What would you buy for £5000

[Richard Simpson Mark II]

I've had my 950 since 2005...have ridden other 'comparable' bikes but there's nothing that really compares to it...not even later KTM twins. It has an appetite for distance and the ability to tackle at least moderately tough lanes etc. With a good strong rider on it, it could go almost anywhere...but I'm not as good or a strong as I once was.

I haven't ridden the Yam T7 or the aprilia 660 yet, though...

From what I’ve read and listened to it seems like a good do it all bike not without faults of course. Lots of aftermarket parts about I’m not put off with a older bike that has a few miles on it and I do love a bit of tinkering someone has to ride these older bikes . Any pictures of yours

'Pint Master' put up a couple of shots of mine, a couple of years ago. It's stuck in a hedge in one, and lying on top of me in the other!

I'll see if I can find the thread later.

In the time I've had it, it's needed new battery leads, a new exhaust system, a new reg/rec and battery, a new starter clutch, new rear brake MC, and a new water pump. Apart from the starter clutch, I did it all myself, and I do all the routine servicing including the valves now too. As a very early 950 it had issues that later bikes did not.

It's a silver one, and looks a bit shabby, but it gets ridden all year around, and goes trail riding sometimes. Perfectly ridable on 'wide open spaces' but not a bike for deep mud or 'trialsy' trails. At the end of the day, it's 200 + kg, 90-something horsepower, tall in the saddle and a big handful if it goes wrong.

I'll take a pic or two later (of it upright) if I get the time.

[Richard Simpson Mark II]

See

viewtopic.php?f=33&t=50371&hilit=wiltshire&start=10

[Crossrutted]

A second vote for a KTM Adventure 950.

Coincidentally I know of such a bike... low mileage for year, about to be offered for sale

You would have change from your £5k. PM for details if interested.

[Brenhden]

If it was me and I needed a commuter I'd go for a nearly new CB500X. Super reliable and easily tweaked for gentle off road. If off road was more important I would get another CRF Rally.

[mark vb]

Since we're, understandably, mostly suggesting our own bikes (!), my suggestion would be an Africa Twin.... the old, V-twin one of course. Legendary reliability and durability, easy to work on with only a small handful of well-known shortcomings which can be easily remedied, good spares availability, good for the commute or a RTW trip or even a bit of mild/moderate green laning with the right tyres. £5k would get a very nice one from a private seller. I've had mine for 20 yrs and it's running as sweet as a nut

[Hall]

I would buy "scuttys" crf 250 rally in the for sale section

[Brenhden]

I would buy "scuttys" crf 250 rally in the for sale section

I would too, it's cool as f*ck.

[Godspeed]

I would buy "scuttys" crf 250 rally in the for sale section

I would too, it's cool as f*ck.

Totally agree, I like that a lot and it takes a lot to sway me from my 125 leaning

[Hall]

get it bought Mr Tasche ,I need the sales commission

[92kk k100lt 193214]

Mmmm for a start I do not buy new or newish bikes.

So what would I buy....more than one bike.

I have a 1992 BMW K100LT I paid €1,000 for [had 92,000 miles] 2010.
I also have a 1984 BMW K100RT I paid €1,000 for [had 36,000 miles] 2013.
I also have a 1983 BMW K100RS I paid......... €1,000 for [had 29,000 miles] 2018.
I also have a 1996 BMW K1100LT I paid €2,300 for [had 38,000 miles] 2020 . This was a replacement for one I paid €1,400 in 2017 that got written off.

That lot covers me for lots of riding, commuting etc etc and normally about 25,000 miles a year. €300 a year for comprehensive insurance including breakdown cover, business use, foreign travel, pulling a trailer, €166 a year for road tax. For the lot. The total cost of all of them is inside your budget!!!! They are also worth more now than I paid for them so there is no depreciation to be considered.

The only thing I would add is a Yamaha Serow. Fabulous bike.

My shed has all the spares I need, service parts, body parts, brakes etc spare wheels if I get a puncture, they all get their turn out so no battery tender issues. Because they are old likely potential issues are well documented and addressed in advance. Of course it helps that service items are vitually identical across them all.

A Serow and any one of those is in your budget and a heap of change left over for solving any problems. I have put over 150,000 miles on them all and not had problems. I have twice had one recovered, both recoveries due to third party accident damage.