...well not quite feeling the need for excessive speed, but I'm definitely feeling the need for a bike with less chrome than my current baby.

I've been quiet for quite a while since buying my Kawa '07 VN 900 Custom, and I apologise. Mostly because I've been a regular on a Kawa forum which deals with alot of issues with my bike etc. and is generally a more cruiser based environment. I'm sure you'll understand . I felt this forum was a little more sport/street bike orientated for me at the time... i have popped back and read some of the topics but didn't feel i could post anything of worth that hadn't already been said.

... but now I'm back for the time being.

For those who don't know/remember me, I'm Steve, 24, east London/essex, and passed my CBT and DAS in october and have been riding ever since, come rain, wind, shine and snow.

I'm now keen on doing Bikesafe and the IAM course, but am anxious that my 900 is a bit too cumbersome and heavy for the stringent machine control needed for these tests and I'm not quite confident enough to perform tight U turns without putting my foot down and she's too heavy to wheel around using the handlebar and seat!

So I'm interested in buying a sport/street bike to help improve my handling skills and to also use for my winter toy seeing as after spending some hard earned cash on my beautiful cruiser (i'm very nearly finished customising her) I've decided I don't want to risk her with all the salt on the roads by riding all through the winter. She'll still get out when it's sunny, I just don't have the time to spend 2 hours each time to keep her clean and shiny.



I figured I'd come to you guys as i thought you'd be the best bunch of people to talk to about the UK bike models and prices.

I've done some looking around Bike Trader and UK Bike, as i know roughly what I'm looking for, but obviously it's a pain searching through hundreds of used bikes for sale, so was hoping you'd be able to suggest popular models from different manufacturers which i should research further.

Here's my criteria, maybe you can help with suggestions?

1. Sport/street bike.
2. Used.
3. Preferably around the £2000 mark. I'd much prefer lower than that, but i think £2k is about my limit.
4. 400-700 cc
5. Not too old. I've been looking around the 1999/2000/2001 era. I know that's 8 years ago, but it doesn't seem old.
5. I'd like a full fairing, or as much of a fairing as possible as I'm not too keen on the naked bike look.
6. A more upright seating position if possible.
7. Mileage ideally below 40,000... Although i have no idea for how long bike engines are supposed to last
8. Ideally in black

I don't want anything too powerful as: 1, I simply don't need it and 2, I'm not sure I'd trust myself with it.

I'll be riding in all weather and over short and long distances possibly with some touring (not too far afield though). I imagine I won't be doing much 2-up riding so wouldn't be needing such a large engine.

I've only been looking online so far so haven't sat on anything yet.

The main bike that caught my eye is the Suzuki SV650 S which i love the look of and it seems to be in my used price range too, with a lot of the models going for £1500. I learnt on the GS500 and guess i could opt for one of those as i enjoyed riding it at the time...
I have seen a few smaller engined bikes i like below the 400cc mark including the Ninja 250R, but I wonder about the power and size (i'm only 5'7" but weigh 13 stone), and whether or not i'll get easilly bored of the small cc engine, especially when i jump back on my 900 (although aboviously they're two completely different machines).

I'm a member of the Honda owners club (long story) so when going on ride-outs i'm usually the only cruiser and they all have CBF's, VFR's, Blackbird's and various other 600+ machines so i'd like to be able to keep up, and I'm not sure if a 250R could do that... but please feel free to tell me otherwise if it's the case.

I was really looking for some model suggestions to aid my searching. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks again,
Steve.

The SV650 is agreat little bike and will do what you asked for. 2 other bikes you should consider is the yamaha YZF600 Thundercat and the honda CBR600 I owned a thundercat brillant bike did everything well 2up touring back road scratching and commuting. The CBR600 has the reputation as the best all rounder.

Teapots would fit your criteriea too, like THIS one

Welcome back...for the time being, you cant live too far away from me!

SV650 is powerful, looks good too, meets all your criteria, GPZ500s you can get a newer one with less miles (which will go on forever if you service on a regular basis).

I had a GPZ 500, nice bike but maybe not upright enough for you. I have a dodgy back and after a couple of hours riding I was quite stiff. You may want to look at the ER6 if the GPZ is your type of bike.

Best of luck bike hunting

The SV isn't *that* powerful, but what it does have it delivers from pretty low down. It's a really nice bike to ride - smooth and comfy. The bikes of that age (circa 8yo) are either naked, or have a half-fairing, but Suzuki did an optional belly-fairing which is quite nice. They're also carburetted at that age, so nothing really in the realms of black-box-voodoo that you can't sort yourself if it goes wrong.

I've heard mixed reports about rusting, but never seen any evidence myself. Also, the pillion seat isn't too hard to lose if you don't clip it down properly. It's not *that* quick, but how fast do you need to go - it'll top the ton without any real drama. It's a reserve light, rather than a tap - personally I prefer a tap because you can't miss it when you go onto reserve!

My brother's got one, and whilst it doesn't see that much use, he seems to really like it.

i own an sv650s (k2 the last of the curvys) i wouldnt describe it as sporty. i find its a very relaible predictable commuter that never seems to miss a beat. the big problems with the curvy style are the wiring loom can be damaged by the frame (but rerouting the loom can fix this) rusting can be a problem, i know mine has some on the fork lowers that looks crap but doesnt effect the performance. as has been said they pull from basicly no revs and its not unusual to be able to pull away from a standstill in 4th (iv done it a few times) i would go on to say that its a very good bike and i heartly recomend it, but ias i said befoer i wouldnt class it as a sporty bike

Thanks for those, i forgot about the CBR600, i have a friend with one. Plus my Honda group would be happy with me



Cheers Egg, dare I ask why it's called a 'teapot'?



