Like a child in 'Toys r Us'

[Jestington]

Hopefully (if tests are successful) i will be onto my limited licence this February.
This means its new bike time but here is my problem i love bikes to much!
I love sports tourers and adventure style bikes but 'which to get?' and 'how well will they limit?' keep cropping up.
I have a few in mind but a personal favourite is the 650 Versys and the insurance was less than £1000 which is also a plus, just wondering if anyone has owned one (restricted or not) and some views on it would be nice. Online reviews are fine and dandy but i'd like some real world advice.
Cheers.

 

[Chuckles85]

Have you looked at the suzuki dl650 vstrom? Apparently better build quality and take the miles better too. It may also be less than the versys for insurance.

 

[Chessecake94]

Friz loathed his Versys.

 

[Jestington]

Have you looked at the suzuki dl650 vstrom? Apparently better build quality and take the miles better too. It may also be less than the versys for insurance.

I have been looking into v-storms i like them too this is my problem there are a few really nice choices.

Friz loathed his Versys.

Did he ever say why?

 

[Mikesmotorbike]

Friz loathed his Versys.

well if you put it like that

 

[Friz]

I wouldn't go that far, I'll explain when I'm on my computer at home.

 

[BritishMotovlogger]

Fazer? They restrict pretty will I think, and fairly cheap to insure. Not so much a tourer, but looks kinda sporty.
Other good ones for restricting and cheap to insure are SV's and Bandits, but they arent really sport tourers either :/
Hope that helped a bit, even if it wasn't to specification

 

[Jestington]

Fazer? They restrict pretty will I think, and fairly cheap to insure. Not so much a tourer, but looks kinda sporty.
Other good ones for restricting and cheap to insure are SV's and Bandits, but they arent really sport tourers either :/
Hope that helped a bit, even if it wasn't to specification

I have been looking at these as they keep coming up as good first big bikes but i'm a sucker for adventure/sport touring bikes.
Plus the v-storm is cheap on insurance but not as cheap as the transalp!
Sod it getting a KTM adventure 950!

 

[CurlyBlakey]

ahem Suzuki Bandit 600s £450 TPFT for a 18 year old, 60 mpg, fast, cheap, comfy and damn pretty!

 

[carlsant1]

I had a Fazer 600 restricted and it was brilliant, still enough power and rather comfy if you wanted to do a lot of miles.

sports touring wise, maybe have a look at older zzr600's?

adventure sport wise, the Versys is an ok option, i know some people have loved them but other feel they lack in too many areas (sorry i couldnt help more with this one not owned one)

The v-strom as far as im aware is loved by anyone who owns one, good versatile bike, but youd have to put up with the suzuki badge!

 

[Mikesmotorbike]

I had a Fazer 600 restricted and it was brilliant, still enough power and rather comfy if you wanted to do a lot of miles.

sports touring wise, maybe have a look at older zzr600's?

adventure sport wise, the Versys is an ok option, i know some people have loved them but other feel they lack in too many areas (sorry i couldnt help more with this one not owned one)

The v-strom as far as im aware is loved by anyone who owns one, good versatile bike, but youd have to put up with the suzuki badge!

what's wrong with a suzuki badge

 

[carlsant1]

I had a Fazer 600 restricted and it was brilliant, still enough power and rather comfy if you wanted to do a lot of miles.

sports touring wise, maybe have a look at older zzr600's?

adventure sport wise, the Versys is an ok option, i know some people have loved them but other feel they lack in too many areas (sorry i couldnt help more with this one not owned one)

The v-strom as far as im aware is loved by anyone who owns one, good versatile bike, but youd have to put up with the suzuki badge!

what's wrong with a suzuki badge

no comment

 

[Friz]

I thought you were looking at a CBR250?

The Versys is a good bike, if you are aware of some things about it from the start.

1) Its too wide to filter easily. With or without panniers.

2) Its heavy and handles badly at slow speeds. This also effects filtering.

3) Its no where near as fast as most 650s whether its restricted or not.

4) You have to shift A LOT.

5) Acceleration is slow compared to other bikes I've owned.

6) If you're any shorter than me, stop looking at it right now. I'm 5"9 and could handle it most of the time but on a slope you're doomed.

7) If it starts falling it's gone. Very heavy up top.

8) If you get the panniers, they stick out really really far. I've seen cars not as wide as that.

9) Other riders laugh at you

10) The build quality is shocking. I had mine 3 months and did something like 6000-7000 miles. The final point when I decided I couldn't handle it any more was after my first meet up at the Peak District.
After I had spent all day struggling to keep up with restricted bikes (mine wasn't), my engine started to smell really funny, sound different and heat up. About 10 seconds later it made a sound like a gun shot and when I pulled over, soot was all over the end of my exhaust. 2 Days later, the end of my exhaust fell off.
My panniers broke within a month. Whenever we had to replace a part on it, the screws were already rusted on... it was a nightmare.

But as I said at the beginning, as long as you're aware of all of this you'll be fine...

 

[Mikesmotorbike]

I thought you were looking at a CBR250?

The Versys is a good bike, if you are aware of some things about it from the start.

1) Its too wide to filter easily. With or without panniers.

2) Its heavy and handles badly at slow speeds. This also effects filtering.

3) Its no where near as fast as most 650s whether its restricted or not.

4) You have to shift A LOT.

5) Acceleration is slow compared to other bikes I've owned.

6) If you're any shorter than me, stop looking at it right now. I'm 5"9 and could handle it most of the time but on a slope you're doomed.

7) If it starts falling it's gone. Very heavy up top.

