Yet another purely hypothetical, not-real question.

Let's imagine there's this bloke. He lives in London.

He has been using having a short rail commute and lack of free weekend
time as a perfectly reasonable reason to not buy a new bike.

Now, just suppose, in the space of 3 months, he's changed jobs and now
has a 17 mile commute that can't be done very easily on public
transport. He has a nearly 9-year-old ZX9R and is considering a new
purchase next spring, mainly just because he wants a change. It will
almost certainly be a new bike. He has a ticket to the NEC and will be
hoping to have a good, long look at all the nice, shiny motorcycles.[1]

My question is, given a budget of £9,000[2] ... what would you put on
his list of things to definitely look at?

He apparently likes the idea of something fairly sensible, and not for
the winter, like.[3] Doesn't have to do big miles[4], just be a bit of
a grin. Comfort can not go hang, apparently - he's got a bit of a
dodgy back.

I'll pass on any replies to him.

[1] Yes, including Harleys but they're definitely not in the running
for the purchase.
[2] So he can include the ZZR-1400.
[3] He has a car for that.
[4] 35 miles/day commute mainly, but also the odd French trip or that
type of thing.

 

I'd tell him to buy two bikes - something like a new Triumph Sprint for
touring and hooning, and a cheap dirt bike, SOB, whatever for commuting.

 

It's a good plan, but he doesn't think there will be enough of the
former on its own to justify a brand new bike. It's the commuting that
has helped with the justification process so it really does need to be
just the one bike. The 9R has done really well in this respect, so far.

FWIW, I^hhe really likes the look of the Sprint so it is on the list.

 

If it's used or nearly-new you're after, sorry, he's after, then you can
get just about anything. But, realistically, only one thing stands out
as a do-everything bike, from commuting to touring to hooning, and all
with a great grin stitched on the face....

BMW GS, and spend the change on a holiday.

 

And an extended warranty

 

I will[1] check BMWs out[2] but I think my legs may be too short for a
GS. They've always looked very tall when I've been close to one.

heh.

[1] Yes, this "friend" was me all along! Clever, eh? )
[2] I am 42 years of age, after all.

 

No brainer - New gixxer thou

 

This is true, but I'm not really going to spend up to 9K on a new bike
that only does a couple of thousand miles a year - I might as well keep
the 9R. Including the commuting makes it more worthwile and moving
from EKS to permie has left me with some surplus cash.

Anyway, it's not justification I'm after. As per my original post, I'm
just after suggestions of some of the more obscure-ish bikes that I
ought to investigate, that I might not ordinarily look at without said
suggestions.

 

ZX7R. By installments.

 

Only because my Ltd Co. will have a positive balance in the accounts
after all taxes have been settled. This passes to me, in a very nice,
tax efficient way as I am closing the company.

 

I know )

It is currently top of the list, even though I've only seen one in the
flesh. As you know, and like yourself, I am a big fan of the big
Kwackas.

 

I suspect as a permie there's less need to have a cash "float"
available..

 

A neighbour just got an Aprillia RSV Mille-R - I have no idea how it fits
with any if your, sorry, his requirements, but it looks nice and sounds
very, very nice. Also he informs me it's better than the Gixxer Thou he
changed for it in every way. But he has only had it a week...

I'm not sure that was any help, but thought in the spirit of been helpful on
UKRM I should suggest it.

 

He seems to only be a Sunday rider and use it for posing on Scarborough
seafront, so I suspect it does every thing he uses it for better heh.

 

What more could you possibly want?

 

I dunno. I like the idea of it, but it looks ugly. And it'll depreciate like
a lead brick.

 

I was tempted by a new K7, until I saw that there's not just one of those
gay exhausts on it, but two..argh.

 

Don't take this personally, but you're about the same height as darsy? He
needed a foot ladder to get on his GS.

On a more serious note, the Sprint does look like the most sensible option
for you. I was going to suggest a new Mille, but would it stand up to the
daily commute?

 

When was the last time you looked at your exhausts when you were
riding a bike?

The standard can on my bike is a fucking horrible looking piece of
shit but a few hundred quid sorts that out and the same can be said
for the new gixxer. If past exploits are anything to go by it'll be a
belter of a bike.

 

Of course you're right. I'll keep the K3 for another year or so and then
switch bikes in the dead of winter like I always tend to do.