Kevin B

Thanks for all the comments above and all duly noted, especially about going on a constructive rideout with an instructor - hadn't thought of that. Yes, I will need to review the kit I have to see what still fits, etc. I'm guessing that there's no useful database online somewhere that I can go to where I can tick various options (ABS, bike style, cc ranges, etc.) and it drops me a list of bikes that fit the categories? @bonio @RideWithStyles I haven't decided on a bike yet - more a case of wanting to at least sit on several to see what feels comfortable, so the supermarket seller is a good call. A lot of the time, the shape of the fairing is the issue as I have quite long legs. Back in the day when I tried a few, my kneecaps were either touching or millimetres off the "external" types which meant I couldn't move forward a bit when carrying a pillion. For example, the style of fairing on a GSX-R 1000 would NEVER work, but my old GSX750F was fine, so it needs to be either a fully molded fairing or a naked.

I have a Full bike license (I passed my test back in the mid-80s) and I'm looking to return to biking after a break of around 12 years. Which would you recommend - just doing it and getting the bike I want, or getting a smaller bike to get back into the swing of things first? If it helps at all, my last bike was a Suzuki GSX750F, and I'm looking at sports tourers or trail bikes as I'm 6'5".