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Ren is pretending to race a motorcycle while still stationary in the car park

Here's the collection of bike reviews from various riders as well as the BAT team. 

Suzuki Bandit GSF 650 SA Review Ivan shares his real world thoughts and experiences of Suzuki's later liquid cooled incarnation of the indomitable Bandit.
2021 Honda CBR 500 PC62 Review Nigel tells us the tale of how he came by this Honda and his experiences and opinions after 6 months of ownership. Is it a match made in heaven?
Impromptu Kawasaki Z250SL Review Ivor puts his thoughts about his Z250SL to Ren in a casual email. After 6 weeks of ownership it seems the logical choice for exploring Lincolnshire's roads and beyond.
12 Months From New 2019 Honda CB125F Review How well is Honda's humble everyday 125 meeting Nigel's requirements? Can it handle his 6 foot 4 frame? Will he ever get his head around CBS? The tension is all too much.
Royal Enfield Himalayan Review Crofty gives us his Himalayan experience (the bike not the mountains). Is it all it's cracked up to be or are them some "niggles" to be found?
Suzuki DL250 V-Strom 6 Month Review After 6 months with Suzuki's not-so-little 250 adventurer Nigel gives us the low down. With a 33 inch inside leg it can't be that low down though.
V85 TT Moto Guzzi Test Ride Review Just before Covid-19 Lockdown nab301 nabbed himself a test ride on some Italian Adventure Machinery. He's making comparisons against his eclectic experiences.
Benelli Leoncino 500 Brief Ride Review A long look and a short ride on Benelli's Leoncino 500. There's a lot to like for the price.
KLX 250 The Little Bike That Could Bob reviews his Kwakker KLX250. It is way more than a dirt bike with lights, especially now Bob's had a fettle inside the motor.
BMW F850GSA Exclusive Review Mark Collins has the chance to compare and contrast his 800 against BMW's new F850GSA. It's a hard life, it's a dirty job, but someone has to do it I guess. Poor Mark.
See More

Reader's Comments

Alan said :-
Greetings Ren. Am I getting confused or do you have a CBF 125 and a CBF 250 as well as the CB500X. Also which of these 3 would you say was the best all rounder, the CBF 250, Sharon's Kwacker 250 or the 300 Ninja. When I pass my test I want something big enough to go 2 up on for medium touring but with decent fuel economy so I am not really looking for anything above 400cc.
07/12/2016 00:41:02 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Hi Alan. I presently own a CBF125 and a CB500X. I used to own a CBF250.

Best all rounder? The Kawasaki Z250SL is a fabulous funky bike and I love it BUT if you want to go 2-up (with pillion) then it'll be close to blooming useless! The rear seat is nothing more than small pad.

The 300 Ninja's rear seat isn't much better from what I can recall.

The CBF250 has a much more plush regular seat. One thing I did notice is the rear and front footpegs are close together, I often would clash my feet into Sharon's unless she had her toes on the peg and not the arch of her foot. Finding good CBF250s is getting harder these days. Watch out for any with poor tickover - worn valve seats due to poor servicing.

I'd take a look at the MT03. I haven't ridden that 2-up but the rear seat looks more substantial. It's a lovely thing to ride too with accessible usable power. There's a review on here.

Economy wise the CBF250 would give me around 80mpg. Sharon's Z250SL between 90 to 100 mpg. I can't comment on the Kwak 300 or Yammy MT03. While Sharon's 250 is great on fuel my CB500X is giving me every bit as much economy as the CBF250, sometimes a bit more (80-90mpg). It also has plenty of space for 2-up.

I guess it depends on your budget!
07/12/2016 14:17:57 UTC
Ross said :-
Hi Alan, you could do worse than checking out the Suzuki Inazuma...it has a sensible, full size pillion seat, good economy and you can pick up secondhand ones for not much money. It may be down on power though, depending on your expectations/needs!
08/12/2016 18:10:20 UTC
Alan said :-
Thanks Ross, will have a look at them as well.
08/12/2016 23:18:40 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Yeah good call Ross, I'd overlooked the Inazuma. They have the big bike feel and spacious seating. I'm told they're good on fuel too.
10/12/2016 06:43:18 UTC
Maurice said :-
Hi I have almost completed a rebuild of a CBF 125 which had been unused for about 18 months when I got it. Have done a frame up rebuild but now I have to select a new set of tyres. It has a TVS tyre on the front and a Conti go on the rear, the TVS looks like its been on since new as the tyre manufacture date is 2009 and the Conti go is 3 years old. I'm looking at putting Avon Street Runner tyres front and back.
Are they as good in the winter as the manufactures say.


