I’ve been really enjoying riding my SV650S around, it is a fantastic and engaging bike, but for a big chap like me, it doesn’t offer much in the way of long-journey comfort. I had been thinking about selling it and buying a bike more suited to touring, but I came upon a better solution whilst browsing eBay Motors earlier today. There staring me in the face was an auction for a mint 1993 GSX1100F in purple and silver. Taxed, MOTed, and only 5986 miles on the clock!! Surely too good to be true? If it all panned out, I could keep the SV and have a classic sports tourer on the side.

It turned out the bike was a part-ex to clear being offered by a dealer in Exeter, and a good look at the larger photos on their website revealed what was looking to be a genuine bargain of a motorcycle with a ticket price of £1395. I jumped in the car…

The bike was every bit as good as looked in the photos, with just a couple of very minor blemishes. Apart from those it looks showroom fresh, and the engine is sweet as a nut. One previous owner, a brand new rear tyre, and a fully working electric windscreen. Could it get any better? Yes, actually, because I got it for £1,250, and then Bennetts charged me a measly £85 to add it to my existing insurance policy.

So, to sum up: A 15 year old, mint sports tourer, in my favourite colours, with ridiculously low miles for £1,250. I still can’t believe it.

Some would say I’m mad moving up to a 1127cc bike after only 3 months (and 2,500 miles) riding experience since passing my test. I have to be honest: I did question my own sanity. This is a big bike and quite a step up from the SV. In fact, it packs 136BHP and a top speed pushing 160MPH. Despite this, the ride home was enjoyable, effortless and not in the least frightening. Suzuki basically took a GSX-R engine, re-bored it and re-tuned it to make more low-end and mid-range grunt. It has fairly tall gearing too, so it is perfectly manageable. I did open it up a little a couple of times, and I briefly met the snarling monster of death that threatens to snuff out your existence if you forget who’s boss, but this is a touring bike. I didn’t buy it to race along bendy B-roads - I’ll take the SV over the GSX anyday for some rapid twisties - I bought it for distance riding, and that, it will do perfectly. I’m also 30, well experienced on the road generally, and I have good self-control over my right hand. I think I’ll be able to ride this bike and keep breathing.

Despite being a good 90kg heavier than the SV, the GSX1100F is reasonably easy to manage due to its lower seat and low centre of gravity. It’s only at low speeds doing tight maneuvres or wheeling the bike around that you notice the weight. On the road it’s smooth like you’d expect a bike of this low mileage to be - it fairly floats along. Whereas my SV650S is a very involving ride, I felt a little more like a passenger on the GSX. The riding position is more upright, as you would expect from a tourer, and the windscreen when fully extended, really does keep the worst of the wind and rain off you, which is nice given the appalling conditions I rode home in. It doesn’t drop into the corners like a lighter bike will, but once you have it cranked over, it holds its line and gives real confidence.

The big inline four delivers smooth power even from low rev ranges. You can quite happily just roll along in 5th gear with minimal throttle input, or open it up for amazing roll-on pickup and some nice lazy overtakes. Stopping is not quite so breathtaking as accelerating, with the braking technology showing its age a little. It certainly doesn’t feel as sharp as my more modern SV, but that’s not to say the brakes are in any way poor - there’s plenty of stopping power there too.

Really, I think this just proves that despite what the industry tells you there really is no reason to not consider an older, low-mileage machine. Mine has clearly been well cared for and has lived a somewhat sheltered existence. The previous owner managed a ridiculous average of 32 miles per month during the 15 years or so that he owned it. I put double that on it today, and I shall have no qualms about adding on the miles. Fact is, that this bike will still be worth what I paid for it even with double the mileage and a couple more years under its wheels.

Tonight I sit smugly on my sofa with the sense of self-satisfaction that can only come from the safe knowledge that I have just found an absolute bargain!