second bike after passing test

looking for a second bike and one with a low seat height

shortlisted to these models:

Honda CB1-400
Yamaha XJ 400 / XJR400
Kawasaki GT550
Honda CB250
Honda CB400

Has any one any opinions on these or got any other suggestions? Thanks

 

The CB1 is fun but rather tiresome for general use, requiring huge amounts
of revs to go anywhere and it has **** all torque at low revs. The GT550 is
the best of the bunch you mention. Decent brakes, quick enough, reliable but
kinda soggy suspension (sortable). I prefer the GS500 to all of those except
the GT.

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, ben belched forth and ejected the following:

I've ridden and owned the CB-1 and the CB400. Both good bikes and put up
with tons of abuse. Spares are easy to get in London, don't know about
any other part of the country.

Very popular with despatchists, all of them with the exception of the
XJ/XJR so watch out for signs of neglect.

 

Hog tossed off:

The GT looks a bit shit though (imho)
The 550 engine in the Zephyr certainly looks better, or even the 750
Zephyr.

My 1st post DAS bike was a Honda CB500. An excellent little machine,
loads of go, and decent handling too.


--
Dan L

1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr

BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6)
X-FOT#000
DIAABTCOD #26
BOMB#18 (slow)
OMF#11

 

What he said.

 

Well that's two of the slowest riders I've ridden with praising the
handling of a bike. It's hardly a glowing recommendation when you look
at it closely.

 

Andy Bonwick tossed off:

Fucking excellent, made me really LOL.

Nice

--
Dan L

1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr

BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6)
X-FOT#000
DIAABTCOD #26
BOMB#18 (slow)
OMF#11

 

AND it's a fucking Honda they're talking about too

 

I've had a CB500 as a rental bike a few times - it was excellent for
blatting around Portugal. Slightly lacking top-end power with both of us
plus throwovers on it, but still a nice little bike.

If I needed a commuter bike, I'd buy one. Probably an 'S' with the half
fairing, though.

 

Hog tossed off:

<FX hangs head in shame>

bbbbut it was red, and shiny, and the missus said she like the colour,
and it was better than the ER5 I passed my test on cos the tank wasn't
dented.

Actually, it was a very good 1st bike, but I got bored with it quite
soon....

--
Dan L

1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr

BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6)
X-FOT#000
DIAABTCOD #26
BOMB#18 (slow)
OMF#11

 

They mean well and that's the main thing.

 

Hog wrote
Of that list I have actually ridden the CB 400 and can confirm that for
the purposes of the definition it is a fully functional motorcycle.
Fine for round town and slower A roads and not bad on the bum on
journeys over 100 miles either. Not really suited for the more
enthusiastic type rider imo.

Where do you get this idea that the GS500 is anything but utter rubbish?
Only an looney or twat of the highest order would ever own one of those.

 

R1 ?

 

Not many new riders are "really" enthusiastic though. I'm still not,
although I try my hardest.

My brother has a GS 750 and it was absolutely utter shite. I cheered when he
got punted off it coz I *thought* he'd get something a bit better. He got a
Bandit 600 which was hammered nearly to death.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

Beav wrote

The 500 is an entirely different bike. Granted the engine is the middle
two pots from the 750 bored out to make it a 500 but it works. The rest
of it is a parts bins special and the parts are all well sorted and thus
reliable.

Not quick enough to wheelie off the throttle nor particularly nimble
when leaving or joining the straight and narrow. Nonetheless it is a
machine where you can ground the pegs with confidence on modern rubber,
end up in jail for motorway speeding (lightweight skinny riders only)
and do it all in reasonable comfort while not burning too big a hole in
your pocket. The fact it has been in continuous production for nigh on
20 years now and has failed to achieve a poor reputation should be a
clue. Really a very underrated machine.