Down to a choice of three.........

[eiger120]

I will be looking to buy one of the following three bikes this coming weekend with a view to using it purely for a 120 mile round trip commute taking in the M2, M20 and the M25.

1. Suzuki GSX 750 (not 'R'!)
2. Yamaha TDM 850
3. BMW F650 Funduro

The above list was made up from what is for sale in the area given a budget of approx £2K and some trawling through this forum! Can anyone offer any advice on the choices of bike given the commute?

All the bikes I have looked at are imports - this hasn't affected the insurance too much but what other implications will this have for future ownership? (The bikes being looked at are on 98 R or 2000 W plates.)

The bikes are pretty much listed in order of preference however over to you for your comments!

Thank you.

[wedg1e]

I've always been a Suzi buff so at first glance it'd have to be the GSX for me... but then I recall the TDM being launched and receiving good reviews, so if it's improved since then it couldn't be a bad thing. I suppose if you're commuting it depends on whether you can get your foot down.
OTOH a mate of mine had a TDM and reckoned TDM was short for 'tedium' so as usual there's nothing for it: it'll have to be your decision

[eiger120]

The list was in order of preference so Suzuki it is! Will have a ride at the weekend to confirm. Whats the engine like compared to the GSXR?

[rsvmilly]

I think the engine of the GSX is a bored out oil-cooled bandit motor (or was the Bandits' a sleeved 750??!!). A world away from the modern GSXR. I don't think reviews were too good about them. I'd sooner an early model Fazer.

For a commuter, of the three, I'd go for the Tedium as it is supposed to be good to ride (and a huge seller on the continent IIRC). Or for quality of finish, it'd be the BMW.

Edited by rsvmilly on Wednesday 6th December 08:50

[StuB]

They're all good, so buy on condition/price

Bear in mind servicing/parts local to your home/work & goodluck.

[andy tims]

Honda VFR has to be worth a look for your intended useage.

[hugoagogo]

gsx750 teapot is one of the dullest bikes ever to stalk the earth, but seems to be reliable

i'd have the TDM though i reckon frm that list, or a TRX

(erm, or an early blade like wot i've got, at least for now)

Edited by hugoagogo on Thursday 7th December 00:00

[sporelife]

andy tims said:

Honda VFR has to be worth a look for your intended useage.

I second this

[Kiwi_uk]

I would say TDM. Great visability as you're more upright and it's still a fun ride.

If you had the Firestorm in that list I'd go for that! Plenty of punch, great on the filter and not bad MPG. Only draw back is the 17L tank on the pre 2004 models.

[black-k1]

Kiwi_uk said:

I would say TDM. Great visability as you're more upright and it's still a fun ride.

If you had the Firestorm in that list I'd go for that! Plenty of punch, great on the filter and not bad MPG. Only draw back is the 17L tank on the pre 2004 models.

Agreed. TDM best option from the original list but Firestorm a better choice still. Just be prepared for regular stops at the local petrol station or keep your eyes open on e-bay for an enlarged tank. (Mine has the Harris 25L fitted.)

[Kiwi_uk]

25L on a Firestorm!! That's got to be a range of a couple of hundred miles surely. Do you have any pictures of it fitted to your Storm?

[black-k1]

Kiwi_uk said:

25L on a Firestorm!! That's got to be a range of a couple of hundred miles surely. Do you have any pictures of it fitted to your Storm?

Gives a range of around 150 to 160 miles before the light comes on and I’ve managed 60 miles with the light on but I think it was onto fumes at that point. The tank looks just like the original only slightly bigger. Most people don’t even notice it as different unless they know the ‘Storms well. I’ll see if I can dig out a couple of photos this evening when I get home.

[rsvmilly]

Aren't the Firestorms fairly thirsty, though? The original three bikes suggested by the OP would achieve 45-50mpg on average. Aren't Firestorms more like about 25-30mpg?

Edited by rsvmilly on Friday 8th December 12:43

[black-k1]

rsvmilly said:

Aren't the Firestorms fairly thirsty, though? The original three bikes suggested by the OP would achieve 45-50mpg on average. Aren't Firestorms more like about 25-30mpg?

Edited by rsvmilly on Friday 8th December 12:43

You can get them down to 25-30mpg but I get high 30's and just into the 40's from mine most of the time. No where near as good as an F650 but I expect not too far off a TDM850

[veetwin]

TDM900's will wheelie in 1st at 6000rpm whilst standing on the pegs

[kiwi_uk]

black-k1 said:

Kiwi_uk said:

25L on a Firestorm!! That's got to be a range of a couple of hundred miles surely. Do you have any pictures of it fitted to your Storm?

Gives a range of around 150 to 160 miles before the light comes on and I’ve managed 60 miles with the light on but I think it was onto fumes at that point. The tank looks just like the original only slightly bigger. Most people don’t even notice it as different unless they know the ‘Storms well. I’ll see if I can dig out a couple of photos this evening when I get home.

Thanks man.

[eiger120]

A quick update - went to test ride the bikes over the last couple of days. Luckily managed to time it between the downpours. Ruled out the BMW pretty quickly as the least powerful (no surprise) and on the motorway it wasn't as happy at speed as the other two. The TDM got ruled out as I felt pretty exposed to the weather, (as was the BMW) however it did feel happier at motorway speeds.

Ended up choosing the GSX - it did feel very stable and boring but then that is what I'm after. Perfect for 5 oclock monday morning winter starts. Time will tell how wise a choice it was but for a little over a grand I bought a g reg with a full service history, one owner with 6000 miles! Full service history and all the old MOT certificates in the origional document wallet. What a bargain! (fingers crossed.)

Thank you for all the advice. I pick the bike up next weekend so I will let you know if it gets me home or not!

[wedg1e]

Sounds good, it might be a plain bike but it'll still be a riot at times... the GSX motors are generally bulletproof and the lack of sporting attitude MIGHT just make it less attractive to the light-fingered bastards.
I chose a bike that the average skinny dying scrote couldn't lift off the sidestand, for the same reason

[black-k1]

kiwi_uk said:

black-k1 said:

Kiwi_uk said:

25L on a Firestorm!! That's got to be a range of a couple of hundred miles surely. Do you have any pictures of it fitted to your Storm?

Gives a range of around 150 to 160 miles before the light comes on and I’ve managed 60 miles with the light on but I think it was onto fumes at that point. The tank looks just like the original only slightly bigger. Most people don’t even notice it as different unless they know the ‘Storms well. I’ll see if I can dig out a couple of photos this evening when I get home.

Thanks man.

As requested ...

[URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/][/URL]

[URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/][/URL]

[URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/][/URL]

[URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/][/URL]

[kiwi_uk]

Thanks for the photos mate. Doesn't make the bike look a lot different at all which is good. As you said before if you didn't know it was aftermarket you'd think it was standard. Might have to look in to one of those babies.