Choosing a bike for a restricted license?

Linkex

Linkex

Linkex

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After much deliberation, I've decided to go the restricted route for my bike licence (Mostly for financial reasons)

Now, as my current financial situation is, shall we say, limited (getting married next year), I'm trying to look around and figure out how much I need to save. This is where I hit a bit of a snag - I can't figure out how to search for restricted license bikes.

At the moment, the only option I have found is to do an ebay search on all bikes, note the models and prices, and then do a google search on each bike to see if its legal, and if not, how difficult it is to restrict. Its damned time consuming, and the info on restricing seems to be a bit hit and miss at best.

Is there a better way? Is there a particular CC I should be searching for? All the forums I've seen just say "Get this or that bike", which is great, but kind of assumes that I like this or that bike. Really I want a method that will let me consider all bikes.
 
Restriction types tend to come in all shapes and sizes depending on the age and make of the bike.

You're probably best finding a bike you like the look of then checking on whether or not there is a restriction kit available for it.

I had a 2009 Kawasaki ER-6f (650cc) whilst I was on my restricted license. The restriction kit was basically a module you plug into a socket under the seat and a screw that stops the throttle from fully opening.
 
CBF 500, get one of those, get it restricted, fantastic bikes, most test centres use them. Beyond reliable.

Can't go wrong :)
 
Hi Linkex, I just wrote a large post but then lost it, typical!

I'm on a restricted licence right now due to being under 21, but my restriction is due to expire soon. If you have any specific restriction questions then I'll most likely be able to help.

We can't do much until you tell us what 'look' of bike you like, or want. I wouldn't recommend going higher than 600cc as when restricted, bigger bikes weigh a lot more, and it would be just like driving a bus using a hamster wheel as an engine. It will be big, heavy, slow and drink fuel like no tomorrow, you just wouldn't see the benefit.

I found this for you, perhaps you can have a flick through and see what you like the look of best. Some bikes in it are getting on a bit now, but there is usually a modern equivalent. They are only small capacity bikes generally but it'll let us put you on the right track, so to speak. http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/N...s/2008/September/sep1508-top-ten-33bhp-bikes/

Personally, I chose to opt for a v-twin bike like my SV650S. They're cheap, easy to get and easy to restrict. As a v-twin, they're not as powerful as the 4 cylinder bike when derestricted (fazer 600, honda hornet, honda cbr600, suzuki gsxr600 etc) but instead, they have the majority of their power at the middle of the rev range. This means they generally accelerate pretty well for sensible road speeds, and I find I don't have to be through the gearbox all the time to find the best power.

Benefits of getting a bigger bike and restricting are that you get familiar with the weight and handling a big bike. Also, like me, when you come out of your restriction, you can just pull the restrictor out (mine takes 10 mins to fit/remove) and you can be on your way with a full power 'big' bike for no extra charge. However, you must keep on top of the servicing costs and tyres of a big bike, I service mine at home so I know exactly what's going in my bike and I know everything is spot on.

If you get a small bike like a 250cc which are coming back into popularity, the max power they make is 33bhp (so no restriction) but you will need to sell the bike when you come to upgrade to a bigger bike. Although they are good on fuel, and don't use big tyres like my bike does. I still average about 60mpg, even when driving quickly on a run.

If you could somehow fund the extra £200 or so for a derestricted test, then do that. It's cheaper and more flexible in the long run. Also try to do your bike test before the possible changes in 2013, which is effectively going to kill the licences, and I'm afraid there will be next to no young motorcyclists like me around (or under 25) as the licences are getting ridiculously difficult to jump onto a derestricted bike.

Hope this helps

EDIT: As agnes said above, bikes like the CBF600 are used regularly by schools. They're quite well but from what I've read, they're excellent for starting out, but most riders generally get bored of them. They're only a simple commuter motorcycle, and are good for that, but for fun you may want to look elsewhere would you've developed some experience.
 
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I'm on a restricted license at the moment. I ride a mark 1 bandit 600 restricted and I love it. it'll still do a ton and it's a awsome bike. Definately have that as one of your options. Insurance for me was dirt cheap too :)
 
Thanks for the replys guys, especially scythe for typing it twice, sucks when that happens. The question of what kind of bike I want is a tricky one, as I've not had that much exposure to them. I always fancied the idea of a bike, but I only recently got one for financial reasons (Cheaper commute, and a green allowance scheme at work :)). Suprisingly I'm now in love with bikes, but because its a new found love and I don't have any real experience with bikes, I don't know what my ideal partner looks like, or how she handles.

I'm not going to lie, image matters to me in this, if I'm riding a bike, I want to feel like I look cool, and to my mind, the dayglo leathers on a asian superbike isn't a look I would feel "cool" in (Not to critise those who do, just saying its not me) But at the same time, I don't want to be sat back on a cruiser pottering along on top of a car engine on two wheels, blowing out windows when I rev it.

