What bike?

[onesea]

Presently I have 2.

1) Triumph Trophy 1200

Lovely bike great on distance great on touring. Poor fuel consumption and heavy.

Not an every day bike.

2) CBR 125

Light Nice bike great fuel consumption, great for short runs (3-4 miles) struggles to maintain speed up hills pulling my weight. No storage capacity. 

 

Thinking of changing the 125cc 

To something that has storage and good fuel consumption. Not fussed about top speed but should pull my ass up a hill at 60-70.

Most of the time will be used on A/B roads (or I would take trophy) and short runs 3-4 miles.

Looking at low budget.

 

Suggestions appreciated at the moment second hand Enfield Himalayan seems the direction I look. 

 

Maybe I should of kept my TDM900 but it just never really did it for me.

 

[AstronautNinja]

Have you considered one of those 600cc scooters? I was on the back of one in France and they're pretty quick, extremely comfy and huge under seat storage. If I was replacing a 125 with something quick with storage I'd be checking out a fast scooter

[peepae]

There's no bike with power that has the same MPG as a 125, it's impossible. I think the Triumph isn't even that bad at 50+ MPG?

 

The "commuter" bike is the NC750X - solid 70+ MPG average

[Nick the wanderer]

Just had a glance at some Himalayans and they all start with a 2.

What's your budget?

[Tinkicker]

Suzuki burgmann...

[Bianco2564]

I had a Honda silver wing, 600cc scooter.

Great storage under the seat, fairly good acceleration, quicker than most cars, very comfortable upright riding position, good weather protection compared to normal bikes.

Only 50mpg though, ate tyres and brakes.

 

My ninja 250 was good on fuel, had almost 90mpg out of it.

Edited August 24, 2024 by Bianco2564

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

When I was after something along the same lines I was looking for an old CB500, and ended up with a CBF500. Dead simple, reliable, cheap to run, plenty around for budget money. Mine has a large topbox and I add a tankbag when I need to carry more. 

 

Prices of them are interesting, they shot up not long after I bought mine, and are now dropping again. But CB500 prices are still going up for good examples. I know someone who deals solely in classic bikes and he's just started to stock them.

[bonio]

I miss my CB500. A bit underpowered on overtakes but other than that a great all-round bike.

[Tinkicker]

Indeed.  We ran 6x CB500s for  early DAS training at the motorcycle activity centre.  Of course, all that slow speed running, U turns and emergency stops meant a hard life.  Apart from fork seals, tyres, brake pads, steering head bearings and new brake hoses every 40,000 miles or so, nothing really went wrong with them.

 

They all needed clutches changed at least once in their 75,000 mile lifespan, and I did the oil pump chain at the same time, but nothing else ever really went wrong.  Edit.. The sprocket carrier bearing was one to keep an eye on also...

 

Great little bikes.  Dead easy to work on.

 

[onesea]

4 hours ago, peepae said:

There's no bike with power that has the same MPG as a 125, it's impossible. I think the Triumph isn't even that bad at 50+ MPG?

 

The "commuter" bike is the NC750X - solid 70+ MPG average

 

My trophy on a good day can do 45mpg but I have to be very kind to it.  They are known to be thirsty beasties. 50 mpg is just a dream. 

 

Agree about power Mpg being a balance. 80 odd mpg would be nice above 50 maybe acceptable.

 

The NX750 just doesn't do much for me.  I know sensible bike and all but.  Maybe I should go and look at one, they just don't make me want to ride.

 

@Mississippi Bullfrog @bonio

Part of the reason I am looking to move forward, parts (presently an oil cooler - partially responsible for me not riding to S France at moment) for the trophy are getting harder to find.  I like a bike I can just ride and maintain.

 

I also like a little fairing I do ride all year.

 

Hence thinking basic Himalayan.

Yes it would be top of budget at about 2k and a bit.

 

@AstronautNinja @Tinkicker

I had Burgman for a whilst, I know the advantages of scooters.  However I would still like a bike not scooter.

 

Please keep the ideas coming, maybe I should not if sold my TDM but that was getting old.

 

Edited August 24, 2024 by onesea

[peepae]

43 minutes ago, onesea said:

 

My trophy on a good day can do 45mpg but I have to be very kind to it.  They are known to be thirsty beasties. 50 mpg is just a dream. 

 

Agree about power Mpg being a balance. 80 odd mpg would be nice above 50 maybe acceptable.

 

The NX750 just doesn't do much for me.  I know sensible bike and all but.  Maybe I should go and look at one, they just don't make me want to ride.

