Best Learner Bike For A Big Lad

[mcfcbiker]

Hi all, first post so please be gentle with me , I did a quick search but couldnt see any other questions like mine so here goes.

I want to start biking and I am planning to take my CBT in the next few weeks but I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice on starter 125's for me to learn on, get road experience and get my confidence up. I would be using it for commuting to work and then going out whenever possible and then I would work towards the next stages of a full licence.

Im 6ft 4in and weigh about 17.5stone and I am a bit worried that I would struggle to fit on a 125 comfortably/safely. I have been reading up and looking at the Yamaha YBR-125, Honda CBF 125 and Suzuki Van Van and before I take a trip and look at them physically I wondered if anyone could offer any advice on big lads on learner legal bikes.

The Yamaha and Honda have very thin wheels and tyres which worries me slightly and the Suzuki has a low seat height. Can anyone suggest an alternative or I am just being soft

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
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Current Bike = 2011 Triumph Street Triple R
Previous Bikes = Yamaha YBR 125, Honda CBF 125, SYM XS 125K

[waffles]

Varadero.

I mistook the 125 version for its big daddy when browsing round one of my local bike shops. I used to know someone with a 'dero and she had to dip the bike down and take a leap at it to sit on the thing.
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Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[WannaBeDude]

stupid bike advice was here !!

stupid bike advice was here !!

stupid bike advice was here !!
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Jogging on, destination living.

[_Troy_]

Take a look at a Honda Varadero - very big 125
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Current bike: ZX6R J1
Previous bikes: CLR 125 | GS500 | ZX6R G2 | SV650

[Nexus Icon]

Derbi Terra/Adventure.

I'm 6'4" and fitted it fine. It's also right at the legal power limit so it'll haul your, erm, bulk around well.
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Greetings from Shitsville!

[Alex_B]

The Derbi is a good bike so heed what Nexus says to you.

Personally, I looked at the Derbi but got really lucky and found a Baby Varadero which is much better (imfo)

You're probably looking at around £1300 and up though but they are out there cheaper.

You could also try a Honda CLR 125 Cityfly which is another great bike that should fit you. A good one can be found for around £700 upwards.

By far, the biggest, baddest, bulkiest 125 is the Varadero though. V-Twin, thick tires and right on the 14.6 BHP limit and glorious to ride.
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My Lane Position is always AWESOME!!

[Moxey]

Another for Varadero

Beautiful bike, good fuel economy, cheap parts, good reliability and comfortable as well. Did a bit of touring on mine as well as commuting managed just fine on A roads at 60 very good bike that gets a bit too much slating sometimes for being 'just a oversized 125'.

Comparative to other 125s the prices are a bit higher, got my 52 plate for 1100 last year but was alot of bike for the money, can't recommend them enough.
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Current: 02 FZS 1000 & 91 Royal Enfield Bullet 350 Some Bike Pics...
'I was too busy paying attention to pay attention'

[Muscle Bike Rider]

Another vote for the varadero, loved mine, son who has it now also loves it.

https://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a465/A5tra_G/Bike%20Pictures/SmVarader002.jpg
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Previously Known As A5tra_G
Old Bikes :2010 Kawasaki ER6 F & 2000 Honda VTR Firestorm
Current Bike : XJR1300

[mcfcbiker]

Wow that looks the ticket, thanks for the info guys ill go take a look at this model as soon as I get the CBT.
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Current Bike = 2011 Triumph Street Triple R
Previous Bikes = Yamaha YBR 125, Honda CBF 125, SYM XS 125K

[P.addy]

Hyosung GT125 / GT125R

https://www.diseno-art.com/images_3/Hyosung_GT125.jpg

https://www.alooglasi.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/1297527249-39.jpg

[neil.]

I am rather portly myself, 6 ft 17 stone and am quite comfortable on a CG, YBR and CBF. I find the CBF to be most comfortable though - the seat is wider and the riding position is higher, with feet tucked back more, but you're stretched out a bit more vertically, if you know what I mean. I haven't tried a Varadero. I'd love one but they're out of my price range. Have a sit on some different bikes if you can.

[Teflon-Mike]

How long do you intend having it?
YBR's and the ilk dont have narrow tyres. Push Bikes have narrow tyres; thier 1 1/4" rubber is half the width of the 3.00" tyres on a YBR or similar, and they don't pop when big lads sit on them do they?
The narrow tyres are there for good reason; they are cheap... good plus point; next, less rubber in contact with road, means less rilling resistance... why tour racing cyclists have tyres not even HALF an inch thick... hefty blokes them, an all; house mate at Uni was a tour rider; weighed about fifteen sixteen stone... and he was only a little fella about 5'10... when he put on his cycling lycra, looked a bit like a teranasaurus rex... all legs, and little arms! clocked him PEDALING his 10mm tyres tour bike, on the flat at over 70mph....... so yeah.... little tyres? NOT a problem!
Less drag, means higher top speed for limited power output, and better MPG, as well as costing less to replace.
Work better in the wet, too, because with less rubber in contact with the road, water has less distance to travel to be squeegeed out of the tread, and pit in in DIRECT contact with tarmac, rather than incidentally, with a bit of lubrication, as you can get with fatter tyres, especially ones with very little tread relief grooving...... like trendy sporty bikes are fitted with.

REASON bigger bikes get fitted with fatter rubber is to do with the forces bigger bikes can generate; more powerful engines mean more torque to the tyre under acceleration, and a narrower tyre will slip more readily; and the reverse when breaking.... BUT unless you have the power in engine to start spinning the back wheel, you really dont NEED them and they are more of a hinderence than a help..... but fitted to little bikes oh-so often becouse narrow tyres look 'spindly' and unhelpful, and fatter ones look more impressive, and make the bike look bigger and more purposeful....

