To change or not to change... daily bike needed!
Discussion
So, I'm caught in a predicament of deciding what to do about my motorbike, with spring approaching.
I currently own a 2007 Yamaha FZ6 N S2, which I've had since I passed my test a couple of years ago. At the time I was living in Fulham and commuting circa 8 miles through city traffic @ 15-40mph to get to the office.
Fast forward to now, I've moved 40 miles from the office, and the naked bike is slightly less appealing to commute on (30 motorway miles).
Assuming I don't sink £1,000 into servicing the current bike and buying a whole load of kit and some luggage before the new season (Probably the cheapest option), what should I buy to replace it?
Basic requirements:
- Able to complete 30 miles on the A1, followed by 10 miles filtering through London.
- Powerful/torquey enough to be comfortable on the motorway (I'm thinking 1000cc instead of the current 600).
- Some wind protection, to provide an improvement over the current bike (screen, hand guards, fairing etc).
- Luggage options for the daily commute.
- Narrow enough to filter (doesn't need to be tiny, but ideally avoid 1250 GS etc).
- Enough fun to enjoy at the weekends.
Budget circa £5-6k
Currently considering a Sports Tourer or Supersport, rather than a naked or adventure, but open to the idea of a road-biased adventure.
K1300S @ £5,795
R1200RS @ £5,888
Fireblade @ £5,980
FJR @ £4,195
GSX-R1000 @ £4,890
All thoughts and suggestions appreciated...
I currently own a 2007 Yamaha FZ6 N S2, which I've had since I passed my test a couple of years ago. At the time I was living in Fulham and commuting circa 8 miles through city traffic @ 15-40mph to get to the office.
Fast forward to now, I've moved 40 miles from the office, and the naked bike is slightly less appealing to commute on (30 motorway miles).
Assuming I don't sink £1,000 into servicing the current bike and buying a whole load of kit and some luggage before the new season (Probably the cheapest option), what should I buy to replace it?
Basic requirements:
- Able to complete 30 miles on the A1, followed by 10 miles filtering through London.
- Powerful/torquey enough to be comfortable on the motorway (I'm thinking 1000cc instead of the current 600).
- Some wind protection, to provide an improvement over the current bike (screen, hand guards, fairing etc).
- Luggage options for the daily commute.
- Narrow enough to filter (doesn't need to be tiny, but ideally avoid 1250 GS etc).
- Enough fun to enjoy at the weekends.
Budget circa £5-6k
Currently considering a Sports Tourer or Supersport, rather than a naked or adventure, but open to the idea of a road-biased adventure.
K1300S @ £5,795
R1200RS @ £5,888
Fireblade @ £5,980
FJR @ £4,195
GSX-R1000 @ £4,890
All thoughts and suggestions appreciated...
My money would be going on your 1st suggestion, the K1300s if your ruling out naked and adventure bikes.
In fact I'd quite like to try one myself when I move on eventually from my 1200s multistrada. Which in keeping with PH tradition of recommending your own bike, that would have been mine !
In fact I'd quite like to try one myself when I move on eventually from my 1200s multistrada. Which in keeping with PH tradition of recommending your own bike, that would have been mine !
I too would go for the K1300S. A real underrated bike that is better at pretty much everything than the alternatives.
Check out www.EuroKClub.bike for buying advice and have a good shop around. There are some great bikes out there but there are also some dogs.
Check out www.EuroKClub.bike for buying advice and have a good shop around. There are some great bikes out there but there are also some dogs.
k1300s is wonderful bike -- have had mine nearly 10 years
heroically quick and easy to ride
but it is a bit big for london filtering, in my experience. and it is not light
The A1 part -- most definitely. Central london? hmmm.
you want a narrow bike without panniers.
heroically quick and easy to ride
but it is a bit big for london filtering, in my experience. and it is not light
The A1 part -- most definitely. Central london? hmmm.
you want a narrow bike without panniers.
Edited by jhoneyball on Saturday 8th February 08:27
I don't understand why you are so keen to step up to a litre+ bike for a commuter?
Trust me, if you're doing 40 miles a day every day, you're soon going to stop going out on the bike at the weekends as it just isn't fun any more.
My advice would be to stick with what you have, maybe add a small screen (remember, all bikes used to be nakeds and we covered thousands of motorway miles without complaint), and look at getting something you really want for the weekends instead of a halfway compromise.
Two bikes that each do what you need them to do is always better than one bike that is a compromise.
Trust me, if you're doing 40 miles a day every day, you're soon going to stop going out on the bike at the weekends as it just isn't fun any more.
My advice would be to stick with what you have, maybe add a small screen (remember, all bikes used to be nakeds and we covered thousands of motorway miles without complaint), and look at getting something you really want for the weekends instead of a halfway compromise.
Two bikes that each do what you need them to do is always better than one bike that is a compromise.
Thanks for all the replies.
K1300s was the first thought, and something that I’ll definitely look to get a test ride scheduled on. Gives me everything I need, with the only questions being width and weight once in London.
Yes, in ideal world I’d run 2 bikes. A CB500x or NC750 etc for commuting and then a fast road bike for the weekend that I could do some short tours on. The current bike still doesn’t tick either of those boxes, I don’t think, so would leave me needing to sell mine and buy 2 new’ens and that just won’t sit well with the other half mid wedding plan!