 

@Mississippi Bullfrog @bonio

Part of the reason I am looking to move forward, parts (presently an oil cooler - partially responsible for me not riding to S France at moment) for the trophy are getting harder to find.  I like a bike I can just ride and maintain.

 

I also like a little fairing I do ride all year.

 

Hence thinking basic Himalayan.

Yes it would be top of budget at about 2k and a bit.

 

@AstronautNinja @Tinkicker

I had Burgman for a whilst, I know the advantages of scooters.  However I would still like a bike not scooter.

 

Please keep the ideas coming, maybe I should not if sold my TDM but that was getting old.

 

Bikes with good mpg always seem to reduce the fun factor 

Edited August 24, 2024 by peepae

[AstronautNinja]

Play with the search filters on autotrader! 

 

Try this and see what tickles your fancy 

 

Make : any

Model : any

Min price 1500 

Max price 2200

 

They unfortunately don't have an mpg filter under the bike section 

[V650]

How about the CB500X  I have one myself and the mpg is great I am getting circa 90mpg if the trip computer is to be believed 

But does not have the frunk like the NC750X 

Edited August 24, 2024 by V650

[AstronautNinja]

After driving my Audi that may as well have a fuel leak some of these mpg figures are astounding! 

 

I remember the salesman telling me mine will easily do mid 40's, I was expecting low 20's tbh

[Nick the wanderer]

Parallel twins are in vogue , light and fits the bill nicely, apart from the price. At the expense of the old 4 cylinders it would seem. There are loads of slightly older 600's out there, not too heavy, 55 mpg etc. Yamaha Fazer for instance sub £2k.

 

[AstronautNinja]

https://youtu.be/XpjuowHEgTM?si=TuWONl48KcmVE-il

[AstronautNinja]

Thought it'd load a preview. 

 

Triumph Speed 400 video about them selling 50,000 

[AstronautNinja]

Every "what bike" thread just makes me also want another bike 

[Bender]

250 v strom

[RideWithStyles]

10 hours ago, onesea said:

Presently I have 2.

1) Triumph Trophy 1200

Lovely bike great on distance great on touring. Poor fuel consumption and heavy.

Not an every day bike.

2) CBR 125

Light Nice bike great fuel consumption, great for short runs (3-4 miles) struggles to maintain speed up hills pulling my weight. No storage capacity. 

 

Thinking of changing the 125cc 

To something that has storage and good fuel consumption. Not fussed about top speed but should pull my ass up a hill at 60-70.

Most of the time will be used on A/B roads (or I would take trophy) and short runs 3-4 miles.

Looking at low budget.

 

Suggestions appreciated at the moment second hand Enfield Himalayan seems the direction I look. 

 

Maybe I should of kept my TDM900 but it just never really did it for me.

 

A2 licence bike….sub 600, twin cylinder, 46hp, torque throughout the rev range, 100+mph easy, 75mpg minimum, cheap service and parts, lighter. Beans given a lot of the time .

That’s what I got from i the benelli leoncino 500…

Edited August 24, 2024 by RideWithStyles

[rob m]

 

4 hours ago, peepae said:

Bikes with good mpg always seem to reduce the fun factor 

 

I averaged 52.4 mpg on my recent trip to Germany. Fab for a 170bhp 1300. Even more surprising considering I was giving it the beans most of the time.

 

[AstronautNinja]

5 minutes ago, rob m said:

 

 

I averaged 52.4 mpg on my recent trip to Germany. Fab for a 170bhp 1300. Even more surprising considering I was giving it the beans most of the time.

 

Again, zero offences committed 

[RideWithStyles]

4 hours ago, peepae said:

Bikes with good mpg always seem to reduce the fun factor 

Not Always, sometimes it’s poor choice of possible bike for use case.

Edited August 24, 2024 by RideWithStyles

[AstronautNinja]

58 minutes ago, RideWithStyles said:

Not Always, sometimes it’s poor choice of possible bike for use case.

Do elaborate for the new kids in class? All this motorbike mpg discussion is interesting. To me 40mpg is 2.0 tdi figures, to get that from any "shyt yourself quick" vehicle is nuts and awesome

[peepae]

27 minutes ago, AstronautNinja said:

Do elaborate for the new kids in class? All this motorbike mpg discussion is interesting. To me 40mpg is 2.0 tdi figures, to get that from any "shyt yourself quick" vehicle is nuts and awesome

Bikes usually have better MPG than cars - a lot less mass to move so it's not as good per se if it's lower than 40-50.

Edited August 24, 2024 by peepae