Bike to live outside?
Discussion
The car is a bit hopeless now London traffic is back up, so looking to get a bike. I'm not bringing my nice bike here because it'll get nicked or rusty, so what bike would be good to live outside? Triumph Bonny? Royal Enfield? Maybe something like an SV, although I don't really like them? Or just get a 125 scooter and accept it'll be stolen or knackered within 12 months and is disposable. 
For London traffic I'd suggest a trail bike of some sort so upright riding position for visibility and lack of neck/back ache and also comfy over speedbumps etc. If living outside and you don't want anything too precious I'd go with an old Honda Dominator or a Yamaha XT600/660. Plenty of zip for traffic but generally cheap bikes and can be left anywhere - just get a good chain
I bought my Guzzi Griso from a guy who lived in London and left it outside for 3 years, it survived remarkably well
I'd have thought it was terrible in traffic but he loved it and no one ever tried to steal it because there's no demand for parts etc so I'd be looking for an obscure bike
I'd have thought it was terrible in traffic but he loved it and no one ever tried to steal it because there's no demand for parts etc so I'd be looking for an obscure bike
Look at insurance costs for a few bikes and maybe use that as a bit of a guide to risk of being nicked in Central London - e.g. the premium for a Ducati Monster 821 or Street Triple was (for me at least) double that of a Yamaha Diversion or the BMW f800r I ended up buying to commute on. Unloved but interesting and decently-built is the way to go, I reckon.
FZ1 is perfect.
Bland enough to not attract any attention from scrotes - especially if covered in a winters worth of grime, adequate handling and happy on quicker roads. Not as narrow as a sports bike, but with far better steering lock, and a lot better for filtering than most dirt bikes with wider bars. No gripes at all with the build quality and maintenance is easy enough.
Bland enough to not attract any attention from scrotes - especially if covered in a winters worth of grime, adequate handling and happy on quicker roads. Not as narrow as a sports bike, but with far better steering lock, and a lot better for filtering than most dirt bikes with wider bars. No gripes at all with the build quality and maintenance is easy enough.
Tribal Chestnut said:
FZ1 is perfect.
Bland enough to not attract any attention from scrotes - especially if covered in a winters worth of grime, adequate handling and happy on quicker roads. Not as narrow as a sports bike, but with far better steering lock, and a lot better for filtering than most dirt bikes with wider bars. No gripes at all with the build quality and maintenance is easy enough.
Not bad bikes, I have one. I dont think it'd be great for town riding as it gets bloody hot, and the fuel economy is dire in town. Comfy though and plenty quick enough, 1st an second gear might be all one would need...Bland enough to not attract any attention from scrotes - especially if covered in a winters worth of grime, adequate handling and happy on quicker roads. Not as narrow as a sports bike, but with far better steering lock, and a lot better for filtering than most dirt bikes with wider bars. No gripes at all with the build quality and maintenance is easy enough.
thatdude said:
Tribal Chestnut said:
FZ1 is perfect.
Bland enough to not attract any attention from scrotes - especially if covered in a winters worth of grime, adequate handling and happy on quicker roads. Not as narrow as a sports bike, but with far better steering lock, and a lot better for filtering than most dirt bikes with wider bars. No gripes at all with the build quality and maintenance is easy enough.
Not bad bikes, I have one. I dont think it'd be great for town riding as it gets bloody hot, and the fuel economy is dire in town. Comfy though and plenty quick enough, 1st an second gear might be all one would need...Bland enough to not attract any attention from scrotes - especially if covered in a winters worth of grime, adequate handling and happy on quicker roads. Not as narrow as a sports bike, but with far better steering lock, and a lot better for filtering than most dirt bikes with wider bars. No gripes at all with the build quality and maintenance is easy enough.
I’ve had no issues with heat in central London, rarely are you at a standstill for long and you should be out of the crappy bit in 20mins or so.
As the poster above said though, something like an FZ6 would probably be a better choice though in terms of being more frugal and with even less scrote appeal.
I've got an NC750x for London commuting, it's a bit slow and lardy but it doesn't get a second glance by the local scrotes. Parked up in London for two years with a disc lock I got for free. Granted it's chained up heavily at home but whilst in zone 1 it's disc lock only. Always been out in the rain and been fine. I paid £2,750 for a 4 year old one. Bear in mind the ULEZ might affect some older (pre 2007) bikes.
the cueball said:
My go to for a council bike is FZS600.
Does everything required without fuss and doesn’t seek attention.
Anything with carbs that isn't a 125 won't pass the ULEZ. My vote would be a BMW F650GS single - absurdly economical, comfy, good weather protection, long travel suspension. Does everything required without fuss and doesn’t seek attention.
Edited by the cueball on Wednesday 22 July 13:34
Bumblebee7 said:
Bear in mind the ULEZ might affect some older (pre 2007) bikes.
This is a good shout, I hadn't thought of that. Some good suggestions coming in otherwise though. Big issue is insurance costs are high as I have 0 NCB on the bike at the moment (has been uninsured for too long), and a Royal Enfield 350 was about as cheap as I could find to insure, although they're not ULEZ compliant, at least the older ones.
Bumblebee7 said:
I've got an NC750x for London commuting, it's a bit slow and lardy but it doesn't get a second glance by the local scrotes. Parked up in London for two years with a disc lock I got for free. Granted it's chained up heavily at home but whilst in zone 1 it's disc lock only. Always been out in the rain and been fine. I paid £2,750 for a 4 year old one. Bear in mind the ULEZ might affect some older (pre 2007) bikes.
I was going to suggest a NC750, but a DCT version if it’s a commuter. I’ve just handed mine back after 3 years with it and can’t find anything to replace for a commute, plenty quick enough for 99% of situations and very well balanced with the low slung fuel tank. Very economical too as it revs very low with a lot of torque.Stick some of those ridiculous hand muff warmer things on it and the scrotes won’t look twice.
MC Bodge said:
A big engined bike of 1000cc seems such a waste for commuting around London.
Some of the maddest riding I’ve done is in central London commuting on a thousand. Is a CRF230l the perfect london commuter? Possibly. Is a S1000XR infinitely more fun if you have a propensity for being silly (wheelies past MI5 building), definitely. Plus many, many people seem to want to race. Most people, in fact. Including me.
MC Bodge said:
Stuart Fordyce said:
Anything with carbs that isn't a 125 won't pass the ULEZ.
That's a point. My FZS600 was actually very frugal for such a simple engine. 50mpg
Sorry for the duff info OP.
p.s. I’m still getting around the 50mpg mark too, and that’s not taking it easy on the poor thing.
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