Aprilia RS125

[mindgam3]

Im looking to get my first bike in a few months. Ive never riden before, but Ive got a car in which i passed my test first time about a year ago. Im looking to get an RS125. Just wanted to know a few things....

Is it worth buying brand new? What sort of age bike will i get for £3000 or should i save a bit more and go for a new model?

After ive (hopefully) passed my CBT test, i take it your not allowed to ride a bike more powerful than 11kw. The RS125 is 32bhp (about 23kw) and therefore id have to wait till i pass my actual test before i can ride it. Shall i take my test and learn on a bike provided by my instructors and buy the bike after ive passed? Or can i restrict until ive passd my 125 test??

Whats will my insurance be like, comprehensive and TPFT? (im 18, will probly be 19 when i start riding. garaged, living in cambridge, not the centre, and have a full drivers license)

And lastly, would you buy an RS, a mito or an nsr, with roughly £3000 to spend?

[Scotty]

Sorry for evil post.
But check the FAQ topics in the forum.

Most your questions will be answered their.
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Regards
Scott

[Kickstart]

Hi

On CBT you can ride a bike of up to 11kW. The RS125 can be restricted, normally just by disconnecting the power valve or replacing the power valve with a blanking piece. If you buy one new (and £3000 would just about buy you an import, probably) then make very sure you get the parts to derestrict it when you want to. Otherwise you are looking at several hundred pounds worth of parts. Some dealers just disconnect the wiring (so derestricting it takes about 2 minutes), some remove the power valve, the operating solonoid and the control unit (and then probably charge you £200 for it when you want it).

Fully comp your insurance will be frightening at your age.

Personally I would say to spend around £1000 (£1500 tops) on an older sports 125). Chances are that you will want a larger bike reasonably soon, and if so the amount you loose will be minimised. If you stick with the 125 then you are not loosing out on performance (indeed, it seems the older RS125 is quicker than the new ones). Furthermore it is likely that you will damage the bike (even if that is just learning how not to use the side stand), and on an older bike minor damage will only have a nominal affect on the value.

I have an RS125, and I do like it (I have owned it over 10 years from new). I think the Mito is a lovely looking bike and nicely engineered. The NSR is not as quick or as well braked as the other 2, but the softer suspension might well be better if you do much of your miles on tight bumpy roads, and they are also a touch slimmer.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Laura]

Do you're full test and buy a bigger bike and have that restricted for a few weeks.
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Good girls ride motorcycles bad girls thrash them.

[mindgam3]

Thanks kickstart ill take all that into consideration Im heading off to Uni after my gap year so i probably wont be able to afford a bigger bike until ive finished that, but it will give me a chance to build up my NCB's. What would u roughly say my insurance would be for TPFT? I tried a quick quote with bennets and got around £600 - £700 depending on the age of the RS, this sound about right?

Also what and how much should i spend on equipment? eg. gloves, helmet etc

Im not sure if anyone here rides bigger bikes but anyone got a guess for how much insurance would be on a newish 600 after 3 - 5 years of NCB's for a 23 yr old say?

Cheers for your help everyone, much appreciated

[carvell]

[Kickstart]

[stevo as b4]

Erm it was 2001 when i was 23 and had a new 600. It cost me £1120 FC with 2yr NCB, last premium was £404FC, so it does drop eventually suppose.
BTW i agree with keith, get an older late 80's, early 90's 125 for less than £1k and spend maybe £5-600 tarting it up and making it nice, then you will have a bike thats very nearly as good as an RS, but loads cheaper to insure and it could still look nice. I saw an E reg TZR in blue/white with the white wheels yesterday, and i dont know if it had a new fairing on it but it looked mint! Thats the sort of 125 id go for.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Just quick pointers as to what is available:-

Aprilia AF1 Sintesi
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2464377921&category=9913&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBWA%3AIT&rd=1

Yamaha TZR125
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2464735834&category=9809

Gilera SP02 or Crono (it is not a GFR)
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2464553439&category=9923&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBWA%3AIT&rd=1

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[priller]

I bought a new RS125 three years ago and I'm glad I spent the extra. Most problems seem to be with second hand bikes.

[dainesefreak]

You could also try somewhere like H&R Insurance who will let you use your car NCB. www.insurance2000.co.uk

[priller]

Try rampadle, CIA or mitchell and partners.

[dainesefreak]

As he has said he already drives a car I thought someone who will let him use his car no claims might be useful?

[priller]

[dainesefreak]

I had four RS', have you done your test yet? What you considering next?

[priller]

[dainesefreak]

Nice one, I've owned a 2001 model R6 too. Nice bike. The GSXR600 of the same year was supposed to be more stable at the front over the B road twisties though. What year are you thinking of getting?

[priller]

Probably be 2001, first of the K model suzuki's. Mates just bought one and its feels faster than a R6 i've ridden.

BTW I worked in a bike dealer so I've ridden lots of newish bikes.

[mindgam3]

yeah sounds jus about what i wanna do. Would you recommend the RS as a first bike then if im looking to ride jus sport bikes when im older?? Would it be possible to pass my 125 test on the instructor companies bikes then buy a 32bhp RS once ive passed instead of having to find a restricted one and then derestrict it once i pass. Surely insurance would be cheaper as well if i waited till i had passed?? Or would you recommend taking and practicing for the test on an RS??

[Ste]

[G1_]

You sound like you have a plan!
Make sure you don't spend to much on a 125 as new ones depreciate very quickly! The rs is a good bike and although people here might not admit it I would say that it is nicer than an nsr if you find a good one.
As people have said it is not hard to restrict/derestrict a rs. Therefore just look for any one and worry about restricting later.

btw, note if you have £3000 for a rs then that is pleanty for a bigger bike. It would get you a nice 400 or a slightly older 600.
IMO if you can get a decent 400 for £1500-£2000 then a 125 shouldn't be worth more than £1000. A common mistake for young people getting into bikes is that they spend too much on a 125.

[McJamweasel]

Shaun had his test cancelled because when he turned up on his RS he couldn't prove that it was restricted.
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BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

[Ste]

True. But that would still of happened had the bike been restricted or de-restricted. And they let him do it another time didn't they?

[EuropeanNC30R...]

I think Shaun got proof from a dealer it was restricted, if it was derestricted he could have had a problem.

[McJamweasel]

Nope. He could of gotten proof but he ended up doing his test on a cg anyway.
____________________
BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.