Comming up 21

[Kit]

Hi guys just found these forums, just traveled 4 hours back from uni so i'm a little knackered. Sorry for any crappy spelling or if I my typing skills suck in advance.

Ok so i'm coming up to 21 now and therefore I will be able to ride something with a little bite

Now i'll be straight I haven't even passed my CBT but i've ridden motorcross since I was old enough to get on a 50cc pee wee, and i've always wanted a road bike but i've never been able to afford it.

Plus i've never really been attracted to driving smaller low capacity bikes even though I can appreciate that they are the building blocks to riding well on the more powerful machines which I will soon have access to.

The question is: What can I ride?

As I mentioned before i'm a student, but i've got a high paying job this summer and I already have a fair bit saved to buy a bike.

I've been told the 1200cc suzuki bandit is a good choice because it isn't high on insurance grouping? And i've also been advised that bikes such as the Honda 600cc CBF...etc are good big(ish) bikes to start on.

The bike I really like is the Suzuki 600cc GSXR, can't remember the model year but I had a go on a friends and it was an utter blast. Lovely to ride and really attractive... however I doubt any insurer would bother with even giving me a quote for one?

So I put the question to you: Which bike? I'm 6ft 3" and I weigh about 14 stone, this will also be my primary mode of transportation all year round.

I'm 21 in september so there isn't any rush yet of course but i'm just trying to build up my knowledge base and narrow the choices down to a select few so I don't end up with something I don't want or doesn't suit me as well as another bike.

Cheers for any help or advice!

-Kit

[MarkJ]

First of all, welcome to the forums

There are plenty of people on here who started off with 600cc sports bikes and found them fine. I'd imagine you'd be fine with one of those with doing motocross most of your life.

My first bike was (and is) a Honda 600 CBF (Hornet) that you mentioned, and I find it the perfect first big bike to start on: it's lightish, has gentle handling and there isn't that much power untill you really give it the beans.

I know that the Bandit 600 is quite a low insurance group, don't know about the 1200, I can't see it being horrendously bad though.

DAS and riding kit does cost quite a bit though, so start saving those pennies!

Sports bikes can be quite cramped for taller riders, but it's a case of having to sit on some at the dealers to see how they are. The Hornet is fine for me and I'm 6' 1".

Insurance shouldn't be too bad if you get a non-sportsbike: mine was £683 Fully Comp with no NCB.

[Kit]

Cheers for the warm welcome, I was partially expecting to get my head bitten off for wanting to start on a big bike!

What do you mean by non-sports bike? Something less than 100ish bhp?

My short list still stands at the bandit and cbf. Anymore reccomendations?

Also does anyone know where I could find a list of motorbikes and their corrosponding insurance grouping?

Cheers!

[_Will_]

Again welcome.
First question, when you turn 21 you can do DAS mentioned above- this means you can ride anything.
Second question, i would suggest a detuned street version of a sports bike or a street style - will give you enough but not too much grunt for starting, be better for a main form of transport, be more comfortable and in a lower insurance group.
Things like yamaha FZ1, Kawasaki z series, Honda cb's and such.
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Past -Honda qr50 | 2004 Peugeot Tkr s 50| | 1996 Yamaha XJ600s Diversion|

[G]

For the moment, how about doing your CBT and getting a cheap 125 to learn road biking for a bit?

Get a 2 stroke one and you'll out accelerate most cars, including a lot of 'sports' cars, so hardly slow. You will have to try a bit harder to go fast than on a big bike.

This should give you a good idea of what road riding is like before you jump on the very fast bikes you are looking at.

[Kit]

I was thinking about getting an Aprilla 125 which is well within my budget but my dad reasoned that the lack of raw bhp inhibits de-acceleration, but his experiance is that of much older bikes tbh.

Also I would prefer to get on a big bike simply because i'm quite tall and most 125's seem a bit uncomfortable from what I have experianced. Plus I would have to put the girl freind on there every now and again and I don't know how a 125 would react the the extra weight even though she is only 8 stone.

I ride a 250 in motorcross, I would say that I could put that on the road but I can only put 18 hours on the piston before it has to be replaced

I can't seem to find any pics of older fz1's, could anyone point my in the right direction? I figure after buying protective gear, insurance, test...etc I should have about £1500 left to spend on a bike. I really like the look of the new kawasaki z series though! Although expensive... at the top of my list of potentials!

