Buying a 125 to pass my test

[AceRimmer]

Hi everyone. Ive decided after a few years of not having a bike to buy one and do my test. I had a bike when I was 16 for a year and got rid of it when I got a car. Im now 21 and ive turned into abit of a nancy, I want a bike but feel abit apprehensive about getting one. Ive got a couple of questions I would like answering

Im thinking of buying a Honda XR 125L. Its £1800 (I have some money saved which im not using so thought I might aswell get a nice bike), its done few miles only 6 months old.

Is it a good bike?

Will I be able to get some good money back in 6 months / 1 year?

How much will insurance be?

How is driving on the road with a 125, do other road users respect/look out for your or is it dangerous?

Your thoughts on these would be appreciated, cheers.

[Peat]

Hi,

don't know about the bike you are considering but here's my experience of my current 125...

Bought a Suzuki gn125 just after completing my CBT. Spent £1350 on a 2002 model with 2k miles. It's been great for pottering round London and I've even been to Brum and back for a weekend. Once I left London I was surprised to see that I got the "Biker Nod" from pretty much every biker on the road which was a pleasant surprise (I thought 125s were below that ) - you don't get the "Biker Nod" at all in London, not even on a big bike!

Anyway, the 125 has been great for the 4-5 months I've had it. although it's about as quick as, well, a not very fast thing!

As for being given respect etc. on the road, that's all down to how you ride. Take control of the road as you would a big bike, you have as much right to be there as everyone else and you shouldn't be holding up traffic (not inner city anyway).

And finally, I was going to sell the bike privately cause I thought trade in value would be ridiculously low, but they've offered me £1200 against a £2500 Suzuki Bandit so I'm well pleased.

Hope that helps...
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Peat
"Life is something that happens when you can't get to sleep."

[Dusty]

Probably a fairly good choice of bike for just starting out, although does seem quite expensive.

This site has a couple of cheaper ones on it, but won't let me link to the individual ads.
https://www.thegumtree.com/cgi-bin/frame.pl?content_url=http%3A//www.thegumtree.com/london/95_1.html

In my experience car drivers don't tend to be very good at seeing motorcycles.
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Gallery

[Frost]

[AceRimmer]

Thanks for the replies. The bike does seem a little expensive but its only done 250miles and is an '03 so maybe about the price it should be, im waiting to see how much insurance is and might make an offer on the bike. If I can get back a similar price and only loose abit itll be ok. If a 1982 Honda XL is still worth £500 I cant see it dropping alot .

I thought about going for Direct Access but decided Id like to ride around abit so gonna go the 125 route.

I suppose in some ways a 125 will be less dangerous than a 50 because you get in the way with a 50, but 125's are faster. I have an old 250 at home so im used to abit of power, it just worries me sometimes the way some people drive. I guess you just have to take more care on a bike and think more about what other people are doing.

[AceRimmer]

I decided to buy the bike, it set me back 1700 as I haggled the price down. Its only 5 months old and done 280 miles so I am happy with the deal. I did a HPI and it all came back good.

Here she is

https://www.motorbikes.be/motorbike/3795/indexk.jpg

My next step will be insurance and a cbt. I got a quote of 350 for full comp insurance, i was suprised seeing as though last time it was only 20 pounds

How much are cbts these days?

I look forwards to been back on the road nodding at fellow bikers, hopefully with a bit more credability this time, and ill be able to go faster than those damn hairdryer on wheels - derbi senders

[Bagpuss]

I did my CBT and bought a Yamaha SR125 to learn on cost me £575 on a 98 R reg.

I've done about 400 miles since getting it and my experience is it is fine on small roads with speed limits up to 50mph but get onto a dual carriage way and you have to give it some, it feels like its gonna blow and it doesn't feel at all safe. Almost got blown off the road in a crosswind today as well.

It will serve its purpose as a cheap bike to learn and gain confidence on and I'm sure I can shift it for the same as I paid for it.

I'm planning on doing my DAS asap and shifting up to something which is able to keep up and hopefully will feel a bit more substantial.

[AceRimmer]

I did my CBT this morning all was good apart from getting stung by a wasp while I was doing it . So see ya'll out on the roads.