17 next year....

[JPx1994]

Hi guys,
Basically next March I will be 17, I know quite a long time but :/. At the moment I ride an aprilia sr50 and am trying to decide wether to do my full bike test and buy an aprilia rs125 around the years 07-10 with lowish mileage or a kawasaki ninja 250r again used but 2008 onwards, or do a car test.
Obviously i can't do both at the moment because money is tight when your still in 6th form and only have a part time job.
I still can't decide after weighing up the pros and cons of all 3 options.
The convenience of a having a car all is obviously a massive positive for many reasons (passengers, weather etc). However, insurance for a car is ridiculously expensive for a 17 year old.
Riding a bike also has many positives like enjoyment and cost and i am hoping to go to uni in 2 years time and i dont think i would take a car there but i would definitely take a bike.
Also my journey to school at the moment involves a bit of nsl dual carriageway and i heard that the newer aprilias have less power than the older ones becasue of emission laws so i was wondering what the top speed would be and also what the 2 bikes are like to ride

Any advice on the 2 bikes or the car vs bike argument would be appreciated, thanks

[Derivative]

From what I've read on this forum opinions are the Ninja250 is a bit useless, better off getting something like an SV650 and restricting it, it'll be cheaper and better.

If you do your full bike test it's pointless buying a 2 stroke 125 as a main bike IMO, if you want reliability and fuel economy get a 4 stroke 125, if you want performance get a restricted 600.

I think the opinion of most here would be that having a 125 after full test is torture, I haven't personally ridden one but I don't think an RS would be comfortable at 70. Sure it'll get there, similarly to how you could run 10mph if you wanted, but you wouldn't want to do it all the time.

[JPx1994]

wouldn't the rs hit at least 95mph full power??? If i keep to service schedules etc I've heard they generally would be fine in terms of reliability if i find a decent one. Not overly worried about fuel cost to be honest, just want something that would be fun to ride and could do 200 miles a week and less during off term time and I just love the look and performance of the rs (not so much the sound similar to my moped!) and I don't really mind how it is at 10mph my scooters like that but i don't really mind it. If i brought one I would probably keep it for 2-3 years then upgrade and i don't know if i'd get bored because the power to weight ratio is only a bit below the limit on a 2 year licence anyway. So my heart is pretty much set on it but don't know if it would handle the miles :/. Also wouldn't i find it difficult in terms of handling a bike as heavy as a 650 moving up from an sr50?????

[Derivative]

What I mean is, physically on legs you could run at 10mph but you wouldn't want to do it for extended periods of time. I don't think running any 125 at 70 for long is a good idea. Not to mention with the little weight you get blown about a bit.

If you really are set on the RS, go for it, I just see two-strokes as daft for commuting, it's a bike that needs proper care.

[JPx1994]

good point I suppose, if I go for a bike I will definitely look into it further and have a sit down on other bikes etc, I would go for a bigger capacity bike but its a big step up in terms of weight form a scooter and for me going up step by step in terms of bikes is something id look forward to rather than almost going the whole way onto a 650 or 600 :/ after that 2-3 years, if have enough money id maybe get an r6 or the zx6r or suzuki, im big into sports bikes its just the thought of riding something as big as a 600 daunts me at the minuite even if it was restricted :S Im not the most mechanical of people though and that wories me a bit with the rs 125 but if i grab a haynes manual and some decent tools and feed it quality oil, warm it up etc it might be an experience. Does anyone know of any other sports bikes that comply with the 33bhp restriction or bigger sports bikes but not too heavy that run well restricted?? Thanks for the advice mate Might end up getting a car lol!

[Derivative]

Sod that, you could run 2 RS125's on the bloody insurance for our age group

[L-Jam]

If you're doing your bike test, get it done literally ASAP and get A restricted Hornet 600 / GS 500.
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[JPx1994]

yeah i know! I looked at insurance for a corsa 1.2 like 2004 plate and it was like £2,400, then an rs125, £600 I would mate but I'm still 16, i probably will decide to get a bike and if i do i will get some lessons under my belt as soon as im 17 thanks for the advice on bikes ill check them out

[Fluzzel]

Hey. I have an RS125 and im 6'1 in high and it is really not a comfortable bike to be using a lot. I bought it for a bit of fun and not really for transport, 07 bike with like 2.6k miles or so when i bought it and its a massive pain in the ass. Like you I had my heart set on 1 instead of a sensible bike to learn on and I regret it. Get your test done ASAP and get a bigger bike.

