Test - First big bike, help please!

Pez

Pez

Pez

Soldato
Joined
20 Oct 2002
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Location
Warwickshire
Hi all,

I've been riding a Yamaha SR125 for 2 years on CBT. Clocked up a fair amount of miles (30miles a day, 5 days a week) so have plenty of road experience - and it's my sole method of transport come rain or shine!

I've decided that in the next few weeks I'm going to book my MOD1 / MOD2 tests so that I can ride a bigger bike. So far, I've settled on a CB500 as unrestricted it does everything I need, has a V-Twin, and is easy to restrict for the first 2 years.

Can anyone offer me any suggestions? Am I making a fairly sound choice, any alternatives?

My reasoning behind going Accelerated Access rather than DAS is purely financial, I just don't have the money to lay down at the moment, and am relying on needing little/no training in order to pass on a 125 given current experience.

Thanks in advance for any pointers :)
 
My understanding is that CB/CBF500s are bomb proof, cheap to insure, very cheap to run and not terribly exciting. Ideal first bike.
 
I had a cb500 when I was restricted to 33bhp. It was cheap, fast enough (when compared with a 125), got great mpg, and was also pretty easy to do mechanical work on. It isn't a v twin though, it's a parallel twin. It also didn't lose much value when I came to sell it.

Sometimes I wish I'd kept it, but garage space was an issue. Perhaps it was because it was my first proper bike, but I always felt it was a great bike. Handled very well too.
 
UPDATE.

Given my CBT is about to expire, I've now booked on to my first day of DAS next Sunday :) Theory test to be booked this evening, MOD1/2 after I get through Sunday to assess where I'm at.

Given the wait times locally (Reddich - 8-10 weeks!) I think I'll be booking ASAP.

Wish me luck! :D
 
If you can't find one then you'll have to choose something else, I'm not a fan of bikes where there are only a few for sale they will behigher in price and your not going to have a lot of choice,

Try something else, Hornet Fazer Bandit all pretty much the same
 
Pez said:
I've decided that in the next few weeks I'm going to book my MOD1 / MOD2 tests so that I can ride a bigger bike. So far, I've settled on a CB500 as unrestricted it does everything I need, has a V-Twin, and is easy to restrict for the first 2 years.

Can anyone offer me any suggestions? Am I making a fairly sound choice, any alternatives?
Click to expand...


It's a parallel twin as mentioned above. Certainly one of the better built mid-capacity commuter machines, they have a very good reputation. Twin cylinder alternatives would be the Kawasaki ER6, Suzuki SV650 or ER5/GS500 if you are on a tight budget. The CB500 is a much better bike than the latter two though.
 
Thanks for the advice all!

Day 1 of DAS completed today, and I must say I'm still grinning! My ride school use Honda CB400s - Really enjoyed myself!

Instructor was happy with my riding, positioning and lane disipline was good, observations were good but need brushing up - machine control was excellent.

Theory is booked for Sept 4th, 2nd lesson Sept 5th.

I sat my CBT 2 years ago with the same school, and after today they are confident that I'll only need one more lesson to be test ready.

Happy days :D
 
I was on a tight budget too and did a restricted license even though I do regret it now.

I have a restricted CBF600, it really does have good acceleration, more than you would probably want even though some people never have enough. Great bike overall, definitely good first bike imo and you don't look like some pizza delivery guy anymore.

The only thing that I miss from my YBR125 is fuel consumption. I could do 200 miles on £8-9 worth of fuel. On my current bike I use at least 2-3 times as much.
 
Pez said:
Hi all,

I've been riding a Yamaha SR125 for 2 years on CBT. Clocked up a fair amount of miles (30miles a day, 5 days a week) so have plenty of road experience - and it's my sole method of transport come rain or shine!

I've decided that in the next few weeks I'm going to book my MOD1 / MOD2 tests so that I can ride a bigger bike. So far, I've settled on a CB500 as unrestricted it does everything I need, has a V-Twin, and is easy to restrict for the first 2 years.

Can anyone offer me any suggestions? Am I making a fairly sound choice, any alternatives?

My reasoning behind going Accelerated Access rather than DAS is purely financial, I just don't have the money to lay down at the moment, and am relying on needing little/no training in order to pass on a 125 given current experience.

Thanks in advance for any pointers :)
Click to expand...

the cb500`s are inline twin not v-twin
 
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