What do YOU think?

[Kris]

Ok heres the story,

We all should know by now about Sprinkbok_tony's plans to get a bike this year. With me so far? Good.

Tony's been pretty honest and admitted he has only done his cbt, and has no previous bike experience...a situation many of us have been in I'm sure. Tony needs his bike as his main transport, a bit of fun at weekends, and to do a fair old journey on occasionally (100 odd miles I think). Tony's first plans were to get an NSR125. Fair do's mate, we all said.

Recently Tony has been posting that he intends to get an RVF400 instead. Rememberits his first bike and he is 18 years old. I think this is a bad move, and questioned his plans on the live chat thingy. It started a mass debate on what size engine/type of bike is suitable for a learner and should we try and intervene etc, etc.

In my opinion, which I know counts for jack sh*t so don't tell me, Tony should think about a smaller capacity bike. Preferably a type that will not disentegrate after being dropped, will not cost much to run, and will not end up killing old Tony. Plus the fact that tony is 18 and the insurance companies are already sharpening their knives.
I think it would benefit him to get a small capacity bike for the first year, to learn road sense and survival on. Get the idea? So that 'if' Tony does come off, it won't be at 140mph and he'll have some limbs left to type a 'you were right' post with.

Please vote on the poll, and add your own suggestions below. Or alternatively you can all tell me to mind my own and all that. Seriously though, I wish Tony all the best in whatever he does.

[Kickstart]

Hi

I tend to agree. Get a little bike as a first bike. Bad enough learning to cope with other people on the road, without having to learn to cope with the weight and power at the same time

All the best

Keith

[Keen]

Its none of my business either- but I'm in a similar situation so I thought I'd share my POV. I'm also 18 and I only did my restricted license about 6 months ago a week before my 18th.

I COULDN'T get anything bigger than a 125 because the insurance is rediculous- new license and no NCB. So unless your loaded Tony that's probably gonna decide it for you.

Also- my Cagiva Planet 125 will do 0-60 in 6.5 secs and 100mph. I know for a bike thats nothing but I still think in car terms and a sub-7 sec 0-60 time is bloody fast! At 18 I don't think I need much more- I'm willing to wait 2 years to get my RVF- by then I might actually be experienced enough to use it's performance.

But its up to you, so just tell me to mind my own business if you want.

[Jolly_Thrasher]

I think he should stick on a small 4 stroke to gather some road sense.

I dont think after he has a good knowledge of roads he should have n e trouble on a 400 allbeing that he doesnt get on it and the 33 bhp restrictor had mysteriously fallen out :P , as there is a lot of difference when uve only got half the horsepower that the bike has!

I would suggest stay away from two strokes tho as theyre a lot of hassle, this only being in his case of using it everyday for work as i do, and i woul also suggest not spankin shit loads of money on a small capacity bike, get an older one as ure only prob have it for a few months after u find ureself hooked on bikes :D

[Keen]

what bike have you got Jolly_thrasher?

[Jolly_Thrasher]

NS 125 RK 1990 one with square headlight, and its playing havoc at the mo

[Keen]

unlucky.

Mine is too- but its more the garage's fault for taking a fortnight (so far) to get a part in

[Jolly_Thrasher]

i no theyre bastards!!

grrr, i just want my full power of biek back, i can only do utto 7000 rpm before it starts goin funny!

Really missing my power!!

[GasGas]

Buy mine, only 850 quid no offers. NSR 125FM 1991

[Teamcalibra]

Okay I was in a similar situation. Hardly any biking XP (had an 80cc motox when I was at skool but came off that more times than I stayed on!).

So recently I did CBT and plan to do DAS. I asked the question about getting an NSR125 and some advised due to my age (24 this year) I would be better getting a bigger bike. I'm now thinking along the lines of a RVF / VFR 400. Personally I think that this was good advice...

I have been driving for 5 years (and always keep an eye out for bikers). So I believe from this number of years driving it has made me a little more 'sensible' from when I first started out and given me the road sense.

From what I have read I'd be inclined to think the smaller bike for a few years. I know from when I was that age I'd try and impress my mates and birds with my (lack of then) driving skills!!!

[TiN]

I would say:

If he plans to do the test (and hence the training) before getting a bike, then he should begin looking at 250/400s...

...otherwise, he should get a 125 (I would say a 4-stroker for reliability and reduced running costs, but...)...

I didn't realise just how much more powerful big bikes were compared with the old CGs, so there does need to some sort of supervised transition...but he isn't 21 yet, so DAS is out of the question...hmm...

Overall, though, as many of you have already pointed out, it's his decision...

Tin

[retrofly]

Hi
I gunna be different and "get the RVF", iv bin riding my NSR for 6 months and i already want a bigger bike, as long as the RVF is resricted to 33bhp and he takes it easy tony should be ok, and hey its better than getting a duke 998 as a first bike

Luke
____________________
"The food was not undelicious"
-Homer Simpson (Exceptional beast : Underachiving Human)
www.geocities.com/retrofly

[Stevo]

Ok if i were 18, and bearing in mind the rising insurance costs, running costs, and having a small friendly bike that was still fun then i would definately have a 125. I take it that Tony plans to pass his test, and then ride a 33bhp max, bike for the two year period, which i dont think is such a bad idea. Many people think that the 33bhp rule is a shit idea, (probably those kids with more money than sense, or rich dads etc!) There are plenty of bikes (mainly older stuff) that are within 33bhp, and are still loadsa fun to ride, My old KMX200 is an excellent example! The thing is to pick a bike that is naturally within that catagory, rather than buy a newer,bigger, more expensive bike and then restrict that down to 33bhp. I reckon any new bike like a Hornet600 just for example would feel so crap at 33bhp, and its just a waste, not to mention the higher costs involved. There is some merit in a new rider that commutes and needs his bike every day to get a more staid, reliable 125 like the CG, but if you actually wanna go places, then there are better options. I love working on my bikes nearly as much as riding them, so id be looking for a cheap older sporty 125, like an NS,RG,AR,TZR,MTX,KMX,DT etc that i could get dirt cheap, and spend a couple of weeks re-building it to make it into a decent little bike. All the above bikes are 2 strokes that are de restrictable, to 20bhp or more, and if looked after they should be reliable, and yet provide a bit more speed and fun than say a CG. at 18 and 80mph bike aint bad is it? and i dunno about you lot, but if i were 18 again, i could manage on a full power old stroker for 2 years, and still have plenty of fun.

[TJ NSR]

not need to take my advice btw:


i think tony should go for a 400, either and older VFR or an SV400s or a bandit 400, get it restricted to 33 break and youll have cheaper running costs and satifaction!

ive had my nsr for some time now and i like it but its not like owning a bike bike, with the sound of a four stroke (inline, vtwin, v4, 2twin or a single) and the actual size and respect and no need to top up full sytetic 2t oil ever 400 miles!!!

TJ

[Springbok_Tony]

Cheers for the replies lads,

I'm not gonna get a 125 for various reasons...
But what i may take into consideration on this page is the idea to get a slightly older cheaper 400 to use for the 2 year deretriction period.

But hey, that aint gonna stop be from test riding the RVF and fall in love again!

My mind may be made up, but i'l def take whats said into consideration!

I hada dream last night that i bought me an SV650, and hurt my ankle taking a corner to steep. Perhaps the dream gods have spoken.

Cheers, Tony...