Which Bike? New Rider

[Dooms]

1st of all ive had my CBT for a while now but never actualy got round to getting a bike (lost my job soon after i got it) however now im working and not at home i really want to get a bike again so am going to work on getting my bike licence sorted over the next couple of months before my CBT runs out.

Anyone question is.. Which bike should i get? I mean i dont think ill bother unless i pass so lets just say up to 250cc then, wont be using it for commuting, just to f**k off on at weekends and get out of the city. Which does mean needs to be alright to go on motorways and really could to with being realiable.

Dont know much about bikes so thats why im turning to you guys do like the look of the hornet tho


Cheers
Leon / Dooms

[Dooms]

of course if i buy a 600 i would have to get it restricted right?

[Dooms]

Nah going to do the non direct access test (not 21)

[Rave]

How old are you- I.E. will you be doing the direct access test, or the normal 125cc one?

[Dooms]

as said there im not doing the direct access - just the one that allows me to use a 250cc for 2 years then unresicted

Im 19

[kaillum]

realistically, anything over 250cc will need to be restricted...
If your looking for a 33bhp bike without a restriction its gonna be an old CB250 Wetdream.. sorry Superdream.. an Aircooled Inline twin...
even the likes of the GS/CB500's (Direct Acces test bikes) are around the 48-50bhp so they'll need to be restricted...
I'm just in the process of selling my RGV250 - but even thats pushing 55bhp on the dyno.. so out of your league... (and I really wouldnt suggest restricting a 2 stroke!)

There is nothing wrong with restricting a bike to 33bhp, but some bikes take the restriction better than others... The 600cc inline 4's mentioned above (Fazer, Hornet, Bandit etc) are all very capable machines, and in standard tune (around the 70bhp mark) are an excellent first bike... BUT. When restricted they become somewhat different animals....

Basically, the restriction is 'normally' based on washer like jobbies placed between the carb's and the head.. which reduce the flow of go go juice into the engine.. thereby restricting the bhp to 33... BUT because they starve the bikes at high revs, (which is where all the torque is on an inline 4) the bikes seem to be a lot flatter and slower than other similar powered bikes... This also makes them somewhat of a pig to ride around town...

One of the best bikes to look for (if your going to go down the restriction route) is V Twin (something like the SV650) although they are a slightly higher CC, they take the restriction a lot better as a V twin engine makes the most torque a lot lower down the rev range... and as such will be a lot easier to ride both around town and scratching at the weekend....

[Rave]

TBH no 33hp bike will be great on the motorway. You could look at restricting a 400cc four cylinder- the VFR400 NC30 would be a good candidate. I personally would look at a trail bike, maybe a Yamaha XT350 or a Serow. They'll not be great on the motorway but are ideal in town and fun to ride down B and C roads- and green lanes.

[Vimeous]

Aprilla 125!
(I assume the 250 is a) way too powerfull and b) astronomically expensive)

[Dooms]

Not really a fan of the superdream (looks wise) same goes for the VFR400. SV650 doesnt look bad - tho doing quick searches there does seem to be 2 different looking ones?? or is google just being stupid?

[kaillum]

Aprilla 125!
(I assume the 250 is a) way too powerfull and b) astronomically expensive)

yeah.. but the RS125 aint the most reliable bike around!! if you treat them right they only need a top end re-build every 10k klms.. and need to be treated to only the finest Fully Synth 2 smoke oil every @ £10 per litre!

If your not interested in top end speed, and prefer a bit of grunt then a trail style 350 should be about the right bhp for you.. you'll have loads of mid range grunt.. but as Rave said, you'll be lucky to hit anything more than 70ish and remain comfy... the main issue with them is their physical size... there big buggers.. and you'll need a long pair of legs to get your feet down on 'em!

[kaillum]

Not really a fan of the superdream (looks wise) same goes for the VFR400. SV650 doesnt look bad - tho doing quick searches there does seem to be 2 different looking ones?? or is google just being stupid?

They do the naked sv650 and the half faired sv650s... the nakeds tend to look similar, no matter what age.. you can only really tell from the back end... and tend to look similar to this



the half faired 's changed about 2 years ago.. the earlier ones looking like this (although this has the optional belly pan fitted.. makes it more sports bikey type of thing....



and the later ones much more angular...

[jon bda]

I'm sure I saw a hayabusa restricted to 33bhp

What did they do, take three plug leads off?.

[kaillum]

any motorcycle can be restricted to 33bhp...

http://www.fiinternational.com/

will supply restriction kits and certificate of proof for ANY bike.. from a CB500 through to a Blackbird!!

I honestly wouldnt like to try riding a Blackbird with 33bhp.. but if you can afford the insurance.. and you want to stay legal.. then why not!

[Dooms]

now i do like that!! how much would a decent condition one of them set me back? and how does it cost to get bikes restricted?

[Rave]

That's the 2003-on model- you can tell by the squarer frame rails. They'll still be commanding £2500+ I reckon, but the older model (which is very similar TBH) can be had a bit cheaper:

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/WWW...&search=SEARCH

[jon bda]

I must admit, i think i prefer the look of the older SV650...i don't really like the way the frame looks on the new model...