Getting a 500/600 at 17?

[Mac]

Hey all, i've got some questions..


At the moment i have a 50cc scooter, good little runner, but i'm absolutely itching to get on a big geared bike that can go over 40 mph....

Is it a stupid move to get something like a 500/600 cc bike JUST after i've passed my test? I did some looking for a Kawasaki ZZR600 (Same as Nij's) on biketrader.co.uk and found some good models [from a first glance, i cant exactly go preview it] for as little as £2000. The main reason i'm wanting such a big bike is so i can go touring next year to italy and austria with my dad, uncle and cousin...which would be a GREAT expierience for me seeing as i just passed my test..and the views we'l be seeing.

BUT. I got an online quick quote from bennetts.co.uk [which are supposed to be a fairly priced insurance company according to my dad] TPFT, ZZR600...and i was quoted £3,800. . There's no way i could afford that by next year. Do you lads and ladies know any insurance companys that will give me a good deal on a 500/600 cc bike? I've also been looking at something like a CBF500, but i'm really wanting something sporty looking..baring in mind the limits of the bank and such.

So..my question...should i be aiming to buy/insure a lower CC bike?


Cheers.
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I want a bigger bike!

[G]

Get some other insurance quotes. Get a copy of bike trader and ring up some from the insurance section there. Other people have got faster (newish sports 600s) at 18 for around £1k TPFT insurance.
You don't happen to live in Northen Ireland do you?... if so you may have a few problems with insurance.

Providing you can take it easy and not try to push too much too soon, the ZZR should be okay. Beware though, it can be a very fast bike, so you do need to make sure you get used to it before you start pushing it.

Oh, and, you 'ride' a bike, not drive one...though that may or may not be appropriate for a ped .

[Mac]

Cheers G! I'l pop down the shops later and pick up biketrader. And i live in good ol' yorkshire

Yeah, it will be restricted, but my dad and uncle were telling me to consider just taking the restrictor off before i go away abroad. But i wont be buying the thing for speed..at least not at first anyway..the last thing i want to be doing is going 130 and holding on for dear life down the motorway

Is a ZZR600 a good bike for someone my age? I dont want to be jumping on a bike that's too big-a-bike for me.

Sorry for all the newbie questions, and cheers for the help.
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I want a bigger bike!

[Danny]

Welcome to the forum mate.

If you have problems getting your insurance premium down then click the link in my sig.

[AcIdBuRnZ]

Anything over 125 will be 'too big-a-bike' for you - an NSR will see you right for a year

Ok - you have a ped. But an NSR is a different kettle of fish altogether! It won't tour Italy, but you could get one now and get some experience then sell it and get a bigger bike before you go?

An NSR will keep you happy for a good few months - plus gaining experience at cornering on a bike at speed is what you need before getting on anything bigger. I've just got my first big bike after riding an NSR for a year - I'm 22!

The NSR will be cheap to run and insure, and you pick a decent one up for little over a grand.

With a bigger bike there is more chance of it giving you a few scares - that could knock your confidence and put you off, rather than the opposite effect of improving your riding skill.

Worth thinking about,

Mark
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Past: Honda NSR125R >> Kawasaki ER-5a2 >> Kawasaki ZZR-600e1 >> Suzuki GSXR-750Y >> Honda VTR 1000 Firestorm
"Chickity China the Chinese Chicken..."

[Flip]

As long as you start off sensibly, you'll be fine, but I would get some miles in for experience before following experienced riders abroad. (wrong side of the road and sh1t)

Hope you do it though, that'll be very cool

[Kickstart]

Hi

Going straight from a scooter to a ZZR600 might well be a bit much, especially with a very limited amount of road experience. Personally I would say go for a smaller and lighter first bike (one of the 500 twins probably).

You can get a ZZR600 for under £1000 if you look round.

One problem that you will have is that in some countries in Europe you cannot ride a bike of over 125cc until you are 18. It does not matter what your UK licence says, you still cannot ride a larger bike on that countries roads. France is one such country.

All the best

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

[John]

This might seem a bit of a stupid question, but are you big physically?

You really don't want to be dropping your new toy (if you buy one), and my VFR always seems to want to topple over at the most inconvenient of times!

I'm not very strong, but I've just about got used to it trying to (seemingly) randomly lay down in the middle of the road.

