Motorcycle - what to get?

Scort said:
It’s going to be hard not to focus on a sports bike for me, I have been working towards getting one for the last few years now, and have made a lot of cuts and sacrifices to get to the point I am at today.
Click to expand...

He doesnt mean don't go for a sports bike, he means there's little point in going for the sportiest most track/tricked/focused sports bike because you wont be getting anywhere near the most out of it, being a new rider and all. CBR600F and pre 2002 ZX6R's are sports bikes that are more user friendly.

A nice very late 90's to early 2000 sports bike around £2000-2500 will be perfect (Well a 600cc sports bike is never perfect for a new rider!) because it'll handle very well, but not razor sharp, it'll be very fast but not as manic as the new ones, it'll do everything the new ones do but be more user friendly and comfortable. In the right hands they're just as fast (on the road atleast) but you shouldnt be worried about that for the time being, if you get right on it and try to be the next Rossi, you wont last long.

imo it's better to start off with a smaller engined bike, starting off on bigger bikes teaches you poor cornering habits and general point 'n squirt. Besides cornering is where the funs at.
 
congrats on passing your test. :) The last thing you're gonna want to hear is people telling you sports bikes don't make the best bikes for new riders, when its a sports bike you really want! Check out some of the cheaper naked range bikes, but if they don't do it for you, then I'd suggest you don't spend too much since your more likely to drop the bike as a new rider, even if you're at a standstill (drop my first bike on my drive due to not being used to the weight, doh!). Have a sit on various 600s and see which fits your frame better.

Also make sure you take it easy round country lanes. Too many bikers crash going too fast into bends, which is very easy to do on a modern sports bike, even for more experienced riders. Might be an idea to get down to a track day and get some help on your cornering. It will also allow you to get the most out of your new bike. :)
 
jimblowscash said:
ive been in a similar position, i was looking at ducati monsters, vfr's bandits anything that was comfy to ride in a town and that could cope with a bit of motorway work. i had similar budget and ended up goin for this

bike2.jpg
[/IMG]

its a buell city cross 1000cc harley lump, its really torquey and revs well, service every 5000 miles at a cost of 180 its belt driven so no chain maintance, it so comfortable to ride as its quite upright but the handaling is superb as its got such a short wheelbase , theres loads of trick design there as well that makes it a joy to ride, not to mention the harley v twin soundtrack.. i do arround 80 miles everyday on it, it went in for a service the other week and they lent me a 900 bandit for the week, it was horribile!!

seriously go and have a good look and if poss a ride of the buell, it might not be the quickest or the quietest but it is by far the most fun
Click to expand...


Mmm, how much was that, Me like :)

900 Bandit? no wonder it felt crap, it doesn't even exist does it?
 
Don't get a sportsbike. New rider + fast bikes = injuries (most of the time).

Start off on something less powerful and less focused, a 400-600cc machine, SV650, ER5 etc, Bros 400 (what I ride). A similar bike to one you take your test on (I assume DAS).

Buy it second-hand, save a bundle on the bike+insurance, get some decent kit to ride in. Then couple of years down the line when you know what you are doing a bit more, you can hop on a sportier bike and be a whole lot faster. You will have better lines, better anticipation, better roadcraft and you will probably know what will happen if you grab the front brake whilst going round a tight corner and how to avoid this situation.
 
Thanks for the additional comments guys :)

I intend to book myself onto one of those bike safe things, along with some sort of advanced rider course if possible - to give me experience of really using my bike.

To be honest, I have lost any interest in speeding in my car, it just doesn't appeal to me now, and although the bike is a completely different world, I don't think I will suddenly change to some sort of 'speed demon' overnight; I have more respect for myself than to start ragging the bike straight away.

It was DAS I took on Friday, the bike I rode then was a Suzuki GS500, quite nice bike to be honest, possibly something I will look at as well, most of the 'sport' 600s I have in mind are lighter than this also.

Not sure about bigger engined bikes teaching bad habits, surely that would be down the the rider? But either way, I don't have the experience to say otherwise, I'm certainly not going to assume that I can really ride the bike; this will take several months, even years no doubt.

Scort.
 
I like your sig Scort, it is from 'So I married An Axe Murderer' isnt it?

'Look at the size of the boys heed.'

