Considering my options (new/project bike)

Just back from Assen and despite being out with some big boy bikes held my own quite well, but that was as good as it got. The touring side of things was brilliant and the cat didn't put a foot wrong but when we found some better riding roads I was frankly wringing her neck to not keep up. I'm not saying I've grown out of the cat, far from it I love her but I find myself yearning for a little of something extra power wise.

Anyway the garage extension is nearly finished, roof timber coming Saturday, roofing sheet being fabricated as we speak and door on order, when the cat moves in I'll have room for another bike and thinking about buying a bit of a project. Buying something that needs work to do up gradually over the next 12 months ready for next year. Wifey has signed off on the requisition, thinking about spending £2500 so what to buy??

Open floor but my openers are Fireblade (parts cheap and plentiful) or GSXR1000 (holding their money, outrageously quick but I just love looking at them)!! Any other thoughts people?

P.S the Cat is staying !!

Super blackbird. Hyper fast, comfy and you should get a decent one for that money.
Can't fault fireblades either I loved mine!!
I'm not a gsxr fan. Prob great bikes too tho.

Kawasaki ZX9R retains much of the Thundercat versitality and is properly quick in a stright line.

2000-1 R1s are around that money too.

I did a 2500 mile tour on Thundercat in 2007 in company with some seriously quick bikes and found going 2nd or 3rd in the line easier to keep up than hanging desperately at the back. The Cat coped well

Mmmmm now there's a dilemma!

Keep your eye out for Cat D stolen recovered?

If its just to go out and have a blast on you'd struggle to beat a Honda. I've just had a CBRrr and what fun it was! The gears are heavenly and it made me grin! Wouldnt want to do hundreds of miles on it but a great bike for a blast.

Or the Daytona 955 is an excellent bike I'm lead to believe, you'd get an '05 ish one for that money.

Daytona did spring to mind Ellie tbh, I'm thinking whatever I'm looking for I should be able to get quite a lot of bike for my money as condition isn't a priority. Not sure about a cat D though think I'd prefer a straight one that just needs tidying. Even mechanical problems not an issue.

After all Once the garage is built the bike can be in a thousand pieces if something big needs doing, that's half of what I'm looking forward to if I'm honest and I know Mrs Snowcat will be happy to bet me out from under her feet so she can monopolise the tv remote

Here you go

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That age should be a carbed one, it's red, but it's cheap. Put a 3mm spacer at the top of the rear shock and do the suspension, about £2k in total and you've got a missile that corners

; )

Nice Daytona here, [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] and you could get YZFJohn to deliver?

I my Triumph. Gets lots of attention too

Don't be silly.
Just drop it down a gear and you can embarrass the big bikes on the road.
I've not found a bike on the road that I've had a problem keeping up with yet at non-immediate ban speeds.

And to be fair to Ross he can keep up with pretty much anyone even with a pillion... I've always loved the look of the 'busa. It looks like a monster! I've read they are fantastic tourers too. Right one at the right money? That would be a cool project...

i had a zx 9 ballistic missile if you can get the last model i thing its a F2 OR F3 fuel injection good as a play thing can to the miles as welcome pretty cheap too good build
but i missed the 636 too much so swopped back
pete

Steve,
The thought crossed my mind as i was out with a mate of mine on his newly brought Ducati 858 so i was left being tail end charlie lol i was thinking either a GSXR 750 or a VFR800.

Where is there a continuing conversation after a Blackbird was posted?

You people are strange

Grace Jones = Super Blackbird....

Rampers wrote:Steve,
The thought crossed my mind as i was out with a mate of mine on his newly brought Ducati 858 so i was left being tail end charlie lol i was thinking either a GSXR 750 or a VFR800.

Cheers Chris I've been thinking about the GSXR myself but the 1 ltr, I've decided that as much as I'm sure the 750 will be way quick enough I don't want to get one and regret it, I'm sticking my neck out and going thou!! :-)

stretchie_ wrote:Where is there a continuing conversation after a Blackbird was posted?

You people are strange

Friend recently desperate to get back into biking after a break bought a blackbird out of desperation as he couldn't quite afford what he wanted. It lasted less than 3 months before it was back in autotrader for sale, he referred to it as the Honda DFS, a sofa on wheels and tbh they don't do a lot for me either.

Sorry

There's a blade in a shop near me, just what I'm looking for but it's about a grand out of my price range, I really don't want to sell the Cat though but it's a cracking offer :(

Radar wrote:Grace Jones = Super Blackbird....

Pull up to my bumper baby

Snowcat wrote:

stretchie_ wrote:Where is there a continuing conversation after a Blackbird was posted?

You people are strange

Friend recently desperate to get back into biking after a break bought a blackbird out of desperation as he couldn't quite afford what he wanted. It lasted less than 3 months before it was back in autotrader for sale, he referred to it as the Honda DFS, a sofa on wheels and tbh they don't do a lot for me either.

Sorry

I thought that until I got one, but it'll shift alright, and corner. Don't get me wrong, it won't tip in like the FireBlade did but if you put that spacer on top of the rear shock it will become a flickable bike.

We need to leave it for a Rosco decision, I keep trying to get him to buy one

Blackbird for me too, wish I'd kept mine!!! (four bikes would be too much )

Seacat wrote:Blackbird for me too, wish I'd kept mine!!! (four bikes would be too much )

Hush yo mouth fool. You can never have too many bikes

: )

Might have to put new bike idea on hold, at least until after November, speculative call to insurance company about adding bike, mentioned fireblade/ZX10 type and they laughed me off the phone, quick trawl on the Internet and TPFT only looking at over £1500 for the two due to my relative lack of experience. With a year Ncb and riding experience under my belt this drops to about £350!!

Think I'll wait, pity though I'd seen a fantastic deal on an 02 blade for less than £3k. :(

Ah well they'll be other deals

Same boat im in mate. If i could insure a GSXR 750 tomorrow, id go and buy one. Alas insurance says no, so must wait til January! :(

Oh and just my 2p worth, but the 750 is a better road bike than the Thou all day long. Considerably lighter, more flickable, and more genuinely USEABLE power. No point having that extra bhp if you cant actually make proper use of it in the twisties.

Like i said, just my 2p worth, but i know what ill be buying come jan!

with this weather you should consider one of these!

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or if you really want a project

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I bet the insurance would be cheap to

Only problem with option 2 Paul is you don't need a helmet and I think I'd definitely want to where one save being seen on it

Secret option number two though I'm going to see the bike in question so what I could do if it's that good deal is test ride it on the dealers insurance, buy it, get my mate to ride it back, (he's insured), garage it and Sorn it until november. That'll give me time to get it stripped, cleaned and ready for next summer and by then I'll be good to go with more reasonable insurance Simples