Help/Steer For What Next
Discussion
Hi all.
Sold my bike and now have money burning a hole. Wanted to share my thoughts to get some opinions and views. Sold bike for £6,250, happy to put some more in, so say budget 6-8k.
History first, as it is quick & simple as I don't chop & change often. Passed test and bought a Monster 620 to tide me over and ending up keeping it for 8 years! In the last year of this I added a cheap VFR800 and ran two bikes at the same time. Traded these both toward a Vitpilen 701 which I immediately fell in love with but which got stolen after just a couple of months (some of you might recall). Replaced this with a Monster 1200S which I sold about 10 days ago. Truth be told, despite loving the looks, I never gelled with the M1200. It was simply too fast/powerful for my use.
I don't really have any needs, in that the bike - whilst insured for business use to give me the option of taking it to the office - is for fun only. I would say that my preferred style is naked bikes and I might dip my toe into some track riding this year. Other than that, I'm easy.
Current thoughts as follows, in no order:
Cheers,
Dan
Sold my bike and now have money burning a hole. Wanted to share my thoughts to get some opinions and views. Sold bike for £6,250, happy to put some more in, so say budget 6-8k.
History first, as it is quick & simple as I don't chop & change often. Passed test and bought a Monster 620 to tide me over and ending up keeping it for 8 years! In the last year of this I added a cheap VFR800 and ran two bikes at the same time. Traded these both toward a Vitpilen 701 which I immediately fell in love with but which got stolen after just a couple of months (some of you might recall). Replaced this with a Monster 1200S which I sold about 10 days ago. Truth be told, despite loving the looks, I never gelled with the M1200. It was simply too fast/powerful for my use.
I don't really have any needs, in that the bike - whilst insured for business use to give me the option of taking it to the office - is for fun only. I would say that my preferred style is naked bikes and I might dip my toe into some track riding this year. Other than that, I'm easy.
Current thoughts as follows, in no order:
- Street Triple 765 RS. Test rode one years ago and again the other week. Loved it both times. Ones I have ridden have both been first-gen ones, but if I go for one of these I would opt for the 2019/20 facelift with the nicer headlights and blipper. I think this would work the best as an only-bike, equally at home on road and track. Probably my least favourite on looks but that is relatively speaking since I like them all. Wife hates them!
- Rnine T. All considered apart from the Racer. Wouldn't tick the track box but this is at the bottom of the list of priorities. Ridden them a few times and love the character of the engine. Probably the bike that best suits how I have used a bike over the past 10 years. Wife loves them!
- Go back to two bikes; specifically another Vitpilen 701 + another VFR (RC36 I think). I like the idea of having two bikes again. The Vitpilen would be my "cool" bike and would also work great on track for a novice I reckon. The VFR750 gives me V4-specialness, a comfy longer-distance bike and the option to carry a pillion in comfort. I also like the CBR900RR but this muddles up the track element I think.
- Vitpilen 801. When the Svartpilen 801 was released I hoped a Vitpilen would follow. I do like them and if they were at 8k like the Svartpilens I might have been tempted but I don't want to spend 10k and, personally, don't put any premium on new over used. Also not sure if these have the KTM camshaft issue?
- CB1000R. Love the looks and the quality. However, fear it would just be an IL4 version of my Monster, and too much for me.
- Various Triumph twins; Thruxton, Speed, Scrambler, Bobber. My head says these are great options for me but my heart doesn't place them over the three options above.
Cheers,
Dan
I'd go with the two bike option! Leaning towards a similar solution: I really like supermotos for their light weight and fun factor, but enjoy the relative comfort of my 'fightered CBR600. Currently looking at KTM and Husqvarna sumos as a fun second bike.
One-bike solution I'd go with the Street Triple. Rode one on a knee-down course with i2i, handles like a 'fightered sport bike but tons of grunt low down. Apparently they're reliable too according to the guy who ran the course.
If you're not 'gelling' with a bike, having two bikes can make that worse.
Even small quirks irritate when you chop and change between bikes, when you need to be thinking about the road and the traffic, not which bike you're on today.
But if you do go that way, two very different bikes may work better, like I have a sports tourer and a 350 trail bike.
A pure track bike might be fun. With a naked bike for the roads.
I prefer V twins for the road, it's what I'm used to now, others prefer a four.
There are other choices.
Most 21st century bikes are pretty good really, mostly it's a matter of taste.
Even small quirks irritate when you chop and change between bikes, when you need to be thinking about the road and the traffic, not which bike you're on today.
But if you do go that way, two very different bikes may work better, like I have a sports tourer and a 350 trail bike.
A pure track bike might be fun. With a naked bike for the roads.