My brothers gf's dad is currently renovateing a 900cc kawasaki ninja potentially to sell, quite an old one I would say... mid 90's? would the insurance on something like that be otherworldly?

[_Will_]

going on a budget like that you probably will be better off with a more mid-sized bike, late 90's - about 2001/2 have a good selection for that price, and they will more than cope with an extra arse on the back, the other half is about 9st and my 600 has no problems.
These days 500-800cc bikes produce amazing amounts of power.
I would look for something like that + insurance will be better.
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Past -Honda qr50 | 2004 Peugeot Tkr s 50| | 1996 Yamaha XJ600s Diversion|

[_Will_]

Oh and if you find a bit more to play with.
https://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/WWW/bikes_search.asp?modelexact=1&make=BMW&model=F650&ccappr=&min_pr=1000&max_pr=2000&mileage=&agerange=3&postcode=sn3+4sd&miles=1500&max_records=50&source=1&keywords=&photo=1&sort=3&search=SEARCH
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Past -Honda qr50 | 2004 Peugeot Tkr s 50| | 1996 Yamaha XJ600s Diversion|

[Kit]

Thats a very hansom bike, it's on the list and looks more comfortable than some of my alternatives. Thanks for the advice concerning my budget and passengers as well

[MarkJ]

When I said sportsbike, I really meant the looks, not the power. A sportsbike to me is arse in the air, knees above ears. From an insurance companies point of view (feel free to prove me wrong here) a full on sportsbike rider is more likely to crash than a traditional bike rider, even though they can easily have the same amount of power! Also, Insurance Groups take into account how much a thief would want to steal a bike. Example:

My Hornet 600 Engine is roughly the same as the old CBR600 engine, just slightly detuned...

CBR600
https://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wNzI5MjMyNnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg

Hornet 600
https://www.motorkar.cz/17_MotoHondaHornet.jpg

As I'm sure you'll agree, the CBR600 looks faster and a thief would most likely want to steal that if given the choice between the two, even though the hornet is ~96bhp and the CBR in the picture is around 98bhp. Which ends up making sportsbikes more expensive to insure (and buy).

[Kit]

I see what you mean now, I guess thats why bandit insurance grouping is so low... speaking of which I reckon i'm going to go for the 1200cc Bandit for now as my primary choice, a couple of dealers in newcastle have them in stock so i'll go have a test fit next week.

I've seen an aprilla rs 125 on these forums i'm interested in which i may or may not get depending on finances. Get some road experience in before I jump on a bandit!

Cheers for the info, help and advice guys! Has been invaluable as I suspected it would be

[Marah]

If you are planning on going for the DAS then you will learn on a 500cc probably anyway, With your size 125s can be a like a cowboy on an Alsatian.

The detuned 600s are fast and have a bit of power but that is all down to how much you pull the throttle back you don't need to use it all.

You could also look at 400s again a little bigger than a 125 but less power and cheaper insurance.

Get a few online quotes to determine what it will cost you thats what I did ok I have been bombarded with mail since but gave me an idea of what bikes to look at.

Ride Safe

[brooky]

Well firstly welcome BCF!

Fair play for looking into this so early, It shows you're sensible and arent worried about buying the first nice bike you see

Anyways, I would probably suggest its best to do your cbt now and buy a nice stroker, (TZR) I would stay away from the RS125 tbh as they can be worth more hassle than good and if your going to get a bike as a stop gap until you do your full test you will want something reliable that you can sell on once your finished with.

Have a look around ebay and bike trader and you may see a nice bit of kit you'd like for a reasonable price.

If you do it this way you will be in time for the lovely weather and build up some valuable road experience ready for when you grab yourself a 600, I wouldnt worry about insurance too much neither mate.

I just got a 06 GSXR 600 and although there wasnt many companies to insure me ( Im 19) i found one that would accept me so I dont think you should have any problems on a bandit or something a bit older. With your age as well that should open the opportunities for insurance right up.

Good luck with what ever you do and please let us know what you do get in the end.

Take it easy

Jake
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Suzuki GSX-R 750 K6.