Hey guys... Help me out here? =P

[SpannerMonkey]

Okay, so with the PC50 being out of action, and things not going as well as they should... I cant afford to piss arse about... I need to get a sensible reliable bike...

My mum is showing signs of willing to help financially to a small degree... but she's concerned about a number of things...

Her points are:

I need a more capable bike than a 50 (Agreed)
I cant cope with running costs of a 600 (Agreed)
I could do with a more common/discreet bike as mine keep getting stolen/vandalised and we believe it may be a personal thing... therefore people will find it harder to tell I ride a common bike, than a "Sore-thumb" of a slow ped...
She also asked if there are any reasonable reccomendations in the <£500 market

Now, she's spotted a rather smart but common looking chinese 125 scooter that she says "Ticks all the boxes" at 450 on an 09 plate... my worry being that spares availability being an issue with it not being a common chinese brand (Pioneer)

Ideally a 250cc is in order here, or a 350cc but not much comes up on the radar.

One thing I did spot is a Honda C90 going locally for £499 with long MOT and tax and this tempts me from a reliability aspect... But my worry is that the PC50 was "Supposed" to be reliable... will the c90 really be THAT indestructable? is it "Me" proof?

Any suggestions or anyone know of anything going?
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My bike? A YX140 powered one-off Monkey Bike, something a little different!

[Carvel]

250 Pooperdream

That is all.
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2002 Aprilia RSV1000R, Cbr600Fs, Mk1 B12, Vfr400 NC30...

Matt B: I can deal with crushed nuts to beat Ollie.

[ThoughtContro...]

What's up with a 500 twin like CB, GS ER5? Or even an XJ600?

If ridden sensibly you'll probably get as good mpg as an ancient 250. If there was one going cheap a Hyosung GT250 would be ideal if you still wanted a 250 class, other than that you're looking at really old bikes or overpriced new stuff like CBF250.

Chinese? No, but you knew that already
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Prize cunt
--
"In a world of universal deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act" - George Orwell

[SpannerMonkey]

Just spotted a Honda CB-1 going for the right sorta price... only problem is its over my 33bhp... Be honest... is it worth me restricting it? It's 50-odd as standard.
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My bike? A YX140 powered one-off Monkey Bike, something a little different!

[tvchimp]

my bike is for sale... could probably look at adjusting the price for you (really need it gone lol, strapped for cash!)

I'd have thought you'd be able to get a 250 or a 400 superdream within the 33bhp limit though? (should be fairly cheap too?)
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Bike: Currently Bikeless... Gahh

[SpannerMonkey]

[ThoughtContro...]

CB-1's are cool. You'll become a hooligan

If you don't restrict it you take the chance on getting pulled or not. If you ride sensibly and aren't unlucky you would get away with it, tho that's your call. Expect a lecture from Teflon Mike as well as your mum You would have to choose your insurer wisely tho, as some are certificate happy.

It uses the same engine as the CBR400 Aero I think, so restrictor dimensions will be the same.
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Prize cunt
--
"In a world of universal deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act" - George Orwell

[SpannerMonkey]

[stinkwheel]

[SpannerMonkey]

[ThoughtContro...]

[Moo.]

+1 for a Superdream xD cheap as chips, no restricting and boring as a fart. The 400's are better, but 43bhp :o Try for a CB350SG if you can, bit rarer but cheapy and no need to restrict. 400 bros? 33bhp but can get a bit dear :o
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A2 Passed 18/6/10

[Teflon-Mike]

You are going to struggle to find a bike that s 'You' proof....
CB1... nice, ish... but one I'd avoid on the 'common' front, as well as being a four pot. GS500 is more common, as powerful. Cheaper to run, and has less to go wrong! Though I'm sure you'll still find SOMETHING!
But I think, in your shoes, I'd be looking dirt bikes.
Something like a DR350...
You WILL have to spend more money, but, tend to hold value better, and practically, there isn't MUCH more too them than your pedal and pop.... its just whats there is bigger!
AND... you live in Shropshire.... some of the BEST greenlaning in the country RIGHT on your doorstep....... even without venturing into either of the two National Parks within spitting distance and annoying the bobble hatters!
Now, I know I mention it a fair bit..... but... single, dirt bike, air cooled, two stroke, under £500..... I would... I DID.... Yamaha DT175MX
Check e-bay. You can pick up a really good one, for about £800. You get stuff with T&T from £500, and there are plenty of examples, no T&T offered that probably wont take much to get T&T on them.
Great fun, with 17bhp, hardly more than learner legal, I know, but its 33bhp complient, and its a very 'useful' 17bhp, and quite exiting.
Not a long haul bike though..... but then you dont really need one, and its much more comodiouse than a PC50!
They haven't been Learner Legal for thirty years, so roaded versions tend not to have been abused by numpties, like DT125's, or messed with in misguided attempts to de restrict them. Many will have been abused as off road hacks and field bikes though, but.... its an air cooled Yamaha two stroke..... tough as old boot, and so simple! NOT new bike reliability.... just the 'dependability' of really low tech and rugged mechanics.

But, GS500, GPz500, or similar..... you know the 'usual' suspects!
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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?'

[yambabe]

[ThoughtContro...]

If you go the dirt bike route I'd invest in the biggest, heaviest chain you can find and the most secure ground anchor, and an alarm of some form, especially as you say you've been targeted by thieves in the past.

I dunno what it's like around your end, but anything remotely offroad looking tends to attract the interest of every trackie wearing scally scrote for miles around here.
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Prize cunt
--
"In a world of universal deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act" - George Orwell

[ThoughtContro...]

[SirEdward]

+1 for CB-1. Just to elevate the heat of discussion,

https://www.zeyz.de/cb1/cb1.jpg

It's gettin' hot in 'ere, so take off all your clothes.
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"Beyond a critical point within a finite space, freedom diminishes as numbers increase. This is as true of humans as it is of gas molecules in a sealed flask. The human question is not how many can possibly survive within the system, but what kind of existence is possible for those who so survive.

Pardot Kynes in "Appendix I: The Ecology of Dune""

[Nexus Icon]

CB-1s are cool. Plain as day.
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Greetings from Shitsville!

[Moo.]

How much do cb-1s go for nowadays? Theres one at a garage locally, hes asking £1250 thought twas a bit steep
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A2 Passed 18/6/10

[hornetmike]

good bike
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87 Honda CG 125 - 97 ER5 - SR 50 -81 Z250- 96 CBR 600 F- 94 GPX600R 88- GPX 400R- 87 GS 125 - 2006 Honda CB600F- 2003 ER5 - Honda CBF 1000 2009 - Honda CBR 600 RR 2011
Current BMW R1200GS 2010

[Teflon-Mike]

[Frog]

If it ever arrives, I'm getting a CB400 with an(unfitted) restriction kit that ill be selling as soon as I get the bike.

Not sure if it's worth anything, but if you're in need of one (and it fits the CB1?) then I'd certainly be up for a barter.

+1 on the "cool bikes" comment, but then I would say that

Everything I've read suggests they will run and run with a bit of basic maintenance. I hope so... I'm a mechanical idiot
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CBT 23/09/10 - Theory 19/03/11 - Mod1 19/04/11 - Mod2 06/05/11
Bikes: CBF125 (sold 30/10/10-25/09/12) - CB400 24/06/11 (broken) - ER6-f 25/09/2012

[SirEdward]

[ThoughtContro...]

[SirEdward]