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Good Cheap weekend bike...
Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 4:01 pm
by wazza1234
I am hoping to get a job closer to home which would mean I would sell the GPX and buy a postie for commuting. If this happened I would have about 3k -3.5k to throw at a weekend machine. I was thinking something like a 250 2 stroker but not sure what I would get for my dollars. Any suggestions as to what I might be able to get? I am open to suggetions for 4 strokes bigger than a 250 too.
Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 11:25 pm
by mike-s
gs500?
er?
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 12:07 am
by Neka79
how far u commuting?? mate id get a *cough cough* scooter cos there more practical than a postie..cheaper, and got more luggage room..if i was commuting of course..dunno how much a postie is, but u can get a scoot abt new for like $2k these days...
$4k would just abt get ya an early zx6r...or a zxr750....for weekend play thing of course!!
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 7:31 am
by wazza1234
Neka79 wrote:mate id get a *cough cough* scooter
No. I used to have one...top speed is crap, I need to go throuhg 80 zones to get to work. I can get a recon postie for $1500. For that price I wouldnt bother insuring it. Yeah scooters have more luggage room but the top speed of 70 with a tail wind going down a steep hill aint my idea of fun. I like the zx6 suggestion

but might be just outta budget.
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 9:05 am
by chameleon
I don't get it? Are you trying to save money on fuel? Or do you just want a little hack that you can park in the street without fear of what happens to it while your at work.
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 12:18 pm
by Stangas
yeah mate.. i would get one that does both
fuel aint that damn expensive yet that you cant run a 600 to work, unless you ride like i do.. but thats a whole nother story
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 4:05 pm
by wazza1234
chameleon wrote:do you just want a little hack that you can park in the street without fear of what happens to it while your at work.
That and fear of what might happen on the ride to and from work, and putting kms on it. Fuel costs are not the main thing...prices arent that high yet but maintainence on a 600 would be much dearer if i rode it to work than a postie. If I buy a weekend ride I might put 5000km a year on it, it wouldnt depreciate much if at all and I would only have to service it 4 times a year rather than 10. Hence the reason I was thinking a 2 stroke...wouldnt need to rebuild too often with that little kms on it in a year but with a fair bit of fun factor for the twisties, not so good for long trips though...not that I make any.
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 5:06 pm
by bonester
Mate I had a ride of a Zephyr 550 today. Nice. Lots quicker than the GT and with modern brakes and suspension. Really underrated!
Did you get the message I sent you about the Zephyr for $900ish?
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 5:39 pm
by I-K
wazza1234 wrote:Yeah scooters have more luggage room but the top speed of 70 with a tail wind going down a steep hill aint my idea of fun.
It's not like a postie is going to be any faster...
With $3500 to throw at a weekend bike, the best option would be a mid-90's 600, like an F-model ZX-6R or, less likely, a foxeye YZF600... CBR600F3's tend to be overpriced by a few hundred bucks.
You could also find about a '93-'94 RGV250, but that means you're getting half the power and three times the maintenance for the same money.
If you're thinking of spending $1500 on a postie and $3500 on another, bigger bike, I hope you have about two grand to chuck in on top of what you get for your GPX. With Kawasaki selling brand-newies for just under six grand, you're not going to get more than three for your 98 model.
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 5:54 pm
by chameleon
wazza1234 wrote:
That and fear of what might happen on the ride to and from work, and putting kms on it. Fuel costs are not the main thing...prices arent that high yet but maintainence on a 600 would be much dearer if i rode it to work than a postie.
Well I can't fault your logic wazza, having the nice one in perfect condition and ready for a long run sounds like a good plan. I have 2 vehicles myself, one for work, one for play. And the extra rego wouldn't be much either, not for a postie. A tip though, I'd get the postie and then take my time looking for a real "bargin", all the while adding to my savings stash. That's what I did anyway and ended up with a 7 grand bike for 4 grand cause some guy was desperate to get rid of it
that weekend. They do come along, you just gotta wait.
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 6:29 pm
by Smitty
bonester wrote:Mate I had a ride of a Zephyr 550 today. Nice. Lots quicker than the GT and with modern brakes and suspension. Really underrated!
or whaddabout a GPz550?
top lil' bike..no vices
and you can get 'em for a song
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 11:33 pm
by wazza1234
I-K wrote:It's not like a postie is going to be any faster...
At least I will be able to get to the speed limit in an 80 zone...something a scooter isnt going to be able to do.
chameleon wrote:A tip though, I'd get the postie and then take my time looking for a real "bargin", all the while adding to my savings stash.
Are we twins??!?? Thats exactly what I was thinking.
Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 9:35 am
by Phil
bonester wrote:Mate I had a ride of a Zephyr 550 today. Nice. Lots quicker than the GT and with modern brakes and suspension. Really underrated!
Did you get the message I sent you about the Zephyr for $900ish?
woo hoo, love the zeph.
nothing beats being able to dominate a bike..........instead of the other way round

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 12:23 pm
by petro
If you only live only 3k from where you work, why don't you just by a push bike, a bit of life be in it, and you got more for your weekend bike! NO rego no insurance, only a bit of effort.
Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 1:36 pm
by Neka79
petro wrote:If you only live only 3k from where you work, why don't you just by a push bike, a bit of life be in it, and you got more for your weekend bike! NO rego no insurance, only a bit of effort.
hey why didnt i think of that!!
ive been riding to work on my pushy a bit (3.5km)..its all down hill in the morning, which is cool..but on the way home its a bugger!!
then u get an extra $1500 to throw at ur toy bike...