I prefer V twins for the road, it's what I'm used to now, others prefer a four.
There are other choices.
Most 21st century bikes are pretty good really, mostly it's a matter of taste.
Having had the cb1000r for a couple of years it’s … ok. Quick when you want it to be, benign when you don’t. Doesn’t excite the soul and the pegs are too high for a naked (as fire blade engine originally I guess), so knee ache.
Ride the scrambler, it’s a great bike. Not great on track I guess, but just a joy to be out on at sensible-ish pace.
I found the Rnine-t engine a bit soulless too.
Why not go back to monster if you had one for 8 years, they’ll be ok to track.
Ducati scrambler maybe a wild card?
Ride the scrambler, it’s a great bike. Not great on track I guess, but just a joy to be out on at sensible-ish pace.
I found the Rnine-t engine a bit soulless too.
Why not go back to monster if you had one for 8 years, they’ll be ok to track.
Ducati scrambler maybe a wild card?
MurderousCrow said:
I'd go with the two bike option! Leaning towards a similar solution: I really like supermotos for their light weight and fun factor, but enjoy the relative comfort of my 'fightered CBR600. Currently looking at KTM and Husqvarna sumos as a fun second bike.
If I imagine myself opening the garage door it is this option that excites me the most I think.tvrolet said:
It would be rude of me not to throw an Indian Scout into the mix. The new model looks much the same as the older one, but is an improvement. And the 101 gives you a wee fairing if the cruiser look is not for you.
Probably not my style but I do like the brand and particularly the FTR1200. OutInTheShed said:
If you're not 'gelling' with a bike, having two bikes can make that worse.
Even small quirks irritate when you chop and change between bikes, when you need to be thinking about the road and the traffic, not which bike you're on today.
But if you do go that way, two very different bikes may work better, like I have a sports tourer and a 350 trail bike.
A pure track bike might be fun. With a naked bike for the roads.
I prefer V twins for the road, it's what I'm used to now, others prefer a four.
There are other choices.
Most 21st century bikes are pretty good really, mostly it's a matter of taste.
The failing to gel with the Monster was more it not suiting my riding/use-case rather than any particular quirks. I agree that having two bikes covering very different bases is ideal. A Vitpilen + F850GS would be cool, but this would be above budget.Even small quirks irritate when you chop and change between bikes, when you need to be thinking about the road and the traffic, not which bike you're on today.
But if you do go that way, two very different bikes may work better, like I have a sports tourer and a 350 trail bike.
A pure track bike might be fun. With a naked bike for the roads.
I prefer V twins for the road, it's what I'm used to now, others prefer a four.
There are other choices.
Most 21st century bikes are pretty good really, mostly it's a matter of taste.
LeftmostAardvark said:
Having had the cb1000r for a couple of years it’s … ok. Quick when you want it to be, benign when you don’t. Doesn’t excite the soul and the pegs are too high for a naked (as fire blade engine originally I guess), so knee ache.
Ride the scrambler, it’s a great bike. Not great on track I guess, but just a joy to be out on at sensible-ish pace.
I found the Rnine-t engine a bit soulless too.
Why not go back to monster if you had one for 8 years, they’ll be ok to track.
Ducati scrambler maybe a wild card?
Noted on the CB, cheers. I really like the engine in the Rnine; love how it rocks on the throttle. But that could just be novelty factor of course.Ride the scrambler, it’s a great bike. Not great on track I guess, but just a joy to be out on at sensible-ish pace.
I found the Rnine-t engine a bit soulless too.
Why not go back to monster if you had one for 8 years, they’ll be ok to track.
Ducati scrambler maybe a wild card?
Monster and Scrambler both good options. S2R Monster, Desert Sled Scrambler I both like. But I'm leaning toward different brands this time.
KTMsm said:
Another Vitpilen 701 ?
Or a lower powered Monster ?
I understand why the Street Triple is popular but personally I like the punch of a big twin - which is the middle ground between a 701 single cylinder and a Street Triple 3 cylinder
Heart does say another Vitpilen. Just the one I had was so nice it is finding one up to the same standard.Or a lower powered Monster ?
I understand why the Street Triple is popular but personally I like the punch of a big twin - which is the middle ground between a 701 single cylinder and a Street Triple 3 cylinder
I've just bought a Street Triple RS off of my sister for a mega cheap price (even though I wasn't actively looking for a bike.) I've had a go on it a couple of times over the years and it's always been great fun but I was still in the mindset that 1000cc's were the best. I've done over 150 miles on it this weekend, and I can genuinely say it's up there with the most fun on the road I've ever experienced as it does everything so well without being overwhelmingly fast. I'm also taking it out on track in a few weeks time and can't wait to see if all of the good reviews are all about!
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