Derbi reputable? 125 Buying advice please!

[c22d]

Hi there,

After a long long time of really wanting to start riding, I've decided to finally do it. I just turned 25 and am looking to get started asap.

I've got myself some decent protective kit, and now want to get myself a bike. The plan is to get a 125, do a CBT and start having lessons on a 500 (or whatever it is they use) and ride the 125 daily on L's to get a bit of road practice between lessons.

From then, I'll take my Direct Access and hopefully get myself a 600, ideally something like a Bandit or Hornet. I'd love a Street Triple but not sure if that would be a sensible first 'real' bike.

So I've been checking out some 125's, and while I don't intend to keep it for too long, I do want something that looks at least a little ok. I like the Jap cruisers, but they're pricey compared to some other 125s, and I'm really not into the whole RS125/CBR125 thing, they just look a bit 'wannabe' to me, and immediately makes you look like a teenage hooligan.

I know the best thing would be to just get something for a grand or less but I want to get something that looks quite nice. I currently drive a car that costs me stupid insurance and runs horrible fuel economy so I'm selling that and getting a more sensible car and a bike.

I'm about 6', 11-12 stone and have sat on a few different bikes, they all feel ok to me, the cruisers were obviously super comfy but I'm prepared to let that comfort slip a bit for something different.

I've just seen the Derbi Cross City which looks pretty nice. MCN did a little video thing where a couple of learners seemed impressed but they didn't really rate the quality of the bike itself. I've never heard much about Derbi, and I'm not sure if they're reputable?

You can pick up a brand new Cross City for like £1800 which is obviously appealing, but would I be better off spending that on a 3 or 4 year old Jap bike?

Also, if the Derbi is ok, is that a good bike to prepare me for riding something like a Bandit/Hornet?

Resale value is important since the money will be going towards the proper bike once I pass.

So if anyone has any advice regarding what I've said that would be great!

If I'm talking stupid about anything then feel free to point that out!

Thanks

Tom

[BlackStallion]

First off mate, nice to hear your getting into biking

Secondly, whatever 125 you get, it will give you road experience for any "later" bike. Obviously getting a naked bike like a Hyosung GT125 gives you the idea of riding a naked 600 like a Bandit or Hornet. Same with sports bikes like RS125's etc...

I'm with you on the RS125/CBR125 thing, they never appealed to me.

You say you don't want a 125 for long? How long do you think you'd be keeping one for?

I'd DEFINITELY not get a brand new 125, you'd be best to spend about £1000 max on a used bike, you could get a 2 year old Suzuki GZ Marauder 125 for about £800, which is a cruiser, so that might appeal to you. Since the Derbi Cross City appeals to you to, you clearly like Supermoto and Crosser bikes.

You could easily get a Honda CR125 or XR125 for under £1000 in good condition, same with a Yamaha DT125 or XT125, both reliable bikes which won't let you down.

Just look around, get to no some dealers and mechanics at garages, they'll give you some advice, and even ask all these questions when you take your CBT.

If you have the money though, you may as well pay about £500 and get a 3 day training course, then at the end of it you take your DAS. Then you can get straight onto any bike you like

If you want a little bit of road experience on a 125 though, then that's fair enough, but if you honestly have enough money, you'd be better of doing your DAS with atleast a 3 day training course. You could always hit the road on a 250.

Your choice mate, check out some Hyosung bikes to mate, they do all sorts to suit your taste, all have 4 stroke engines which are almost bulletproof, brilliant for little 125's.

Best of luck though mate, hope i helped

[c22d]

Thanks for the reply and advice, much appreciated.

I do like the Derbi but I agree it does look very motocrossy, which I'm not usually into but it looks cool.

Now you mention it, it does seem a little silly to get a brand new bike, especially as I don't plan to ride it for long.

Now your 3 Day Intensive suggestion sounds good. So could I really go from no bike license, no CBT, to riding any bike I like in 3 or 4 days?! That would be perfect if it's possible, since I could pick up a Bandit or something for about £1200 and effectively spend the same as I was originally looking at for the Derbi.

Is that silly though? I mean, I'm not planning to jump on an R1 the day I pass but even a Bandit is a pretty big deal for someone who has only been riding 4 days!

If it's possible though it's definitely a route I would like to take.

[BlackStallion]

Personally i don't think it's silly at all. If i had the money, i would have taken my mod 1 & 2 and got my A2 restricted license, which would of given me the chance to ride any bike restricted to 33bhp.

