Whats an ideal FIRST bike ?

[Agent]

What it NEEDS to be :

• Cheap to buy (dont care if its second hand) + run

• Easy to ride (never owned one before)

• Cheap to insure

• Easy to maintain

What it does NOT need to be :

• Fast (although this will be used on the motorway - keep that in mind)

• Somthing i will get myself killed on

• Looks nice - i just want it to get me about

Right, so any offers ?
Also, anyone know any retailers around the wolverhampton / birmingham / general W. Mids area they would recomend ?

Thanks

[TeePee]

Assuming you've done a direct access test, your best bet is probably something like a Kawasaki ER5. Lots of them going second hand, as its a popular choice of first big bike, and they are very cheap new. and fit your other requirements. Also look at the Yamaha Fazer as a slightly sportier choice. Good bikes all round!

If you've done the standard test and are limited to 33bhp, then the ER-5 can be easily and cheaply restricted to this figure.

[Angus]

I'll tell you when I get my first bike.

CBT next Thursday

[Devilbod]

Best bet pick a price and then have a scan on auto trader then post a short list that people can give tips/advice/expereince on.

There are two schools of though about your first bike that cause a lot of arguements: buy a low cc ie less than 400cc and learn on that for as long as possible and then get a bigger bike in steps if all goes well.
Or buy a bigger bike ie 600cc and learn how to control that, basically because it doesn't matter, 250cc can do over 100mph.

Personaly I think it's down to the person and the amount of self control you have, it all down to fear and knowing that fear means you riding too close to your limits.
Don't be afraid of getting a high cc either, all bikes are fast it's just anything up too a 600cc will be easier to handle because it's lighter, trouble is more often than not someone will get more confidence quicker on a easier to handle bike and then get themselves into trouble. A heavier bike will take longer to get used to and so is more of a learning experence.

A Kawasaki ER5 or a honda CB1 or something similar would be a good start enough power to do motorway safely but with out the in your face acceleration, extremely low insurance and are mostly care free.
Or how about a cruser?

Oh remeber to leave at least £750 for some leathers and boots and a lid, after all you are more important than the bike .

[madmaca]

That's easy - Kawasaki GPZ500s

Sam punchy twin as the ER-5 but slightly tuned for more "sporty" feel. Has enough power for a first-timer, and has the added bonus of a usable screen and half-fairing (unlike the ER-5). Loads to be had - but make sure you go for a post 1994 model - as they had a pretty major update then (disc brake on the rear for starters), and they are cheap to buy.

I have owned one for almost 3 years since doing my DAS, and I have serviced it myself (I'm no mechanic I assure you), it does 50+ mpg commuting, and last year fully comp insurance cost me £154.

It can also provide with enough of the "smile" factor to keep you going until you are ready to trade up (quoted figures are: 0-60=3.5secs, top speed 133mph)

All in all - a perfect package for a first time rider

madmaca.

[CocoPops]

Don't buy a small sports bike, you'll only want to upgrade as soon as possible.

You want to be looking at "General" style bikes, not very exciting but easy to ride, pretty quick. Think Honda do a couple of em.

Or the other option is a Moto-X style bike, although they are normally quite tall, so depends how tall you are really.

[Butuz]

Heres an ideal first bike for you....





Butuz

[RVF500]

Test ride a Bandit 600, nice and friendly but big enough for motorway work, 2 up and comfortable over a long distance. My first bike was the smaller 400cc version. A friend of mine went for a VFR750. Don't be scared of the cc, it's a very rideable bike. He loved it from the word go. Same again, go to a dealer that will let you test ride. The real decider might be your age when it comes to insure the thing. That and the level at which you passed your test.

A small sportsbike such as the grey import 400cc crowd are great fun but will leave you wanting more after a short time and being blown away by their bigger brothers. They are a bit single minded too.

If you don't know what you want to end up riding then something like a bandit is a good place to start. I was the same and then went up to a GXR750 which I chopped in for an Aprilia RSV Mille after a couple of years.

[Agent]

Thanks for the input guys

For the record - im coming upto 20. I have no previous experience riding a bike, hence no licence or anything else.

Hopfully im going out on friday to have a look at a few

[RVF500]

Well mate, I only started riding when I was 33 (almost 10 years ago now) Just needed a cheap way to get to work cuz I was skint so I got a battered old CB125. It took on a life of it's own after that

Just had to do my test....then just HAD to have a bigger more powerful machine.....

