Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

Oh and needs to be ULEZ complaint and sub £3k

I’m not a fan of faired bikes that aren’t sports bikes

The modern BMW engines are very efficient but not that exciting. The power they can generate is quite exciting.

Pillion seats are never comfortable enough for a pillion once they start to notice until you get to the Harley ultra glide and then you'll have trouble ever getting them on another bike. (this must be in a rule of motorbikes somewhere which we all should have read before spoiling our pillions with the Harley!)

After that point you have 2 options, ditch the idea of taking them along on the bike or be prepared to constantly discuss more comfortable pillion seats with the idea that one can be found but knowing in your heart it's a unicorn. This is just buying time until they eventually decide that it's not fun to go on the bike any more and you can go back to single seat sports bikes without a peep about how selfish you are.

you can go back to single seat sports bikes without a peep about how selfish you are.

She said I should get the Daytona since we’re young, no responsibilities yet actually. But insurance was £900 third party F&T and it will almost certainly be nicked.
I might just get an FZ6 or something. Lightweight, fun, acceptable but not great for longer trips

She said I should get the Daytona

A gem... never let her go.

It's probably better than looking at the Gold Wing, BMW K or Ultraglide which are all amazing continental cruisers but a lot of weight and responsibility for the rider.

Maybe encourage her to take up riding instead. Then you get 2 lightweight fun bikes. You can easily get to Spain and back on a 600 sports.

Think we've all been down the comfy pillion rabbit hole, your darling other half says she needs a comfortable pillion seat, what you hear is look at buying a new bike :) I've actually gone ahead and bought what I think is the best compromise only to have it vetoed after 1 short ride.

Yeah my other half won't go near the back end of a bike now. Back in the day we went all over Europe, 2 up on a GSXR1000. I'd convinced her that was luxury after a trip to Devon on my old TL1000s with a gaffa-taped copy of the Guardian weekend as a pillion seat.

Buy the Daytona already. It probably will get nicked but then again, anything else will too. Life's too short, etc.

Get a boring old tourer for this summer use it till next spring, sell it, but Daytona. Job done. Satisfy all curiosities.

Stop faffing.

What about a VFR800? Do they pass ULEZ?

They're sporty (ish), passenger and luggage friendly etc...

Nice set of pipes makes them sound ace too.

It's probably really tricky to find a nice one in the UK now but mid 90s VFR750s are things of exquisite versatility and p.d comfy on the back. I would still have one in a heartbeat as an all rounder. They're a bit soft but a frigging gas to thrash - way faster than you'd think on real roads.

mid 90s VFR750s

I know you were replying to Soul , but the 750's sound ace. I was watching a video from an obsessive with the VFR range, and their legacy is amazing.

@Soul I had one. They're brilliant, but repair costs scared the shit out of me.

hayabusa and panniers?

I might have missed it, but what's wrong with a Tiger or Tracer 900? Price?

The only logical answer. Thank you. Someone finally talking sense.

Price?

Exactly. I’d love a tiger or a tracer

Genuinely, there are pannier kits

Ok.

List time you picky shit. What's tickling your fancy?

Can you definitely not get a Tiger in budget?

They've been around for a while, and I'm not that up on the model serise , but doesn't everyone want the newer 900cc(?).

https://youtu.be/-wkSePMgR0k

Erm

Tiger 800
F850GS
Daytona 675
Street triple
GSR750

Very different beasts but those are the only bikes I like particularly. The only ones I’d want to own at least.

Buy the Daytona already. It probably will get nicked but then again, anything else will too. Life's too short, etc.

Seriously though, this ^

Nah I think I’d have to add a grand to get one

The sensible option would be another GSR600 actually. Super good on fuel, comfy, quick, handles lovely and reliable, ulez, cheap.
Just not as fancy or cool

F850GS on PCP seems quite affordable.

What about one of those older KTM950 adventure / super enduros? I'd have one of those too - they're properly handy on and off road. I remember racing a dude on one off the A40 down to the Bush and was impressed at how he hustled it. Bit squirmy, bit floaty but definitively not hanging around. Panniers, comfy pillion and all that no doubt available too. Can't beat enduro suspension in the city.