So. I cant stop thinking about other bikes, and like when this happens with women, i find it best to just move onto another (i should explain. Im only a spring chicken!)

Problem is, i dont know what i want (bikes now )

Ive got a 2002 VFR800 vtec atm. I like looking at it (ive added an 8 spoker rear wheel, added satnav, heated grips etc etc) and its good. Its italian red and looks the part. Its fast enough too. Especially when you get into the 16v zone. Although i find myself not actually using it much and overtaking people below 7k quite often. However the fueling isnt brilliant.

I want something abit more exciting? not too bulky (i like corners), but fast (110bhp or more will do) but not an inline 4 unless its got a big capacity 1100 etc. i also could do with getting luggage on it.

Am i being too picky again?

Ive looked at a Trumpet Sprint ST 1050 but heard too many bad stories and not keen on the looks.

I cant think of much that excites me.

Top of the head ideas?

Budget £4-5k with time. Im tryna be sensible and keep saving for property haha.

What bad stories about the Sprint have you heard?, I've had my 2010 for 2 years and done 15,000 miles with no issues. I was in your position some time ago and coming from a chopper had no concept of what bike I would like. I toured the dealers close to me and saw how receptive each of them were to someone as indecisive as me. The two best dealers I came across were the Triumph and Ducati/Kawasaki dealers in Lincoln, both let me try out bikes and I dismissed those who wouldn't. I guess the Triumph won because it's British and fast enough for what I want.

Aprillia Falco. you'll get a very low mileage one for your budget.

 

If you can find one, not many of those around.

If you can find one, not many of those around.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=321808245130

05, 6800 miles. £4k (:

Edited 11 August, 201510 yr by fabiamk2SE

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=321808245130

05, 6800 miles. £4k (:

That looks immaculate, and in the best colour scheme too. I reckon you'll need to move quickly if you want it. They're a rare bike, but with an enthusiastic following, so I doubt it will stick around long.

Whip those baffles out of the Blue flame cans and it'll sound lovely.

On a similar note, have you considered a Firestorm? Very similar bike, but without the Aprilia reliability worries.

I dont know enough about them yet to jump on one. I dont like to go in like a bull in a china shop and make a big **** up .

I have thought of a firestorm mate yeah. Struggle for low mileage ones though. Theyve all done loads, would need a suspension overhall and the tank range is apparently shocking, not much better on the newer ones with the 21l tank iirc.

Also every time i look at one i think.. Hmm, its no SP haha

Also every time i look at one i think.. Hmm, its no SP haha

No, but it's a better road bike than the SP. My old mate and riding buddy had one for a while, and he loved his. Quite a handsome looking thing (the bike, not my mate, lol) in silver. It sounded lovely through its twin Micron cans and wheelied for England. His was the earlier smaller tank, and tank range wasn't great, but that's hardly enough reason to not buy a bike (unless it's something with a tiny thimble sized tank), and how often do you ride more than 100 miles without wanting to get off for a couple of minutes anyway? He sold it cos he go offered a '96 Foxeye' Blade really cheap, but regretted it. He didn't keep that long, cos it was just boring, but he sold it for a £600 profit.

They do seem to attract the higher mileage rider though, but you need to budget for a suspension refresh on any used bike, even something like that Falco - the shock will be long past its best, and the fork oil probably knackered (even new bikes benefit from changing the fork oil for some good quality stuff, OE oil is invariably cheap ****, that lasts about five minutes.

How about an SV1000S? You loved your 650.

test ride a KTM smcr 690

No, but it's a better road bike than the SP. My old mate and riding buddy had one for a while, and he loved his. Quite a handsome looking thing (the bike, not my mate, lol) in silver. It sounded lovely through its twin Micron cans and wheelied for England. His was the earlier smaller tank, and tank range wasn't great, but that's hardly enough reason to not buy a bike (unless it's something with a tiny thimble sized tank), and how often do you ride more than 100 miles without wanting to get off for a couple of minutes anyway? He sold it cos he go offered a '96 Foxeye' Blade really cheap, but regretted it. He didn't keep that long, cos it was just boring, but he sold it for a £600 profit.

