I need help finding a bike please!

[NewbRider15]

I've been looking for a bike for a while, I'm 16 turning 17 in october and i will be getting the 33bhp/25kw restricted licence. I want to get a cruiser motorcycle but a smallish one for now. I sat on a Sinnis Vista 125 today and loved it but its a 125 and chinese but was told it was a reliable little bike but it only does 60mph. I want to find a 250 or larger that has some power and does something around 80mph, 75mph at least. Nothing over 3 grand. Plus I want it to look something similar to the Sinnis Vista. The hyosung gv250 is another I like (probably a bit more) but its a tad expensive and expensive parts aswell.
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Now on - 1986 Kawasaki ZL400 Eliminator (33bhp restricted)
Own - 2009 Huatian HT50QT-25 Scooter

[Polarbear]

chinese and reliable in the same sentence,
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Victory Cross Country American tractor.

[ian789]

The only thing chinese and reliable is my chippy! And they sometimes get the order wrong!

[NewbRider15]

I know a lot of people say chinese are unreliable so i do tend to stay away from them. But i may consider one and see how it goes.
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Now on - 1986 Kawasaki ZL400 Eliminator (33bhp restricted)
Own - 2009 Huatian HT50QT-25 Scooter

[N cee thirty]

you should consider keeping a shit load of money at the side for when it breaks ;D
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[NewbRider15]

K i'll do that.
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Now on - 1986 Kawasaki ZL400 Eliminator (33bhp restricted)
Own - 2009 Huatian HT50QT-25 Scooter

[Teflon-Mike]

16 turning 17, and getting 33bhp licence?!?!
where are you, how have you managed that trick?

Or do you mean you DONT want to get a 12bhp 125, you are going to do your training & test on a school bike, & to get your 'Restricted' licence THEN get a 250'ish?!

Or do you believe you can ride a 33bhp bike on a provisional licence at 17?

THINK we need to clear that one up a bit before offering any more useful advice......

BUT, personally, on a 33bhp licence AFTER test, and cruiser style machine..... there is but ONE answer........ Yamaha 535 Virago (restricted)

Plenty about, prices starting from around £600 for an old and ratty one, up to two, three grand for a minter.

Wouldn't even look at Chinese offerings, THAT will do the job you want. for whatever you are prepared to pay for one.

Easy maintenence, curtecy of shaft drive, lazy twin motor that dont make enough power to hurt itself, comfy, ecconomical, brisk enough to get ahead of city traffic and do the national speed limits, insurance co's know what it is, and dont load the premiums, parts suppliers know what it is, AND have bits, more useful accessories for the things.... and you get plenty of chrome to polish!

BUT you have to pass a yest to ride one.......
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[gfiandy]

I second the Virago and if you really want to stick with a 250 there are even some 250 versions out there.

But if you have a 33bhp licence then I'd go for the 535, they cost the same to buy as the smaller bike and are more reliable and have more prescence.

Regards,
Andrew
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ANDY

[NewbRider15]

Thanks I'll have another look into the virago, i've seen them but wasnt too keen on them, i thinks its the front and rear mud guard that i like on te Sinnis and Hyosung. Plus Hyosung are an old manufacturer but they have only been producing their own bikes for a few years, previously they built bikes and engines for suzuki and i have read a lot of good revies on them aswell. And to Teflon-Mike, i did my cbt at 16 and have been riding a moped since, when i'm 17 i will be doing the 125 test (theory, Mod 1 and mod 2 + 3 days training) which will then allow me to ride anything to 33bhp/25kw.
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Now on - 1986 Kawasaki ZL400 Eliminator (33bhp restricted)
Own - 2009 Huatian HT50QT-25 Scooter

[qarka]

Don't buy a Sinnis bike. I had one. I must have spent about £500 on spare parts and I sold it to someone who didn't know any better for half of what I paid for it. Not trying to tell you what to do I just don't want you to go down the same road
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Previous - Sinnis Apache - Honda Bros 400 - Yamaha SR500 - Honda Transalp - Kawasaki ZX-7R - Honda CB-1 - Honda 929 Fireblade - Honda NTV650 [b]Current[\b] Honda CB500

[NewbRider15]

