Which Commuter/Sports Bike/Long Distance 2 Up Tourer
Discussion
I am trying to find a replacement for my trusty (but not very pretty anymore) 99 Blade.
Basically I want the same bike with a 200 mile plus tank range.
I have a 150 mile a day commute. Spend a lot of time hacking round London and the bike gets left overnight all over the place.
So I want something at least as quick with sports bike handling, no bigger (Don't want to be hauling a Busa or Blackbird around London), comfy for long journeys so none of the current set of mini sports bikes, huge fuel tank, will take a full set of hard luggage (Givi only do a mono box for the blade which is a pain) and is not going to appeal too much to thieves.
Either new or used althogh I would prefer something already used and scratched as it is bound to get knocked/scratched by those damn scooter riders in the bike parks.
All I can find so far is another Blade as I don't want an out and out tourer.
Open to suggestions.....
Basically I want the same bike with a 200 mile plus tank range.
I have a 150 mile a day commute. Spend a lot of time hacking round London and the bike gets left overnight all over the place.
So I want something at least as quick with sports bike handling, no bigger (Don't want to be hauling a Busa or Blackbird around London), comfy for long journeys so none of the current set of mini sports bikes, huge fuel tank, will take a full set of hard luggage (Givi only do a mono box for the blade which is a pain) and is not going to appeal too much to thieves.
Either new or used althogh I would prefer something already used and scratched as it is bound to get knocked/scratched by those damn scooter riders in the bike parks.
All I can find so far is another Blade as I don't want an out and out tourer.
Open to suggestions.....
RS is a good shout, I used to think that I would never have a BMW (in the same way I would never buy a Volvo), however, their latest stuff is starting to tempt me. Perhaps I am getting old...
Unfortunately I cannot see the girlfriend being too comfortable on that pillion seat and I am yet to see one with a full set of luggage. Also not sure about the fairing protection. Are they a comfortable 300 to 400 mile a day bike? I get off my old Blade after a full day riding with barely a moan.
I ruled out the ST as being boring, ugly and large as I don't want a full on touring bike.
Any other suggestions out there. I reckon I may end up on Blackbird, Busa, ZZR1400 but really want something smaller and lighter.
Unfortunately I cannot see the girlfriend being too comfortable on that pillion seat and I am yet to see one with a full set of luggage. Also not sure about the fairing protection. Are they a comfortable 300 to 400 mile a day bike? I get off my old Blade after a full day riding with barely a moan.
I ruled out the ST as being boring, ugly and large as I don't want a full on touring bike.
Any other suggestions out there. I reckon I may end up on Blackbird, Busa, ZZR1400 but really want something smaller and lighter.
mattrosersv said:
I ruled out the ST as being boring, ugly and large as I don't want a full on touring bike.
Well if you didn't want a full-fat tourer it wouldn't matter if it was boring ugly and large, would it? 
Ugly... maybe, but no more so than a lot of other bikes of the moment.
Large... er yes, but have you seen the size of the engine? It'd look bloody stupid in a bicycle frame.
And boring... you clearly haven't ridden one
Even my R1-mounted mate couldn't stop laughing at how something so apparently unwieldy was so much fun. [whisper] It's a sports bike with torque and panniers...!I reckon the 'Bird could be your thing. My mate Jez is 6 foot 5 and 16/17 stone, he makes his look like a 125, but by christ it can shift.
Incidentally you must have a concrete arse; my mate with a '98 900 'Blade can only do about 100 miles in one sitting.
mattrosersv said:
I am trying to find a replacement for my trusty (but not very pretty anymore) 99 Blade.
Basically I want the same bike with a 200 mile plus tank range.
Open to suggestions.....
So why not get someone to make a custom tank that'll give you a 200 mile range on your current bike?Basically I want the same bike with a 200 mile plus tank range.
Open to suggestions.....
Stig, very good call. I am going to have to take a look at the Triumph this weekend (I was thinking about Sprint ST but had not considered Tiger). Looks like one of those could be a winner....
