Cool, tall bikes - inspiration needed

[RideWithStyles]

Good, glad my presence on this forum has  contributed.

[bonio]

Run some online insurance quotes. It could narrow the field. 

[Interference Fit]

23 hours ago, bonio said:

Run some online insurance quotes. It could narrow the field. 

I have done that and it's quite interesting. Middle aged, garaged, SD&P only, 3k miles, no accidents or claims, reasonable area.

SV650 - £320

KTM 890R - £661

Monster SP - £781

Hypermotard RVE - £631 

Sportster S - £735

MV Agusta Turismo Veloce - £820 

MV Brutale 800 Rosso - £1,835

Rocket 3R - £1,283

[fullscreenaging]

Try upping the mileage. 3000 miles a year doesn’t give you much experience every in the grand scheme of things, so this could put you at a higher risk in their eyes. 
I used to put 6000 miles and then one year I automatically put in my estimated car mileage of 12000 miles and my quote actually went down by £50!

 

 

[Interference Fit]

51 minutes ago, fullscreenaging said:

Try upping the mileage. 3000 miles a year doesn’t give you much experience every in the grand scheme of things, so this could put you at a higher risk in their eyes. 
I used to put 6000 miles and then one year I automatically put in my estimated car mileage of 12000 miles and my quote actually went down by £50!

 

 

Worth a try - changing to 5k p/a increased by about £150

 

To be fair, I'll be amazed if I did 1,500 miles a year as it's only going to be a fine weather toy for short, local, weekend rides.

[RideWithStyles]

Look scary at first but with you being a new rider on expensive new bikes id thought they would be even higher!!

 

1500 miles in a year even in a 6month window, 250miles a month or 62miles a week. Is that enough?
yea upper the mileage with a new rider just means higher risk for them.

 

all depends on your income and how much something is worth to you as which way you want to fly with that..also how quick you are at learning riding and how to ride them..

obviously if i was to give advice the more logical would be the sv.

its cheap, fun to ride on the roads -its a vtwin BABY!!
will look after you while u learn riding and definitely within your limits.

 

the monster will be more focused and less learner friendly than the sv, ktm more so again and the bar keeps raising after that for the others.

 

are u buying out right, pcp for how long etc?  That may swing things again.

[Interference Fit]

1 hour ago, RideWithStyles said:

Look scary at first but with you being a new rider on expensive new bikes id thought they would be even higher!!

 

1500 miles in a year even in a 6month window, 250miles a month or 62miles a week. Is that enough?
yea upper the mileage with a new rider just means higher risk for them.

 

all depends on your income and how much something is worth to you as which way you want to fly with that..also how quick you are at learning riding and how to ride them..

obviously if i was to give advice the more logical would be the sv.

its cheap, fun to ride on the roads -its a vtwin BABY!!
will look after you while u learn riding and definitely within your limits.

 

the monster will be more focused and less learner friendly than the sv, ktm more so again and the bar keeps raising after that for the others.

 

are u buying out right, pcp for how long etc?  That may swing things again.

Re the mileage - is it enough for what? Not sure of the context?

Looking to buy outright.

A VERY large part of this is the emotional element of looking back at the bike and loving it - it looking and feeling special and making me feel special as I ride. I spent the first part of my learning journey exploring bikes such as the Hornet, GSX-8S, CB650R etc and whilst I fully appreciate they are far more appropriate and 'more than enough bike', they just don't give me the feeling of desirability and kind of leave me feeling a bit meh - failing to scratch the biggest of my itches.

 

 

[RideWithStyles]

 if its brand new bike you spend first 600 miles running it in riding it like like a scooter. I did that in less than 6weeks on the previous bike in not too mild march to april without even trying.

Just for gauge i use the bike on pleasure sundays for a hour maybe two if lucky with family commitments and british weather up north, in less than 6 months i can do still do 2000+miles.

 

So less plastic fanastic bikes would be ccm and the not mental fast but swankily expensive Brough Superior.

I really get it ido but putting it REALLY short,  Pretty much all wow bikes hate pottering and if you make the most smallest mistakes which will be easy to do with lack experience will punish you or hurt you.

My advice would be give it a few years of experience on a good "MEH" as you put it first, then pull the trigger afterwards at least then your have a better idea, experience and will be cheaper.

[Interference Fit]

22 hours ago, RideWithStyles said:

 if its brand new bike you spend first 600 miles running it in riding it like like a scooter. I did that in less than 6weeks on the previous bike in not too mild march to april without even trying.

Just for gauge i use the bike on pleasure sundays for a hour maybe two if lucky with family commitments and british weather up north, in less than 6 months i can do still do 2000+miles.

