[Space Monkey]

Hey, theres probably been a similar post in the past, but I can't redily find it with the searchbar so here goes -

I rode an old XL125 to destruction last year. It was my first bike, I had it for 12 months and it was what I learned to ride on. The previous owner hadn't maintained it very well and as a result it was very temperamental - a good bike to learn on I guess as I learned a lot.

Anyhow, this bike is no longer with us and is gone to the great scrapyard in the sky. I've been back on 4 wheels for the past 3 or 4 months and itching to get a bike again. I've pulled together a budget of two grand to buy another and am looking for suggestions.

I like the enduro type style, was thinking maybe a restricted 600cc as I still have aprovisional licence. The important criteria are

*Reliability as I need it for a daily commute. Its a 60 mile round trip.
*Weather protection.
*Fuel Economy.

I really like the look of 3 bikes on the internet. The Yamaha XT660, Honda Transalp and the Suzuki DL650.

Any thoughts on these or other options? Would I be able to get something like this for two grand?

I'm hoping to buy somewhere between now and January.

Any help would be welcome.

[Blade RR]

For a transalp you'd be going back a few yrs on that budget, maybe 1999 ? Some clean ones around, again service history is important when buying any used bike.

If possible up your budget, will give you a lot more of a wider range of bikes re price & year etc. Maybe also consider an early Yamaha fazer 600 as well or Suzuki bandit 600s. Both have front fairings and will offer decent protection and good mpg providing they have been well maintained.

[wesifumi]

My wife for the week

[KaosTheory]

wesifume, on 14 November 2011 - 02:21 PM, said:

My wife for the week

Try not to limit yourself to one type of bike, as Blade RR mentioned, have a look at Fazers and the like, here's one for €1500 but will need to be restricted, use that point to haggle down the price with the seller.

Fazer 600 on DD

[wesifumi]

i see you are in laois Space monkey..

i'll spread the word and see whats out there for you

[KaosTheory]

What about something like this?

BMW F650

[fatbast]

i have an aprilia pegaso 650 '96 same rotax motor as the bmw f650, goes well economical, and a kawasaki zephyr 550 very low miles. you could have both for about 2 grand!

[sirius]

See if you can find a 400 Transalp. It won't need restriction saving you a few hundred quid and they're a good allrounder. I've one as my second bike and I've even had it to France as it's reliable, comfortable and economical to run. Plus they're a good bit of fun.
Here's mine.  Transalp.jpg (124.27K)
Number of downloads: 10

[Space Monkey]

wesifume, on 14 November 2011 - 03:31 PM, said:

i see you are in laois Space monkey..

i'll spread the word and see whats out there for you

I'd appreciate that. Thanks.

[Space Monkey]

wesifume, on 14 November 2011 - 02:21 PM, said:

My wife for the week

I guess that would be one of those "No cash, no test drive" situations?

[kairos]

There are a lot of good bikes out there. My choice would be a Transalp anyway

[PaulB]

How about a kle500

http://www.donedeal....orbikes/2708933
http://www.donedeal....orbikes/2442830
http://www.donedeal....orbikes/2536159

[Space Monkey]

PaulB, on 14 November 2011 - 10:06 PM, said:

How about a kle500

http://www.donedeal....orbikes/2708933
http://www.donedeal....orbikes/2442830
http://www.donedeal....orbikes/2536159

I really like that KLE500. The last Donedeal add -

http://www.donedeal....orbikes/2536159

Right price, looks like a nice clean bike. What would be the general consensus about these bikes?

[PaulB]

You will like it even more now.
http://www.donedeal....orbikes/2722641

[Space Monkey]

PaulB, on 15 November 2011 - 01:44 PM, said:

You will like it even more now.
http://www.donedeal....orbikes/2722641

Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, but why so cheap?.....

[Lilliput]

Space Monkey, on 15 November 2011 - 02:09 PM, said:

Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, but why so cheap?.....

by the looks of the yard the owner has kids and prob wants the cash for xmas and can't justify having a 05 bike sitting collecting dust

[cb1]

sirius, on 14 November 2011 - 08:59 PM, said:

See if you can find a 400 Transalp. It won't need restriction saving you a few hundred quid and they're a good allrounder. I've one as my second bike and I've even had it to France as it's reliable, comfortable and economical to run. Plus they're a good bit of fun.

Second that.

Or KLR600

[Space Monkey]

I've got a friend in work who has put a strong case forward for me to get a Bandit. He says they are bomb proof and ideal for commuting. I saw this one on Adverts -

http://www.adverts.ie/830473

I have a question about the age of bikes. Its not like cars right where you should try to go as new as you can? If the bike has low milage and is clean and looks well maintained I should be good right?

[Inadzuma]

Space Monkey, on 16 November 2011 - 09:00 AM, said:

I have a question about the age of bikes. Its not like cars right where you should try to go as new as you can? If the bike has low milage and is clean and looks well maintained I should be good right?

A lot of people would say the newer the better but you're right about mileage and maintainance. There are some things that

will deteriorate with age (seals, gaskets etc.) but most things on a bike will last a very long time! On a lot of bikes even

mileage isn't a huge issue if they've been looked after. Modern engines will go to big mileages if you treat them well.



zuma

[fabio]

Space Monkey....for a Bandit that is quite new! The engine in that bike is a derivation of what was in the GSXR in the late eighties, it has a huige history and as such any issues it may have had are all sorted by now. Not that it had any, it was always very tough. Basically the Bandit remained the same from 1995/6 when it was brought out till about 2004. They changed the frame design slightly, changed brake calipers from Nissin to Tokico ones, added a fuel filter and a slightly bigger tank but overall the thing was the same as ever. In 2006 they introduced a fuel injected, water cooled model which IS different but still very good apparently and no reliability issues.

Trust me, my Bandit is sitting outside college in the rain and I know 100% it will bring me home later. And I knew 100% it'd bring me to college this morning! I've had issues with mine to be fair but none were the bike's fault as such. As a bike there isn't much tougher than a Bandit. Although if you love deep shiny paint and all those details it will let you down if you don't keep it clean...Suzuki built it from parts from other bikes and paint quality etc isn't great. On the other side of it the Bandit shares things with the SV650 and TL1000 (rear brake calipers being one thing) so parts are easy to get if you need them.