They do seem to attract the higher mileage rider though, but you need to budget for a suspension refresh on any used bike, even something like that Falco - the shock will be long past its best, and the fork oil probably knackered (even new bikes benefit from changing the fork oil for some good quality stuff, OE oil is invariably cheap ****, that lasts about five minutes.

How about an SV1000S? You loved your 650.

Well thats the thing, i can do 170-180 miles on the vfr and only pull over for fuel. 100 miles is a ballache when i decide to go somewhere. Plus the asthetics look half arsed, and low mileage ones are impossible it seems. I looked at them before the vfr.

Sv1000 doesnt appear to be just a more powerful 650. Ive asked on rte forum and everyone says its just not similar. Its a nice bike, but not as good at everythinh like the 650 is. They pretty much talked me out of it haha.

Well thats the thing, i can do 170-180 miles on the vfr and only pull over for fuel. 100 miles is a ballache when i decide to go somewhere.

100 miles was riding it hard though. God only knows how you can get 180 miles out of a tank on your VFR (my car doesn't do much more than that on a tank full, lol), but if you can, then you'll get substantially further on a tank full than he used to. I never used to get much more than 100 miles from a tank full on my Bandit, but never found it an inconvenience. Better than the 70/80 miles my TDR did, lol.

Low mileage ones do seem to be few and far between though.

100 miles was riding it hard though. God only knows how you can get 180 miles out of a tank on your VFR (my car doesn't do much more than that on a tank full, lol), but if you can, then you'll get substantially further on a tank full than he used to. I never used to get much more than 100 miles from a tank full on my Bandit, but never found it an inconvenience. Better than the 70/80 miles my TDR did, lol.

Well if im going somewhere, im usually riding on roads i dont know, so just taking it as it comes. Progress isnt top of the list. . I do know how to ride economically if i want to.

Hmm. On the forums the VFR. Seems to get 160-200 miles a tank (yeah. They really must be sensible) but on the VTR some people are saying 80-120miles. So roughly half. Thatd do my head in haha. Any long ride blurred together with constant petrol stops.

Ennvious of dads GSA fuel stopd. 400 miles between stops! That is mor like a car...

Yeah I can't be doing with stopping too often for fuel particularly in places like the alps and Scotland.

Daily commuting on the k13 I get around 160 miles to a tank.

If you properly welly it that can drop to 120.

On the forums the VFR. Seems to get 160-200 miles a tank .

Have they got panniers full of petrol too, lol?

Have they got panniers full of petrol too, lol?

They do ride in america. Which seems to have alot of 55mph limits aha.

But they also say you shouldnt have a VFR if you ever ride below 3k.

So i bet 6th rarely gets used lol.

Yeah I can't be doing with stopping too often for fuel particularly in places like the alps and Scotland.

Daily commuting on the k13 I get around 160 miles to a tank.

If you properly welly it that can drop to 120.

Sounds more like it!

Sometimes i do stop. Infact, quite often i dont do that many miles without stopping. But i dont want to feel like i have to stop either haha.

They do ride in america. Which seems to have alot of 55mph limits aha.

But they also say you shouldnt have a VFR if you ever ride below 3k.

So i bet 6th rarely gets used lol.

You shouldn't have a bike if you ride below 3k (I presume you mean rpm), lol. I remember the tacho on my old RG250 started at 3k, it didn't have a zero, lol. Which is inconvenient for setting Idle speed.

How about a Fazer 1000?

You shouldn't have a bike if you ride below 3k (I presume you mean rpm), lol. I remember the tacho on my old RG250 started at 3k, it didn't have a zero, lol. Which is inconvenient for setting Idle speed.

Vfr's quite happy Around town at 2.5/3k at 30mph.

Still pulls effortlessly if you want it to.

How about a Fazer 1000?

I dont like fazers :(