Post your bikes thread

Damn damn damn. Just done an HPI check on the bike and it's showing as a cat C write-off. Oddly, the date of the writeoff is 21 May 2037 so I'm not entirely sure what to make of that.

Not sure if it really is an issue for me or not, and how to proceed. I've paid a deposit on the bike but am not due to collect it until Monday, so have time to sort it out.

Apart from the seller, is there any way of finding out more on a Cat C write-off.
 
Just done another check and it came back as cat C with a date of april 2001. I'll go back to him tomorrow and see what he has to say. I think he won't have any details, in which case I'll be walking away.
Knew it was too good to be true...
 
Got the lowdown on the Cat C and it's all fine.
Got another £200 off and so got it for £1600. Cat C or not, it's brilliant value in my book.

Grinning from ear to ear on the way home with it today, even in the pouring rain!
 
What's the deal with Cat C damage? If fixed, is it legal to ride it on the road? What's wrong with owning/buying a Cat C damaged vehicle?
 
Means it has been written off by an insurance company as not economically viable to repair. In my case it was that the cost of replacing the fairings and exhaust using main dealer part prices and labour was more than 50% of the value of the bike. It was written off as category C, but the owner bought it back from the insurance company and had the bits replaced themselves.
Once repaired it has to be MOT'd successfully then the MOT verified before the bike can be ridden again.

Depending on the damage, it can be a scary proposition for a potential buyer but if you know what you are looking for it is a great way to bag bargains. I'd like to say my bargain was intentional, but it was a fluke!

The only ongoing negatives are that it will scare off potential buyers, those who aren't scared off will expect a lower price and that many dealers won't accept a Cat C in part-ex for a new bike.
None of those are issues for me as I don't change bikes very often so by the time I want rid it will be a bag of bolts anyway!
 
sunama said:
I've done some research on the subject of "first big bikes" and fazers are good bikes, especially when you consider they are reliable and can be bought for cheap.

Personally though, I feel that the Honda CB500's are the bikes to get, if you are using them predominantly for commuting purposes. The reliability on the CB500 is legendary, which is always a good thing. A lot of training schools use the CB500 to teach on, for good reason. If you are buying the bike not for commuting, then the CB500 might not be for you.
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Well the bike will be for comuting and for getting to datacenters around London, seeing folks out Surrey way and touring.

Ive covered 3k+ miles since march after my CBT and have my DAS 28th August so really want a proper bike that will munch the miles.

It was either a CBR600F or a Fazer - prefering the Fazer's slightly more upright position to the CBR plus the bigger tank plus reckon the Fazer wont look as pants as the CBR with a rear pillion box on for my tools and equipment.

Seems like a good reliable bike plus I do repairs and work myself.

Either way will be a big step up from the hairdryer powered CBR125!
 
sunama said:
I can see your point. But if its your first big bike, you wont want something ridiculously powerful. And if you intend to use the bike for commuting, the last thing you want is a bike that really makes you work hard - imagine arriving at work, mentally and physically tired, before you have even started your shift.
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But also imagine arriving at work with a grin on your face instead of a sour grimace. You'd be working far harder on a CB500 to make progress. The CBR is silky smooth, and has plenty of power when you want it, yes, but it's rev-happy so you can ride it at two tenths all day and never feel flustered, stressed or tired. I've ridden both, and I'd use a CBR6 over a CB any day for commuting. The new CBR6 with ABS would be an excellent all-year commuter option that also cuts it on the weekends.

I'm guessing here that you own a CB500?

Also, consider that as it is your first big bike, there is a higher likelihood that you may end up dropping the bike. I would much rather drop a Honda CB500 than a CBR600RR, for example.
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Most learner spills are low-speed. It's a bit silly to get a vastly inferior bike and suffer the same depreciation just because you might drop it. Get a pair of crash bungs fitted, job done.

Consider also that the insurance on a CB500 (as your first big bike, after passing test), will also be comparatively low, on top of the CB500s low fuel consumption, running costs and super reliability.

The CB500 is arguably the best bike to buy, if you have just passed your test.
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Insurance is lower because, frankly it's a fairly dull, 50bhp commuter. The CBR is a performance bike. I started riding on a CBR6 straight off a 125 back in the days when 125s were all you could learn on. I couldn't believe how easy it was to ride- really surefooted, and such progressive and soft power deliver that it wasn't intimidating in the least. I'd advise any new rider to get a 600 and proper post-test training rather than buy a bike with far inferior handling and brakes. Performance should count towards safety when used correctly. If you're intending to ride sportsbikes at some time, I'd say it's far better to make the transition early and get proper training while you are still receptive to it, rather than leave it later when you're more likely to be set into bad habits.
 
kippermitten said:
Well the bike will be for comuting and for getting to datacenters around London, seeing folks out Surrey way and touring.

