Jonnybrown

So - a very quick thanks to everyone for so generously giving of their opinions. You've obviously all made it much worse by giving such varied views! But that's a nice dilemma for me and the prospect of 4/5 months window shopping is cool. You're a friendly bunch, which is more grist to my mid/life wannabe bike boy mill. Thanks again everyone. Lots of thinking ahead and lots of good insight from your contributions. jb

thank you arwen - and for taking time to respond!!!

Thanks Arwen - that sounds like advice to consider. What about maneuverability through traffic? ill have dense city centre streets to manage in sunny manchester and sunny liverpool at either end of my journey. F800 not too heavy? one of the things that caught by eye about the 650 is how light it is and, seemingly, easy to handle in congestion etc?

hello all I'm getting way ahead of myself here but i plan to take (and pass!) my full test in february/march next year in order to buy a bike for doing a 30-mile each way motorway commute for 4/5 days a week (changing jobs). Used to ride a bsa bantem when i was a nipper, now im gracefully drifting into middle age. want to get a bike because i used to love my bantem,for economy and to beat the traffic jams. at the moment am torn between going for a maxi scooter such as a bergman or silverwing - or a proper bike, maybe something like a bmw 650 GS. My budget is c. £3k. So pros and cons please and advice: whats good to commute? whats good for a beginner? what's good for economy? will be doing the commute through all seasons. I'm not a boy racer but don't mind a little speed in the right circumstances.... any thoughts? I do care what the bike looks like, however. If youre gonna have one you may as well have a beautiful one, no?thanks! jon