Just come back from Majorca and hired a Vespa for a few days and took the girlfriend out on it to explore the island. She quite liked it, so looking at getting a cheapish (less than 3k) middleweight touring bike (don't want anything massive) to go on a few trips to Europe on. Can't see the pillion perch on the Blade being too comfortable. Anyone recommend a good bike (thinking VFR, Ducati ST4 etc.) but any recommendations welcome.
New generation Suzuki V-Strom 650. Cheap, comfortable, reliable, excellent mileage and tank range, luggage available for it. Quite a big bike for a 650 so 2 people can fit on it. Just not that quick. I remember the service intervals were quite low, like 3,000 miles or so - but cheap. I rode mine all over the place - just wanted to spend a bit more time n the outside lane ! I had a VFR 800 as well which was quicker, nicer bike, but probably a bit small for 2-up ? and a bit more expensive (not sure about the older models)
8-13 thousand a year ! Just love riding my bike. It started with an XT660 after watching the whole Long Way Round/Down with Ewan McGregor and Charlie Borman. Decided to do trips to Europe on a motorcycle instead of car or van which were slow. I had a Yamaha DT125 at the time, and since way back at school days just used bikes for local transport, so no big bikes - traded the DT125 for the the XT660 was became my biggest bike. The bikes became more touring focused, to carry camping stuff. But the bike capacities got bigger, and the amount of luggage got smaller - it became more about the bike than the tent and the camping. Then on a trip to Assen TT on my VFR800 I was being passed by little groups of sportsbikes coming past effortlessly - not even sweating it ! some even with luggage on them. So I knew that touring on a sportsbike was possible. The new Yamaha R1 came out, but was a bit extreme for touring. Then McGuiness won the Senior TT breaking the lap record on the HRC Fireblade, so bought one. Loved that Fireblade, it was like arriving at last. Done your way through the ranks and now had a CBR1000 Fireblade, in HRC colours . Not going to be overtaken by GS1200s any more. On trips the number of things that would manage to overtake me reduced to almost nothing - It didn't matter anymore what the f...c anyone else. The thing was a cruise missile - loved it ! Now it is all about the bike and going to the racing - and less about the camping. Stay in hotels/motels to reduce luggage. I want to do all the MotoGP circuits and other European races. The current bike the MT-10 SP super naked is an attempt to keep a lid on top speeds on public roads, like motorways, so will probably do less motorway riding is the plan. After three months of ownership it has 4,500 miles on it already. Just love riding my bike.....
This is up for sale not too far away Halesowen west midlands I know the owner. The bike is in great condition .