 

So less plastic fanastic bikes would be ccm and the not mental fast but swankily expensive Brough Superior.

I really get it ido but putting it REALLY short,  Pretty much all wow bikes hate pottering and if you make the most smallest mistakes which will be easy to do with lack experience will punish you or hurt you.

My advice would be give it a few years of experience on a good "MEH" as you put it first, then pull the trigger afterwards at least then your have a better idea, experience and will be cheaper.

Thanks for the benefit of experience, appreciated. 

I'll focus my attention on having a ride on the SV650 and the GSX-8S and see how they feel.

I must admit, the classic, analogue simplicity of the SV650 does appeal. 

Edited August 23, 2023 by Interference Fit

[Guest]

Throw caution to the wind and buy the one you really actually want. You'll be fine. 

[RideWithStyles]

Glad to be of help.

ive thrown myself at the deep end early on,  lets just say its a extreme learning curve with pit FALLS.

 

The SV is a really good realistic road bike that even racers and hacks loved it when they had one... id recommend on watching you tube see BIKEWORLD sv650 about 3 vids on itvids, Chris  will go through it and his past with it.

The most modern version of the engine are very user friendly, still have some character, sounds great as a vtwin, great low down torque and good revs (1500-10000rpm) that can be revved out it you feel the urge! Lith like a ducati, its the closest to a ducati whicle not owing one. It takes a very very fast car to beat one off the line so no slouch.

Still has a following and aftermarket parts are easy to find if youd be interested in making your later on.

the engine presence is always low down.

 

the inline two (parallel) of the gs8 is closer to feel and how it goes about things to a vtwin than the inline 4 (loosely) 
That pistons gentlly motions the bike left to right unless its a 180 degree (benelli and old triumph bonnies) which xase it just up and down but more central. The parallels are generally tighter from new so they take a good few miles to loosen up.

To some these engines are like a inbetween, the allrounder, or just not a vtwin...

 

inline four so super smooth but to some it can be devoid of character, depend on what your after.
needs to be reved to make decent progress compared tthe other,  Torque is very high up the rev range along with the power so it only really wakes up at 8000 and rushes to its 12-13000rpm. So youll wanna stick to 6000prm cruise or low gears town to keep the engine happy.

scream if you wanna go faster...

 

[RideWithStyles]

Of course goat is correct with freedom and what not ill add.

[Guest]

14 minutes ago, RideWithStyles said:

Of course goat is correct with freedom and what not ill add.

Just an opinion of course. SVs are ace. Honestly don't know much about the others but I know what it's like to look at a bike that doesn't give you the fizz. 

[RideWithStyles]

Thing with bikes is that the engine is a more engaging part of a whole ownership than say cars are.  That helps or hinders the attachment (if you dont like the engine configuration). 
I bought a triumph daytona 955i as a bit of a bucket list of owning a litre bike but not set on looking for that bike in particular, it wasnt knowing a great deal about it from experience, it wasnt ugly but wasn't a wow bike even at the time when new around its competitors that were chasing the racing scene.
this bike had a bit of a huccup before collection just to keep me wondering if it was the right call.
turned out yes the engine was the start of the show and grew really fondly of the looks, went about its business in today life really well when the R1 would have been a liability and just a pain in the arse... if triumph did a modern one that was designed for real people and there needs id be interested to have a look.

in fact i saw another one in the local garage today....ahhh.

Edited August 23, 2023 by RideWithStyles
Jist coz

[Bender]

Just buy something you like, then change it next year for something you like, repeat process till your bored or skint, which ever comes first

[Interference Fit]

Thanks all.

 

I'm a classic / sports car guy and have owned all sorts over the years. A recent experience taught me quite a good lesson which I feel might be prudent to apply to a bike.

My most recent car was a light weight Caterham - bought to experience and enjoy all the pure, raw, un-filtered and razor sharp driving dynamics - yadda, yadda....

It was indeed great at all that..... however.... and here's the real life lesson I might need to apply to a bike.....

It delivered it's USP at 10/10ths. Ripping through the gears between 6-8k and exploring the limits of traction exiting roundabouts etc - that's where it made sense.

 

However.....

 

I don't like driving like that these days - mainly from a speed limit, licence, safety to other road users, social responsibility perspective etc etc, not to mention I'm surrounded by urban roads and endless 20 mph speed limits. Therefore, for 95% of the miles I drove in it, I was being sensible and behaving myself, at which point there was zero fun or pleasure to be had. Track days, yes. My local roads, useless. Prior to that, I had an old Corvette Stingray - complete opposite and whist pretty awful dynamically, was a hoot at any speed, even standing still rocking from side to side at idle, everyone rejoicing at the sweet V8 tones.

