HELP!!! Thinking I've got it narrowed down...

[carlosthejack...]

I just can't decide on a first bike. I've got around two grand, but would be happy spending less. I've no idea what I want, what year, what mileage is acceptable for what bike. I'm completely nonplussed by the whole thing.

There's a couple I've got an eye on:

Immaculate looking Thundercat: https://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/bikes_popup.jsp?did=30175&pageid=1&originalid=&gid=nogroup&tid=2&start=8&distance=0&adcategory=bikes&channel=DEALERPAGE&id=201122389029665 and one or two other Thundercats.

Less than immaculate ZX6r: https://www.kenurwinmotorcycles.com/bikes/5098.html and a few other ZX6's on eBay etc. Seem to be very reasonably priced.

Opinions? I've really got no idea at all. I also like fully naked FZ6's, Bandits/Hornets etc.

HELP, I'm going insane.
____________________
Responsibility. It's a difficult reality for some. I'm running the 2014 Sheffield Half Marathon on behalf of Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice. Please sponsor me, even if it's just a quid.
DonnyBrago: "I think you may be confusing rain and napalm..." Paulington: "It's not what you ride, it's how you ride it."
Current rides: '05 VFR800 VTEC, '57 Mondeo 1.8 TDCi #58LEGEND

[pinkyfloyd]

Best advice I can give is get yourself around the local dealers and sit on every bike you like the look off to get a feel for the position etc. Then decide. The ZX is more a sporty position than the Thundercat which in turn is more sporty a position than the naked bikes and until you had a feel for them you wont know if you'll get on with it or not.

No point riding a bike that will murder your back in an hour when there are so many different styles out there that will suit everyone.
____________________
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.

[Altissimus]

In my humble opinion if this is a first bike then I wouldn't recommend either of those. It's like getting out of the 1.2 litre vauxhall corsa that you did your test in, and climbing into an Ariel Atom v8.

If you want something sporty, fast enough to be fast on but not quite as licence-endangering and neck-risking as these, then I would recommend:

Suzuki SV650s (with full faring as an option)
Kawasaki ER-6f
Yamaha XJ6

And then, as per above post, I would suggest you find some dealers that sell the above (might be hard pressed from just one shop), go and sit on all of them, and see what suits you best.

Then, when you know the bike you want, go get it on Biketrader for way less than the dealer price.

Best of luck,

A

[0ddball]

The thundercat is very expensive, £1700 for something that's been resprayed!
____________________
ZXR750L

[MarJay]

I'd reccomend a Triumph Speed 4. Amazing value for what they are, and they handle very well indeed. For 2 grand you'd get a really nice one too.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[MarJay]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Hornet. Accept no other.
____________________
My Flickr

[hellbound]

Havng just brought a ZX they are scary quick and possibly not the best bike for a first timer.

I waited 2 years to get some experience before getting something stupidly fast.
____________________
May you always see the road rising up to meet you and your enemies defeated in the mirror behind.

[carlosthejack...]

[carlosthejack...]

Forgot, must be ultra-reliable, as will be using for a daily 50 mile commute.
____________________
Responsibility. It's a difficult reality for some. I'm running the 2014 Sheffield Half Marathon on behalf of Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice. Please sponsor me, even if it's just a quid.
DonnyBrago: "I think you may be confusing rain and napalm..." Paulington: "It's not what you ride, it's how you ride it."
Current rides: '05 VFR800 VTEC, '57 Mondeo 1.8 TDCi #58LEGEND

[P.]

[Scooty]

Why not a VFR? I bought a 98 model with 35K on the clocks for £!600 last year. Nice and fast, comfortable, relatively economical and fairly cheap to insure. Don't rule it out until you have sat on one!
____________________
Current Bike: 2018 Honda CRF250L
Ex-Bikes: 2002 Honda CG125, 1998 Honda VFR800, 2011 Honda CBR600F, 2013 Triumph Sprint GT SE, 2015 Kawasaki ZX10R

[carlosthejack...]

Found a fully faired, immaculate looking '08 SV650S with 10k and a Beowulf can if I can push to £3k. Opinions?
____________________
Responsibility. It's a difficult reality for some. I'm running the 2014 Sheffield Half Marathon on behalf of Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice. Please sponsor me, even if it's just a quid.
DonnyBrago: "I think you may be confusing rain and napalm..." Paulington: "It's not what you ride, it's how you ride it."
Current rides: '05 VFR800 VTEC, '57 Mondeo 1.8 TDCi #58LEGEND

[P.]

[c_dug]

For £2k I'd be picking up a tidy VFR750
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[cb1rocket]

[swiftb]

[Slacker24seve...]

[kawakid]

If you have recently passed your test, I would not recommend a sports bike even an old one.

Personally I would recommend something like an ER6 or an SV650, or perhaps an ER5. Gain your experience before going for something beyond your abilities.

I passed my test 7 years ago and I road at 33bhp on a restricted ER5 for 2 years. I gained great experience on this. My lunchtime ride over the Yorkshire moors was a great learning experience. Having to work every gear change, really taught me how to ride.
____________________
I've a twin and a 4.

[HD]

Bandit.
____________________
Rusty '02 Vito Camper + CBR600F3

[Minty]

Old school Fireblade. <£2000
____________________
My fingers smell of your mum.

[CaNsA]

Dont listen to the "too much power" gang.

100bhp is perfectly fine as a 1st bike.

In fact a mate of mine bought a 636 as his first and he hasnt thrown it down the road once in the 6 months he has been riding!

any old sports-tourer will see you right.
CBR600F
Thundercat
GSXF

good luck dude

[Seb]

However, the smoother and softer the bike, the easier it is to build up your confidence on it. A well behaved 600 is fine though as long as your not a complete numpty and have a little self preservation going, the only times I ever dropped my ZZR 600 were when I wasn't actually going forwards

If was buying a first bike now, I suspect I'd aim for a Versys though but only because I know the lack of top end wouldn't bore me.
____________________
2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[carlosthejack...]

Passed today. It's real now. Thanks for all the advice, I'm still none the wiser!
____________________
Responsibility. It's a difficult reality for some. I'm running the 2014 Sheffield Half Marathon on behalf of Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice. Please sponsor me, even if it's just a quid.
DonnyBrago: "I think you may be confusing rain and napalm..." Paulington: "It's not what you ride, it's how you ride it."
Current rides: '05 VFR800 VTEC, '57 Mondeo 1.8 TDCi #58LEGEND

[koolio]