8) If you get the panniers, they stick out really really far. I've seen cars not as wide as that.

9) Other riders laugh at you

10) The build quality is shocking. I had mine 3 months and did something like 6000-7000 miles. The final point when I decided I couldn't handle it any more was after my first meet up at the Peak District.
After I had spent all day struggling to keep up with restricted bikes (mine wasn't), my engine started to smell really funny, sound different and heat up. About 10 seconds later it made a sound like a gun shot and when I pulled over, soot was all over the end of my exhaust. 2 Days later, the end of my exhaust fell off.
My panniers broke within a month. Whenever we had to replace a part on it, the screws were already rusted on... it was a nightmare.

But as I said at the beginning, as long as you're aware of all of this you'll be fine...

so cheesecake wasn't too far off the truth then?

 

[Daffee]

Fazer? They restrict pretty will I think, and fairly cheap to insure. Not so much a tourer, but looks kinda sporty.
Other good ones for restricting and cheap to insure are SV's and Bandits, but they arent really sport tourers either :/
Hope that helped a bit, even if it wasn't to specification

I would not say it restricts well, get a twin cylinder bike or a single, but it all depends on you, nearly a year on owning the Fazer I really want more power, the power band is completely cut out. The top speed I got out of it was 104mph and that took a while, (Not on the road of course). If you don't want the bike for speed though its very comfortable and handles very well for its size, and of course when you get the restrictor off it will be a great bike!

 

[Jestington]

I thought you were looking at a CBR250?

The Versys is a good bike, if you are aware of some things about it from the start.

1) Its too wide to filter easily. With or without panniers.

2) Its heavy and handles badly at slow speeds. This also effects filtering.

3) Its no where near as fast as most 650s whether its restricted or not.

4) You have to shift A LOT.

5) Acceleration is slow compared to other bikes I've owned.

6) If you're any shorter than me, stop looking at it right now. I'm 5"9 and could handle it most of the time but on a slope you're doomed.

7) If it starts falling it's gone. Very heavy up top.

8) If you get the panniers, they stick out really really far. I've seen cars not as wide as that.

9) Other riders laugh at you

10) The build quality is shocking. I had mine 3 months and did something like 6000-7000 miles. The final point when I decided I couldn't handle it any more was after my first meet up at the Peak District.
After I had spent all day struggling to keep up with restricted bikes (mine wasn't), my engine started to smell really funny, sound different and heat up. About 10 seconds later it made a sound like a gun shot and when I pulled over, soot was all over the end of my exhaust. 2 Days later, the end of my exhaust fell off.
My panniers broke within a month. Whenever we had to replace a part on it, the screws were already rusted on... it was a nightmare.

But as I said at the beginning, as long as you're aware of all of this you'll be fine...

I was looking at the cbr250r but I'll be getting a brand new bike (because i'm weird and want to know its been ridden) so I'm thinking of getting one that after the 2 years is up i can just get the limiter off and then it'll be like upgrading to a full powered bike. And fair enough about the verseys may give that one a wide birth then. The honda fan in me wants a Transalp but again don't know how it would limit its 59bhp to start with would that limit well. I'm upgrading hopefully late February early March so i want to test ride but theres a problem in itself the demo models won't be restricted. Such a pain in the ass bloody companies making nice bikes how dare they!

 

[Friz]

On the positives, I thought it was quite a comfortable bike and you could take a lot of stuff in the panniers.

I would have one again, but only as a second bike to something like my CBR. I wouldn't buy one from new again. Biggest waste of 7 grand ever. Especially since I only got 3 back part ex.

 

[Jestington]

On the positives, I thought it was quite a comfortable bike and you could take a lot of stuff in the panniers.

I would have one again, but only as a second bike to something like my CBR. I wouldn't buy one from new again. Biggest waste of 7 grand ever. Especially since I only got 3 back part ex.

F*** me thats not a great return. I'll be doing alot of touring on it (what ever i get) and it needs to be comfy enough for me, my girlfriend (shes only small) and all the stuff that comes with touring. The gs650 keeps cropping up in reviews e.c.t but i don't really like the looks plus don't want to be labelled as Ewan Mc Boorman plus the extras are so over priced!

 

[AZZ3R]

You will never beat a Shaft Drive bike, the GS you will go for miles without having to 'maintain' much.

I'd highly recomened the GS650 due to it being a twin, Twins are alot faster than 4's when it comes to restriction. Theres alot more fun in the low end aswell.

Faired XJ6
GS650
F650GS
Triumph Tiger
V-strom

On a restricted licence & wanting to do touring with the missus, I'd highly recomend a twin for the low down grunt which when pillioning is better than a 4 & will help alot more.

If your wanting sports tourers, I'd highly recomend the new shape SV. (Not the galdius) you also have the Triumph Sprint ST which looks like a great sports touring bike.

Theres loads to choose from, I'd say go sit on a few and get a feel for where the pegs & levers are because you'll be in that postion for a longer period of time compared to a sports bike. You don't want too sat upright due to the weight will be on your lower spine, slighlty over on the bars, comfortable peg postioning (can always get yourself a propper set of rearsets), comfortable seat, Postioning of the grab rail/s. Theres loads to think about when buying a new bike (new to you). Let us know what you end up getting.

 

[Bikermole]

If you're after a twin, i'd look at a Kawasaki ER-6F, i think they look great, at just under 6k theyre good value, and ive read plenty of good reviews about them, other than that I know a lot of people who love the sv650, and a few who love the 650GS. i'm aware I have no personal knowledge of these bikes because i'm still on a 125 myself so I wont be offended if nobody pays any attention to what I've just written!