24/02/2019 15:15:58 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Hi Maurice. Maybe you can restore my battered old CBF125 when it finally gives up the ghost! Hehe, looking well. I personally have not tried the Avon Street Runners. The Continental ContiGo! are OK, they've given good mileage and work acceptably well. However when the rear gets low the handling gets ropey. I've recently fitted a set of Michelin City Pros and so far I'm happy with them.
24/02/2019 22:27:36 UTC
said :-

24/04/2020 22:51:16 UTC
Pete warren said :-
Anyone tried a Yamaha YBR 250?.

?
29/01/2021 10:18:58 UTC
ian said :-
just to say how much i like my xj900f 1993 - it is a 1980's design, one of the last. shaft drive, a bit heavy but great value at £2.5K a few years ago with low miles, air cooling with an oil cooler and carburettors. i know it is old school and 80's styling, perhaps a bit frumpy, marvellous value imo.
Posted Image
24/02/2021 23:27:38 UTC
Upt'North said :-
Ian, like ya Divi.
I think they've probably undergone a renaissance lately, with some realising they are an undervalued gem.
What's not to like, shaft, carbs, decent seating for two, luggage availability and low mileage bikes are still out there.
I particularly like the brighter colour scheme on yours. Most colours were a little dowdy.
Upt'North.
25/02/2021 09:14:26 UTC
ian said :-
thanks upt, i had three of the smaller versions at one time, one was a donor and never actually used by me though as i got it cheap being an mot fail, i did use it for parts but not on the road.

Posted Image
25/02/2021 09:25:21 UTC
Upt'North said :-
Ah! I didn't realise you were a serial Divi hoarder.
A valuable asset to the site, indeed.
Upt'North.
25/02/2021 09:37:24 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Blimey! I'm reminded of Bob collecting SLR650s for a while. The XJ900 was just a darn good solid bike from what I know. Much like the Fazer FZS600 it was one of those machines that just worked. They didn't set the world on fire with crazy performance and race winning handling so they were overlooked but for real humans in the real world - spot on.

Obviously far too big and powerful for me, and not quite Honda enough either.
25/02/2021 11:03:39 UTC
Bob said :-
Not just SLRs Ren, there are five KLX250s in the garage at the moment, hee hee.
27/02/2021 19:02:57 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I think you might have a "problem" Bob. It would be logical to think you're problem is based on becoming obsessed with one bike and buying as many as you can store (if not more). I expect your real problem is you still don't have enough KLX250s to be sure that when (not if) the apocalypse comes you'll have enough spares to see you through.

*When* the apocalypse comes though and we unprepared fools are grovelling around on foot, you'll be blasting around on your KLX. I wonder though, where will you get the petrol for it? I hope you have plans to convert the KLXs to run on moonshine?

...hang on... is this why ethanol is being added to fuel? By adding ethanol now we need to ensure machines have the correct rubber seals and plastics etc to cope with bio-fuels. In which case Bob's bikes will be already able to run on moonshine.

...hang on... if ethanol is being added to fuel to ensure Bob's bike is ready for the apocalypse then this means Bob is controlling the legislature around the globe to ensure ethanol is being added.

...hang on... this means (que dramatic music)... BOB IS THE ILLUMINATE!!!
01/03/2021 07:44:53 UTC
Philip Hoare said :-
Hi I haven't come across this site until yesterday while researching information on behalf of my daughter s Yamaha Diversion
She loves the bike but feels like something a bit more lively, however reading the article on this site I found very useful,for instance I was unaware the engine was in fact a detuned R6 I owned some years ago a Suzuki GSR it had a defined GSXR 600 but you wouldn't have known on account of its extremely long legs,in fact I toured Eastern Europe and Vale
Vale Wrath on it and it never missed a beat.
04/06/2024 17:19:32 UTC

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