Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

I've seen all of those in the flesh and the 1299s and MV are the most special looking by a mile (the RC is extremely choice.)
The Aprilia is ACE but not that interesting under 7k. The 1299 must be mental from the get go. I rode a 1198 which felt like getting hit in the face with a bat and the 1299 has more everywhere....

Ha ha gramps.

Have ridden the MV brutale 800 and 1000 on a race track and both were far better thane and my crack handedness.

All those bikes will pass 70 without out even breaking a sweat ;)

Even as a Ducati lover I've got to say MV.
How about a Guzzi as I like them even if they are tractors by comparison.

If you get an MV try and get one that was looked after by xbikes. As they were the MV race team and did a great deal of work/parts for the MV.

How about a Guzzi...

The only comparable Guzzi to my mind and sadly the budget would need to be a lot higher!

You realise this isn't helping...

You and me both, I just discovered there's an Italian race shop doing a kit to transform a Griso into (as close as can be to) one of these...
€7,000 for the kit and you'd need a donor but all in it would probably be in a similar ballpark to the aforementioned bikes...

Just buy the 1299S quick and save yourself the grief!

1200 s from I think '17, it has been lowered so I will be able to flat foot it, although interested to see how it handles lowered. Maybe this will make me want a tourer.

You have entered the what we want/would like and best not take us for advice.

As long as the forks dropped, can you alter the angle of the headstock as you could on some Ducatis? As you may hit the rads.

Oh get covers for the rads as they can get damaged by stones flicked up by the front wheel and a very much longer front mudguard to stop road detris getting in to the radiators and blocking them.

Also get the lightweight marchanese wheels as they really do improve the handling of the bike.

Ghezzi Brian;)

Ride one to see how your knees fit the bike.

Hadn't thought of that, lol. Probably not best suited for tall chaps! Thankfully I'm all torso though!

Just seen this for sale in Petworth https://www.westsussexspecialistcars.co.uk/vehicle/ghezzi-brian-supertwin-1100-moto-guzzi-in-west-sussex-5629bc0f-cf7f-4290-a75d-a91a00c51160

Didn't think a 22 year old bike would be that much.

OK, slightly more mundane question - what bike for inner city commuting?
ULEZ, good all year round so fine riding slowly in the rain and nipping round traffic queues.
relatively cheap to run and service.
Fazer 600?
Transalp?

Get a cat fitted so any bike will be ulez compliant.

Which ever bike is comfortable to ride at 20mph.

EDIT - what about a Honda Grom?
with a 200 big bore kit.

Guzzi California then...

Any 300cc scooter

Problem with a Fazer is handlebars at mirror height, but a good shout. Sports bikes are good as can fold them in. Watch out if you've a big topbox and taking out cars when cutting small gaps. But I'd go for a scooter, if you can secure it. Sv650 might be a good one too, if you want a bike that is.

Honda c90, get an immaculate JDM one for a couple of k.

The c90 seems as fast as anything else out there on the commute into London, ultra manoeuvrable, but still leaves you quite chilled.

I had a 250 yam scooter before and the urge was always to thrash it and the insurance was savage, dropped nearly £500 p.a since I replaced it with a Harley

That all makes perfect sense, except last night i had a dream where i bought one of these: https://muttmotorcycles.com/products/razorback-gloss-red-250cc-motorcycle

That looks like it would be loads of fun! There's definitely lots of options if you're leaning more in that direction... I'd personally look towards an old Yamaha XT600 Ténéré or Honda XL600LM/ Paris-Dakar, they look rad and the height is nice for traffic!

Been reading here for a while. Been off bikes for a few years, but used to be a mild-mannered rider in the VFR vein. Now thinking of riding again, potential use is mainly pootling around, and the odd longer run, but the attraction would be some easy greenlaning, hilly trails with gravel and stones. Not much mud or dirt. All new to me. I doubt I will ever get into it seriously, so a compromise bike is what I think I need. I know I will be able to change around suspension and tyres. I am happy to spend £3000 odd in the hope of not losing too much if I do not get on with things. Honda CRF250 or something? I have quite short legs (30 inseam jeans) and am a bit nervous of the learning curve generally. And I am not a home mechanic sadly.

OK, slightly more mundane question - what bike for inner city commuting?

Bit leftfield, and old but not mundane... Suzuki Goose 350?

Never seen one of these before but quite handsome!

Himalayan?

Such an underrated and rare bike in the UK but I have strangely seen two for sale recently in the past couple of months. The purple one listed on Facebook looks the one to have.

Too big for filtering IMO. I do fancy an old transalp though as they are very affordable and they off road well as well. I would be getting a small trail bike or something like a Grom /TNT.