wet weather bike suggestions

[bludclot]

I live around 10 miles outside Portsmouth and travel in and out of the city 1 - 4 times a week. Seeing as the Fazer is too clean for use when the roads are wet or salted I take my van. I have the money for a 2nd bike again and want something that will be used for wet and salty roads. I don't want to go above £1000 - I have been looking for a cb400sf as I like the look of them but other suggestions appreciated.

[bigbluebear]

An FZS600 boxeye will take bit of beating.....reliable, cheap as chips for an old tatty one (winter hack so it shouldn't matter) and parts and advice are a plenty on here....can't go wrong buddy

[b1k3rdude]

Or if you want something of similar low down power to the fazer, consider a Mk2/Mk3 bandit 1200.  I have a black 2006 (the last 1200 before they went to the 1250) and it has lots of redeeming features compared to the fazer.

• more torque lower down, so quicker of the lights to 40. And bhp not to shabby, mine puts out 105 compared to the fazer's 135.
• fixed beam headlight on both the Mk2 & 3's (projector & fixed reflector), so ideal for HID conversion (I have converted the dip beam)
• better/smoother gearbox and clutch, the hydraulic clutch of the bandit probably helps here.
• cheaper to insure.
• more comfortable riding position, slightly more upright. The aches take long to set in than on the fazer.
• span adjustable clutch lever.
• brakes aren't as sharp as the fazer, so better for winter.
• better electrical & charging system, the alternator on the bandit puts out 14+v from idle.
• engine covers easier to replace because lots of suzuki's used the same shape covers.
• with cleaned and balanced carbs, filtering at sub 20 smoother and less on/off/snatchy than even a properly setup fazer.

If money was tight, I would keep the bandit and sell the fazer. I love my fazer but the bandit it a better workhorse.

[MEM62]

VFR750 or 800fi - built to last forever.

[stevierst]

I've run boxeye's on and off for the past 12 years as my work hack through wind/rain/snow well over the 100k mark, and they've never let me down. Other machines I've had in between have let me down though.

Running a Thundercat at the mo, very underrated machine. It's a little bit sportier, but equally as useable as a Fazer, and can be picked up for less than £1k definately worth a look.

[Fazafou]

Whatever you get the key is a liberal coating of ACF50 before winter comes.

[b1k3rdude]

Whatever you get the key is a liberal coating of ACF50 before winter comes.

+1

But you need to clean the bike thoroughly and reapply the ACF each time.

[Fazafou]

You only need to reapply each winter (if that's what you mean).

ACF50 is ideal for winter hacks as you apply and then never wash during the season apart from rinsing with cold water.

Will protect for an entire winter no problem, just get it in all the nooks etc.

[b1k3rdude]

You only need to reapply each winter (if that's what you mean).

I wash my winter bike once a week due to the amount of sugar/salt content in grit these days, I use flash (or something similar) and agitati with a brush, jet wash off from a distance and then re-spray neat ACF50 to the engine and other exposed area's and use as polish on the bodywork & wheels.

[stevierst]

I just never wash mine through winter. I hose her down with cold water when the salt gets spread.
ACF50 all over the place at the start of winter is a must though. I used to WD40 the bike every week, but it costs A few quid by the time the sun comes out.

[Fazafou]

I wash my winter bike once a week due to the amount of sugar/salt content in grit these days, I use flash (or something similar) and agitati with a brush, jet wash off from a distance and then re-spray neat ACF50

Blimey you must spend a fortune on acf50, it's designed to go on and stay in over winter. The salt etc gets washed off with water leaving the acf doing it's job.

Nowt wrong with what you're doing mind , but unnecessary imo.

[b1k3rdude]

Blimey you must spend a fortune on acf50, it's designed to go on and stay in over winter. The salt etc gets washed off with water leaving the acf doing it's job.

The way I look at it, if the dirt gets washed off (after being sprayed with Flash) then the ACF50 will have come off aswell. I only spray the ACF on the engine and okk nooks I cant physically get to. Everywhere else I spray a bit on a rag and rub it on, lasts a lot longer that way.

[bludclot]

3 suggestions:


boxeye - yes, have included this in my searchings.


bandit 12 - wanted something a bit smaller for cheaper running costs really. i wasn't aware of the merits of the bike though, it's certainly gone up in my estimation!


vfr - good suggestion but didn't fall for the droney engine when i rode a pretty sorted 750 some years back.


how about this?:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131278686509?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
seems very worthy.

[esetest]

Honda cb 500 , Suzuki gs 500 , Kawasaki ER 5 .

[b1k3rdude]

• bandit 12 - wanted something a bit smaller for cheaper running costs really. i wasn't aware of the merits of the bike though, it's certainly gone up in my estimation!
• how about this?, seems very worthy.

• I should also mention its does 45+mpg to the gallon with a range of upto 160 miles per tank. The boxeye fazer is good, but I would get a foxeye instead and the headlamps on the boxeye are next to pointless.
• If your gonna get one of these get the 900, the 600 is gutless in the extreme.

[stevierst]

I had a 19 year old Gs500 for inner city commuting and it was incredible fun, reliable, torquey twin that seemed to go forever on a tankfull of fuel.
Proper simple bike that was so easy to maintain too. Spares are everywhere too.

[bludclot]

i bought this as non-runner:








so far i've charged the battery and it turns over now but no sign of firing. if i have the choke on it bangs once out of the exhaust when i let go of the starter. it's been stood for some months. any suggestions to get it going are most welcome.


it's taxed and ticketed and in pretty decent nick for a 22 year old bike. i'm sure i'll make it a little better though in the coming months.

[stevierst]

That's a cool commuter bludclot, once it's running that is :P

As for getting it running. Drain the carbs, fresh fuel, and check for a spark at each plug for a first check.

[bludclot]

that's exactly what's happening - carbs are drained, tank is draining and i'm just off out to get some plugs, those that came out were plastered in oil and rusty!

[bludclot]

new fuel, new plugs and it started first prod, no choke, no complaints. it idles nicely, gets up to temperature and stays there, goes well enough considering the small capacity and stops nicely. all good.


the not so good - both tyres were under inflated but the rear oozed pink goo from the valve when reading pressure and has a plug and various small splits in it. this will be replaced before i use the bike on the road. both forks smear oil over the stanchions when bounced and are very very soft! new seals and oil me thinks.


then it's a thorough service before tackling the cosmetics.

[midden]

You only need to reapply each winter (if that's what you mean).

I wash my winter bike once a week due to the amount of sugar/salt content in grit these days, I use flash (or something similar) and agitati with a brush, jet wash off from a distance and then re-spray neat ACF50 to the engine and other exposed area's and use as polish on the bodywork & wheels.

Surely that regime takes away the point of having a 'winter' bike

[BBROWN1664]

My son is in the process of selling his ER-5 now he has an FZS600. That isn't a bad commuter bike.