From the looking around I've done, I think that something in the "streetfighter" vein might be where I want to be.

Screw it, I'll decribe whats in my head. When I imagine a "cool" biker, its black leathers. They sit on a machine that looks like it was made by taking a sheet of bad attitude, hammering it round an engine and painting it black. That bike that makes you think of a dog, a sleek yet powerful dog, that could bite your head off in one, and the only reason it isn't is because it is just barley manageing to contain the pure rage it has that your daring to exist.

I don't know why, I'm honestly a quite nice guy. But for some reason, when it comes to a bike, I want a look that makes people wonder how long its been since I last killed. (Well maybe not quite, but you get what I mean)

Is that just me? I've always heard that most bikers are really nice people, so do all nice guys on bikes want to look like a badass? Am I just having my teenage motorbike phase in my late 20s? The advice is apprecaited guys
 
Don't ride bikes because you wanna 'look cool', ride bikes because you enjoy it. Go and get your CBT under your belt and see if you enjoy it, if you don't, it might not be for you and you'll be throwing a lot of money away.

As for your bike, how about something like a Yamaha FZ6 or the Triumph Speed Triple as someone said previously? I believe the FZ6 is a lot more beginner friendly though, a good look would be for the ER6N.

There are also older bikes, the Fazer 600 (changed name to FZ6 recently), Honda Hornet, Kawasaki Z750 (might be too big for restriction though).

Take note of the point I mentioned about saving for your derestricted test instead. Sounds like you would be much better off taking that route rather than being stuck for 2 years like I am.
 
lol, I take your point scythe, but (and I realise I should have mentioned this) I already ride, did my CBT about 6 months ago and have been riding daily to work since. Its because of this I know I love riding, the wanting to look cool thing is secondary. If the law said all bikes have to be hot pink, I'd still ride one. But seeing as I have an option, thats where I am looking.

After looking around, the Hyosung GT250 looks right up my street - anyone have any experiences with them? Googleing it turns up a lot of forum posts, but they are all either completly positive or completley negative. Does this mean they are great unless they have a failure of some kind?
 
Are you not better off just spending the extra £200 on doing the unrestricted license rather than spend £100 on getting whatever bike restricted.

If you do the full license you can then choose from any bike you see on Biketrader, but if you do the restricted license you're then limited to finding one that is already restricted or paying £100 to get it restricted.
 
If I can do the full test for £200, then I probobly would, but how do I do it for that much? As far as I'm aware, bike schools will only let you take a test on one of thier machines if you take thier course, which runs to nearly £700 at my local school. Is there some kind of bike test rental scheme I'm not aware of or something?

As for paying to get a bike restricted, if I get a restricted license, I will look to buy a bike that is under the 33bhp limit from the start, and then move up to a bigger bike when the 2 years are up.
 
Hyosung is a Korean bike, some may say they are unreliable and personally i would stay away, have you looked at the Kawasaki Ninja 250R? Basically the same bike just japanese so probably a tad more reliable. It may also help if you have a budget in mind.
 
Thanks. Its more a case of trying to figure out what my budget needs to be so that I can save towards it. If the GT250 would do, then I would save towards that, if not, I'd save towards a ninja.
 
Linkex said:
Screw it, I'll decribe whats in my head. When I imagine a "cool" biker, its black leathers. They sit on a machine that looks like it was made by taking a sheet of bad attitude, hammering it round an engine and painting it black. That bike that makes you think of a dog, a sleek yet powerful dog, that could bite your head off in one, and the only reason it isn't is because it is just barley manageing to contain the pure rage it has that your daring to exist.

I don't know why, I'm honestly a quite nice guy. But for some reason, when it comes to a bike, I want a look that makes people wonder how long its been since I last killed. (Well maybe not quite, but you get what I mean)

Is that just me? I've always heard that most bikers are really nice people, so do all nice guys on bikes want to look like a badass? Am I just having my teenage motorbike phase in my late 20s? The advice is apprecaited guys
Click to expand...

You'll be wanting a Superdream.

superdream09030302.jpg
 
Linkex said:
From the looking around I've done, I think that something in the "streetfighter" vein might be where I want to be.
Click to expand...

You could perhaps look at the SV650 replacement, the "Gladius". If you look beyond the stupid name, it's a very good bike that gets excellent reviews and is a perfect entry level middleweight. Suzuki sell a restricted ECU to limit the power as well, so it's literally a plug and play operation to fit.

If you fancy something more exotic, and don't mind spending a bit more on servicing etc. then perhaps consider the smaller Ducati Monster.
 
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