If you check my previous posts, i created a topic about moving from a 125 to a Bandit 600, it's a bike that i have kept my eye on now for months. I've found some great prices on eBay and in BikeTrader, so hopefully when the time comes (in March next year) they'll be a Bandit at a good price and in good nick just for me

You're 25 mate, i'm sure you're mature and sensible enough to take it easy. No doubt a 600, even a 250 maybe, will be shock, but as long as you take it step by step and get used to it, you should be fine. That's what the 3 day intensive training is all about, and if you could fork out a bit more money, i'd go for the 5 day intensive course, especially since your going STRAIGHT to a 600.

I take it you find the Bandit and Hornet quite appealing? Are you hoping to have one of them as your first bike?

In my honest opinion, you would definitely be in a better position if you took your DAS, you be straight in there on any bike, and there would be no regrets, because there is NO course which is any better! You pass your DAS, any bike could be yours! 100% biker then mate!

Tell us what your going to do and make sure you get straight back on here to let us no how you get on! DAS or CBT! Whatever one, you let us no mate

Best of luck, and ride safe buddy

[c22d]

Thanks for the reply, and great advice.

After thinking about it for a couple of days, and speaking to a few of the reputable training schools near me, I think I'm gonna take the 125/CBT/L-Plates route.

I still plan to progress quickly, taking 500cc lessons as often as I can, maybe twice a week or so, and then the Direct Access tests when I feel ready. I just feel that this training, along with daily use of a 125 commuting to work, weekend rides etc will be a much more sensible route. Also, the cost works out similar, just spread out a bit rather than one big sum.

The training schools also seemed to advise on the intensive courses being less suitable for someone with no riding experience.

So anyway, that's the route I'm gonna go.

Got my theory booked for the 3rd Nov (just to get it out the way), and my CBT booked for the 5th. I plan to do my CBT on my own bike I think, or at least have one ready for when I have done it.

I sold my car and got a much more economical replacement and it's left me with plenty of cash to spend on a bike and training.

I've just seen the CBF125 which in my opinion looks awesome. There's a few for sale which are still well inside the Honda warranties and seem perfect for a fresh rider, kinda sporty semi-naked without the bad rep that the cbr/rs etc has.

Now I just need to find a bike that's for sale fairly close to me, or possible just get a new one, although I'm not sure I like the idea of getting a brand new one then dropping it 5 minutes after I start my CBT.

[BlackStallion]

No worries mate, glad i helped out

Taking your CBT will still be a good route, as it opens up the biking experience at a basic level. It gives you time to gain the road experience, and learn a few tips or two before you decide to do your DAS and hit the road on a bigger bike.

One thing i am going to say is, don't get a brand new bike. You'll be spending your first 500 miles or so breaking it in, and not only that, you can get the same bike used, for a lot less

If you are going for the CBF125, then nice one, quite appealing bikes with a very reliable engine. In my honest opinion i'd go for a 4 strokes, they're reliable engines with basic maintenance, good on fuel, and cheap to run the only thing they lack on is speed. You could get a 4 stroke that hits 65 - 70mph, where as an RS125 can hit over 100mph. It's all down to whether you have the money and time for repairs. Stick to 4 stroke you won't regret it

Since you'd be using the 125 daily for a commute to work then 4 stroke is the best option, less likely to break down on you during the journey.

Hopefully all goes well for you mate, check out eBay and some bike magazines for used bikes, i'm sure a nice well looked after CBF will pop up somewhere

Best of luck with your theory and CBT mate if you find a bike, let us no what you got and share some info, and maybe some pics!

[c22d]

Well, I bought a bike!

Thanks for the advice, I agree a new bike would have been silly!

I got myself a 2008 YBR125 with just over 1100 miles on it, serviced at 475 and again at 1000! It's in immaculate condition and seems great, I got it for £1500, which I thought was a fair price.

I'm pleased with the purchase, it seems a good bike to practice on and the extra £500 or so I saved can sort out my DAS training and tests and because that extra cash is now readily available, I will hopefully be able to get my Direct Access sorted much sooner whereas before I was gonna just have like a lesson a month or something.

I think the thing that was bothering me the most was the idea of dropping a brand new bike, I'd be pretty upset, at least with a second hand bike the idea isn't (quite) so bad. Not that I intend to fall off, but you never know.

So, got my theory test in about 10 days, CBT just after and then I'll get some 3-hour training sessions booked on a 500 and start working toward taking my Direct Access!

I'm really excited, owning your first bike is a good feeling!

Also, I forgot to answer your earlier question about wanting a Bandit/Hornet.

I definitely do want to get something like that after I get my full license. I generally like the naked bikes, especially some of the current models. I think my ultimate bike would be the Street Triple R, or the CB1000F is pretty nice. For my first big bike though I'll be going for something older and hopefully for a similar price to my YBR!

Thanks again for the advice.