If you're not very strong you might want to try a smaller bike first just to get used to the weight alone.

Can you get some pillion rides? Ovbiously you're not the one controlling the bike, but you do get some idea of what it's like.
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TT600 neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeowwww!

[Laura]

I went from a 100cc scooter to a older cbr 600 I found it fairly easy to make the jump but as long as you are sensible a 600 should not be that big a jump.
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Good girls ride motorcycles bad girls thrash them.

[izzi81]

If you're used to the weight and handling of a scooter a motorbike of any kind is going to feel different, and a big bike *very* different. When I sat my CBT (2nd time round) I did it on my NSR and the 2 guys sitting it at the same time both had scooters. They both did all the circling cones etc. easily. It's more tricky on an NSR, and more tricky again on a 600! I'd seriously consider getting something like an NSR to start with so you can get used to the handling, weight difference, speed difference etc. NSRs look pretty good and go pretty well! Personally there's no way I could go from scooter riding straight to a 600, it's a whole different ballgame in my opinion

The other thing to remember is that you *will* drop the bike. Even if it's just falling off it while stationary. I came off my NSR twice - once falling off while stationary ( ), once thanks to an idiot car driver opening his door into me. And when I got my zx6r I came off that too. So be prepared for cracked fairings and some wee repairs. For that reason don't spend too much on the bike!

Re. insurance, if you do a couple of years on an NSR and get some NCB that helps a lot with the cost of insuring a bigger bike..

[Flip]

I went from a 125 to a 750 and I survived (although I've only had her two weeks). Respect and a small amount of fear seems to be the key

Nearly dropped it the other day because the stand was not down properly! A gixxer750 weighs a lot when it falls into you! Only just saved it

Just make sure you feel comfortable on it (height/width/weight etc) maybe a 500 commuter would be a good idea?

[Mac]

Wow. Thanks lads, your all talking sense into me now

I am physically big, 6`3/4, 15 stone, which is why when i check the pictures of an NSR i get worried....is it a physically small bike? And i didnt know about that law at all . Shows what being 16 and driving a moped can do for you .

Does the NSR sound like a hairdryer? I've heard some of the sporty 125's sound a bit 'naff...could you get a good 60 mph out of the NSR?

I think you've all convinced me i wouldnt be ready for such a big bike being such a new rider. Not to mention the hole it would burn in my pocket.


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I want a bigger bike!

[mrchips]

The NSR doesn't sound like a hairdryer... more like a strimmer! It will do about 75 restricted and I hear deresterited will do approx 95.

Regrading jumping up to big bikes, a mate of mine went from a Speedfight 100 to a Triumph Trident 750, a bit of a jump but I suppose the difference is he is older and stronger and can take the weight better than a 17 or 18 year old.

[Mac]

75?!

Thats plenty for me! At least i'l be able to keep up with traffic.
I'm going to go look around for some models and insurance quotes now...
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I want a bigger bike!

[mrchips]

You are safe enough with any 2 stroke 125, fast enough to keep up with traffic and enough speed off the mark to get a nice getaway.

[R-C-M]

Sounds like your in the same position as I am mate (big bastard wanting a ZZR at 17).

Have you looked at the ZZR 400? That'll cost you a lot less insurance-wise (I've been quoted £650 for TPTF, but i think i can get that down). Theres a fair few on bike trader for around £1800.

[Laura]

I was quoted exactly the same for a cbr 400 as I was for a cbr 600.
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Good girls ride motorcycles bad girls thrash them.

[AndyC12345]

[Charley]

I have always thought that the DAS is only open to those over 21....so anyone under 21...cant have a powerful bike...am I right or wrong?

Charley xx

[R-C-M]

[Danny]

[M1ke]

Keith is correct, you can't ride or drive anything over 125cc in alot of european countries. I know for a fact you can't in France or Spain, Italy may be different, I suggest you do an online search first.

[Mac]

Not even with a full bike license? I'm sure if i had a full bike license [obviously on the 2 year restriction] i would be able to drive a 125...
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I want a bigger bike!

[EuropeanNC30R...]

No one said you couldn't ride a 125 over there, however anything above 125cc is a big NO-NO if you're under 18.

[M1ke]

I looked at doing it last year when I was 17 and found you had to be 18 to ride or drive anything over a 125cc. I'm not sure about the rules on 125cc's but would you want to do europe on a 125 anyway?