel tracks perhaps pre-loved rather than new is best.

Everything these guys said. Not as fun but won't ever go wrong.

[trickywoo]

carinaman said:

trickywoo said:

2020 ish v strom 1000 is in budget or a newer 650.

Bromley Moto have a 2023 Suzuki DL 800 DE with 2,300 miles on it for £6600. The 800cc twin is supposedly a successor to the SV-650 powered bikes.

Less go than the suggested KTMs and a 270 degree parallel twin not a V-Twin. I think I've seen a new one for not much above £7K

If it's to be used as a tool on green lanes and gravel tracks perhaps pre-loved rather than new is best.

Brain fade from me - I meant the 1050 or new 800 as you say.

[ZX10R NIN]

KTM 990 SMR:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226486941469?_skw=ktm+9...

1090 Adventure:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/356212990179?_skw=ktm+1...

1190:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226358101443?_skw=ktm+1...

The bike I'd probably choose is the KTM least suited to your needs but they always impress me when I get on one & it's the RC8:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/365221284020?_skw=ktm+1...

[Charlie Croker mk2]

Hugo Stiglitz v2 said:

Wife pillion etc?

I'd say a 1090. Modern and can do everything. It also sounds fantastic with a decent exhaust.


I regret selling mine

Never mind the bike ! That is a superb photo , very Yorkshire ?
Presume Hi end Samsung or DSLR nothing else could do that .

[TiminYorkshire]

Some food for thought, thanks.

What are the Caponard and the 1090 like off road? - I'm guessing they're probably a bit more civilised than the 990 Adventure is on the road.

[TiminYorkshire]

Chicken Chaser said:

.

The SV was a great bike, if you remember a lad who wrapped a blue one around a tree....that was me

And a penchance for running out of fuel

[Chicken Chaser]

TiminYorkshire said:

And a penchance for running out of fuel

I've been on fumes a couple of times but never remember running out!

[KTMsm]

TiminYorkshire said:

Some food for thought, thanks.

What are the Caponard and the 1090 like off road? - I'm guessing they're probably a bit more civilised than the 990 Adventure is on the road.

If you're just doing gravel tracks they're fine but if you're doing proper off road the 990 is far better as a quick google will show

Personally I find any twin is better on the road then a single but I haven't found a decent screen on any bike and I hate motorways so I don't find any of the twins significantly better than each other on the road