TRIGGER

I know a few of you guys have bikes and I just wondered what the general opinions were. I am just doing a direct access course so hope to have a full unlimited licence soon. What should I get first ? It is not going to be for commuting or any regular riding, just for fun on dry sunny weekends.

Is it stupid to go as sporty as a CBR600 ? Would a Suzuki SV650 or Honda Hornet or Yamaha Fazer 600 be better bets ? If so which one ?

Appreciate all views

ScoobySnack

I think its the insurance group that will be the determining factor.............. I passed , then picked up a 600cc that cost over £1K to insure... it was group 15.

Goodluck on the test....


J

TBMeech

I'd personally start off with something like a SV650, get a few miles of experience under your belt then progress up to the 600's and upwards.

SV has really good handling, light, nice spread of power from the V-Twin motor, 120-130 top whack, so plenty of grunt, then once the confidence is up go for something more meaty.

Thats what I did when I started riding, had a RGV250 then a CBR and then 750s etc

Mike Burton

Nah... pass ur test, and get a GSXR1000

(only joking)

RU sure you want a race rep? Im rapidly coming to the conclusion that the only reason to have one (race rep 600/750/900/1000) is if you do trackdays, because their use on the road is severly limited, and it appears to be getting worse all the time. If I didn't enjoy thrashing around on trackdays so much, I think I'd chuck the Gixer in, and get a nice tourer of some sort. At least I'd not get cramp after an hours riding etc.

Each to their own of course, but think about it.

scooby nutter

Get yourself a Bandit 1200.Wheelie action ,stoppies and very cheap insurance because its not classed as a sporty bike

Mates 23 and paying about £400 F+t.thats with a few crashes under his belt

neilbbb

a 100+HP bike as a first bike is a bit on the mad side.

Better to go for a 500/ 600 like a fazer or gpz for a few months so you can learn to ride properly and feel comfortable on two wheels.

Tiggs

if you have a bike have a fast one- never saw the point of the "learn on a girls bike" thing- just get a fast one and go slow on it to start.

if you have a fast bike ride it on a track or get very bored.

T

kryten

I've just got a Yamaha Thundercat. I nearly bought a Fazer (cheaper bike, cheaper insurance) but I wanted a fully faired, sports bike.

It was the most comfortable of the 600 sports type bikes, as I have a long commute at the moment (I cannot imagine doing 60 miles each way on the motorway on a GSX600R!).

Insurance was 1k! Though the Yamaha insurance deal is apparently going to be up and running in the next few weeks, which may reduce that (and rumours of a £600 fully comp quote for a new rider on an R6 are flying about.....)

Richard Askew

Kawasaki ZX 636
CBR 600F
Bandit

..IMHO cracking bikes with sensible insurance (if shopped around) so if you're interested mail me: askewrichard@hotmail.com cos I can get you one and sort finance.. (see my profile)

Ian E

iTrader: (1)

I passed my test in 1994 and bought a CBR600 the same day - a top all round bike (in my opinion).

CBRs are fairly tame lower down the rev range. Obviously if you rev it to the red line in every gear it will scare you (initially )

Cheers,

Ian.


[Edited by Ian E - 6/13/2002 1:14:07 PM]

Sbradley

SV650. Plenty of performance, excellent handling and a nice noise, especially with an aftermarket can

Holds value quite well too when you do decide to trade up, providing you don't get a crappy colour (silver). Blue and yellow seem to look best and devalue least. I'd recommend the 'S' version with the half fairing as it handles better and gives a bit more protection.

As a fellow SE person, mail me offlist if you want any more direct opinion...

SB

simonburton

I passed my test last year via direct access, and then went out and bought a CBR600 Sport. Looked good, went well and was not too bad on running costs. Insurance was approx. £1000, even though I am 30 . This was down to lack of experince, which is also what you will come across I would have thought.

I have since moved onto a V twin 'cos I was fed up of revving above 10k revs to get anywhere (really) quick

Best of luck, and remember, rubber side down ;D

Simon

NotoriousREV

In your first year, statistically you are more likely to drop your bike, so a fully faired sportster is gonna be expensive to repair. Personally, I'd reccomend going the "**** bike for a year" approach, this way you're not worried about damaging your bike, more you're concentrating on your riding. I'd recommend an older, tatty CBR600, you'll pick one up cheap, it'll be reliable and you'll be able to sell it easily when the time comes for you to trade up to the GSXR1000. And if you do drop it, who cares, epoxy/filler/paint it and you're set.

