best first bike?

[wupwup]

hi guys. havnt posted in a while but im looking at gettign a bike after christmas. im 17 and will have maybe £1500 to spend all together. insurance, clothes, everything. im just wondering if i can get anything decent for that price of should i not bother?

i was looking at a naked hyosung GT125 like this
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201044372325989/sort/priceasc/usedbikes/engine-size-bikes/70cc_to_225cc/model/comet/make/hyosung/page/1/radius/1501/postcode/st150eh?logcode=p
but i cant get a decent one cheap enough. i dont want a aprilia rs or anything too flashy but id rather stay away from honda cg's and the like. i know they are good bikes but they look terrible (old ones esspecialy). i was wondering about a honda NSR too but ive been warned against old 2 strokes because they might have been abused and are quite fragile if not looked after.

im also quite tall (nearly 6ft) so im not sure i would fit on a smaller bike like a cg or ybr. any advice or sugestions would be great, thanks

[t101]

get a cg. the 2004(?) onwards ones look pretty ok, specially in silver. youll use about 1/4 of the petrol, about 1/100th of the maintenance fees, and they do the same sort of speeds at the end of the day. im over 6 foot and i fitted on one fine, youd probably have more trouble fitting on a sports rep.

https://jmsmotorcycles.com/wp-content/uploads/wpsc/product_images/cg125%20silver%202.jpg

i dont think that comet looks like a particularly good deal...

if you want something different, try a yamaha tdr125 or a cagiva planet. theyre both 2 strokes though and pretty hard to find.[/img]

[Marcg868]

[johnsmith222]

If you go for a 2 stroke then get an NSR125.

I personally would go for a CG though. They are the way forward. Don't spend 1500 on one. A grand maximum for a really good condition one. I'd aim for one for about 600 quid though.

My mate was the most status obsessed person and he really wanted an RS 125 and to look cool. He's now saw sense and is sucking it up and getting a CG.

People are more interested by how cool they are than to notice other people. The ones that do have an issue with taking the piss out of someone else because of their image tells more about the insecurities of the person who has that opinion.

TBH the CG is a cool bike by me, especially as a first bike, and probably any other serious biker imo.

[Ditto]

Just get a CG, save the money and do your test ASAP.

At least if you get a CG other people will realise its a stop gap until you pass your test.

Whenever I see someone on a R125 or similar with their L plates I just think they're a tit for wasting their money.
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CG 125 > Bandit 600 > CBR 600 FY > Street Triple R

[itsallgood]

You could do your test and squeeze onto something tatty but perfectly usable for that sort of cash.

Say £500 to do your test, and £1000 to buy a basic bigger bike plus some kit?
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1995 Honda cg125 SOLD
1993 Jawa 350 twin sport (haven't found the "sport" aspect yet)

[t101]

or

https://images.motofan.fr/C/5/9/3/honda-city-fly-trail_bf_916395.jpg

[N cee thirty]

get a nsr could be ages untill you pass your test so might aswell have some fun, unlike on the boring cg which i decided to get

i'm 6ft something and the cg sits me fine
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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

[Livefast123]

If you want a Comet GT then hang on for it, there are bargains to be had. Picked up mine on ebay for £600 on an 06 plate admittedly though it's a 250.

Have a look at these
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2008-HYOSUNG-GT-125-COMET-MOTORCYCLE-BLUE-/380289614036?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item588b0700d4
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2008-HYOSUNG-GT-125-R-BLACK-/160508596063?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item255f0ecf5f

I can't fault mine and although I haven't ridden the 125 i would imagine it's a competant learner machine.

Something like a CG would be fine too but in my opinion they look gash.
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Current ride - Yamaha MT-07

[blurredman]

I have a CG, it is an older model though ('91) mind you, all CG's are effectively the same just different styling, and if you prefer modern then obviously go for something post '04, as you'd have CDI ignition, rather than points. However, I doubt my points have been changed more than 2 times in it's lifetime.

https://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g164/Blurredman/Cars%20and%20Mine/P1060243.jpg?t=1290452881

This is mine, and I love the styling rather than other CG's. Admittedly, it is in bits undergoing a nice refirbishment, but that's only because the look of the frame and engine was looking rather tired, but they are bullet-proof maaaaaaaaaaan . I'm planning to keep it for the forseable future after I do my test you see- So I am working on it, however- it could sell for the same if not more to pass it on..


Fact is, you're gonna drop your bike, esspecially as it's your first and you're unexperienced. I only dropped MY bike once and that was the day I failed my Mod1, It's old, and people can tell that just by reading the plate. Why would anyone expect a perfect bike which was made little before the internet we know today, and when Windows 3.1 was but a dream.
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CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 52k.