'Cries himself to sleep at night on his huuge pillow'

Scort - my recommendations would be to gradually make your way up to bigger bikes. Start small get bigger. When I jumped off my 125 onto my 400, the step up in acceleration was amazing, real adrenaline pumper, 6 months on and I wish the 400 would go that bit faster. So Ill probably get a 600 after the 400, and have the same adrenaline boost, then just work my way up. That way you get more from bikes, if you jump on a fireblade, you miss out all the fun working your way up to it. Just my opinion.
 
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R 636

Great bikes, my first bike was a ZX6R and loved it, Kawasaki's just have more atitude about them IMO.


Suzuki GSX-R600 (2004-2005 version)

My Mate has one of these and I dont really rate it to be honest, serious lack of power low down, better sinec hes dropped a cog up front but still lacking in grunt to the Kwaker. The riding position also doesnt suit me at all, im 6 3" and i just feel so uncomftable on it.


Suzuki GSX-R750 (again the 2004-2005 version)

If you like the looks and riding postion of the 600 but want a bit more grunt then give these a whirl, a true classic


Honda CBR600RR

Earlier ones are seriously lacking in midrange, but there not flappy at all, dont know who told you that, I found it very stable. also it looks the absolutle nuts. buy far the best looking 600 on the road I think. dont rule it out, im looking for a decent one at the moment for the missus.


Yamaha R6

Shocked its not on your list, amazing bike, the midrange leaves the honda and Gixers for dust, great top end to.


Its really a tough one mate, they will all go round a track within a couple of seconds of each other, all put out around the same BHP (bar the 750 of course) it really comes down to which one you like the look of and feel the most comftable riding.

If it was my money I would be looking at an R6, CBR600RR or the new Triumph. the extra grunt of the R6 and Triumph would make thinks more fun and useable on the UK roads.
 
Just to chuck another suggestion in, the Triumph Street Tripple is apparently going to £5500 brand new. I rode a 675 yesterday and the engine is just superb. Tons and tons of mid range - felt much stronger than the usual 600's. Just a shame its physically about the size of a 125, but I think the street is a bit bigger.

DM1180080896.jpg
 
Sagalout said:
Just to chuck another suggestion in, the Triumph Street Tripple is apparently going to £5500 brand new. I rode a 675 yesterday and the engine is just superb. Tons and tons of mid range - felt much stronger than the usual 600's. Just a shame its physically about the size of a 125, but I think the street is a bit bigger.
Click to expand...

yea the 675 and 636 are awesome bikes, only abit more CC than a usual 600 but on a bike it makes soo much difference lol, on most tests they wipe the floor with usual 600 suspects, i love the look of the old 636 but the riding position was no good for me and yea ** right the 675 is so damn light and puny lol shame its a nice engine
 
Sagalout said:
the Triumph Street Tripple is apparently going to £5500 brand new.
Click to expand...

That'll wipe the floor with the Z if it's reliable at that price. I'd love a Street Triple, if I didn't hear so many people whine about how often they're in the workshop (not broken, just being serviced... again!)
 
a.hay said:
I like your sig Scort, it is from 'So I married An Axe Murderer' isnt it?
Click to expand...

Sure is :) "We haaave a piper doon.... It's alright he's just ******" :D

Thanks for the advice, it seems to be a general consensus, guess it's the route most bikers take.


Nice break-down kidloco, it was mainly MCN reviews that I have been reading and a few UK video reviews on youtube, I was dead set on a CBR600RR; it has been my desktop for the last few years.

The Triumph garage is near my place of work, I had eyed up the Daytona 675 about a year ago, a really nice bike that, will have to take a test ride methinks.

I didn't list the R6 as I don't really like the look of the pre 2007 models - it's just something stupid really, the gap between the front, err... 'nose', and mudguard looks massive. Silly I know, but enough to put me off the bike :(

As with all the other advice I have now, I'll keep your comments in mind when I start looking around.

Scort.
 
Sagalout said:
Just to chuck another suggestion in, the Triumph Street Tripple is apparently going to £5500 brand new. I rode a 675 yesterday and the engine is just superb. Tons and tons of mid range - felt much stronger than the usual 600's. Just a shame its physically about the size of a 125, but I think the street is a bit bigger.[/IMG]
Click to expand...

Looks nice, I had a look at these when I was in the show room last time, along with some mahoosive 2.3 "Classic"; now that thing was massive!

The 675 shouldn't be a problem, I'm not a strapping 6" :p

Scort.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom