Expert guide: Affordable year-round rides

Shopping on a budget for a bike you are going to use 12 months a year, whatever the weather – rather than tucking it away in the garage for sunny use only – doesn’t mean that you have to put up with something dull.

Far from it, as the selection of machines on this spread proves.

A budget of £1500 will see you riding away on a decent Fazer, Hornet or SV650 and there is real fun to be had on a machine that won’t leave you feeling guilty if it’s not spotless.

So what are the best buys and what are the pitfalls to look out for?

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MCN BEST BUY: ’98-’04 Yamaha Fazer 600

Big-selling middleweight does it all at an affordable price

An incredibly popular middleweight in its day, the Fazer’s half-fairing makes it more practical than some rivals and when combined with its deeply padded seat and upright riding position, it all adds up to an excellent all-rounder…