Old trusty GN may be dead. Possible replacements?

[LaggyGN]

I was involved in an accident last week, where someone pulled in front of me on the motorway and knocked me off. I am made of steel and managed to walk away, but my poor GN125 (that I bought brand new in 2009) bit the dust. The guys insurance is going to take care of the repairs, but from the state of the bike they may choose to write it off. I'm guessing this will mean I get a payout of $1500, although any further guesses on what I may get are welcome.

I've been riding for 4 years now, and use it exclusively as a commuter. When looking at possible replacements, I'm not looking for something fast or flashy. I need something which can putt away for 15kms a day, will be cheap as hell on petrol and reliable as the old GN. I realise this may be consigning me to getting another GN, but I would like something a bit more sturdy if possible. The recent wind conditions blew me around a bit, and something a bit more heavy would be more comfortable. I was looking at a 250 bandit, but I'm concerned about fuel costs compared to the GN, and any reliability issues.

Does anyone have a good suggestion for any replacement bikes I should look at? Under 3 grand would be ideal.

[nzspokes]

Busa....





Come on somebody had to say it.

[LaggyGN]

Busa....

I don't think I could handle the downgrade in power.

[awa355]

Allmost any bike ( particularly with fairings ) will cost more than the GN to repair, and suffer damage every bit as easy.

A farm bike model is about the only thing I can think of that can be dropped and picked up again without fears of breaking a $100 lever or a $300 mirror.

No bike is assured of walking away from a gunfight with a cage.

[LaggyGN]

Allmost any bike ( particularly with fairings ) will cost more than the GN to repair, and suffer damage every bit as easy.

A farm bike model is about the only thing I can think of that can be dropped and picked up again without fears of breaking a $100 lever or a $300 mirror.

No bike is assured of walking away from a gunfight with a cage.

I should emphasise I'm not looking for a bike that is more sturdy as in can survive higher impacts. I just mean something which doesn't get blown around in the wind so easily.

[Smifffy]

That recent lot of wind conditions was exceptional. Have you had much trouble with wind outside of that in your 4 years? If not, I wouldn't worry about it too much. To make an appreciable difference wind wise you will need an appreciably bigger bike.

[LaggyGN]

That recent lot of wind conditions was exceptional. Have you had much trouble with wind outside of that in your 4 years? If not, I wouldn't worry about it too much. To make an appreciable difference wind wise you will need an appreciably bigger bike.

Nup, to be honest I didn't even really have any problems in the recent bout, it would be more an issue of being more comfortable. I assumed a 250 naked bike (like a bandit or similar) would be blown around less. But if that's not the case, then I suppose that's another tick in the box for buying another GN. Maybe I'll be riding them when I'm 60.

[jafar]

Go up to a vl 250 or similar ?? 15 km per day isn't much, you could use the cruiser on the weekends too

[Erelyes]

To make an appreciable difference wind wise you will need an appreciably bigger bike.

Disagree. My Scorpio was pretty bad in the wind..... Ninja 250 is ten times more stable and not much bigger/heavier. I'd recommend something along the same lines lagwagon.

[LaggyGN]

Cheers for the recommendations. I was actually eyeing street bikes, if possible. Hornets, Bandits, SRX etc. Although don't know if something like that is obtainable for less than 3k which will still be reliable, even though I'm not going to be doing heavy mileage on it.

[f2dz]

Get a GN250 or a VTR250.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Cheers for the recommendations. I was actually eyeing street bikes, if possible. Hornets, Bandits, SRX etc. Although don't know if something like that is obtainable for less than 3k which will still be reliable, even though I'm not going to be doing heavy mileage on it.

buy that SRX400. Thank me later.

[Banditbandit]

buy that SRX400. Thank me later.

Yeah .. if you can find an SRX40 in your price range buy it ...

[HenryDorsetCase]

there was one on tardme or on here up till very recently.

[superjackal]

I used to get blown around a lot on my GN250, so wouldn't recommend that. No good in a headwind either. I went to an ER-5 but a GS500 is basically the same. There's heaps of choice for around $3000.....