I'm in Woodford (Redbridge, Ilford, Gants Hill, Wanstead area) Where in lovely Essex are you?



Oooh, many thanks for that, I was considering the ER6 actually too... (there's soo many to choose from!)
I guess I'll never know about comfort until i start sitting on bikes...



Ta. I'd be taking my mechanic mate with me if i got to look at any i plan on buying so he'll give them a thorough going over regarding rusting. I like the reserve light too... less fiddling :P I don't really want raw power and I don't fancy going too fast either. I'm not much of a speed-demon, but i fear I could be if i get something too big. Obviously I can only do the speed limit hehe, but top speed isn't such a big factor for me really. I'd have no use for anything which goes over 140mph but I'd love to do some track days in the future... Something i can't really do on my current steed.



Thanks for all your comments so far. the SV650s seems to be a crowd pleaser.

I don't want anything too sporty as I quite like my comfortable riding positions and don't like the idea of having to constantly wash my boxers if it's too quick off the mark!

I think i might pop to a few bike dealers at the weekend and start sitting on and trying to testride some.

Harlow, Essex

That biketrader ad (Suzuki G-- whateverF) looks v good and for that price if it's anywhere near you would definately have a look at it.

You can't go wrong with an SV, I have one since a few months altho it's the naked version. Lots of spares, lots of info (plus bikes etc for sale) on friendly www.SV650.org forum, cheap-ish, good engine, proven to be a good bike as it has been around for so long. It's not powerful (70bhp), lots of torque low down but my harley sporter had more but I prefer this one for the same reasons you now prefer something a bit more sportier, altho I never cleaned my bike for 2 hours. Winter riding can be done with a cruiser just need to spray lots of anti-corrosion spray on.

ah, about 20 mins away! I worked in Harlow as a photographer for a while. There was a point where I knew it like the back of my hand. I'll keep you in mind if i'm bored and fancy a ride with someone.



Haha, i'm very thorough with my cleaning i've got it down to about an hour and a half, but in the winter months I was taking more care with it.

I'll check out the SV650 forum too thanks for that.

My other half is looking to sell her CBR400RR - ticks most of the boxes, apart from age (G-reg) and colour (white and blue).

PM me if you're interested in pursuing this avenue.

Girlfriend step dad is looking to sell his CB400 1978 model I think, its yellow!

Interesting thread as I am looking for a bike to tick most of the same things you are looking for although it will be my first bike.

SV650, CBR or Thundercat seems to be the same 3 that keep comming up. I have heard people start with the SV but due to the shocks tend to move on after a year or so - therefore leaning towards the other two at the moment. The Thundercat has a reputation for gear box issues and as I know nufink about bikes and not heard anything bad the honda seems to be winning - only it is the most expensive of the three for the same age/mileage bike.

Watching with interest to see what other advice you get.

1978? Eek! That's 5 years older than me!! Haha... uhh and yellow's not really my thing
I'm looking for something a little more technically modern i think.
but thanks



Well hopefully this can be good for us both then! I just hope you don't end up out bidding me on a bike i decide i want! haha

I've spent a good hour or so trawling through autotrader looking at my price range and engine size and have pretty much come up with a list of models i like the look of and that meet the basic specs.
I wish manufacturers would just give bikes a name instead of all these annoying letters!!

Kawa ZXR 400
Kawa GPZ EX500
Kawa GPZ 500s
Kawa ZX600
Honda CBR 600F
Yamaha YZF 600R
Suzuki GS500
Suzuki SV650
Suzuki GSX R600
Suzuki GSX 600F
Triumph TT600

I'm sure some of the letters are negligable differences, but those were the ones that had the 'look' i wanted after searching for engine size and price range.

The 600 Ninja is really growing on me! I love that lime green!

Now a case of further research and sitting on some.

If it's a CB400-4 and it's in good nick - particularly if it has the right exhaust - they're a bit sought after. Lovely bike.

hmmm. i'm not sure I want a bike i'm going to feel guilty about riding in crappy weather.

I have my chrome laden object of beauty which requires alot of attention, so i'm not sure having a highly sought after bike as my winter toy is a good idea....

Sorry, i cant help. you lost me way back in the 1st post of this thread.

Just to confuse you even more

I believe that the Kawasaki GPZ EX500 and their GPZ 500s are the same bike.

The EX500 was the American model number, while GPZ500 is the European version. (I was looking at one of them the other month so read up on the details)

I'm always going to suggest a 600 Hornet. Bound to be able to pick up a decent example 03-04 for that money. Great fun, plenty of poke and decent road presence. And it's a Honda!

here it is

completely restored project!

Nice bike.

Have you looked at the Yamaha Fazer they go well and can be brought for a reasonable price

Haha, long one wasn't it?



Oh. Interesting, well thanks for that. I think i'm ruling the 500 out anyway. I'm unsure if the MCN bike reviews are reliable enough, but they didn't seem to rate it too highly if i recall.



I shall look into it. Forgot about the Hornet.

Actually talking of Hondas, my mate's got the CBR 600F and can't stop praising it. I'm gonna try and have a sit on (and maybe a ride if i can twist his arm). It's a great looking bike, and also bullet-proof Honda.



Ya'know, i was looking on eBay yesterday and saw that bike and wondered if it was your Dad's! Haha. How many yellow old CBR400s can be for sale at the same time?
But yeah, not quite what I'm looking for sadly. Sowwy.



I have a friend with one too, I don't think any came up for under £2k when i was looking. I'll check again.

Many thanks all!

I'll try and get a sit on and test ride of the SV650, CBR 600F... will have a look at Hornets and Fazers too.

I love the look of the Ninja 636, but think that might be one to buy in the not too distant future...