Oh yes! It’s (another) What Bike thread!
Discussion
Apologise as I know this has been done a million times over but after some opinions from people who don’t know me from Adam and some options I may have missed.
Passed test in 2021, bought a Bandit 1200, binned it in 2022 (100% my fault, inexperience plus rookie mistake of target fixation). Got back in the saddle within a few months on a Kawasaki Vulcan S and have put about 6000 miles on it in last 3 years.
I’m at the point though now I just wish it had more get up and go. It’s a lovely bike for cruising about on but it’s just abit…. Meh…. After 3 years, feel I’ve got out of it everything I wanted and I’m a much improved rider (Though far from perfect) with 3 years more experience.
We are in the process of buying a new house and could do with freeing up a few extra thousand pounds so now seems like a good time to sell, pocket a some money and buy something about the £3k mark. Riding style is weekend riding on sunny days and occasional group rides with friends. No commuting or touring, though would consider some touring with the right bike for it.
Problem is, what!?
Honda Blackbird - Dream bike, Dad had 3 when I was a teenager and adored them, many happy memories out with him perched on the back. Can get a good one in budget…. Problem, it intimidates me slightly. A lot more power than the Vulcan, a very different riding position, no ABS (Though never kicked it in on the Vulcan in 3 years) and just abit more of a monster than the docile, easy going Vulcan.
Honda CBR600F - Budget gets a rough 2010 to 2013 or a very good F4i. Can’t really see any drawbacks as seem to be a good all rounder with enough poke for some fun but not enough to get into serious bother. It’s just doesn’t excite me as much.
Tuono 1000R/RSV Mille - early to mid 2000s in budget for a decent one. Italian reliability worries me (I had an Alfa V6!!) but they look good and a friend had a Mille and had nothing but praise for it.
That’s about where I’m at! I feel the Tuono/Mille/600F would be stop gaps to getting a Blackbird one day but also think could I do with a stepping stone between a 65bhp cruiser and a 160bhp Sports Tourer. Head and heart are having a severe disagreement at present.
If anyone else though has any other options I may have overlooked, be very much appreciated.
Passed test in 2021, bought a Bandit 1200, binned it in 2022 (100% my fault, inexperience plus rookie mistake of target fixation). Got back in the saddle within a few months on a Kawasaki Vulcan S and have put about 6000 miles on it in last 3 years.
I’m at the point though now I just wish it had more get up and go. It’s a lovely bike for cruising about on but it’s just abit…. Meh…. After 3 years, feel I’ve got out of it everything I wanted and I’m a much improved rider (Though far from perfect) with 3 years more experience.
We are in the process of buying a new house and could do with freeing up a few extra thousand pounds so now seems like a good time to sell, pocket a some money and buy something about the £3k mark. Riding style is weekend riding on sunny days and occasional group rides with friends. No commuting or touring, though would consider some touring with the right bike for it.
Problem is, what!?
Honda Blackbird - Dream bike, Dad had 3 when I was a teenager and adored them, many happy memories out with him perched on the back. Can get a good one in budget…. Problem, it intimidates me slightly. A lot more power than the Vulcan, a very different riding position, no ABS (Though never kicked it in on the Vulcan in 3 years) and just abit more of a monster than the docile, easy going Vulcan.
Honda CBR600F - Budget gets a rough 2010 to 2013 or a very good F4i. Can’t really see any drawbacks as seem to be a good all rounder with enough poke for some fun but not enough to get into serious bother. It’s just doesn’t excite me as much.
Tuono 1000R/RSV Mille - early to mid 2000s in budget for a decent one. Italian reliability worries me (I had an Alfa V6!!) but they look good and a friend had a Mille and had nothing but praise for it.
That’s about where I’m at! I feel the Tuono/Mille/600F would be stop gaps to getting a Blackbird one day but also think could I do with a stepping stone between a 65bhp cruiser and a 160bhp Sports Tourer. Head and heart are having a severe disagreement at present.
If anyone else though has any other options I may have overlooked, be very much appreciated.
Tuono is an animal, far more hooligan than the blackbird. Reliability with those Aprilia’s is really not an issue. The Rotax engines are bulletproof. It may serve you well to change the rectifier for a mosfet type and swap out the plastic fuel connectors, these 2 items plague a lot of Italian bikes but are easily rectified (excuse the pun 
).
I’d say you’d be fine with the Blackbird , go with the heart just make sure you find a nice one. Typical ownership profile should net you a good one.
The CBR, at the expense of upsetting any owners on here = more meh imho, but horses for courses, they do nothing for me, though the early ones were nice bikes back in the day. I rode one a late one at the Haslam School at Donnington, as dull as expected really.
).I’d say you’d be fine with the Blackbird , go with the heart just make sure you find a nice one. Typical ownership profile should net you a good one.
The CBR, at the expense of upsetting any owners on here = more meh imho, but horses for courses, they do nothing for me, though the early ones were nice bikes back in the day. I rode one a late one at the Haslam School at Donnington, as dull as expected really.
Edited by NITO on Friday 18th April 13:53
Check prospective buys out for insurance and go from there as that seems to be the major unpredictable factor with bikes at the moment.
However, if the Blackbird is what you really want - falls within budget and is sensible for insurance, then go for the Blackbird as anything else is going to feel a little 'meh' in comparison and only ever going to be a stop gap.