 

Therefore, I want a bike that I can enjoy riding at 20 mph, that delivered its fun and enjoyment and character at normal speeds, that doesn't have to be pushed to it's limits to do what it's good at. That's why bikes like a Harley Sportster etc appeal, because I can feel cool and special cruising about in 20mph zones without the feeling I'm wasting my time until I can find a decent road to blast down, of which they are a good long ride away from where I live. So the bike has to deliver its fun, appeal and specialness away from race track type riding. This is what steers me away from inline 4's that need to be rev'd out to make any sense.

 

If a bike draws attention, looks a million dollars, turns heads and drips character when standing still, it's more likely to scratch the itch than a bike that needs to be ridden hard, fast or above my experience and abilities to enjoy.

 

Hope that makes sense?

[RideWithStyles]

Yes as you say caterhams are good for two things and just wasted for every thing else.

As u can guess now thats the thing when exotic or really wow bikes most are specialisted and you just end up with the caterham.

There are a couple of bikes that arnt bothered about chancing the checkered flag but flaunt there looks and design is pretty much timeless, one that i alway remember is the broughs.

 

Yep perfectly...

from engine dynamics view: a vtwin will fit that best, bit like a American v8 or they can be smoother like a rs6 or mid term m5 in your car terms.

 

The parallels are good allrounds but to some they dont seem to distinguished, a rougher or gravelly corse v10 like an latest m5 to a mid sized lambo).

 

big singles are deep back roads, green lanes and off roads with plently of vibes like white finger and range from sowing machine honda 125 to 690+ of ktm duke or road works jack hammer.

 

inline 4 are like well inlines...lol.

 

 

[bonio]

In a different life where youre only 5 foot 5, you'd be ridng a grom and it would tick all your boxes. There was a nicely customised one at a local bike meet earlier in the week and it had crowds of admirers.

 

But in this world, you could do a lot worse than an sv650.

 

 

[RideWithStyles]

The only other engine possibles over the vtwin but are are better than the parallel twin for sound in my opinion is the inline 3s from triumph and recently the mt9... good torque low down and quite happy to rev out if you want is a smoother but still has low engaging vibes and the sound is say intoxicating. the daytona 955 i had sounded like a angry bear roar chewing on hornets and the sound engaged no matter what rev but under load omg!!! Bit like a race bmw e30/36 just half the size and very similar sound!

[Interference Fit]

I'm going to contradict myself here following my most recent riding lesson (Mod 2 test next week).

I've come to realise, and hopefully in the nick of time, that I really ought to get something easy to live with, ride and learn on, even if that means not getting my forever bike on day one.

I definitely feel it would be better to get something taller and am now considering options I'd previously dismissed.

A big adventure bike will be too big, heavy and tricky for me as a first big bike, but a mid-sized sports tourer or small adventure bike might do it?

I sat on the new Transalp this afternoon and it felt a good compromise between roomy, comfortable and approachable, albeit I still can't get my head round that headlight!

Another option that is favourable might be the Triumph Tiger 660. Would this be an appropriate first big bike for a long person?

[bonio]

You're right, a heavy bike isn't going to help build confidence; something mid-weight will work much better. 

Adventure bikes tend to be taller then sports tourers, and with their wide bars, they're easier to handle too. There are loads to choose from, as the sector has become very popular. I've neither ridden a Transalp nor a Tiger 660, so can't help you on those. Whatever it is you go for, at least try to find one to sit on before you buy - you will know from that alone whether it's the kind of bike you will be comfortable on.

[bonio]

... and all the best for Mod 2!

[Interference Fit]

8 minutes ago, bonio said:

... and all the best for Mod 2!

Thanks.

 

At the start of my lessons, I always feel really under-confident with a few mistakes creeping in, but by the end of the last two 3 hr lessons, I've felt about ready - or as ready as I'll be without lots and lots more practice. In the last 45 mins today as lead rider, my only errors were a slightly wide left turn out of a junction ending up in position 3, and late move to the left lane whilst exiting a roundabout at the 3 o'clock position. Other than that, it went well, although the dynamics of traffic will always leave an element to 'on the day'. 

[RideWithStyles]

Yep finally, just cos you can afford it doesnt mean you should... youtube fails of fast expenses cars/bikes cone to mind when the talent runs out = all the gear no idea victim.

 

yes go with something more manageable. Now this is a personal thing but adventure bikes do handle differently to sports and sports tourers. top heavy, more suddenness of flop into corners due to the higher weight and lots of movement, which for me i didnt like along with a few other forbles but not to say you wont, just to say they are different. 

[Bender]

Good luck with the test.

 

Plenty of bikes to choose from, get yourself sat on as many as you can