Buying my third bike - help me with a recommendation?

T

TrueFeelings

Active member
I love my motorcycles but it's time to upgrade.My first bike was a 125 dual purpose I purchased new for around $1400 in Costa Rica. When I moved back to CA I bought a used 2003 cb250 Nighthawk for $1300 and put some money into it - new tires, new starter, and eventually a new clutch. I'm ready to sell it soon and buy a new bike.

Here are my considerations:

Not too big a jump from the cb250 in terms of weight, seat height, and engine size. I want to feel confident on the bike not like I have this huge new powerful bike I have to learn a lot about.

Basically a commuter bike and for Bay errands so maneuverability for parking is important.

Good gas mileage. My Nighthawk was in the 55-70mpg range.

Standard style, I tend to prefer a more classic look with upright seating.

Reliable mechanically.

Up to about $4,000.

Used preferably but not so old I have to worry about unexpected issues. I'm not much of a mechanic.

I'm looking at tu250x snd sr400, and thinking these are a bit ginmicky and not for me. I'm.also a bit averse to Triumph because, well, I just don't have good associations with Britain for some reason.

How about one of the lighter 650s, like a KLR?

Or...

Thanks for advice!
 
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usedtobefast

Well-known member
What about a Honda CB500 (they have the F(naked), X(fake Adv), R(sport bike look))?
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mcy/d/2013-honda-cb500f/6701704824.html


Or a Kawasaki 650 Ninja (650 twin, Ninja name but not that crazy power wise).
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mcy/d/kawaski-ninja-2014/6719454762.html

Or BMW F650, single cylinder, adventure style.
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/mcy/d/1999-bmw-f650/6719435675.html

Honda NC700x? Fairly mellow, super reliable, great gas mileage.
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/mcy/d/honda-nc-700x-manual/6719277541.html

And FYI, those CL links are not meant to be "here is a well researched awesome bike to go buy", it was more like 2 minutes of searching and here is something. :)

Of all these I like the NC700X idea best. Very easy to ride bike.
 
rodr

rodr

Well-known member
Similar dilemma here. I ditched my Weestrom in Fairfield, moved to Oz, now looking for something more lightweight for general running around and the occasional day trip.

Requirements: Under 400 lbs, upright seating, some sort of luggage capacity, freeway capable. Never thought I'd want a sport bike but they have the CB300F here and the price is right. Is the seating pretty much upright? Can you easily add a top case and if so any recommendations for that? Similarly for aftermarket windscreens?
 
berth

berth

Well-known member
rodr said:
Requirements: Under 400 lbs, upright seating, some sort of luggage capacity, freeway capable. Never thought I'd want a sport bike but they have the CB300F here and the price is right. Is the seating pretty much upright? Can you easily add a top case and if so any recommendations for that? Similarly for aftermarket windscreens?
Click to expand...
I can't speak to the CB300F.

But this is the golden age of motorcycles, frankly.

Every bike around has a top case and/or a windscreen. They all have ABS and such. They're all (mostly) reliable.

The onslaught of the 300s, 400s, and 500s. The "up right" position of the "adventure bikes". They're just silly practical city bikes nowadays.

As much as folks love 200HP sport bikes, 30-50HP road bikes are pretty popular.
 
rodr

rodr

Well-known member
Looks like the CB300F has been replaced by the 2019 CB300R, which is less comfortable and about $1200 more expensive. Can't get the F here any more.

:(
 
rodr

rodr

Well-known member
Things are looking up. I have a verbal agreement to buy a 2016 CB500X ABS. Low miles, great condition, perfect size and fit for me and the price is right. It's 50 pounds lighter than the old V-Strom so I can't complain about the weight. Only gotcha is the seller has a loan, so have to get that sorted.

:party
 
Darkness!

Darkness!

Where's the kick starter?
:afm199 Rod. Oy mate, did you just completely threadjack the OP's thread?!? Yes. Yes you did... :wtf
 
JMardy

JMardy

More head - less ass
Make insurance cost a factor as well. I have Geico and can get quotes on different bikes before I buy. Some pretty interesting things happen with actuarial data. For example: much cheaper to insure a Ducat Hypermotard 939SP than a Yamaha FZ-09 which costs almost a third as much. Aprilia Dorosoduro 1200 is super cheap. Cheap bikes that inexperienced riders buy and crash are generally more expensive to insure than more expensive bikes that more experienced riders tend to buy.
KLRs and Vstrom 650s are hard to beat for all-around bikes.

Here's a couple good looking deals: https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/d/strom-dl-650-suzuki/6737352475.html

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/d/09-kawasaki-er6n-with-only/6718996806.html
 
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