The RS125 is a great piece of fun, most of my mates have the cbr125 and ofcourse the RS is much better but practically its a nightmare. Good 2 stroke oil isnt exactly the cheapest and the constant checking so you dont wreck the engine etc is a bit of a hassle. The mpg compared to most other 125s is a joke. But I guess if you want to get an RS125 then do it but please, please buy 1 in good condition unless you like burning money.Canny beat the sound or smell

Also Im 18 and insurance was £630 fully comp just like you said

Sorry for the lengthy post but I hope it helps you out.

[Teflon-Mike]

An RS is NOT the sort of bike to be going for for a 200mile a week commute, nor a bike you could easily live with away at Uni, with the prospect of long hauls back home or off away to see mates, go do stuff!

Its a VERY single minded sprts-bike; great fun, to pull out on a Sunny Sunday & go for a blast, but the rest of the time?

And I'm sorry, but I think the fuel cost WILL be a bit of a shock! De-restrcted they are lucky to return around 40mpg! Most cars better than. FUCK my 600lb VF-Thou could better THAT!

200 miles a week at 40 to the gallon is £25's worth! Bit of a leap from a 200mpg moped, innit! Crikey, I dont use that much fuel in a ruddy V8 Range-Rover! (well, its gas converted, 1/2 price fuel!)

And maintenence, no, needn't be TOO bad, but its a Hi-Po two-stroke, and its all relative! Tyre sizes are large, and the compounds soft, they'll last better than on a 400supersport... ish, but in comparison to a 125 commuter, its'll be a joke!

It is FAR from a 'Cheap' bike to run. Just becouse the tax and insurance are low, dont mean the running costs are, and quid-per-quo, its up there in the hip-po bike legue, with running costs that are commensurate.

Being a bit sensible about things, if you want to leap from a 50 to something with a little pezazz about it, more than adequete performance, and running costs that wont break the bank QUITE so readily.

Yamaha RD350YPVS.
https://www.djupdalen.se/yamaha350/350huvud.jpg
Original version
https://trendinvestor.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/All-Our-Motorcycles-since-1978/Bike-7-Yamaha-RD350-YPVS/87677111_VS7hk-S.jpg
Later Full-Faired version.

350cc, water-cooled, two-stroke twin. about 60bhp de-restricted, but easily restriced to 33bhp for a restricted licence. Unrestricted it will do between 50 & 70mpg, restricted I would expect it to return 70 or more.

A little more to tax, PROBABLY cheaper to insure, while maintenence costs will probably tend to be lower than an RS, as the restricted motor will be less stressed, and being a Yam, bits are cheap and readily available.

Power delivery is a bit more freindly, and its a much less 'focused' machine, you'll find copes with commuting better, and inflicts less discomfort on you. Will also cope with longer hauls better, and take a bit more luggage, and not be a pain in the neck, arse or wrists doing it. AND, its still a hoot to ride.

Alternatively, do the boring thing, and go for a 500 twin commuter, like a GPz, ER, CB or GS. Boriong by comparison to an RS, but an awful lot easier to live with.

Not that he RS is a bad bike, but its just NOT built for what you want to do with it. Many DO, but they learn the hard way and to thier cost! Usually in teh pocket!
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[Blau Zedong]

Sorry, I can't believe someone's just recommended a 350 YPVS as a first bike.

I'll keep my opinions to myself and just mention that 2T's don't like 33 bhp washers shoved down their neck, at all.
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[JPx1994]

Thanks for your input everybody but Im looking for something a bit more modern and if I was going to get a 2 stroke i would get an aprilia. Just a couple more questions, If i rode the bike 7,000 miles ish a year (won't be riding it that regularly in the winter), how much generally would it cost to service. Also are there any modern (post 2000) 4 stroke sports bikes that produce near to 33bhp that anybody could recommend, and if anybody else knows anything about the ninja 250r any advice and info would be great.
Thanks again guys

[Moo.]

Yamaha SRX400 - 33bhp spot on
Honda BROS 400 - 33bhp spot on
Hyosung GT250

Or you could always get something big and restrict it
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