Cheers qarka, I was sorta drifting away from the idea of a Sinnis because of them being 125s. I think I may just get the Hyosung 250 Cause I love it and its had so many good reviews.
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Now on - 1986 Kawasaki ZL400 Eliminator (33bhp restricted)
Own - 2009 Huatian HT50QT-25 Scooter

[Teflon-Mike]

[N cee thirty]

thought hyosung was koren ?
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[NewbRider15]

Yes it is.
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Now on - 1986 Kawasaki ZL400 Eliminator (33bhp restricted)
Own - 2009 Huatian HT50QT-25 Scooter

[Teflon-Mike]

[NewbRider15]

To Teflon Mike: They cant be all that bad surely? But the mud guards are nice . I will give it some more though and continue my impossible search for my perfect bike. I'll find one i like that isnt a pretty tin can that'll fall apart when i sit on it.
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Now on - 1986 Kawasaki ZL400 Eliminator (33bhp restricted)
Own - 2009 Huatian HT50QT-25 Scooter

[Teflon-Mike]

[NewbRider15]

That was very helpful indeed. I think you put me right off the Hyosung (thats a good thing though, not complaining). I read it through a couple of times and cant get to grips with something. What kind of bike would you suggest for someone who uses their bike 4-5 days of the week as an enjoyable ride as well as an essential one, thats looking to keep it for more than just a couple of years.

I am very new to biking so there is a lot i still dont know and no matter how many questions i ask there is always going to be a decision that i make that i will regret. I mean when getting a 50cc i rushed into that. I got myself a brand new £700 4 stroke moped because it was cheap and pretty. As much as i love it, i have had only a few problems with it, main one being two monts waiting for it to be delivered, when it is delivered, the fuel pipe is unconnected, the filter is on backwards and had 00000 on the clock and was obvious it had never been started as i had to use easy-start to start it up for the first three monts of use with it cutting out now and then when i give it a small rev to get it going. It overheats very easily and when putting the throttle on it doesnt always bite and then cuts off.

Ok so a few more problems than i made it sound to be. So i wish i had spent a little more time thinking and researching. So i'm glad i didnt make that mistake with my next bike. I can see something similar happening if i get this Hyosung now that you mention it.

Another thing i think i've learned is not to be so picky with the looks, come to think of it, i feel kinda foolish now lol.

Thank you again.
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Now on - 1986 Kawasaki ZL400 Eliminator (33bhp restricted)
Own - 2009 Huatian HT50QT-25 Scooter

[Teflon-Mike]