A CBR600F is solid commuter choice, but if thats not what you're doing why settle for a generally really boring bike? Ive never ridden a Tuono or Mille so can't comment on those I'm afraid.
However, if the Blackbird is what you really want - falls within budget and is sensible for insurance, then go for the Blackbird as anything else is going to feel a little 'meh' in comparison and only ever going to be a stop gap.
A CBR600F is solid commuter choice, but if thats not what you're doing why settle for a generally really boring bike? Ive never ridden a Tuono or Mille so can't comment on those I'm afraid.
Any of those would be fine I would have thought. At £3k I’d be buying on condition rather than what you want necessarily, just choose the best, lowest mileage one that you can find.
The Blackbird is actually a pretty mellow bike at ‘normal’ speeds. They have lovely fuelling and the power was mostly higher up the rev range, perfectly possible to ride it slowly.
The Blackbird is actually a pretty mellow bike at ‘normal’ speeds. They have lovely fuelling and the power was mostly higher up the rev range, perfectly possible to ride it slowly.
but must actually be black.NITO said:
Tuono is an animal, far more hooligan than the blackbird. Reliability with those Aprilia’s is really not an issue. The Rotax engines are bulletproof. It may serve you well to change the rectifier for a mosfet type and swap out the plastic fuel connectors, these 2 items plague a lot of Italian bikes but are easily rectified (excuse the pun ).
I’d say you’d be fine with the Blackbird , go with the heart hust make sure you find a nice one. Typical ownership profile should net you a good one.
That is what I wanted to hear to be fair! ).I’d say you’d be fine with the Blackbird , go with the heart hust make sure you find a nice one. Typical ownership profile should net you a good one.
Tuono/Mille caught my eye as a lot of bike for the money and they do look great even after 20+ years. Blackbird is really what I want though, can’t think of another bike past or present I’d want more even with an unlimited budget, it would be a keeper just for the memories with my Dad…. It just does make me abit intimidated and made me think I’d be jumping in before I could swim properly.
Thanks everyone for all the replies above. Done an insurance check on the Blackbird and is only about £80 more per year than the Vulcan (about £200 all in) Brick garage, reasonable area, enough security for a Prison etc helps there I think!
It does make me feel a lot better those saying just go for the Blackbird, £3k should get an early FI Gen 3 with about 30k on which would suit me down to the ground. You’re either all the devil on my shoulder or I’m just overthinking!
It does make me feel a lot better those saying just go for the Blackbird, £3k should get an early FI Gen 3 with about 30k on which would suit me down to the ground. You’re either all the devil on my shoulder or I’m just overthinking!
As above with regards to the Aprillia, they're reliable as long as you do those two mods or find a bike with it already done.
I'd also be looking at the Street Triple:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=street+trip...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/116565176353?_skw=stree...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/286134543731?_skw=stree...
R:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/177003075397?_skw=stree...
Speed Triple:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/356758535199?_skw=speed...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/187068950850?_skw=speed...
I'd also be looking at the Street Triple:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=street+trip...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/116565176353?_skw=stree...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/286134543731?_skw=stree...
R:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/177003075397?_skw=stree...
Speed Triple:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/356758535199?_skw=speed...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/187068950850?_skw=speed...
Thanks again guys and girls, good group you lot.
Nice to hear about the Jekyll & Hyde personality, I’ll be riding it like Miss Daisy until get the hang on of it, I understand it’s a completely different creature and certainly no plans of taking any liberties with iit.
Classic insurance is a good point, never even considered that, just did the usual comparison checks, current bike is a 2020 so not even an option at moment. I’ll certainly take a look at that though happy at the £200 (Give or take £10).
Good call on the Triumphs above! Didn’t even know they’d drop down that far, friend had a 675 before swapping for a 765 and he adores it.
I’m kinda with you guys on the Blue…. Dad had 2 Candy Reds and a Black one so might be nice to be alittle different!
Nice to hear about the Jekyll & Hyde personality, I’ll be riding it like Miss Daisy until get the hang on of it, I understand it’s a completely different creature and certainly no plans of taking any liberties with iit.
Classic insurance is a good point, never even considered that, just did the usual comparison checks, current bike is a 2020 so not even an option at moment. I’ll certainly take a look at that though happy at the £200 (Give or take £10).
Good call on the Triumphs above! Didn’t even know they’d drop down that far, friend had a 675 before swapping for a 765 and he adores it.
I’m kinda with you guys on the Blue…. Dad had 2 Candy Reds and a Black one so might be nice to be alittle different!
Again wouldn't put you off a Blackbird.I had a test drive for an afternoon the year they came out and loved it but kids came along
before i was ready to trade in the GSX 750 , however bought one 8 years ago. Its a 2006 with about 30k miles now and very easy
to ride at any speed and very easy to live with. The power is fantastic when needed but comfortable to dawdle along on when taking in
the views. Get one if only to scratch the itch and if its not for you then you won't lose much on it..
before i was ready to trade in the GSX 750 , however bought one 8 years ago. Its a 2006 with about 30k miles now and very easy
to ride at any speed and very easy to live with. The power is fantastic when needed but comfortable to dawdle along on when taking in
the views. Get one if only to scratch the itch and if its not for you then you won't lose much on it..
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