Finally ended up buying a second hand full race CBR600 as well for track days and began condemning knee and toe sliders to a life expectancy of about 2 days at best

The love affair just goes on and on


If you can afford it then do a full access test as you won't be restricted to the type of bike. Unfortunately your age is going to go against you when it comes to insurance. So unless you are a rich kid I wouldn't drool over the supersports section too much. Though as a rank beginner the general purpose 600s are an excellent starting point. Just shop around for some insurance quotes before you buy. And save some money for the best helmet and protective gear you can afford. Also have a view to securing your pride and joy. Once again, the best lock and chain you can afford. A disk lock alone won't deter a thief much and bike theft is all too common. Make them look for a softer target.

A bike shop near me charges £20 (might be more now) for test rides and then takes the amount you spend on test rides off the cost of a bike if you buy from them. If you can find a dealer that does something similar you can try a few out before you part with your hard earned cash.

All I can say is good luck and enjoy. There's no better way to get around on a sunny day.

[Devilbod]

Same for me I started when I was 22 because work was 15 miles away and I need transport - so I got a C90 and did my CBT (hadn't done a car test or lessons by that point).

After a year I had to either do my full car or at the least a full bike test and time and money made it the bike test.

Got a 400cc Bros after that and after a couple of years I got a CBR600 FL (the old one peice fairing) went to Uni and met other bikers and I suddenly realised I was hooked.
Now 6 years later I've got a '02 CB600 Hornet and it's the first time I've ever bought something from new because it's only £4k and they usally give finance to anyone with a job, now its stage one tuned with a few extra trimmings. And I still haven't got around to doing my car test.

If you do go out to look at a few make sure you take a freind who has a bit of mech knowlage it spot things to avoid. Other than that have fun.

[TeePee]

Since you are under 21, you will not be able to do the Direct Access test, so your choice of bike will be limited. A GPZ500 or similar restricted to 33bhp will be your best bet once you have passed the standard test. Until then you may need a learner-legal 125cc bike, but you can forget about riding one of these on the motorway. Most training centres run week long courses with a test at the end, and these can be a good way of jumping through the learning process. Remember even the most experienced rider above is still learning everyday, so don't be afraid to go for extra post-test training!

[Angus]

If you're twenty now, I'd wait until you're 21 and do the direct access.

I'm not 21 until August, so I'm doing CBT next week so that I can ride Charlotte's bike until my birthday and then do Direct Access.

I couldn't see the point in getting a licence that was restricted with it being so cloase to my 21st Birthday.

[Rave]

I think you can ride a 125 on a provisional licence for two years once you've done CBT. I'd get a 125, ride it around on a provisional until you're 21, then do a direct access. If you need to go on motorways or carry a pillion though, then take your test. I rode about for a year on an AR50, then did a one day intensive course on a CG125 and passed my test first time. Only cost me about £160 all in including hiring a bike for the test, although that was 6 1/2 years ago. I haven't riden a bike since (not for more than 5 minutes anyway), but I've been entitled to ride a superbike since I was 19 1/2 thanks to the government's krappy 2 year rule. Idiots.

Rich :¬)

[Angus]

I think you can ride a 125 on a provisional licence for two years once you've done CBT. I'd get a 125, ride it around on a provisional until you're 21, then do a direct access. If you need to go on motorways or carry a pillion though, then take your test. I rode about for a year on an AR50, then did a one day intensive course on a CG125 and passed my test first time. Only cost me about £160 all in including hiring a bike for the test, although that was 6 1/2 years ago. I haven't riden a bike since (not for more than 5 minutes anyway), but I've been entitled to ride a superbike since I was 19 1/2 thanks to the government's krappy 2 year rule. Idiots.

Rich :¬)

If you're going to ride around for two years before getting a bigger bike you might as well do the test without direct access, get a bigger bike and restrict it for the first two years. (after which you can ride any bike you want)

[Rave]

If you're going to ride around for two years before getting a bigger bike you might as well do the test without direct access, get a bigger bike and restrict it for the first two years. (after which you can ride any bike you want)

<shrugs> Maybe. Depends whether he wants/ can afford a bigger bike when he's 21, I guess.

Edit: Anyway, I've just read his original post. If he wants to ride on the motorway he'll have no choice but to pass his test, so I guess I'm talking crap.

Agent, any 125 will be a bit scary on the motorway although that doesn't mean it's unsafe, on the way to and from my test I had to ride a CG125 down the A2 and through the Dartford Tunnel/ over the QE2 bridge. If you buy a two stroke sportsbike you can derestrict them after your test and gain a bit of speed. A better idea would be to take your test on whatever cheap 125 you can find- Honda CG125, Suzuki GS125, Kawasaki KH125 etc.- and then once you've passed sell it (you won't lose much in depreciation) and buy a nice four stroke 250.

All these motorbike threads have got me thinking. I might start saving for a bike after my holiday, might be able to buy one cheap in October/November when winter's setting in.

Rich :¬)