OK. I said Virago becouse you like the style of the cruiser-bikes.
PERSONALLY I dont think that they are a GREAT bike for newbie.
sprtsbikes are compromised for performance, but cruisers are often JUST as compromised for looks.
Sure they have nice soft engines, and dont urge you to ride like a loon, but the limited turning circle, high bars and armchair riding possition dont always give you the control and manageability that inspires confidence and makes the bike rewarding to ride.
The 'little' Virago is not too bad, but its still a cruiser.
AND OK you've been on a moped for a year, and you are going straight for test, but even once you have your licence, you'll STILL be a learner, and doing your learning, out there, on your own, on a 'big-bike'.
I can see where you are coming from wanting to make a 'good' long term choice, but..... your a BABY!
Time I spend in the crapper, as a % of your life must seem like an eturnity!
I'd suggest thinking a lot more Here and Now, and looking for a bike you plan to use JUST as a learning tool, a stepping stone into the world of big-biking.
Something 'useful', that WILL give you the best chance of learning on as easily as possible, and giving you a good start.
And minimising the risk of desaster, something as GOOD as you can get, by way of mechanics.
Minimising the financial risks, as cheap to run as you can find, and with the LOWEST depreciation you can get.
And on THAT basis, being boring is wise.
THE generic 'newbie' and restricted licence bies are, Honda CB500, Kawasaki ER5 and Suzuki GS500.
Boring twin cylinder commuters. BUT they do the job. They are a known quantity, and the 'default choice.
They hold thier prices well, becouse people coming up behind you look to them as well, so selling on on shouldn't be a hassle, and you stand a good chance of preserving a fair chunk of your original purchase price in them come resale.
On the road, they give you a good seating possition, with good control and visability. They inspire confidence from soft power and soft handling, that lets you know when you have been a bit daft, but dont get you into any seriouse trouble unless you are SERIOUSELY daft with them.
They crank up miles well, and dont cost an arm or a leg in routine maintenence or repairs, and dont have much by way of expensive plastic or chrome to damage IF you fall over parking the thing.
And, worst case, you have a 'minor' spill, getting the bits to fix them is NOT that difficult, there are plenty around, plenty of other people dumping them and needing bits, so there are parts available.
For your £3K budget you SHOULD be able to find a GOOD example of any of them, less than ten years old, for UNDER £2K.
Dont be worried about the age, worry about the condition and mileage. Plenty of these things about that are older, but seeing only occassional use, in much better nick, than newer ones hard pressed in daily service cranking up high mileages.
Older and lower miles on these bikes TENDS to mean they have been garaged, used only on sunny sundays and given lots of contientiouse maintenence. Younger bikes with higher mileages TEND to have been hard worked and had the service intervals stretched and skimped on by owners using the bikes harder.
But THAT leaves you a grand in the bank, to comfortably run the thing and give it the care and attension needed to make sure it stays in good condition as you crank up miles and experience.
And in a year or eighteen months time, IF you have got everything you can out of the bike, you can probably flog it on for only a couple of hundred less than you paid.
And if you have kept on top of the maintenence, and saved back up what you have spent, then you should be well placed, with more experience under your belt to go look for something more in keeping with your ideas of asthetics or whatever.
In fact, keep the 500 twin the full two years and that NEXT bike, can be anything you like, as teh restriction on your licence expires.
NEEDN'T be, though.
as an 'every-day' bike, the 500T commuters do it very well. and they ARE ecconomical to run.
Dont know what your career aspirations are, BUT, if you are looking at this bike now for something to keep while doing A-levels at tech, and looking at Uni after, well, those 500T's are a very good choice for a grant restricted student, on a baked bean budget! and after? well first job, treat yourself to a 'dream' bike, keep the 'old' 500 for sentimental reasons..... fettle it up in a few years as a cheap commuter, or 'restore it' in twenty years later as a momento of your youth!
ALL is possible!
Buyt H&N os to find you something 'soft & safe'.
That gets you on the road, gives you the BEST chance of learning easily and well, and being a bike that you CAN afford to keep running, and riding, for as long as it keeps your interest, and isn't a 'big-risk' financially IF it doesn't work oyt, OR your interest takes you in a different direction.
Perhaps you get 'into' sports-bikes or dirt bikes or whatever.
Probably a bit daunting going straight to a 500.... but the throttle goes both ways.....
alternatively, delay it.
Get a 125.
Can still do your restricted licence test on it.... but no shame riding a 125 without L's..... I'm 40, and I do!
I have six of the buggers!
OK, so one is a 'classic' DT, and four of them are 'projects', and the other is so that I can trundle about after the snowtiger or other newbies on training, shouting at them over the radio to remember thier life savers, and NOT be wearing out expensive soft compound tyres on the 750...... but still.
Idea is, a 125 is as good a tool as any other, and does have merit.
again, cheap, and easy to sell on. More so in fact. Tax & insurance on a 125 is peanuts, ESPECIALLY if you are a full licence holder.
And a 'good' one, Not a 60mph limited CG or worse sub 60 Chinese copy, will do 70+
Just avoid the scream the bollox off all the time NRS or aprillia, that needs a new crank in 500 miles....
... and on that suggestion, I'm going to take the conversation OFF open forum, and PM you, so check your privates, matey!
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[Alex A]

[metalangel]

[Teflon-Mike]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Hyosung might appear to be fairly recent, but as a company have been around for over half a century, with the vehicle section founded in 1978.

Korean is VERY different to Chinese, with plenty of Korean makes in various sectors having a reasonable reputations (ie, Samsung, LG, Kia, Hyundia).

All the best

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

[growler]

Hyosung have been making their own bikes for about 25 years and are quite big in America and Australia
I have the GV650 and its over 3 years old and have had no real probs with it and finish is still good
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DILLIGAF

[bikertomm]

cruiser? Eww. ↲Why not consider something nice like a DRZ 400! And yes please make sure you stay away of those chinese death traps!
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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!