[Rogerborg]

All of that. Unless you've got a passion for 125s, then your first bike should be as cheap as possible, as you won't be on it long. I told myself I'd keep riding my 125 (which I still absolutely love) after I passed A2 - I lasted all of a week before buying a 250.

Hyosungs are fine bikes, but not everyone knows that, so resale will tend to be lower than a Japanese branded bike. Take that into account when buying - that 2008 Hyosung, offer a grand in cash, or walk away. There'll be another along in a minute, or the price will come down the longer it doesn't sell.

But before you do anything else, have you done your CBT and enjoyed it? It'll likely be done on a CG, YBR, or some Chinese-branded clone of them, so it'll give you a feel for whether commuter bikes are for you, or whether you really want that sports / streetfighter look.

[wupwup]

i havnt done my cbt yet because i didn't know if i could get a decent bike afterwards. im wondering whether i should just learn to drive a car. seems like a waste though because i wont be able to afford a car or insurance. + i realy want a bike .

im not bothered about getting a realy great looking bike but i want something that will look nice. better than a cg anyway. i also want to stay away from trials bikes because of the stigma.

am i right in thinking hyosung make / use the same parts as Suzuki? if so they must be relatively reliable right?

i dont have a job atm and probably wont be getting one soon (going ti uni next year so dont know if i will have time for one). so im not sure about passing my A2 test. if i could that would be nice. but that £1000 has to cover insurance too. thanks for the help though guys

[nowhere.elysium]

[wupwup]

[Rogerborg]

Hyosung owners seem to like 'em, they look great, and the quality shouldn't be far off a Suzuki. The trouble is that the showroom price isn't far off either. They should be good value used though.

If you've got Wrong 'Uns nearby, then you should cost security into your estimate.

You can get on the road for under £1000. It'll break down like this:

CBT £100 (give or take)
Helmet £60
At a minimum, cheap waterproofs plus £20 gloves, but think more like £150 for textile jacket, trousers, gloves and boots, if you shop around on eBay.
Budget at least £50 for a chain and/or disk lock and/or cheap cover, unless you've got a garage available. If you store the bike outside, then whether it gets stolen depends more on the area than on the security though.
Insurance, well, there's the rub. Prices vary wildly, on a daily basis. At 17 on a CBT, think north of £200 just for third party on a 125 - start getting quotes now.
Call that £400 absolute minimum, probably more like £500 or even £600 though.

That gives you £400-600 for a bike, which will get you a perfectly ridable CG or YBR if you buy privately and are prepared to take one that looks scruffy but is mechanically sound. You may even find a Hyosung for that, or an older CBR 125, but you'd be left with no budget to fix it if you buy a lemon.

Doing your CBT is the first step though - you may love it or hate it. All you'll need are gloves and waterproofs.

[MattJ]

[nowhere.elysium]

[MattJ]

[wupwup]

thanks guys, yeah if i had the money or my parents where paying i would learn to drive a car, but i dont. my mum just thinks i should learn as soon as possible. my savings wont even cover my insurance though, let alone lessons, tests, car e.c.t.

i have a garage but not a verry secure one. will have to get a better lock if i do buy one. my actural estate is quite quiet. noone ever goes there. doubt it would get stolen, but then again its not far from some not so nice places.

my main concern is not buying a dud. i dont know anything bout bikes really. my dad used to have a few when he was younger but i am guessing they have changed.

[N cee thirty]

buy a post 2000 honda cg,even if you managed to find a bad condition one it will run on
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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

[Welshd1k]

nsr125 . you'll get bored of the cg and wish you got a nsr when they wizz past you . get a nice one that hasnt been dereistricetd. get a fresh piston and rings in it straight away and run on decent 2 stroke oil just as reliable as a cg if you look after it
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Current >Cb600fx hornet, ns125rk90 21.7bhp@wheel<
Sold >,zxr400 h2 (33bhp kit) rd350 n1 rd350 lc2<

[chris-red]

Honda CG, The City Fly is cool to I would rather have one of those but the CG is known for bomb proof reliability,
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
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[kingsknight]

https://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs054.ash2/36058_453822558621_500588621_5325471_544509_n.jpg

Get an XR, Its has the same bomb proof engine as a CG but much better styling!
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TS50 (sold) NS125F (sold) NSR125R-K (write off after 2 crashes) CG125 (nicked) XR125L-3 (Sold )-: ) DR125SM '11 (sold yay) XL125V '12 (In love with this bike) XT600E '04 (fun on the dirt)

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

R1.
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[truslack]