Could you help me with my first bike?

[ScottishBiker]

I am looking for my first bike. Im 17, I have £1500 and will mainly be using my bike for traveling to college and back. Obviously i want something FAST but also cheap on insurance, high on MPG and very reliable.

My parents are trying to convince me to get a trials/supermoto bike as i will be sitting higher and wont get a sore back. Is there any point in this or will i get a sore back on a trials bike as well?

Also should i go for a cheap brand new bike or a second hand bike?

[lnewland]

will you be on L plates or have you done your test? just so we have a better idea
____________________
Cg125 stolen and returned trashed
Cb500
Yamaha R6

[Derivative]

Does your budget include insurance and gear or not? You need to set aside £500 for that bare minimum unless you have hand me downs or something.

For £1500 you won't get anything decent new, I'm sure the forum has plenty of tales about chinese bike syndrome.

[Dazbo666]

...also a combination of being a new, young rider, no NCB, fast bike, cheap insurance??
There's going to have to be a compromise somewhere IMO

Being a 17 y.o new rider on your 1st bike, presumably without any NCB will mean that cheap insurance is highly unlikely...

I don't want to sound pessimistic, just trying to be realistic. My suggestion would be to get some idea of what bike you might be able to afford, and plug your details into an insurance comparison site just to get a quote for some idea of likely insurance costs
____________________
1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[c_dug]

If you are on an A2 licence, have a look for one of the 500 twins, reliable, cheap to run and insure, and will feel fast as fuck compared to anything else you will have ridden yet.

Jumping from a 125cc to a 500cc is an extra 40 or so bhp





If you are after a 125cc look at something like a DT125?
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Moo.]

Hmm.. depending on the area you live in, insurance for my first bike was about £350..

I'd go for a second hand bike, as you'll wanna change it soon enough.
____________________
A2 Passed 18/6/10

[ScottishBiker]

[quote="lnewland"]will you be on L plates or have you done your test? just so we have a better idea[/quote]

ill be on L plates,

[quote]Does your budget include insurance and gear or not? You need to set aside £500 for that bare minimum unless you have hand me downs or something.

For £1500 you won't get anything decent new, I'm sure the forum has plenty of tales about chinese bike syndrome.[/quote]

i have 600 for gear and 600 for insurance so im left with 1500 for the bike.

as for chinese bikes i was looking at a sinus apache/ pulse adrenaline because people on here that have had them have said they are very good and havent fallen to bits.

[Flip]

[chris-red]

Get an a DT or and XT IMO

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2007-YAMAHA-XT-125-SUPERMOTO-XT125R-XT125X-/290471842837?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item43a1789415#ht_500wt_1154
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[ScottishBiker]

Would an aprillia rs 125 be ok second hand or should i avoid them?

[c_dug]

Not on the budget you have set, you will get a clapped out, not looked after one.

The good ones seem to go for at least your total budget, and you will need insurance on top.
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Derivative]

I would get something cheap and pass your test ASAP, if you really want something "fast". A 500 commuter will beat shit out of an RS125.

[pinkyfloyd]

[Derivative]

It's what I'm doing. You also get a lot more choice and learner legal bikes get ragged about more (because you have to, and people are often clueless about maintenance, learning this with my CG)

[lnewland]

why are your parents so concerned about back ache? is it because you will be doing long distances or have a back problem?
Most 125cc bike you are in a pretty sat up position any way
____________________
Cg125 stolen and returned trashed
Cb500
Yamaha R6

[bikertomm]

Honda XR 125.

Check that shit out
____________________
07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[badas]

i used to get back ache on my honda mtx 125 but only when i did like 30 miles straight riding or more,

eventually my back got stronger and no longer bothers me

if i was you, just get a bike you like the look and feel of if its in your budget.

if you go enduro / trials i would reccomend a yamaha DT for sure 125cc

[dextersaurus]

£600 for gear, easy.

£600 for insurance, even easier.

Do your test with the £1500 you have, then buy a GPZ500s (or any of the other 500cc commuters)
i bought mine for £300 and fixed it up, you could easily find a decent one for less than a grand.

i'm 18 with a years no claims, and insurance is £200 a year tpft for me... shouldn't be much more for you


If you like the style, that is.
https://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs406.snc4/46953_1478185488357_1645368025_1100151_8314854_n.jpg
looks much better than any of those crappy chinese bikes.

If you want a 125, you're not gonna get fast and reliable.
You'll get fast but less reliable and crap on fuel, or you'll get slow (bout 65mph) but really reliable and great on fuel.

It's one of those sacrifices eh.

Dunc

[ScottishBiker]

[quote="lnewland"]why are your parents so concerned about back ache? is it because you will be doing long distances or have a back problem?
Most 125cc bike you are in a pretty sat up position any way[/quote]

its because ill be doing long distances maybe 30 to 60 miles at a time

[quote]If you want a 125, you're not gonna get fast and reliable.
You'll get fast but less reliable and crap on fuel, or you'll get slow (bout 65mph) but really reliable and great on fuel.

