Pillion friendly bikes circa 3-4k

[fastbikes76]

Trying to find something to stick in the garage next to the GSXR that’s a little more pillion (and rider) friendly. Looking spend around 4k on a something which will just get used for the odd jaunt to a bike night or ride out with some friends nothing elaborate, a 2001-2010 ish bike will suffice.

Current thoughts are along the lines off these.

CB 1300
GSX 1400
XJR 1300
ZRX 1100/1200

Any similar options worth looking at ? Naturally ‘er indoors thinks everything is ugly but wasn’t pleased with the option of ‘just feckin stay home then’

[Pope]

Biased; but because IMO every question can be answered with SUZUKI TL1000R

Comfy even two up - I am 5' 11 and don't find the riding position a pain; lots of room and the pillion seat is massive compared to anything remotely sports oriented nowadays - lazy v-twin if you want; not so lazy if you poke it. I generally get 130-150 miles to a tank on a run 2-up; rear tyres last about 3-4k max with extra weight but gentle use.

4k should find you a mint; low mileage and well looked after model with no cheap tat hanging off it. Getting old (last ones registered 2003) and some parts are getting rare (gearbox bits etc) but plenty of donors about......

Lack of cc's compared to the bikes in your list so far but plenty grunty enough in most instances

Probably way off base but hey, we can't all like the same thing.

Edited by Pope on Tuesday 15th September 23:33

[fastbikes76]

Pope said:

Biased; but because IMO every question can be answered with SUZUKI TL1000R

Great suggestion but too similar to what I already have. Looking for something a little more upright and with a large single seat rather than the stepped seats found on the GSXR/TL. Cc’s are not a mega issue but ideally 1000cc plus

[snagzie]

All of those in your list are great. Had a 2004 XJR myself, lovely bike and great quality. Probably cheaper than the CB1300 too.

For something a bit more fun, have a look at decent gen 1 (or gen 2 if you can stretch) Tuono's. Pillion seat isn't as good as the the one's in your list but more than adequate. Took the misses to the lakes and up Hardknott pass on my gen 1 a few years ago.

Edited by snagzie on Wednesday 16th September 08:55

[Pothole]

Tiger 1050/Sport

[Stuart Fordyce]

For pillion security you probably want something with grabrails and a facility to fit a topbox. The pillion bike my wife liked best is probably a BMW F650GS single, which also gives you a bike to go green lane riding if you fancied... albeit with 44bhp it's not fast. We currently have a Yamaha Fazer FZ6 S2 which is also a good pillion bike and a still a fun ride.

[V8RX7]

If you want to go more upright:

1000 Versys
1000 Vstrom (has the TL engine)
990 SM or SMT

[Fenland Plodder]

You’ll be able to pick up an early z1000sx for around 4K. It does have a stepped seat but is brilliant two-up, at least from a rider’s perspective. Good thing with them as well is that they seem to hold their price - 2011/12 models don’t seem any cheaper now than when I was looking two years ago.

[fastbikes76]

So had a look online at a few of the suggestions and she seems to like the looks and seat position of the blandit .... I don’t mind them tbh so may just snag a cheap 1200 bandit for the occasional run out.

I will keep a look out for a cheap winter bargain to stash in the garage for next summer

[poo at Paul's]

Pothole said:

Tiger 1050/Sport

Good shout. The rear suspension can be a bit saggy for pillion but an online or a rebuild and respring and they’re a great bike for 2 up

[fastbikes76]

Well all the stars and moon aligned and at a local bike night yesterday there happened to be a full house of every bike we were considering!

CB 1300
XJR 1300
GSX 1400
ZRX 1200
And a K6 Bandit 1200 added in the mix

SWMBO has a good look around them all and worked out the merits of each one in her brain and concluded we must purchase a 1200 bandit as that’s what she likes the most and thinks will be most comfy , who am I to disagree

I really don’t care what I get tbh as I’ll ride pretty much anything and be happy, plus this is just going to be a cheapy for local bike nights and occasional ride outs with a couple of other 2up friends.

Viewing/buying a £2000 K6 1200 tonight , hopefully it’s as decent as pics imply !

[black-k1]

£4,000 will just get you onto a BMW K1300S. They're pretty comfortable for the pillion and if you get one with ESA are dead easy to change between solo and pillion work. Likely to come with panniers.

[Max5476]

Considering the mileage you are discussing, I think a GSX1400 would be ideal as they appear to be depreciation proof. I've always fancied one so have regularly browsed the classifieds for them, prices seem to be creeping up with inflation, they seem to have a much better finish than a bandit as well (or more of the owners look after them)

My wife's favourite was similar, a Suzuki GSX750W (or Inazuma) which was the precursor to the GSX1400 in the UK (there was a 1200 version in Japan)

[FezSpider]

I found the ZZRs the most comfortable pillion bike I had ever owned.

[graham22]

FZ1 Fazer - I bought mine for 2 up stuff & it was a great all round.

If your missus is small ( or shorter than you), certainly consider a Hayabusa, the furthest the missus had done on the back of my VFR800 was to Bath, next trip was on the Busa to the Algarve.

[fastbikes76]

So what does £2000 buy you ?

Well it gets you a cracking 2006 K6 Bandit 1200 with fsh, extensive history folder, lots of preventive maintenance done, original PDI purchase sheet, service book,owners manual, both keys, original tool kit and literally thousands spent on upkeep.

Bike has recently had new

Fork seals
Front and rear Bridgestone tyres
Chain and sprockets
Full service inc shim adjustments
Dyna jet kit and set up on the dyno
Full exhaust system
Steering head bearings
Pads all round
Carb service and balance
Scott oiler
Renthal bars

It’s very clean for its age and only has a few superficial marks from 14 years of use. There are a couple of rub marks on the frame from riders seat being in lowest position but some black paint will soon touch that up. Initial thoughts were it went bloody well for what’s often referred to as a ‘Blandit’ and had plenty of poke for what I want it for. Turns out going through the paperwork it’s making 110 at the wheel after the dyna jet kit and zorst, a healthy almost 30odd more than standard which made sense why it wasn’t quite as dull as people like to imply. Loved riding it home the 50 miles and not having broken wrists or neck... that was a vast improvement!!!

Know me it will be in a hundred pieces over winter getting cleaned up but that’s not not what I bought it for, It’s meant to just be a cheapie run around .

[J6542]

Looks great .
Amazing what you can pick up for so little money.

[black-k1]

That looks like an excellent buy. Well done.

[graham22]

Looks like a good buy. Isn't that a one year only model, oil cooled motor in later frame, went water cooled soon later.

[A500leroy]

Who spends 1500 quid then sells it for only 500 quid more??? lucky bugger