Z300 alternatives?

[CrankyCraig]

Having run out of patience with my SV650's constant need for my attention it's being confined to the shed, where it can live out it's days doing what it wants to more than anything else - f**k all - and a new steed is to be sought.

For this bikes particular use, which involves little more than travelling 3 miles of slow roads to/from work and being exposed to the environment for the time in between, engine size isn't important - I have something fun for the weekends. Were it not for the need to transport a small person, I'd probably just get an electric bike or scooter.

The Z300 has caught my eye as something cheap, fairly new and (hopefully) devoid of the unrelenting need to fettle - at least for a little while. Does anyone have any experience with these, or are there any other options around the 2K mark worth considering, other than perhaps the 390 duke?

[Steve Bass]

Honda Hornet/CB600

[Jazoli]

When you say transport a small person do you mean a pillion? I'd get a used maxi scoot like a TMax.

[A500leroy]

CBR300R

[CrankyCraig]

Jazoli said:

When you say transport a small person do you mean a pillion?

Yes, just not a hefty one.

Thanks for the suggestions both, but aren't they a lot more for the equivalent age/mileage? I've been exhausted recently by a string of unreliable older/higher mileage bikes that I'd bought optimistically, but as a result, I'd just like a bike that holds it's oil, doesn't need to be started daily and doesn't detonate it's engine when it does. Newer/low mileage is the new tact I'm considering.

A CB500 may work, and the Gladius may just be unpopular enough to be cheap. If all else fails, I'd still probably prefer a twist and go scoot over a car.

[Jazoli]

Ahem

£250 down and £60 a month, brand new, with warranty

https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/range/scooter/...

you know it makes sense

[CrankyCraig]

Jazoli said:

Ahem

£250 down and £60 a month, brand new, with warranty

https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/range/scooter/...

you know it makes sense

It makes almost too much sense, but although I'm desperately trying to make a sensible decision, past experiences have told me I'm not much good at it.

I wanted a bike I could load with gear and reliably tour on. Went to look at a pristine VFR800 with low mileage and full luggage. Came away with a ropey old GSXR1000

[Tlandcruiser]

Honda MSX 125

[Trevor555]

Jazoli said:

Ahem

£250 down and £60 a month, brand new, with warranty

https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/range/scooter/...

you know it makes sense

If it's purely a mode of transport to do 3 miles I'll have to second that.

I'm on my second one.

My first one did 7 years with just tyres and oil changes.

No good for touring though.

[A500leroy]

Staying with the new Honda theme with a bit of umph though.

https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/range/street/c... £178 down 24mths of £99

[CrankyCraig]

As great as that CB300 and scooter would be, I had no idea a Grom could take a pillion. Thanks Tlandcruiser

I can feel my grasp on sensible slipping away the more I look at it, but it ticks all boxes. It's cheap, it's new, it carries 2, it's reliable, and it's fun.

I need to run it by my pillion. Image is more important at their age than mine

[A500leroy]

CrankyCraig said:

As great as that CB300 and scooter would be, I had no idea a Grom could take a pillion. Thanks Tlandcruiser

I can feel my grasp on sensible slipping away the more I look at it, but it ticks all boxes. It's cheap, it's new, it carries 2, it's reliable, and it's fun.

I need to run it by my pillion. Image is more important at their age than mine

https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/range/125cc/msx125-2016/offers/finance-new.html

£81 down, £81 a month

[Tlandcruiser]

CrankyCraig said:

As great as that CB300 and scooter would be, I had no idea a Grom could take a pillion. Thanks Tlandcruiser

I can feel my grasp on sensible slipping away the more I look at it, but it ticks all boxes. It's cheap, it's new, it carries 2, it's reliable, and it's fun.

I need to run it by my pillion. Image is more important at their age than mine

It’s amazing, just wait until you see the endless possibilities of modifications you can do 😂.

Running costs are absolutely peanuts too. For urban riding it’s perfect and oddly enough, it does not feel like a small bike.

[Jag_NE]

Instead of the old gsxr and a new small bike, I’d pool the money, factor in the savings of running one bike versus two and just have one better bike to cover everything. A VFR is probably perfect as you suggest.

[CrankyCraig]

It's true, I could drop to a one bike setup, and the simplicity of it is certainly appealing. It would mean making some compromises, but buying the GSXR was, in a sense, an attempt at just that. Sportsbikes are my particular persuasion, and I was optimistic about it, but ultimately I couldn't bring myself to treat the one as abusively as I treat the other. 2 bikes means I can have one bike that's little more than a tool for commuting, and another that's cherished, but I still love the commuter for offering liberation from the feelings of care whilst still being fun.

I ran the Grom past my daughter & OH. I took it as a good sign when they started laughing hysterically, initially mistaking their ridicule for excited approval - I'll never understand them, no matter how much I try to. They now think I've cracked under the pressure of lockdown.

In all honesty, being 6'4 and being 2up, a Grom may be pushing the limits of possibility