What to do?

[boyler]

Hi all. And thanks in advance for reading my post if you did!

I'm new to biking, just passed my CBT and now living in London. Interested in buying a 125cc bike and getting started in the life of biking!

On my CBT i rode a yamaha ybr 125. it was prob a few years old but it was a comfy wee bike and great for a starter i thought! or in my case, a complete noob to motorcycles!

Anyway, my boss at work told me to go buy a 2nd hand aprilla rs 125 cos they look awesome and they have v good power for a 125. So i began researching them and was about to go and view one. Then i thought;

Ok, after i pay like 1200-1500 for a 2nd hand aprilla, i will have to pay 200-500 for insurance, 300 odd on equipment (helmet, jacket, gloves, boots etc!. So this is all gonna add up, and whos to say the bike wont stop working 2 days later and i dont know anything about bikes so im fecked!

Why not go for a brand new 2010 yamaha ybr 125 with 2 years warranty, 0% APR finance, jacket, helmet and gloves for £2269!?

So i did that, and the finance company turned me away bcos i've just moved to england from N.Ireland, and don't live with my parents, im 20 and i dont have any proof of bills etc! I'm like - wtf i can pay for this no probs monthly (over 3 years if i wanted to but i went for 18 months). But thats ok, I've just spent 250 on insurance and i now have to cancel it and wait 3 weeks on my refund, and my deposit for the actual bike!

So it would be cool to hear some opinions, and I am in west london - twickenham area if anyone knows where i should visit to see about bikes?

or could you advise any particular deals or bikes would suit me? I'd like to get a sporty looking 125, i like the look of the aprilla / honda cbr.

I would prefer new and maybe some sort of deal that would include warranty / equipment maybe and/or insurance.

Would appreciate any help!

Cheers

[pinkyfloyd]

Better idea for you.

Dont listen to your boss because he isnt the one riding the thing. They are ultimatly more expensive in the long run to own. Yes while it is true they are faster and look the bollocks but they are just a 125 at the end of the day and in London theres no point having a fast 125.

Why not get a bike like the YBR you found comfortable on the cbt. They are cheaper in pretty much every way and good solid bikes. Then pass your test ASAP and get yourself a bigger bike.

With bikes like the YBR you can get "free biking" out of them. Pick one up cheap and sell it for pretty much what you paid a few months later when you pass your test.
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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.

[Kickstart]

Hi

I have a liking for small 125 2 strokes, but agree with the above.

I wouldn't worry too much about buying a new bike (you will lose a lot more in depreciation). Something like a YBR125 or CG125 in reasonably usable condition should be fairly cheap, and shouldn't depreciate much.

If you get something like that and ride it for 6 months or so you have more idea of what you like and what is convenient for the use you land up using the bike for. At that point do your test (best to wait until you are 21 and can do direct access anyway), or chose a more fun 2 stroke 125.

All the best

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

[Paxovasa]

[andyj88]

or get a honda cg125. i think its one of the top rated commuters and for learning, are cheap to run and good on insurance. i would have thought they're good for a london rider too.
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Suzuki Bandit GSF 600s. Mod 1 - passed Mod 2 - passed

[Rogerborg]

Ditto from me too. Your first bike should be cheap and easy to sell on.

People can and do ride round the world on YBRs and CGs. CBRs are nice bikes too, and as quick as you'll ever need in town. They're all tried and tested and will hold their value well.

Or if you want to spend a bit more, there are some used Honda CBF 125s starting to come onto the market now, still under their 2 year warranty. They have newer technology - ooh, fuel injection, lah de dah - and proper junior-sports-commuter styling.

I'd stay away from anything Chinese, no matter how cheap it looks. You can get a bargain there, but you really need to know what you're doing.

[nokiakeys]

I agree with all the guys here.

I currently have a cbf 125 which is a very good bike to learn on, especially in london.

I got mine new for 2k with a couple of free bits as well.

Hopefully past my das soon. So like they said, there will be a bunch of these 2nd hand soon up for sale.

My insurance cost around £350 TFT... but pay it month by month so when you pass you can change it with the least amount of trouble

[Tenantry13]

I had a Honder CBR 125, Was perfect for me to learn on and looks good too.

Picked it up for £1700 had it for a few months then passed and sold it on. Got £1500 for it for a quick sale.

Even though I could have probably got more for it if I had time on my side.

[boyler]

Thank you all for the swift reply! I have read all of your replies and agree with all of ya. I'm gonna go for somethin cheap and cheerful. Might just save up for a couple months and buy that YBR 125 deal up front. that way i get a years free insurance as well.