It's one of those sacrifices eh. [/quote]

sod it ill get a slow reliable 125 then get something a bit nicer when i pass my test

[dextersaurus]

CG125 is basic and you'll get one for less than £500, they are cheap, reliable and will do about 65 tops. you'll get about 100mpg from it too.

Pretty much exactly the same engine in the XR125, which is more expensive to buy, but it's bigger and more comfortable.

Also, The RXS is apparently just as good for a 125, but you'll be hard pressed to find one in decent condition for it's age

Get something cheap and cheerful, do your test, and buy a bigger bike

Dunc

[ScottishBiker]

[quote="Mr Dunkable"]

Get something cheap and cheerful, do your test, and buy a bigger bike

Dunc[/quote]

will do, my dad just pointed out it doesnt matter what i get now because ill look a tit with L plates on, cheap and reliable it is

[dextersaurus]

it's something like this you should get

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1992-HONDA-CG-125-Motorcycle-/260660888293?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item3cb09982e5

Cheap and cheerful!

Save the posing for when you have a bigger bike eh

Dunc

[c_dug]

GPZ photo whoring!

https://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee81/paddy2007dug/myGPZ500.jpg

https://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs274.ash1/20170_313705085539_567100539_5140115_2394809_n.jpg
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[c_dug]

The sharp eyed among you may notice the lack of belly pan in the 2nd picture.

It turns out GPZ's have less ground clearance than TDR's
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Teflon-Mike]

A 30 mile commute is a bit of a hike!
If you are doing 60miles a day, five days a week, thats 300miles a week, 1,200 a month.
FORGET an Arpillia, on ANY budget, you'll DEFINITELY get back ache trying to do that sort of mileage on it!
Most bikes need a minor service about every 1000miles, a major one every three thousand. THAT is the sort of mileages MANY bikes see in a whole year, but add som elesure riding on top of your commuting and you could be doing that in little more than a month!
(& on an RS, you'd probably be doing rebuilds every week-end!)
On the mileage alone, I'd say that a 125 PROBABLY wasn't the best bike for you, certainly not in the long run, a bigger bike would do the miles more easily.
But, bigger bikes are more often more expensive to run, so there are pro's and cons.
For that kind of mileage, I think a trailie probably wouldn't be much more comfy than a sportsbike, and certainly not as sure footed. Upright riding possition may be easy on your back, but spread out like a parachute on wide bars, its tiring, while high seat and parachute effect mean you get buffeted about by winds quite badly, and its especially bad on a lightweight.
Sportsbikes, as mentioned, cramped, & demanding of maintenence.
Leaves standard commuter-bikes and cruisers.
Cruisers are not fast.... and they dont tend to be as comfy as they look, and can be unwieldy, though the long wheel-base can make them a bit more stable.....
Leaves standard commuters, as the LOGICAL choice.
NOT the most spritely machines, 65 is thier top wack, BUT they are reasonably comfy, and though uninspiring, they do the job they were designed to well enough, and they tend to be not TOO demanding on maintenence and fuel, which will ease the burden a bit on the wallet of nothing else.
On which score, in your budget, VERY late, and VERY low mileage, A1 condition Honda CG125, with change, or newer preferably less than four years old, and preferably with less than two owners, Yamaha YBR125.
HOWEVER!
Back of my mind, going through the possibilities, pro's and cons, ONe name keeps ringing in my ears.
Honda 125 Veradaro.
You'd JUST squeek one into your budget, be better to find a couple hundred more to get a good one, BUT.
Its an adventure sport 'styled' machine. Twin cylinder four-stroke, and very well made.
Physically large, and definitely comft, it has 'sort' of trail-bike style looks, without such wide bars, and the benefit of a small fairing to keep the wind off you.
for the mileage you invissage, I think it would be the ideal choice. Twin-pot motor has a BIT more pezaz, and should be able to just about top 70, but that means comfortable 60 cruising. Motor wont be so lumpy being a twin, so it will be more relaxed to ride for longer distances, plus the long travel suspension and big seat soaking up potholed roads, plus the fairing to keep some of the wind off you.
Maintenence WILL be a bit more demanding than a CG and fuel ecconopmy will be down, but no-where ner as much as shifting up to a bigger bike...
I think it would do the job you suggest admirably.... Heres a pic, what do you think?;-
https://www.bikez.com/pictures/honda/2006/22482_0_1_2_varadero%20125_Image%20credits%20-%20Honda.jpg
One tip, though, budget for traing on top of CBT & get your test out the way ASAP, to give yourself a good start & arm yourself as well as you can, but also qualified riders pay less insurance than L-Platers. On which topic, Make SURE you declare the high average miles you anticipate..... as said, many policies work on 3000miles a year average! You could be doing that in a month!
____________________
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?'