Long story short, the bimmers cost me £2000 to try and keep it on the road the past year and I’m fed up.
I want to trade it in for something a bit younger and more reliable and that won’t have bits fall off it every couple of months.
I’m thinking 600 sports tourer type thing, something that’s not too bad 2 up.
Quite fancy an FZ6 Fazer or Sprint ST, suggestions?
Jolyon
we have loads of fazers,fz6 a couple of 900 hornets,vfr’s and other at rex judds in west hampstead give them a ring and go test ride some of them
hi mate, well i have a new fz6 fazer, and can say it is great for touring and days out. Its comftable, smooth power delivery, and offers fairly good weather protection. I have not tried a sprint but can thoroughly reccomend the fz6!!!
i would go fazer or fz6 over a triumph,altough we do have a couple here
hehe another satisfied Bimmer owner. Been there mate with similar financial horrors. Get something more mainstream and you’ll be amazed.
Fazer prob more mainstream than Triumph but all good.
I got my Thundercat from Rex Judd and have been very happy with the service received, especially the after sales service, will definitely buy from them again 
join us fazerites, i had a fzs before i got the replacement fz6, its brilliant!!!1
Right, so maybe a Fazer then 
Seriously tho, I’m interested to hear, are there are any other options for me?
Jolyon
well i would also try the sprint, i take it you are thinking of the 955i? i was thinking of getting one before the fazer but i would have had the rs version. But now ive stuck with yams i will deffo buy another, hopefully fz1 fazer
To be honest, I’m not sure how different bikes compare but I ride a Yamaha Thundercat which started it’s life as a sports bike but is a now classed as a sports tourer. It’s very comfortable and I use it for commuting to work in central london and for long weekend rides. It’s a very forgiving bike and I’m sure I would have come off a few times if I had a twitchier bike!!
I’ve taken my fiance on the back with me for small journeys and neither of us are small. It was absolutely fine.
I guess it depends on how much your looking to spend and if you’re after a new or used bike. 
Here’s my baby.
I’d second SheWoolf’s idea - it’s a great bike for little money. I personally would never underestimate what a sportsbike from a few ‘generations’ can do for you. The current crop (say 03 onwards) are now quite focused, but those from yesteryear are surprisingly good all-rounders.
Many of the ‘all-round’ bikes that are (rightly) popular today are great bikes but I would never buy one in preference to say a Thundercat because they are too ‘all-round’ and therefore can’t do anything particularly well. Take your Thundercat, ZX6/9R, Thunderace etc (hell, for me even my 7R) and they’ll whisk you about in comfort, cover many many miles at a go and be as reliable as any other bike but have the advantage of just being that little bit focused - they won’t be bouncy or vague even when they start getting on bit (compared to a similar Fazer etc) so for me at any rate, they’ll always deliver that little extra for the money.
And they look better 
See JR, you might just like going quite fast when the road is open and long, and no-one is watching… (we’ll convert you yet hehe)
Cheers guys.
Andrew, I was considering the possiblity of a ZX6 (the missus likes the looks), and what you’re saying is making sense to me.
Feb’s issue of Bike has a really great write up on engines best suited to UK roads and the top dog is the Triumph triple.
For me it’s the age old head vs. heart battle. Head says 03-05 Fazer or ZX6. Heart says KTM (anything), DR-Z.
And then there’s the Triumph, a little bit different, british, not sure which tho…
Jolyon
I went from a 600 Fazer to a bimmer, so hope that’s not an omen ! I found the Fazer a little small for me (size-wise, not engine) but it’s personal taste. If you do get a Fazer, I can recommend the owner’s unofficial website (www.foc-u.com) or something similar.
Hey Beemberbloke, I wouldn’t read much into it, I bought a lemon, simple as that.
I assume there’s an english version of the site you linked to, foc-u.com is all Japanese
Cheers.
Jolyon
yeah i use foc a bit if im after any info on the bike, or for help.
Have you tried a newer version of what you have already? A V Strom or Africa Twin (getting old now though and newer ones are pricey - sought after see! :whistling
ooh vstrom dl1000 finished in storm grey, yum!!
Well if you’re talking that capacity KTM all the way!!!
Hmm, had kinda thought about that macp.
The V-Strom has caught me eye on a couple of occasions.
What sort of money are we talking for an 02-04 V-Strom?
Again it all goes back to head vs. heart…
Jolyon
Don’t know off hand but Bike Trader was showing a 1000cc 02 plate for just over 3K so anything from there really. I think the 650 Vstrom is a newer bike soi used values still high.
Also remember Kawasaki have the same bike but badged under a different name
