I’ve been struggling with my “situation” for a while and I can’t decide what to do. I would be interested in your opinions to help me sway towards one of the solutions.
Back in September 2014 I bought myself a new GSX-R 750, which I absolutely love. I commuted on it for a while but when the company I worked for at the time moved offices I lost a secure underground parking in their building and, due to all the thefts, started using tube to get to work (ugh!). As a result I’ve only done 7300 miles on it.
In a couple months it’ll be 3 years old and I’ll need to do MOT (haven’t done it ever, always owned things from new). In addition to that, I need to service the bike at 7500 miles, which I suspect will cost me a pretty penny (probably around £350) AND my tires are at the end of their lifespan so +/- £200.
Putting this all together, I started thinking that maybe it’s time to trade it in and get something else, maybe something a bit different, like the new Duke 790 (if it’s any good) or an MT-09 again. I, obviously, don’t want to pay through the nose neither for the bike nor for my insurance (which is already in excess of a grand on pretty much any sports bike I quote) and no insurer will insure a litre bike if I get one (as much as I’d love to).
What would you do in my case? Keep it? Sell it? If the latter, what would you suggest getting instead in the region of £5000-8000? I do love sports bikes but I remember the low-end grunt on my MT-09 and kind of miss it sometimes.
Help! I’m torn! I’m all out of faith. This is how I feel. I’m cold and I am shamed, lying naked on the floor…!
The sheer fact that your considering selling it is quite a statement. In your shoes, I’d start test riding any bike that is of interest. As you’re not desperate to sell it, you won’t be emotionally torn into accepting a low price for it. As you’ve said you don’t usually buy second hand, the onus would be on the various bike shops to make good and tempting offers to you. You’re in a winners position. When in bike shops, you can ask to see their Glasses guide to buying and selling prices too. You can also start getting insurance quotes for the proposed replacement bikes, as that alone may be a major influence on selling or keeping it.
Don’t buy a Triumph. I had 18 warranty issues on my one, purchased from a Triumph main dealer as a six month old ex-demonstrator, and only 17 of them were dealt with. Just in case you’d forgotten.
Must admit though, your last sentence is a little disturbing :-/
I’ve done 4k in 6m on my gixxer no commuting. U gotta get out more
In all seriousness if you dont mind wind blast get a naked, mt09, mt10, triumph street triple s 765cc, bmw 800r, kawasaki z900, ducati monster or ktm?
As mentioned above, go get some test rides and see what works for you. Btw they tweaked updated mt09 and now it has much better suspension than earlier models and smoother throttle.
I have a GSXR as well & commuted on it up till last November when I was knocked off
I decided then that its use as a commuter bike was coming to an end
two reasons the insurance on it as a commuter bike was painful & GSXR’s are so easy to knick I knew one day I would go to get it & have to buy a train ticket instead to get home.
if your looking for a commuter bike get something dull (I Did) even though there’s a chance a dull bike will still get nicked its a lot less
if your thinking of getting an all in one bike for commuting & playing you will have to compromise & if it was my money it would be a Triumph Striple or KTM
If your not putting miles on the bike why get another new one? Keep what you’ve got or get an older bike that can sit in the garage and not lose money?
I guess the best answer really is do what makes you happy but from an economical point…if it’s going to gather dust anyway then it might aswell not burn a hole in your pocket
Have you thought about buying something cheap(ish) to commute on and keep the 750 for polishing? There are loads of CB500s for sale on Bike Trader. Also don’t underestimate the experience of riding and owning a bike that you don’t (really) care about or riding a slow bike fast. They are both big positives.
Both previous posts by Joby and Shaunicious make a lot of sense. Getting new bike will burn whole in your pocket for no reason. Keeping gixxer for those rides when you want some of that IOM TT feel and getting something like cb500 for commuting which would be way down thief’s list. Just get decent tyres and brake pads for the cb500 and it will be a hoot ride to work.
Resurrecting an oldish thread, but just wanted to post an update.
Had my bike serviced this Saturday (£300 poof…) and had an opportunity to test ride two bikes while waiting - V-Strom 1000 and GSX-S1000.
V-Strom is definitely not for me. Too tall, too “weak” and too bad of a wind protection. Also not my type of bike by a mile.
GSX-S on the other hand - oh boy! Essentially a naked superbike! Loads of torque, comfortable seating position and stunning looks (in my view). The only annoyance I had with is its snatchy throttle. Wasn’t as bad as it was on my MT-09 though. I didin’t really notice it after a couple hours on it so I don’t think it would even bother me eventually.
Came back, they ran a quick calculation and the result is - if I was to trade my bike in, they would pay me £5700 for my current GSX-R and drop the price of the Z model (matte black) to £8999 as it’s preregistered, meaning I’d have to add £3300 and it’s all mine. I’m seriously tempted. I wouldn’t say my gixxer felt gutless after the test ride but you can definitely tell the difference in power, plus it was a bit harder on my back (not sure if it was the Yuasa battery in my back pack or the riding).
An added bonus would be a slightly cheaper insurance as my current bike costs me around a £1000 each year, whereas the GSX-S would be around £600-700.
Tend to agree with bluelagos. Are you seriously suggesting that the impetus to ride more will rise with the rise in cost? If so, why not sponsor a racer and spunk all your cash up the wall?
Tis a shame that the commute has been ruled out due to lack,of secure parking. Weekend rideouts are the way forward Head out to Essex, be happy to,show you the way round some of our local lanes if you are unfamiliar…
If I have to think of the money I spend on bikes..... Just do what makes you happier.
silveR6
I came here to post something similar as a reply to bluelagos. Isn't it all about the love for bikes? If it was all about money and sensibility we'd all be riding 50cc mopeds.
I agree that it’s all very expensive, especially if I’m not riding that much. However, the times I am riding, I want to enjoy to the fullest, otherwise what’s the point in working and earning money if all you do is save and eventually die with a loaded bank account.
no commuting. U gotta get out more 
