Which bike should I choose?

[Old Geezer]

Right I need another bike. My current bike (and only bike I've owned, I'm a late starter) is a Suzuki SV650. The reason I need another bike is I spend from May to October in France with a short break in June back in the UK. I take the bike with me on a trailer behind my VW Campervan and to save the ridiculous extra cost of the trailer I leave the bike in France for June. Hence for June (normally a good biking month) I don't have a bike.
In France I make short 2-5 day trips (or hopefully this year also a longer 7-14 day) away on the bike with my son on his Triumph Explorer into the Alps, Germany and beyond etc. from my base at Dole in the Jura. In England in June I would mostly do day ride-outs but may go to the occasional rally again with my son.
So what are the bikes I'm considering? They are a Triumph Bonneville T100 (they were just coming out when I was 15 and were THE dream bike) or a V-Strom 650. I had a test ride on the Bonneville and it was ok but very different to my SV650 and tried the Wee-Strom and that is comfortable too and has the same performance characteristics of the SV650 though the engine is now fuel injection rather than my carburettors. I've already decided but would be interesting in hearing the views of other more experienced riders. :whistle:

[herman]

wee strom for me over the bonnie for touring around on. I have not found trailers to be too prohibitive to be honest. Two bikes ridden were only around £50 cheaper than towing them over with a merc earlier this year. Club voyage on Brittany Ferries gets you 30% off and they have the cut price tubs now as well. Nice dilemma to have

[Rrat]

V strom for sure. A peach of an engine.

[Old Geezer]

wee strom for me over the bonnie for touring around on. I have not found trailers to be too prohibitive to be honest. Two bikes ridden were only around £50 cheaper than towing them over with a merc earlier this year. Club voyage on Brittany Ferries gets you 30% off and they have the cut price tubs now as well. Nice dilemma to have

For me this year Return LWB VW Transporter Campervan with trailer £202 P&O, £161 C&CClub.
Return without trailer £100 P&O, £80 C&CClub. That's significant to me considering trailer much shorter than VW Van. This is Dover - Calais ferry. I live in Folkestone

[Ali in Austria]

Saving 80 - 100 quid plus additional costs such as extra fuel when towing, wear and tear on the trailer etc against buying another bike and the outlay, costs and depreciation involved in that might not be as cost effective as you think.

However, as a means of swaying the family over to your way of thinking, be creative with the figures and go for it

[special one]

I too have owned a pointy sv650, didn't get on with it tbh, great engine though.

I'd consider a used tiger 1050, good smooth engine for touring, easy to ride and there's loads to choose from on the second hand market.

[SteveW]

A fully dressed Honda Goldwing. Then you can tow the camper van with it. Bikes towing a trailer are cheaper on the ferry. As Ali says you're doing what we all do, finding an obscure reason to justify buying another bike :whistle:
By the way I also tow a bike behind a LWB VW camper van.
If I were you I'd look at getting a different type of bike. As you say you've only had one bike, why get a a SV clone?
What about dipping your toe in the off road scene? Yamaha 660 Tenere, or DRZ 400 would be fine for your day rides in the UK and give you the opportunity to try something different. You may like it and decide to take it to France and take advantage of their far bigger and better off road scene.

[Old Geezer]

Saving 80 - 100 quid plus additional costs such as extra fuel when towing, wear and tear on the trailer etc against buying another bike and the outlay, costs and depreciation involved in that might not be as cost effective as you think.

However, as a means of swaying the family over to your way of thinking, be creative with the figures and go for it

Who could be as sneaky as that B) (thumbs)

[Lord Sut]

I'd get the Bonnie, you already have an SV. Variety is the spice of life an' all that.

[Old Geezer]

A fully dressed Honda Goldwing. Then you can tow the camper van with it. Bikes towing a trailer are cheaper on the ferry. As Ali says you're doing what we all do, finding an obscure reason to justify buying another bike :whistle:
By the way I also tow a bike behind a LWB VW camper van.
If I were you I'd look at getting a different type of bike. As you say you've only had one bike, why get a a SV clone?
What about dipping your toe in the off road scene? Yamaha 660 Tenere, or DRZ 400 would be fine for your day rides in the UK and give you the opportunity to try something different. You may like it and decide to take it to France and take advantage of their far bigger and better off road scene.

I already bought a Yamaha XT600 in v good nick for my son and I to share but that usually has nobbles on for green-laning and my son seems to have taken it over :S

As I said I'm fairly new to biking and no spring chicken. I'm not that keen on off-road. Don't like the clean-up after :laugh: or the thought of picking the dam thing up. I tend not to bounce these days either. Had my fun and good memories of 'challenges' just want some comfortable open and twisty roads at a reasonable speed. :laugh: (thumbs)