‘Swapping’ mine for one more suitable bike is much easier to justify.
For reference, this is the current bike, without any weather protection:
K1300s was the first thought, and something that I’ll definitely look to get a test ride scheduled on. Gives me everything I need, with the only questions being width and weight once in London.
Yes, in ideal world I’d run 2 bikes. A CB500x or NC750 etc for commuting and then a fast road bike for the weekend that I could do some short tours on. The current bike still doesn’t tick either of those boxes, I don’t think, so would leave me needing to sell mine and buy 2 new’ens and that just won’t sit well with the other half mid wedding plan!
‘Swapping’ mine for one more suitable bike is much easier to justify.
For reference, this is the current bike, without any weather protection:
The mileage you're going to do you might as well keep the Fazer S2 and put a flyscreen on it. Only issue was if commuting on one - and I did for years, Streatham to Canary Wharf - is the parts and rot situation. Mine became a pig to work on as parts supply was a pain for stuff only Yamaha could do, and it rotted despite being drowned in ACF50.
Alternatively you want something narrow and powerful. Multistrada?
Alternatively you want something narrow and powerful. Multistrada?
Have you run insurance quotes on each as you'll be surprised on some of them. I was on the BMW K (bad).
If buying remotely? You really need to see the bmws up close in person as corossion can be bad but photos of dealers hide it beautifully..
I've bought a KTM from BSB before and his bikes tend to be immaculate.
If buying remotely? You really need to see the bmws up close in person as corossion can be bad but photos of dealers hide it beautifully..
I've bought a KTM from BSB before and his bikes tend to be immaculate.
Marquezs Stabilisers said:
The mileage you're going to do you might as well keep the Fazer S2 and put a flyscreen on it. Only issue was if commuting on one - and I did for years, Streatham to Canary Wharf - is the parts and rot situation. Mine became a pig to work on as parts supply was a pain for stuff only Yamaha could do, and it rotted despite being drowned in ACF50.
Alternatively you want something narrow and powerful. Multistrada?
You’re right, one problem with the FZ is that there are bugger all of them around and limited parts/accessory supply. Proving difficult to get luggage etc for it. Alternatively you want something narrow and powerful. Multistrada?
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Have you run insurance quotes on each as you'll be surprised on some of them. I was on the BMW K (bad).
If buying remotely? You really need to see the bmws up close in person as corossion can be bad but photos of dealers hide it beautifully..
I've bought a KTM from BSB before and his bikes tend to be immaculate.
The quotes aren’t ridiculous, circa 5-600 per year with only 2 years experience.If buying remotely? You really need to see the bmws up close in person as corossion can be bad but photos of dealers hide it beautifully..
I've bought a KTM from BSB before and his bikes tend to be immaculate.
I’ll go to see the bike - I’ve seen/heard a lot about this BMW corrosion…
I did about 6 years commuting over two K1300S bikes. It's a nice bike for it, and its low speed handling is a beaut' for filtering etc. Plus the expandable sports panniers are great.
Downsides are - from ongoing conversations on the forum black-k1 mentioned, and with current owner friends - it's getting harder to find parts for these bikes now.
And yeah as mentioned above, if you do go for the K, inspect closely. Expect BMW to try and sell it with corrosion on the final drive and front wheel carrier. And no engine paint by now. And quibble over fixing the hot start issue. Trouble is, if you ride one you'll love it. Same with many bikes I imagine!
Incidentally, I found my riding and enjoyment got much much better once I stopped commuting!
EDIT:
At 29k miles on that K, once out of used approved 6 month warranty the suspension won't be covered if you went with the BMW Insured Warranty as it only covers those bits to 30k miles (I got value for money out of it but I was doing big miles).
On closer inspection of the images on the ad I spot corrosion on the front wheel carrier, pretty extensive. On the final drive too. And somehow on the swing arm top thingy. On that note, I vote no. It's hella difficult to find a decent condition one these days.
Downsides are - from ongoing conversations on the forum black-k1 mentioned, and with current owner friends - it's getting harder to find parts for these bikes now.
And yeah as mentioned above, if you do go for the K, inspect closely. Expect BMW to try and sell it with corrosion on the final drive and front wheel carrier. And no engine paint by now. And quibble over fixing the hot start issue. Trouble is, if you ride one you'll love it. Same with many bikes I imagine!
Incidentally, I found my riding and enjoyment got much much better once I stopped commuting!
EDIT:
At 29k miles on that K, once out of used approved 6 month warranty the suspension won't be covered if you went with the BMW Insured Warranty as it only covers those bits to 30k miles (I got value for money out of it but I was doing big miles).
On closer inspection of the images on the ad I spot corrosion on the front wheel carrier, pretty extensive. On the final drive too. And somehow on the swing arm top thingy. On that note, I vote no. It's hella difficult to find a decent condition one these days.
Edited by GriffoDP on Saturday 8th February 10:54
MotorsByMurphy said:
You’re right, one problem with the FZ is that there are bugger all of them around and limited parts/accessory supply. Proving difficult to get luggage etc for it.
Are the Givi racks no longer available? I had three boxes on mine when required. 
(also, if anyone could let me know if the pictures are visible or not)
Edited by Marquezs Stabilisers on Saturday 8th February 11:15
Edited by Marquezs Stabilisers on Saturday 8th February 11:41
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