Come on, gimme some ideas...

[wedg1e]

Now my Esprit has gone I have sack-loads of cash (well, maybe a grand ) burning a hole in my leathers.
I wandered round a local used bikes place and, having talked myself out of the girly 400 Katana (having had a bigger Kat in the past I love the styling, it goes with the TVR... but the 400's a bit big for a small engine and it's '80s technology even though it was M reg) and 600 Diversion (I'm not ready for a Zimmer frame just yet) I came away pondering over a 900 Speed Triple.
Then I went to Ireland, and getting off the ferry was a Pan-Euro.
I could just about find an ST1100 for what I could raise (or rather, what I want to spend), but can't decide whether to go the fully-faired ocean liner route or stick with a bare-bones bike...

Ideas on a postcard, bearing in mind I'm more Paul Teutul (Senior) than Carl Fogarty

[supersingle]

How about a Suzuki TL1000s or perhaps a yam TRX850 for a bit less money.

You could probably get a nice early blade for less 1.5k. Get a crashed one and you could make a cool streetfighter for less than a grand all in.

Maybe an MZ Baghira for sheer fun.

Edited by supersingle on Saturday 30th September 23:16

[wedg1e]

Hmm... not too fond of the TL styling and a Blade would be a likely target for the light-fingered ones regardless of street-fighterness.

I did look at an XN85 (a what!?) but as it appears that a CX500 could outrun it and parts are about as common as integrity in a politician, I thought I'd give it a miss...

[F.M]

Bandit`s are a nice tool... 6 or 12`s...
Cheap too...
Faired I would suggest summat like a early 90`s GSXR 750...or early ZXR 750
All good bikes
The ground clearance issues of the Pans would be an issue plus I would look crap with a beard and full dayglow motorbike gear..

Edited by F.M on Sunday 1st October 00:24

[supersingle]

wedg1e said:

I did look at an XN85 (a what!?) but as it appears that a CX500 could outrun it and parts are about as common as integrity in a politician, I thought I'd give it a miss...

Is the XN85 an old turbo bike? That would be seriously cool.

A bloke I worked with had a Suzuki GS1000 shaft drive. It was a absolute beast of a bike. Think bike equivalent of Chieftain tank.

[wedg1e]

supersingle said:

wedg1e said:

I did look at an XN85 (a what!?) but as it appears that a CX500 could outrun it and parts are about as common as integrity in a politician, I thought I'd give it a miss...

Is the XN85 an old turbo bike? That would be seriously cool.

A bloke I worked with had a Suzuki GS1000 shaft drive. It was a absolute beast of a bike. Think bike equivalent of Chieftain tank.

Aye, that's the one! It's a 650 Turbo, X reg I think. Stuff I've read suggests that the turbo is scarcely noticeable; shortly afterwards Suzuki introduced the GSX750 and the rest is history

I knew a guy who loved the big GS's.. he had a 1000 at one point and an 850 shaftie.
Trouble with buying an 80's bike (mostly '70s tech anyway) is, I know a guy with a GSX750 and he says he has huge problems getting engine spares, clutch parts etc for it now. Just like cars I guess, they've become disposable white goods...

[Furyous]

Trx850 is very under rated, good fun for nearly free.....

Cheap on bits too.

ST1100 is very good, the only motorcycle ever made with mirrors that are actually worth looking in.Heavy old bus tho.

[SS HSV]

I was going to suggest an older GS but someone beat me to it

How about a Honda CBR1000F? I had one about ten years ago, they're a really great tourer. There's a cheapo one on ebay with bidding starting at £150. It needs a tank and the front brakes sorting. You would probably pick this up for well under £500 and you have a bike that can touch 160



Oh and the engine is very torquey and bullitproof.

[yellowvette]

I had a Yamaha EXUP in '90 - I really liked that, did everything I asked of it. Swapped it in against a new FireBlade is '93 - I liked that even more
I'd say a Blade is worth a look TBH. Loads of performance, great handling, comfy, and surprisingly practical.

[sybaseian]

wedg1e said:

Now my Esprit has gone I have sack-loads of cash (well, maybe a grand ) burning a hole in my leathers.
I wandered round a local used bikes place and, having talked myself out of the girly 400 Katana (having had a bigger Kat in the past I love the styling, it goes with the TVR... but the 400's a bit big for a small engine and it's '80s technology even though it was M reg) and 600 Diversion (I'm not ready for a Zimmer frame just yet) I came away pondering over a 900 Speed Triple.


Ideas on a postcard, bearing in mind I'm more Paul Teutul (Senior) than Carl Fogarty

Triple, you know it makes sense......

I'm on my fourth after a hiatus on TL1000's.

[KTiM]

I'd go for the MK1 Speed Triple in black. I had one when they first came out and it was a great bike. Saw one the other day and it still looked fantastic - a big mean proper looking man's bike!

[wedg1e]

Seems I'm gravitating towards a Pan Euro... I must be turning into a grandad. Oh, wait...

[DennisTheMenace]

Just go easy on the throttle to begin with as it may be a bit of a handfull

[catso]

wedg1e said:

I came away pondering over a 900 Speed Triple.

I think you've got the idea there, you know it makes sense........

[wedg1e]

DennisTheMenace said:

Just go easy on the throttle to begin with as it may be a bit of a handfull

Almost as poky as the lime green Yamaha Passola I used to own
Used to be a riot to turn up in the local High Street on a Friday night on it... in full leathers... we used to take it in turns to thrash the ar53 off it, in full view of Mr. Plod, 'cos no matter what you did it wouldn't exceed 28mph

Back in the days when we all had Rider Policies, of course...

[wedg1e]

catso said:

wedg1e said:

I came away pondering over a 900 Speed Triple.

I think you've got the idea there, you know it makes sense........

Ironically, of all the bikes I've had online insurance quotes for, the triple comes out cheapest by a mile.... £141 against £270 for a same-year Pan Euro...

[supersingle]

wedg1e said:

catso said:

wedg1e said:

I came away pondering over a 900 Speed Triple.

I think you've got the idea there, you know it makes sense........

Ironically, of all the bikes I've had online insurance quotes for, the triple comes out cheapest by a mile.... £141 against £270 for a same-year Pan Euro...

You'll get bored with a Pan.

The Triumph is a proper, old fashioned cafe racer with real soul.

[wedg1e]

supersingle said:

wedg1e said:

catso said:

wedg1e said:

I came away pondering over a 900 Speed Triple.

I think you've got the idea there, you know it makes sense........

Ironically, of all the bikes I've had online insurance quotes for, the triple comes out cheapest by a mile.... £141 against £270 for a same-year Pan Euro...

You'll get bored with a Pan.

The Triumph is a proper, old fashioned cafe racer with real soul.

Maybe, but I've slightly more chance of persuading me Julie onto the back of a motorised chaise longue than something that requires knees in armpits and hanging on for dear life.
Perhaps I should get more selfish...

[catso]

wedg1e said:

Ironically, of all the bikes I've had online insurance quotes for, the triple comes out cheapest by a mile.... £141 against £270 for a same-year Pan Euro...

Well there you go, 'tis your destiny young Jedi........

[catso]

wedg1e said:

Maybe, but I've slightly more chance of persuading me Julie onto the back of a motorised chaise longue than something that requires knees in armpits and hanging on for dear life.
Perhaps I should get more selfish...

That's why I got a 916......

with a single seat