Advice on cheap bike upgrade.

**howdamnhard** · 28th June 2008, 01:43

Looking to upgrade from GN250 but on limited budget.I need a bike which is suitable for commuting and the weekend fang with missus on the back.Got to be reliable,economical and have at least double the grunt of the GN250 without fairings to get scratched up.Narrowed it down to Suzuki GS500, Honda NTV650(favourite) and Honda CX400(85).Has anybody owned any of these bike and could they please point out what their pros and cons are,fuel economy etc.Thanks.

**Drew** · 28th June 2008, 13:01

I've got a Hornet 900 for sale, meets your criterea perfectly.

**nico** · 28th June 2008, 13:32

get a vfr 750 or 800 strip it down to a sreet fighter kool as

**AllanB** · 28th June 2008, 14:33

Buy the Hornet 900 - there are some bargins here on the market mid winter and its a lot of bike for the $

**mouldy** · 28th June 2008, 14:40

Go the GS500 , simple but effective , Honda always looks for the hardest way to make porridge although the CX land maggots have a following you can ride circles round them on the GS

**Oakie** · 28th June 2008, 15:08

Yeah. GS500 is a good option and could well be my next bike. (I have already test ridden one from a dealer so am serious). More rideable than the CX in my humble opinion. If you're looking for a good practical bike I think you'll be quite happy with a GS.

**xwhatsit** · 28th June 2008, 15:37

SEE EX FUNF HUNDAAAAAAAAAART!!!

Or, get the 400 if there's one kicking around.

NTVs are kewl little compact things, also have a shaft drive like the CXs, so there's cheapness and low maintenance.

**Bonez** · 28th June 2008, 15:57

Get the GS500.

This advise is bought to you by an old Honda nut............

**puddytat** · 28th June 2008, 19:48

Dont get a CX as I had a new CX500 Euro years back & it was a fat gutless pig...Nt650 is the chaindriven single sided swingarm model,NTV is the Revere not the Bros & was a 400 0r 600 shafty. Both models are based on the legendary Transalp motor.

**howdamnhard** · 1st July 2008, 02:13

Originally Posted by Drew

I've got a Hornet 900 for sale, meets your criterea perfectly.

Probably out of my price range,but they are nice.

**howdamnhard** · 1st July 2008, 02:17

Thanks for all the replies guys and gals.So the CX is out.I know I said no fairings but the Kawasaki GPX(400 thru to 600) looks like it can do the job too.Anybody ever owned one and what are their pluses and minuses?

**Pwalo** · 1st July 2008, 09:00

FWIW buy the GS500. I've had two of them. They're probably as economical as the GN, and as easy to work on.

They certainly twice as quick, and the best thing is that they are still being made. Parts etc aren't the problem that they will be with the Hondas.