Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

There's definitely a bunch of naked bikes I should be thinking about here that I haven't given much thought to...

Haven't tried a Shiver, not even sure I've ever seen one in real life.

I'd ideally like to purchase in Ireland / NI or else I'll buy from Europe, UK is a bit of a pox since Brexit means customs and VAT...

Hypermotard
Dorsoduro
Monster
Duke / Super Duke
SMCR
Brutale
Street Triple / Speed Triple

Prices are modest for DRZ400’s around here…

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Early multistrada? Go for light weight wheels to improve handling and cam timing should be alright and valve clearances and belt changes aren't that hard.

What about a ttr250?

Go Spain, buy Hypermotard. Ride back. Sorted.
When living there they were plenty and cheap to boot. They love their naked/supermotos

This is a strong likelihood. Even with ferries and VRT it would work out cheaper than buying in Ireland...

How are Spaniards for maintenance (I know Germans and Polish are known to be fastidious according to biking friends I know who've bought from both)?

I live in Barcelona and would say it depends… a lot of bikes are absolute workhorses and look a bit sketchy.

On the other hand, there’s a lot of young biker crews who have the latest sports/super/naked bikes that are just exceptionally well looked after and always look brand new.

I’d say if it looks in good condition here, that normally means it is. Very few people wash their cars/bikes because of the hosepipe ban. Those that do are usually the ones that really care.

Edit: check motos.net or Mundi Moto for a huge range of bikes - the latter being a single company network of dealers.

Source bikes from locales where GP tracks are. They have a strong bike culture and you see youths on two strokes everywhere.
Quality wise, same as here, use your nose. Germans are fastidious only because TUV demands it.

Edit: what @ak said

Would also assume that the climate means you’re more likely to be looking for salt/sand issues on coastal sales, than rust issues everywhere on UK sales.

I had a question but I've found the answer:)

The answer is right but the question is wrong.

Yeah guess so. It's pretty dry overall, and I'd much rather deal with dust than road salt and corrosion.

Owned one for a couple of years and put about 18k miles on it. It's tall and feels like the weight is all high up (pretty much the opposite of a boxer twin if that makes sense?).

Good Stuff

1. Comfortable enough for 700 miles over a 14 hour day across minor roads in France.
   
2. With the standard screen in the highest setting and an MSA spoiler I'm sheltered enough to ride at 60mph with visor up (I'm 6'2").
   
3. Well enough equipped - quickshift; cruise; electronic suspension; keyless go; quick shift etc.
   
4. Panniers and top box are well integrated and good capacity
   
5. Economical (at least compared to my BIL's S1000XR).
   
6. Sweet handling
   
7. V-Twin :)
   
   

Less good stuff

1. Power - I can imagine that for touring with a pillion you might want
   the V4 (or at least something with another 30hp)
   
2. Weight high up (as mentioned - Do. Not. Drop.)
   
3. Cost of ownership, both expensive to buy and maintain (unless you do
   your own spannering)
   
   

Wouldn't swap it for anything. Did a trackday at Castle Combe on it and it was brilliant!

Cheapest one I could see on ebay is £7999 (2019 / luggage / 15k miles). Seems quite £££. Edit: New model out next year, might knock second hand values?

Really? You didn't think it was good for two up?
At one point, Partner and I were comfortably doing 120 on Spanish motorways.
Partner preffered it to the 1200 I had at the time. More linear power delivery and the engine braking wasn't as vicious.

Not what I was trying to say at all.

In almost all situations the 950 can hold it's own but, fully loaded (i.e. rider, pillion and luggage) it's never going to match the performance of an S1000XR or a V4 Multi with 170bhp.

For me that level of performance (offered by 170bhp and above) is unnecessary and undesirable (which is probably why I get on so well with the 950).

Ok yeah, my bad, we're actually exactly on the same page.
I no longer ride with my partner as she's really nervous, so itching to get something thats more..what I want as opposed to what I need for both of us.

Would love a 950 with spoked wheels.

You sold yours?

It’s a keeper for now. There simply isn’t anything I would trade it for. I’ll be test riding the 2025 V2S multi when it’s available next year but couldn’t justify (afford 🤣) the £10K it would cost to trade up.

I can’t praise the 950S enough, see if you can get a test ride on one?

I spent some time on a base 950 a few years ago and loved it. It was one of those bikes you just sit into and just…fit in.
I then bought a 1200 and just couldn’t gel with it at all.