Tiggs

statisticly you will throw it into the back of a bus- so dont get one!

i did thousands of laps of tracks and never dropped it then fell of it in asda with 10 yrs under my belt! stats- shmats!

chuckster

I had a 33bhp Cagiva Mito first(before I'd taken my test - naughty naughty), then a Thundercat, then R6..then thought I had to slow down and got a SV650S.
I'd say the sv650 is a great first bike - really confidence inspiring and you'll be able to concentrate on getting road smart instead of controlling the thing. Insurance will be cheap(ish) and as said above resale is good - and it' doesn't look lame like a ER500.
Downside is the brakes - but maybe thats because the R6 stoppers were so damn good
Chuck

bros2

Get a Bros 650. Reasonably quick even unmodified, cheap to insure, and no plastics to crack when/if you drop it.

Once you've a bit more confidence, mod the forks, stick a Blade shock on it, sort out the breathing/exhaust then go hunting for R1 scalps at Cadwell

Bros

Andy W

I bought a bandit after I passed my test, cheaper to insure, buy and fix than the fazer, and it is a decent bike to learn the skills you need.

Andy

scooby nutter

Quote:
I bought a bandit after I passed my test, cheaper to insure, buy and fix than the fazer, and it is a decent bike to learn the skills you need
..........Stand up wheelies,Huge stoppies,feet over the bars wheelies,3 up stoppies...LOL

DominicA

I went this route in 1998 and bought a bandit, then spent all of the time wishing i'd bought the Fazer. If you're into sports bikes then get the CBR if not take a look at the Fazer... there's not that much difference between all the 600's perf wise (you know what i mean) so there's really no reason to not buy the sportsbike if thats yer bag!!!

NotoriousREV

Remember, there are 2 kinds of rider: those who have fallen off and those who will

camk

Passed my test in 2000, wanted a Thundercat but went for a Fazer 600 as the insurance was half the Thundercat and the bike was 650quid cheaper. Fazer was a good first bike.

regards
Cammy

TRIGGER

Thanks for all yr comments - appreciate the help - think I'll just have to ride a few once (if...) I pass. A cheap CBR600 does seem the traditional path, but I liked the look of the SV650 so it'll be down to how it feels.

camk

Fazer insurance will be a good bit cheaper than a CBR600, it was when I bought mine. I'd get insurance quotes before I rose so I didn't get tempted. Remember you need to pay it every year.....

Cammy

TBMeech

Yamaha are doing a special deal on insurance at the mo, 25 or older, no ncd required on Fazer 600, R6 and something else (cant remember) till the end of june for £499.00 Fully Comp

Cheeky Jim

I am in a similar boat - I passed my bike test last August and have not got round to buying a bike due to various things e.g house move, baby turned up etc

I will be shortly in the position to spend about £3k on a bike, and I was looking at getting a ZX7R - Any opinions on this? Or am I asking for a load of trouble.

The problem is everyone has a ruddy CBR or R6 etc - I would like something different. Also, as I am 16 stone, I would prefer a slightly bigger bike ...

Hmmm - decisions, decisions....

Jamie

phd

Passed my DAS in March. Had already bought a Kwak GPZ500.
No NCD, £145 TPF&T.
Tidy bike, building up the no claims discount before moving up in engine size.

Phill

Jamie,
The ZX7R is one of the finest road bikes made, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. It's not the fastest or the lighest, and the handling is slightly old fashioned compared to the likes of the new Gixer but it's soaks up bumps and white lines like there not there and is quick enough.

Not too mention the sound which as with all the ZXR's is fantastic, generally good build quality with plenty of cheap spares around. Watch out for the usual, fork seals always used to go on my old girl, rear suspension shock's could go if pushed but always fairly easy and cheap !!

Good luck, and don't forget the aftermarket can for the proper noise to be unleahsed !!

Phill

ukhuskynox

How about a Honda CBR400 (NC29) or a VFR400 (NC30) or RVF400 (NC35)
plenty fast enough and decent insurance costs, they are mostly all imports but getting spares etc is not a problem.

HTH

Andy ex RVF400 owner, but currently with a CBR600 (fx) & Nox & CBR400 (NC23) & RGV250

scooby nutter

ukhuskynox

Yep those NC35's are the dogs bo******!
My Brother had one with Race pipes on itCouldnt get through a mot so we had to change the pipes over just for the test

It had a cool number plate:N400 RVF

Ive never heard a nicer sounding bike.

jay-j

have been riding m/bikes for 32 years, obviously over that period of time they have improved enormously, brakes, engine, handling etc. My latest bike is a 95 bandit 1200, all I can say is what a fabulous bike, wish id had one years ago, extremely comfortable, lovely to ride and the sheer low down grunt is amazing