Hi Im a Newbie .....where are these first bikes for £500?

[theriotgoddes...]

Hi, I intend to do my CBT as soon as the DVLA return my licence to me with motorcycle entitlement on it. Yawn!!( there has been complications which is why I sound negative !)

The thing is i'm on a tight budget and the advice below is exactly what I had in mind and actually need to hear. But, where the heck do you find such a find that isn't going to cause me more trouble in the long run!
FIRST BIKE
You can pick up a boring and unattractive 125 with tax and mot for about £500 if you're smart and look in the ads. Use it for a few months, look after it and you can probably sell it without making a loss. It really is the smart thing to do - you're in this for the long term so don't blow all your cash at the first stage. Money saved on the learner bike can be put towards passing your test and think how much cooler you'll look without L plates.

I live in London and know nothing about motorcycles at all........so I was contemplating going to a dealer. All/any advice etc would be gratefully received. Cheers

[Crystal Tipps]

I'd say they are very few & far between. If you're not in a hurry & have the patience of a saint, or you can travel to the other end of the country to get the one that comes up, then maybe.....

Good luck!

BTW I went to my local dealer to look at lids, and came out with a 1992 Honda CG with 3,500 miles on the clock for £1,100 which I thought was a good deal If you know nothing about bikes and haven't got a knowledgable mate to help you then I would say a good dealer is the best choice, as they will give you a lot of help & advice, rather than you being ripped off by Joe Bloggs who just wants to get shot of his pile of junk to the first unsuspecting newbie who comes along.
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First bike: 2002 CG. Now riding lime green 2008 ER6N.

[pinkyfloyd]

i'd agree with crystal. if you only pay 500 quid for a bike thats got tax and mot your only going to get a bike worth about 300. and all the mot means is the bike was found to be road worthy at the time of testing.

i would recomend a dealer as at least then you know the engine will be pretty sound and will have come back if the bike falls apart in the first few weeks.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[wizzzard]

I can't comment on what prices are like in the smoke but if you willing to travel just a little further afield then there are loads of ok bikes for under £500. I have had a few 125's and under for below that price with a pretty much immaculate H100 for a mere £250 so it is definitely doable.

Check the free ads and egay for the bargains and if there is anything that catches your eye I'm sure experienced members on here will offer advice on the specific bike. Alternatively there may be someone whos near you who will come out and look at it with you.

Best of luck with the search and don't assume all cheap bikes are scrappers, bikes are simple to look after and hardy, some people just don't know the value of them.
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And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
Zeitgeist / Addendum / Moving forward

[Casper]

Look 5 quid change

https://edinburgh.gumtree.com/edinburgh/32/62699132.html

[Alexio]

If you're willing to travel then £500 for second hand is very easily attainable. My first bike was £500 with zero mileage, completely new.

It helps if you're mechanically minded or have a friend who can go over any cheap bike you purchase to make sure it's safe.
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will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?

[robocog]

you just missed my Honda CG125...it went today, was in your budget and had MOT and tax and was in OK overall condition

took a few weeks of adverts before it found its rightful new owner
( I was surprised it took that long TBH, but am really glad the guy that did get it was just the kind of guy I was hoping would get it)

I guess if you wait 12 months the guy that just bought mine will have had his fun (and gained a full licence) from it and will it will once again go to a "new biker" for a similar ammount and the bike will be in just as good a condition

That bike must almost know its own way to the test centers and the mod 1 and 2 circuits by now!

They are out there, you just need to look and act fast
I knw how frustrating it can be (it took months of looking, getting my hopes up only to quashed, before I found mine)

Gumtree is well worth scouring on a regular basis
(and don't limit yourself to just one area)

One with you name on will crop up soon enough

Regards
Rob
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Needs a bigger garage...

[N cee thirty]

theres loads of cg's goin cheap on ebay that just need a little work doing on them,a good project
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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

[stonesie]

Mine was £390, It's had another £100 spent on it for a replacement centre stand, light switch and a good (and well overdue) service.


It's not the prettiest bike in the world but it does everything it should and hit 65 today they say you always drop your first bike, when I drop this I wont be upset, if I got a new one and dinged it I would be.

[theriotgoddes...]

Ok i'm learning , thanks all! I started to look around Gumtree and came across some interesting bikes for £500. I'd need to seek advice before parting with the cash and I am so............ not mechanically minded, but hey I can try and learn. But there are some £500 bikes out there!I stand corrected.

Cheers all