which bike? please please help

[bakes]

hello there - hope you can help

i have recently passed my test and im hunting around for a bike

based on the following id love to hear any advice you might have on what would be a good bike to get/or at least test....

im 6ft 4
will be riding through traffic to work everyday
would like to have some fun at weekends
do a bit of touring with the mrs
...and would like it to be cool (sorry if thats a bit sad!)
budget £5-£7K
and being relatively new to bikes....id like it to be a little forgiving

...OH...ive got 6 points for speeding - any reccos for cheap insurance

thanks in advance for all your help

[Hex]

For your price range you can get just about anything you want.

I recommend a CBR 600 - not that I'm baist in that I have one.

Insurance varies from one person to another so all you can do is ring around.

https://www.find.co.uk/insurance/Motorbike_Insurance/

I fill them all in and see what comes back and then ring the best ones to play them off. Bike team are very good for me - 26, CBR 600 FY clean license 2 years NCB £300.

And welcome to the BCF.
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[Bendy]

Have you got any preferences? Do you like sportsbikes? Cruisers? Naked bikes?

VFR800's the first thing that pops into my mind. Not sure it's 'cool' though.

[Major_Grooves]

Suzuki SV650?

They are quite cool (2002 ones are best though), but quite forgiving. They are quite cheap on the old insurance, and I think the pillion seating is okay.

And you will get one new for that price range if you want.

Best in yellow!
https://www.sveze.de/images/sv650s.jpg
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[bakes]

would a trailie be a good idea? ive been finding the biggest nightmare is me being lanky....

have read the daytona 600 is good for tallies....dont reckon ill be able to insure it though!

bm fc650
transalp

or a

monster? they are about to do 0% finance

[Robby]

The BMW is a touch dull. Practical, but dull, only a 50bhp single.

Transalps i've heard good and bad about, you'd have more fun on a varadero.

Ducati monster - will if you like the looks then its ok, and it should handle well, but its a ducati, they break.


I'd say hornet600/bandit600/sv650. Not a good idea to go for something larger as a new rider.

But basically with that budget you could buy and insure just about anything.

[Sulls]

I know Bakes well and I think he should post a picture of himself doing his CBT on a 125.

I'd suggest he goes for a Goldwing as it's the only bikes I know that could accomodate his substantial arse on one saddle.

[Bendy]

[G1_]

Am I right in thinking, that as you're busy doing your test, that this will be your first bike?

If so my advice would be to not go to large to quickly. I would say no higher than a 600 at first.

You said already that you like the idea of a trail bike. That sounds promising as they suit taller riders and are pleanty forgiving (as long as you don't get into the serious stuff). Most people here are more into sports bikes and if you let yourself you will probably get pushed in that direction by BCFers.

If your after something more sporty I've always liked the idea of an SV650! Otherwise a CBR600 could be a good idea.
Otherwise there are the unfaired 600's, bandits, fazors, hornets, etc, all very good bikes.

Anyway thats my 2p worth.

Welcome to BCF btw!

[carvell]

The Yamaha XT600 would be an good choice I think.

Skinny so it gets between the traffic easy, and it fits a tall person well (I am 6'2" and it fit me great)

I assume you are doing DAS?

https://www.volny.cz/jawakmori2/pics/xt600.JPG
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[bakes]

ive just passed my test (DAS).

everyone loves the sv and there are loads around

fancied going for something different

.....but if its "the" bike to go for maybe i should reconsider and give it a test run

[skippy]

Yea, I can vouch for the SV, one of my mates has one for road, and one for the track (which he has converted for full race use - tuned engine, new forks, etc)

He likes his because it can be a bike that is easy to use, and forgiving, as well as reliable, but also a bike that you can take out for fun.

[carvell]

[Dusty]

There's always the new fazer (although not a fazer), the Yamaha FZ6, only released this year. Not sure quite what they are going for new, but I would guess around the 6 - 7k region.

https://dusty.my-site.me.uk/messagenet/fazer.jpg

Similar to the SV really, but with an inline four motor (from the R6 ).

Or if you wanted to look at cheaper options you could always try and get a second hand fazer, which you can pick up for not a lot at the moment.
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[Bendy]

They did a test of that and two older Fazers in PB this month... conclusion being that the 2002 one was actually best.

[Ste]

I'd say get yourself to a biggish dealer (somewhere with lots and lots of different bikes) and sit on them, then take some for test rides. It depends where you are tall, ie, legs, body etc as that will affect how you fit the bikes.

And for £6-6k you should be able to take your pick of good low milage second hand bikes

[Kickstart@Work]

Hi

Having just passed your test I would say go for something fairly restrained. Something fairly sane while you build up more experience.

I would say do for one of the less extreeme middle weight bike. Maybe one of the 500 twins like a GPZ500, GS500, etc, up to maybe a 600 Bandit or Fazer or an SV650, or maybe one of the older more restrained sports 600s. The Monster is not a bad bike and pleasant to ride, but the 600 is not that fast and probably quite cramped for someone of your height (I know someone who is about 5' tall who has one).

All the best

Keith
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[stevo as b4]

Id suggest that if you arnt too bothered about having a faired bike, then why not take a look at the new Z750 Kawasaki. Its bigger capacity than most of the bikes people have mentioned, but they say its nice and easy to ride, and a slightly more powerful and torquey engine is not a bad idea, as you would not get so bored so quickly as with a wind me up and make me scream 600 lol!
I love my zx6r's performance, economy and sound. The top end power is still amazing, and as for claimed top speed, ill never get close. however after nearly 3 years i just wish that i had another 20bhp or so in 2-6k rpm range, as frequent gear changing can at times become frustrating. For my next bike il be happy with the same level of bhp, but just more grunt at lower rpms. An XJR1300, or CB1300, or Speedtriple should do nicely i think!

[Dusty]

[Jay]

[G]

If you're not looking for out and out performance,b ut still want a 'bit of fun', I'd recommend having a look at the big traile route.

Maybe get something like a klr650, big dr etc initially, just for commuting and getting used to have a reasonable amount of power/torque. You can pick these up from about £1k and will make excellent commuting/town bikes in my opinion.
When you've got used to riding a big bike for after a few months and the weather's got a bit nice, then move onto one of the 'monster' pseudo trailies, like the Varedero, Capornord (sp?), V Storm, etc etc. These provide decent comfort for touring, and not too bad handling if you wanna push it a bit on your own.

Of course, it's all going to depend on what you think is 'cool'. Some people consider Harley's to be cool, you'd have to pay me a fair bit if you wanted me to ride one regularly .

[Bendy]

[Luke_Retrofly]

Hi
CB5 might be a bit small though
[img]
https://hayabusa.bikepics.com/honda-cb500-94-bikepics-046734.jpg
[/img]

Luke
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[dainesefreak]

Why hasn't anyone mentioned a Firestorm yet?

[McJamweasel]