Possible Motorbike purchase and advice

Oxide™

Oxide™

Oxide™

Soldato
Joined
26 Dec 2007
Posts
2,702
Location
Broadstairs
The Back Story:

OK so I absolutely love riding motorbikes (first word as a kid was 'bike', it's how my folks got me to keep quiet in the car), however circumstances have not let me exploit this passion.

Growing up, I longed for a bike. I got a Kawasaki AR125 when I was 16 and it was the happiest year of my life until a mate wrote it off (1st person I let have a ride smashed it into a pile of bricks, it flipped over the pile and landed on the tail light and basically crumpled both ends :( friend fine - anyway live and learn - moving on).

My folks couldn't afford to get me another bike (insurance isn't compulsory in South Africa). Since then I had a few rides on some friends bikes (Bandit 400, Fireblade 900 - instilled the fear of God in me at 20) which just reminded me how much I really want one.

I aint getting any younger so I've decided to start down the route of getting my license now so I will be ready when the time comes to be able to afford the bike I want (Honda CBR Blackbird) in hopefully a years time.

The Crux:

This Saturday I'm doing the CBT which then lets me ride a 125cc.

1: Being a heavy fellow, should I get a 125 to tide me over till next year? They are expensive for what they are and ideally I'd like a 2 stroke (eg nsr, tzr etc)

2: What is the best way to secure a bike if living in a flat without a garage or gated residence? Lock it around a lamp post?

3: The wife will epically moan because she wants a car (just passed her license) and a holiday first before I can have a 'toy' (read back story)

I am past the point of putting it off any longer and I just have to have 'something' pronto

I've even suggested the wife can have my car if I can have a bike on the proviso I get the car back on days I can't ride to work (The bus is really warm :) )

Someone mentioned that because I'm 30, after a CBT I can get up to a 500cc? Not sure on this and will clarrify when training Saturday.

Long Story Short:

How can I get a bike, keep the wife happy and do it on the cheap? if possible - any suggestions welcome or am I just mad?
 
You can only ride a 14 kw 125 on a CBT that's a restricted 2 stroke and or a standard 4 stroke CG or Varadero, you'll have to do a full mod 1 & 2 test to get anything larger. The 2 strokes you are talking about are you expecting to ride unrestricted?

I'm 6 3 and had a 125 Varadero for 6 months it was fine and dandy and is as tall and wide as a 600, now I have a BMW 650 and it's more than enough for an occasional spin on a nice day or trip to work / London, I've moved location so don't need to commute by bike daily.

Locking around a lamppost is OK if you get a decent chain in length.

Everyone is jumping on bikes so don't expect massive bargains out there at the moment because of the weather, how much have you got to spend?
 
Sounds a similar story to me, I'm doing my CBT on Saturday too, good luck! I've booked my theory for June and DAS is booked starting July 23rd. I can't wait!
 
Having just done my CBT and starting training for my DAS over the next month, my instructors were saying to others enquiring about 125's not to bother if you plan on doing the DAS as the intial outlay will be short lived by the time you pass the DAS you'll want something bigger.

If you're not sure how soon you'll complete the DAS and really want to be riding something then a 125 is the only option.
 
maccapacca said:
You can only ride a 14 kw 125 on a CBT that's a restricted 2 stroke and or a standard 4 stroke CG or Varadero, you'll have to do a full mod 1 & 2 test to get anything larger. The 2 strokes you are talking about are you expecting to ride unrestricted?

I'm 6 3 and had a 125 Varadero for 6 months it was fine and dandy and is as tall and wide as a 600, now I have a BMW 650 and it's more than enough for an occasional spin on a nice day or trip to work / London, I've moved location so don't need to commute by bike daily.

Locking around a lamppost is OK if you get a decent chain in length.

Everyone is jumping on bikes so don't expect massive bargains out there at the moment because of the weather, how much have you got to spend?
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Thanks maccapacca

My AR125 was 22hp, I can't imagine a 15hp 125 would be much fun seeing as I'm heavier now although that Varadero is very nice but mucho money for what is essentially a small lawnmower and its a 4 stroke :(

I was thinking a 125 could be had for like £500 but it appears more like £1500, then add all the gear and insurance on top of that.

reevsy said:
Sounds a similar story to me, I'm doing my CBT on Saturday too, good luck! I've booked my theory for June and DAS is booked starting July 23rd. I can't wait!
Click to expand...

Good luck mate :)
 
BennyC said:
Having just done my CBT and starting training for my DAS over the next month, my instructors were saying to others enquiring about 125's not to bother if you plan on doing the DAS as the intial outlay will be short lived by the time you pass the DAS you'll want something bigger.

If you're not sure how soon you'll complete the DAS and really want to be riding something then a 125 is the only option.
Click to expand...

Ye can only do DAS next year as ran out of holidays for this year already
 
Oxide™ said:
Thanks maccapacca

My AR125 was 22hp, I can't imagine a 15hp 125 would be much fun seeing as I'm heavier now although that Varadero is very nice but mucho money for what is essentially a small lawnmower and its a 4 stroke :(
Click to expand...

With the Varadero if you buy a cheap one that needs work or TLC then it'll hold it's money very well, I sold mine for more than I paid for it after 6 months. The V twin on the Varadero is pretty torquey, it's no racer but it was fine for me and you sort of learn how to carry speed everywhere ;)

If your after a 2 stroke 125 you can get more power but effectively you won't have a license or insurance to ride it, but it's up to you. If moneys tight going for a DAS won't help
 
After mulling it over a bit more *read wife epically moaned when I mentioned this to her* I have decided to not waste money on a 125cc and rather use this money to fund the DSA later this year and then will look at getting a CBR600 F4 (my dream bike when I was 16)

This a decent plan?
 
Oxide™ said:
After mulling it over a bit more *read wife epically moaned when I mentioned this to her* I have decided to not waste money on a 125cc and rather use this money to fund the DSA later this year and then will look at getting a CBR600 F4 (my dream bike when I was 16)
Click to expand...

You won't be wasting that much money on a 125. They're cheap, very economical to run, and there's always a market for them.
 
Morbius said:
You won't be wasting that much money on a 125. They're cheap, very economical to run, and there's always a market for them.
Click to expand...

Wasting was a bit too strong but I'm 6 foot 1 inch and weigh 21 stone - I'm really not sure a restricted 125 would be fun for me :confused:
 
Oxide™ said:
Wasting was a bit too strong but I'm 6 foot 1 inch and weigh 21 stone - I'm really not sure a restricted 125 would be fun for me :confused:
Click to expand...

6 3 and as heavy the Varadero was fine for town riding, I'd say better than a 600 in London as it was so light and tall

60 - 65 on the flat and 70 down hill the only place it struggled was places like Box Hill or Caterham Hill which only involved dropping a cog.
 
Thanks for the input guys

I've decided it's going to be a CBR600 F4i (I had wet dreams of the F3 when I was 16 and it appears the F4i is the better bike for all day use now). Funds are tight atm and I'm worried about where I'll park it once I get it (may need to move to a place with a little garden/garage in preparation as well).

So plan is:
CBT this Saturday
Do theory before august
July hopefully wife gets a car from her dad
DSA in August
All the time looking for a new place and any good deals on helmets, gear and bikes.

Man I can't wait now
Just saw this vid and creamed myself - I LOVE this sound *siiiiigh*


It will be my inspiration :D
 
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