Really what I want is something like a VFR with the new Blade motor in it. I suppose a slightly soft Superbike.
I have ridden a Blackbird and it is great when it is going but not my ideal for wiggling through London at pace and pushing into tiny parking spaces (I guess the same goes for the Busa although I have not ridden one). They are just too big and heavey to be nimble.
And to an earlier comment I did think about getting a bigger tank made but it is just not worth it on my battered old 30K Blade and besides I want something new (to me at least).
Thanks for the comments.
Really what I want is something like a VFR with the new Blade motor in it. I suppose a slightly soft Superbike.
I have ridden a Blackbird and it is great when it is going but not my ideal for wiggling through London at pace and pushing into tiny parking spaces (I guess the same goes for the Busa although I have not ridden one). They are just too big and heavey to be nimble.
And to an earlier comment I did think about getting a bigger tank made but it is just not worth it on my battered old 30K Blade and besides I want something new (to me at least).
Thanks for the comments.
Another vote for the tiger 1050 here.
I was set to buy an Sprint ST, but thought I'd best try the Tiger after another dealer told me what a laugh they were. Bought one right after the test ride.
One note of caution tho' - they take up a lot of parking space (it's a tall bike & leans over a fair way when on the sidestand, it's also quite long), so might not suit your needs in that respect.
I was set to buy an Sprint ST, but thought I'd best try the Tiger after another dealer told me what a laugh they were. Bought one right after the test ride.
One note of caution tho' - they take up a lot of parking space (it's a tall bike & leans over a fair way when on the sidestand, it's also quite long), so might not suit your needs in that respect.
hiccy said:
Gen1 Fazer Thou would be good: goes well, like an old R1, decent enough fairing and tank range, very comfy seat, happily takes a pillion and you can get decent secondhand ones for very reasonable money now. Seems to tick all the boxes. 
Have to agree, that's right on the money.mattrosersv said:
Stig, very good call. I am going to have to take a look at the Triumph this weekend (I was thinking about Sprint ST but had not considered Tiger). Looks like one of those could be a winner....
Really what I want is something like a VFR with the new Blade motor in it. I suppose a slightly soft Superbike.
I have ridden a Blackbird and it is great when it is going but not my ideal for wiggling through London at pace and pushing into tiny parking spaces (I guess the same goes for the Busa although I have not ridden one). They are just too big and heavey to be nimble.
And to an earlier comment I did think about getting a bigger tank made but it is just not worth it on my battered old 30K Blade and besides I want something new (to me at least).
Thanks for the comments.
PS. Forgot to mention, mine's for sale - see classifieds, it's a steal! Really what I want is something like a VFR with the new Blade motor in it. I suppose a slightly soft Superbike.
I have ridden a Blackbird and it is great when it is going but not my ideal for wiggling through London at pace and pushing into tiny parking spaces (I guess the same goes for the Busa although I have not ridden one). They are just too big and heavey to be nimble.
And to an earlier comment I did think about getting a bigger tank made but it is just not worth it on my battered old 30K Blade and besides I want something new (to me at least).
Thanks for the comments.
denisb said:
BMW K1200S.
I do 100 miles a day on mine.
The task range is around 180 miles before you start getting nervous, I regularly manage 200 miles with an indicated 15 miles left.
Just been offered a K1200RS in p/x for the 1050. Nice bike, but not my cup of tea. Look as if it weighs about 2000kgs I do 100 miles a day on mine.
The task range is around 180 miles before you start getting nervous, I regularly manage 200 miles with an indicated 15 miles left.
No question that it would be a comfy tourer though - but a bit too lardy for my tastes.
Steve_T said:
hiccy said:
Gen1 Fazer Thou would be good: goes well, like an old R1, decent enough fairing and tank range, very comfy seat, happily takes a pillion and you can get decent secondhand ones for very reasonable money now. Seems to tick all the boxes.
Have to agree, that's right on the money.
+1
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