Well said but a few of my m8s have said a 400 is the perfect first bike. They go well and handle extremely well. I don't ride so take this as third party information.
Best of luck.
Bikers advice on bike please
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Well said but a few of my m8s have said a 400 is the perfect first bike. They go well and handle extremely well. I don't ride so take this as third party information.
Best of luck.
I rode off road when I was a kid, and have been riding a 125cc on the road on a daily commute every day for the past year or so.
I just passed my module 2, and have bought a new ER-6F (pick up Wednesday
). However, if I hadn't been riding for the time I had (i.e. had gone through direct access), there's no way I would have gone for it.
When I took it for a test ride, the power and acceleration was brutal. The weight was ok, as it seems well balanced, but the power would be very hard to handle after taking a 3 or 4 day riding course.
I'm sure for me, as for many, the power of this bike will quickly become manageable. But if I didn't have at least that 12 month's experience under my belt, I'd probably wrap it around something before I learned to manage the power.
I just passed my module 2, and have bought a new ER-6F (pick up Wednesday
). However, if I hadn't been riding for the time I had (i.e. had gone through direct access), there's no way I would have gone for it.When I took it for a test ride, the power and acceleration was brutal. The weight was ok, as it seems well balanced, but the power would be very hard to handle after taking a 3 or 4 day riding course.
I'm sure for me, as for many, the power of this bike will quickly become manageable. But if I didn't have at least that 12 month's experience under my belt, I'd probably wrap it around something before I learned to manage the power.
Soldato
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My first bike is a fazer 600. Bikes only go as fast as you want them to, same as cars.
But for £800 you won't get much I would think. Perhaps save up a bit more.
But for £800 you won't get much I would think. Perhaps save up a bit more.
Soldato
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I would recommend a lower powered bike initially.
Having owned a 600cc bike myself
Having owned a 600cc bike myself
Soldato
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I would recommend a lower powered bike initially.
Having owned a 600cc bike myself
Ditto. Current IL4 600cc owner.
I would say 60bhp is fine for a first bike. Its good enough to do what you want without being too silly. Saying that I haven't ridden a 100bhp bike yet (which is about what most 600's are at or higher) but now I am on a touch under 60, and it seems enough until I can learn to actually use it properly.
For your price range, can try your local gumtree for some cheap deals perhaps. However I am not convinced you can get a "decent" 600 for that. Bump it up to say 1,500 max and you can find decent 600's. Recently looked at zzr 600s, and they strike me as cheap sports tourer, 100bhp bike. Haven't looked at any in person, but on autotrader there seems to be a few reasonable ones for 1,000-1,500 range. And they are insurance group 13. I think 600 ninja is more? Which again is cheaper, especially for new rider.
For your price range, can try your local gumtree for some cheap deals perhaps. However I am not convinced you can get a "decent" 600 for that. Bump it up to say 1,500 max and you can find decent 600's. Recently looked at zzr 600s, and they strike me as cheap sports tourer, 100bhp bike. Haven't looked at any in person, but on autotrader there seems to be a few reasonable ones for 1,000-1,500 range. And they are insurance group 13. I think 600 ninja is more? Which again is cheaper, especially for new rider.
My first bike had around 60bhp and was still enough to make me grin ear to ear every time I cracked the throttle open. You may find you learn a lot more on a slightly lower powered bike to start with. You spend less time dealing with the power and more time dealing with learning to corner and brake properly.
Theres nothing wrong with getting a quicker bike but also be aware that in your budget you will be lucky to get anything sporty in good working order.
As others have said look at SV650's, Bandit 600's etc. They were only £4K new so will be far lower in value now than sports 600's which start at around 6K new. You will struggle to find ANYTHING under £1000 on bike trader so scour ebay (view before you bid) and the MCN classifieds as well as the free ads. Expect to have to live with some bodywork/paint damage as well in your price range unless you go for something a little less desirable like a GS500 or ER5 commuter bikes. Don't be fooled though they are still so much quicker than any car you will likely own, don't think that only sports bikes go quick!
Theres nothing wrong with getting a quicker bike but also be aware that in your budget you will be lucky to get anything sporty in good working order.