Here's think link if any of you are interested. I've spoken to other experienced riders and they said its a great deal cant go wrong with it as a starter like.

https://www.westlondonyamaha.co.uk/latest_offers.asp

Thanks again lads

ps nice community here +1 to these forums.

Boyler

[HD]

I think finance may be a bit silly if your only young (like I am). You may get laid off and if you feel you want to sell your bike, you cant.

At the end of the day though, go with your gut as I am the only one who has said this

Hope it all works out!


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Rusty '02 Vito Camper + CBR600F3

[Adam.I]

My first bike was a 125 YBR. I loved it. It was so cheap to run and the economy was amazing! Even parts (when you drop it) aren't that expensive compared to others. But, I REALLY wouldn’t go and buy a brand spanking new, especially on finance.

I managed to haggle the dealer down on a second hand YBR, got about £300 knocked off which then paid for the insurance. You should be able to pick one up cheapish as there are loads on eBay, Autotrader and local garages.

Helmets, jackets and gloves can be sourced very cheap of eBay as well. Could easily get the lot for £70<. I got my YBR with the intention of just learning, so didn't splash out on the latest Arai helmet or Alpinestar jacket - saved a lot and learned a lot this way.
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Veni Vidi Vici

[Rogerborg]

Yup, if you buy brand new for your first bike, then you are absolutely guaranteed to drop it pulling out of the dealer.

One thing to be aware of is that the warranty is only as good as the dealer's attitude. Some (not all, some) dealers treat 125s like dead cats - once they've flung them out the door, they don't want to see them back again.

Unless you've got personal knowledge that your dealer will actually do warranty work without giving you the run-around, you're often better off buying used so that someone else has sorted any teething problems.

[HD]

[boyler]

hey, i see what ya mean about the warranty man; and as a guy who doesn't know much about bike parts / mechanisms, prob best not to rely on the warranty too much in case i get

Another thing is tho, if i buy the bike new i dont have to worry about MOT for 3 years. Wheras If i got a decent used bike i'll still have to maintain it and make sure it's both ridable and ready for MOT! It all adds up.

I think i've made my choice now; gonna go for a decent 2nd hand bike somtime soon to get me up and running like.

but thanks again all! big help! and i'm gonna maybe try get some decent gear off ebay or the likes.

One more thing; any brands I should go for in terms of gear for starting? I want something thats gonna be good for the winter weather ahead and also of good safe quality.

Obviously need a helmet, jacket, trousers, boots and gloves.

[SweenyT]

Hi and welcome.

Like all the previous posters have said get a second hand one. I kinda wish I did in the beginning but following some dodgy advice ended up going for the same sort of deal you were initially looking at.

The kit the dealer provides you with is usually barely worth what they claim and probably will only last a month or two and if you consider the insurance deal its always best to check to see if you can get the insurance cheaper on your own. The only upside was that my first 'service' was free bar parts and there was less maintenance during the six months/year, oh and I got some extra stuff - ground anchor, chain etc heavily discounted/free Running the engine in was a bit of a pain and I couldn't wait until I'd clocked up my first 1K.

If you'll be 21 soon then I would definitely buy a cheap one until I passed my DAS then upgrade. In my case as I had the bike from new I was able to choose to do A2 or DAS (did A2 in end as would've had to wait till middle/end Nov to do DAS and couldnt wait )

Oh and I didn't drop mine straight away cause I got a mate to ride it home....I dropped it three weeks later and barely scratched it

Good luck with your choice and you cant go far wrong with a CG or YBR.
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Current ride - 2005 Suzuki GSX-R600 K4 - 2x 2014 Honda NC750s long term courtesy bikes - 2003 Fazer FZ6 written off as idiot reversed into me - 2009 YBR125 - still have from new

[Kickstart]

[boyler]

[boyler]

Cheers Keith, when i think of MOT's I always think if car MOT's as i've had a car before and had to MOT that once, its first MOT actually.

I understand there are obvious differences in all aspects between motorbike and car mot's! price being a major thing ^^

ta mate

[Kickstart]

Hi

If you do DAS in April, then while you will have picked up some bad habits from riding, the experience of the 125 should make the mechanics of riding 2nd nature then, leaving you free to concentrate on the bits to get you through your test.

And as a bonus, bike prices tend to go down in winter and up for summer. So with luck if you buy a bike now and sell if for something bigger after your test you will get more than you paid for it

All the best

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