3k to spend. What would you buy?

[Jak*]

For 3grand you could get a secondhand 500EFI Enfield. All the ‘charm’ of a British single with modern brakes and electrics. Usually dead reliable, cheap to run and insure. They hold their value as well. I had one when my Himalayan was in for service and it was great to ride round the lanes in the Peaks. For about 500 quid more you could get a Himalayan. The new Enfield Meteors are about 3 1/2 grand and if you like the cruiser style are supposed to be really good.

[McVicar]

Thanks for the replies, this is what I was hoping for, bikes I'd never have found myself. Will now look a used RE's.

[Tonibe63]

For less than £3k you could buy an 18 month old Himalayan or a 2 year old Benelli 502 twin ........... ask me how I know.
The Lexmoto 250 vtwin was also on my radar until I got distracted by Ebay .
There are lots of small engined bikes in that price bracket, getting owner information to allow you to make the leap of faith is the hard part.

[McVicar]

Exactly. Which one did you go for?

[Tonibe63]

Exactly. Which one did you go for?

I bought the Himalayan 2 years ago and still have it. I bought the Benelli about 2 months ago for a trip later this year with my Wife on her MT07, the Himalayan would need to work hard to keep up.

[macvisual]

McVicar;

I'd say aim for a larger maxi-scooter.

I've a 2008 model V-Strom thou but use my 2007 Honda Silverwing 600cc maxi-scooter a lot, really comfortable, 55 litres of underseat storage, ABS brakes, standard power charging socket in left glove box, a decent 16 litre fuel tank which gets you around 160 miles to a brimmed tank, deceptively quick 50-BHP paralllel twin engine. They stopped making them from 2014 onwards.
I've owned mine around a year now, such a fabulous thing to ride........smoooth as. I actually ride it more than my V-strom if I'm honest.
3k would buy you a decent one for sure.


At the bridge by APM Photography, on Flickr


Silverwing by APM Photography, on Flickr


Sheriffmuir hills by APM Photography, on Flickr


Regards;
Peter

[crofty]

Your original remit sounds a bit like me, ie you have a bigger bike for touring but want a small bike for just bimbling about on locally.
I have run small bikes for the past 10 years alongside my main touring bike, i concentrated mainly on stuff like crf250l/xt250/himalayan but as I never went off road with them I felt maybe I should try something else. This year I bought a V strom 250 for just under £3000, it is an 18 plate with low mileage. so far after 3000 miles nothing has gone wrong and it seems it will be cheap to run, I also like the 17lt tank and the fact it has tubeless tyres, it has plenty of luggage options and i have been using it as a small tourer for Scotland. Might be worth a look for you.

[McVicar]

Thanks Crofty. Looks a good bike but wonder if it's a bit too similar to my Versys.

[Born2Ride]

I bought an RE trials - the older type with separate gear box round the wrong way. IT is blood y awful to ride but in a perverse way I really enjoy it. Dead slow, cheap to run and easy to fix. Got a lovely lazy sound to it and is perfect for just bumbling around on. It is so far removed from modern bikes it takes a bit to get the head around but that's its charm -its different. Every where I stop people ask about it so it is quite a social machine. 3k and it is in mint condition.

[ibgary]

I'd probably buy riding gear. My helmet is about 5 yrs old as is my jacket.

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