As others have said look at SV650's, Bandit 600's etc. They were only £4K new so will be far lower in value now than sports 600's which start at around 6K new. You will struggle to find ANYTHING under £1000 on bike trader so scour ebay (view before you bid) and the MCN classifieds as well as the free ads. Expect to have to live with some bodywork/paint damage as well in your price range unless you go for something a little less desirable like a GS500 or ER5 commuter bikes. Don't be fooled though they are still so much quicker than any car you will likely own, don't think that only sports bikes go quick!
Get what you want at the end of the day, most bikes can be a right laugh.
I've got a VTR 1000 SP2 (1000cc V-Twin), I rode my sisters new bike back to London after it was bought (she's got a restricted license so can't ride it yet). It's a VFR 400, in very good condition. Cost £1000. It is so light and nimble compared to the SP, throwing it around made me grin.......a lot
For most purposes a 400 is ample (and I'm almost tempted to get one, I won't be as I'm currently saving for an off roader) and as much if not more fun on the tighter roads.
Come what may though you are going to struggle to get a decent bike for £800 that doesn't require a lot of work
I've got a VTR 1000 SP2 (1000cc V-Twin), I rode my sisters new bike back to London after it was bought (she's got a restricted license so can't ride it yet). It's a VFR 400, in very good condition. Cost £1000. It is so light and nimble compared to the SP, throwing it around made me grin.......a lot
For most purposes a 400 is ample (and I'm almost tempted to get one, I won't be as I'm currently saving for an off roader) and as much if not more fun on the tighter roads.
Come what may though you are going to struggle to get a decent bike for £800 that doesn't require a lot of work
Soldato
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as long as you treat it with respect go for whatever bike you want to start with,
my first was a big 1250cc cruiser, which admittedly isnt as responsive as a sports bike but those that have been for a blast with me know it sure as hell isnt slow.
just treat it with respect understand that throttle/brakes/clutch arent on/off controls and learn to ride the bike properly for the conditions.
no bike is inherently safe, look at the amount of chavs that get nailed off their scooters every day, equally I'd say that as long as you arent going to the R1 end of the spectrum nothing is too much as long as you treat with ample respect.
my first was a big 1250cc cruiser, which admittedly isnt as responsive as a sports bike but those that have been for a blast with me know it sure as hell isnt slow.
just treat it with respect understand that throttle/brakes/clutch arent on/off controls and learn to ride the bike properly for the conditions.
no bike is inherently safe, look at the amount of chavs that get nailed off their scooters every day, equally I'd say that as long as you arent going to the R1 end of the spectrum nothing is too much as long as you treat with ample respect.
Easy. Get the bike that tickles your fancy, not what people on a forum say you should get. Then get the appropriate training on that motorcycle. Job done.
I started on a CBR600 back in the days before DAS, so we learned on 125s and then could legally jump on and ride anything. If anything I was amazed at how un-intimidating it was. To get any sort of performance out of a 600cc bike, especially a modern supersport, you have to cane the **** off it, and it's very very easy NOT to do that.
To be honest if I passed my test today, I'd be far more of a liability on my BMW R1100S, which makes torque from nothing, than any of my current sportsbikes.
These days all full-licence holders have some experience on middleweights so they're one step ahead of the game already.
In summary- ride as many as possible before making the choice of the bike YOU want. Modern bikes are not the widowmaking beasts that most motorcyclists would like to think they are.
I started on a CBR600 back in the days before DAS, so we learned on 125s and then could legally jump on and ride anything. If anything I was amazed at how un-intimidating it was. To get any sort of performance out of a 600cc bike, especially a modern supersport, you have to cane the **** off it, and it's very very easy NOT to do that.
To be honest if I passed my test today, I'd be far more of a liability on my BMW R1100S, which makes torque from nothing, than any of my current sportsbikes.
These days all full-licence holders have some experience on middleweights so they're one step ahead of the game already.
In summary- ride as many as possible before making the choice of the bike YOU want. Modern bikes are not the widowmaking beasts that most motorcyclists would like to think they are.
My first bike was a ZX6R, a 1996 on P if my memory serves me right. It was only 2 years old when I bought it though.
I bought it before I passed my test, having that sat in the garage spurred me on no end
Nowt wrong with getting one as a first bike just be carefull, they are still a very quick quick bike. The sound from the air intake is so addictive. Dont know if its rose tinted glasses but its still one of my fave bikes Ive ever had.
Good luck on finding a decent one though, those old kwaks do not age or crash well. Unless you keep on top of them a couple of winters will turn most of the metail to rust, god knows what one will be like now.
I bought it before I passed my test, having that sat in the garage spurred me on no end
Nowt wrong with getting one as a first bike just be carefull, they are still a very quick quick bike. The sound from the air intake is so addictive. Dont know if its rose tinted glasses but its still one of my fave bikes Ive ever had.
Good luck on finding a decent one though, those old kwaks do not age or crash well. Unless you keep on top of them a couple of winters will turn most of the metail to rust, god knows what one will be like now.
Disadvantage being that they are utterly horrible!
I'd have to agree there- brilliant bikes. Ignore the 30bhp deficit on paper, they are real-world quick, in that they make decent torque from sensible revs. You need to thrash an inline-4 600 to keep up with a well-ridden SV. Also you can get an ABS model, which I'd recommend for a new rider as one of the most common accidents is losing the front in the wet. Actually that's one of the most common accidents amongst experience riders too!
They also feel great to ride, and you can feel the DNA of the TL1000S in there. Unfortunately they also encourage you to ride like a loon (well, they do me anyway)
The only problem is with a budget of £800 hes pushed to even find an early 1999 carby model as these fetch at least £1000 even on ebay unless damaged.
I would seriously recomend saving up a little bit more and aiming for a budget of £1500. This opens so many doors and lets you have your pick of bikes. You can get a nice early CBR600 or GSXR600 for that money. Or a Ducati 750SS, or a nice SV650 or a good Bandit 600 or a mid-90's ZXR750 or even an early Fireblade.
Don't be put off too much by a mid-90's age as long as its been looked after. Many bikes spend a lot of time in the garage and are well looked after. Don't go and buy the first snotter you find as there will always be a nice one if you look for it.
yep I'll echo what others have said, buy with your heart not your head, biking is about passion.
Don't buy first bike you see, try to save up more than £800 as it's not going to get a great bike... remember milage on a bike does matter, with most sports bikes showing big wear to suspension / brake calipers etc by about 20-30k miles. If looked after they will last a lot longer, but buy a 30k mile shed and it will ride horrid and fall to bits. (not to mention be a never ending money pit)
Don't let the power or engine size of a bike scare you, most bikes bar a very few v twins and maybe Busa and such like can get you in trouble if you keep the revs down... keep the revs down and all is fine.
It's all relative though, I remember coming from a R6 and jumping on a Busa demonstrator, first set of lights I came to, they went green, but the traffic pulled away and I was left in middle staionary... reason, I gave 600 class throttle and instead of moving just lit up rear tyre lol
Anyway i must have liked the tyre smoking experience and went back to shop and bought one
I would save up £1500 or abit more and buy a CBR600, it's deffo where the money should go... you could then get a sub 10k miler in very good condition (and pretty much spotless)
Don't buy first bike you see, try to save up more than £800 as it's not going to get a great bike... remember milage on a bike does matter, with most sports bikes showing big wear to suspension / brake calipers etc by about 20-30k miles. If looked after they will last a lot longer, but buy a 30k mile shed and it will ride horrid and fall to bits. (not to mention be a never ending money pit)
Don't let the power or engine size of a bike scare you, most bikes bar a very few v twins and maybe Busa and such like can get you in trouble if you keep the revs down... keep the revs down and all is fine.
It's all relative though, I remember coming from a R6 and jumping on a Busa demonstrator, first set of lights I came to, they went green, but the traffic pulled away and I was left in middle staionary... reason, I gave 600 class throttle and instead of moving just lit up rear tyre lol
Anyway i must have liked the tyre smoking experience and went back to shop and bought one
I would save up £1500 or abit more and buy a CBR600, it's deffo where the money should go... you could then get a sub 10k miler in very good condition (and pretty much spotless)
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Associate
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My first bike was a 1998 600 bandit. Still riding it now. Been on it for just over a year. And bandits are cheap to run and maintain.
I would say if you are small the SV might not be the best choice, its quite easy to ride but it is pretty heavy and quite high up, so if you feel a bit uneasy you may end up dropping it in slow speed manouvers.
does have a nice amount of torque and will wheelie at the drop of a hat though!
does have a nice amount of torque and will wheelie at the drop of a hat though
!