Ive covered 3k+ miles since march after my CBT and have my DAS 28th August so really want a proper bike that will munch the miles.

It was either a CBR600F or a Fazer - prefering the Fazer's slightly more upright position to the CBR plus the bigger tank plus reckon the Fazer wont look as pants as the CBR with a rear pillion box on for my tools and equipment.

Seems like a good reliable bike plus I do repairs and work myself.

Either way will be a big step up from the hairdryer powered CBR125!
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Hehehe. I use the CBR125 and know exactly what you are talking about. You are fine upto around 35mph, after which, accelerating becomes a little cumbersome, almost as if the bike is dragging a vehicle behind it.

Out of those 2 bikes, I would opt for the CBR600F, if only for the reliability. Have a read of the reviews and you will see that hte CBR600F is one of the best first 600cc bikes you can get. The fazer isnt bad either, but the CBR600F is rated higher. I think the Fazers are slightly cheaper though, so if you can get the Fazer for a good price, then that would be an excellent option.

I would personally opt for the CB500 as the first bike, due to the reliability, fuel economy and the fact that in London, you wont be breaking 70mph. In fact, most of the time, you will be trotting around at 30-40mph.
 
sunama said:
Hehehe. I use the CBR125 and know exactly what you are talking about. You are fine upto around 35mph, after which, accelerating becomes a little cumbersome, almost as if the bike is dragging a vehicle behind it.

Out of those 2 bikes, I would opt for the CBR600F, if only for the reliability. Have a read of the reviews and you will see that hte CBR600F is one of the best first 600cc bikes you can get. The fazer isnt bad either, but the CBR600F is rated higher. I think the Fazers are slightly cheaper though, so if you can get the Fazer for a good price, then that would be an excellent option.

I would personally opt for the CB500 as the first bike, due to the reliability, fuel economy and the fact that in London, you wont be breaking 70mph. In fact, most of the time, you will be trotting around at 30-40mph.
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I see where your coming from on the CB500 - but this will also be my primary mode of transport so has to have a fun and power element as well.

I need to ride the two bikes before I commit obviously...Ill be doing my pre DAS lesson on a Kawasaki ER5 so who knows, may like them a lot as well!

Im so wanting to get the DAS done and get riding a proper bike, only a month off :-(
 
Let us know how the DAS goes.

The Honda CBR600F is a good looking bike and is also the most expensive out of all the bikes you've listed.

If style is important to you, thats the one I'd go for. Thats the one that was on my shortlist, before I read up about the CB500 (cheaper, reliable, better fuel economy and great for riding in and around London).

One thing to look up is the fuel economy and tank ranges of all the bikes you've shortlisted.

If memory serves me correctly, the Kawasaki ER5 has got a nice low seat, which obviously gives confidence to newer riders.
 
My Triumph Street Triple. I love it!



Street-Triple-Rea-smallr.jpg
 
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Lovely bike! I wanted one, but Triumph refused to let me out on one :rolleyes:

^yep Flukester, all like that & the Speed Triple (1050) is the same as well. KTM also run that setup on all of their LC8 bikes (950/990 SM/SMT/Superduke). Yamaha's MT01 is similar, as is the Ducati Hypermotard, later Honda VFRs, Suzuki BKing and Aprilia Shiver/Dorsoduro. I'm a fan of twin underseat cans... almost all of the bikes I short listed had 'em :o
 
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Yep they are all twin underseat cans, Have got Twin Zards on one I use and its sounds gorgeous :D
Looks like this but with no baffles and a nice zard logo on the side:

04_zard_street_triple_07.jpg


You can also get just a single exhaust arrow option from the factory for the street triple, not heard it though but its for track orientated I think less weight and all that :p
 
Draeger said:
When I'm on dayshift I leave the house at about 7.20am. Don't think the neighbours mind the noise. No one has mentioned it yet at least. :cool:
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Trust me, noise complaints are very high. Leave the removing of baffles for 16 year olds on mopeds. At the moment the authorities take it out on the race tracks which is the opposite of what should be happening.
 
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