Your buying this bike to learn to ride; not admire on your drive; believe me, tyre width ENT a good enough reason to choose one bike over another!

Suggested Veradaro, is a very good and capable bike. It is physically large, and it has a reputation for being comfortable.

They are however expensive, and while physically big, that is not always an advantage; big can also mean bulky and difficult to manouver.

The defacto Learner-Commuters, bikes like the Yamaha YBR or Honda CBF, aren't so big, or so comfy, and they have spindly tyres, BUT they do work VERY well as learner tools. They are easy to ride and very nimble and manageable, and light weight.

And while they are small, erganomically they are reasonably well arranged, and the dining chair riding possition, is, like a dining chair, pretty good for most people or reletively normal proportions, even larger framed ones!

I'm 6'2" and lanky of leg; I struggled on my 'Part 1' motorcycle test umpety ide ages ago, on a Honda H100, becouse I had to sit on the pillion seat to get full lock without trapping my knees, to do the slalom and such..... but that was a VERY small framed bike; the YBR, GC and CBF are slightly longer and more upright, with slightly more rear set footpegs, and higher bars, making a bit more room in that area....

They 'Work'.... and they are, as often as not as CLOSE to 'ideal' for learning and commuting purposes as has yet been achieved.

Veradaro, for all its a very good bike; some functionality has been sacrificed for its big-bike style. So has some performance; it Is a 70mph motorcycle; but its a 15bhp twin cylinder one, and using all that power to go that fast, where a YBR or CBF will do the same speed with about 30% less power, around 10bhp. and you are paying more for it; and that bulk can make it more work to hustle through cones and the like.

There is a lot to consider; and while the Veradaro, is a very creditable contender, and could, on basis of your physique fit you very well; its always a compromise, and a regulation Learner-Comuter MIGHT be a much better overall compromise.

So, don't dismiss them on the mere look of the tyres.... go try; compare specs and think about what you want to spend your money on, how you will use the bike, and what is really MOST important, especially as its not a once and for ever buy you have to live with for the rest of your life, it is ONLY a stepping stone to getting your licence, and on that score what makes getting that licence easiest and cheapest may take a bit or precedence over what it looks like or how comfortable it is.....
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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?'

[mcfcbiker]

thanks for your input Mike, I will still keep the other bikes in mind and look at all of the models people have mentioned, I get what you mean about price of the Varadero, used models are priced almost double of the YBR and CBF and hopefully I will be passing my higher tests and getting something else after a year or so and so didnt want to spend too much on my first bike.
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Current Bike = 2011 Triumph Street Triple R
Previous Bikes = Yamaha YBR 125, Honda CBF 125, SYM XS 125K

[defblade]

Varadero. Costs more, sells for more. Is nice in the meantime.

This is 6' 4" and 16 stone on one:
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/defblade/varadero/P1000065.jpg
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Honda Varadero 125cc => Suzuki Bandit 650 33bhp => 77bhp =>
BMW K1200R Sport 163bhp => Aprilia Shiver GT 750 95bhp

[waffles]

So long as you take care of whatever 125 you buy you should be able to get a decent portion of your cash back. Yes, Varadero's are pretty pricey to buy but so long as you aren't an utter spoon with your maintainance and don't crash it you will have a decent amount of money towards your next bike. I bought a nearly new xt125x for £1700 and sold it eight months later for £1650 cash with double the mileage. That effectively paid for my big bike when I had passed my test.

There are pros and cons to buying a cheap hack too but I didn't go down that route myself so can't really comment on that side! Its a hugely personal choice though so go and see whats around, what you can afford and sit on as many as you can.

Good luck
____________________
Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[allotriophagy]

One of the benefits of getting ready for DAS on my Varadero was that the physical handling of the 500cc/600cc bikes was very familiar to me and I had no problems doing the Mod 1. Also, it was a very comfortable bike with an upright seating position. I sold mine to an absolutely enormous guy (very tall, very big build).

[Muscle Bike Rider]

Did my mod 1 on the varadero as I was used to it and its avery easy bike to sling around because of the riding position and wide bars, no trouble with the speed or any other element. I agree it gets you ready for a big bike due to its size and weight and you will get your money back on it when its time to sell provided you look after it, unless your me and give it to your son to learn the art of biking on.
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Previously Known As A5tra_G
Old Bikes :2010 Kawasaki ER6 F & 2000 Honda VTR Firestorm
Current Bike : XJR1300

[mcfcbiker]

Passed my CBT yesterday and went and looked at the CBF and the YBR 125's. Didnt feel comfy on the CBF and the pegs were a bit too high for me. The YBR riding position felt just right and so I think im gonna go for one of them once I get my money together for all my other riding gear and security, insurance etc.
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Current Bike = 2011 Triumph Street Triple R
Previous Bikes = Yamaha YBR 125, Honda CBF 125, SYM XS 125K

[anthony_r6]

Awesome stuff, they're rated highly enough and should be more than reliable, to help you through your test. Good Luck and Ride Safe!
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Ted : "Maybe he's agoraphobic."
Dougal : "Jack scared of fighting? I don't think so, Ted."

[kingley]

I ride a YBR. Great bikes
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CB250 Nighthawk

[Shielder]

One thing you need to be aware of is 'the list'.

If you are planning on taking your test on the bike (as a restricted A2 test) you will have to prove that the bike fulfils all of the requirements, or you will be limited to an A1 license and a 125 until you pass the DA.

My bike, a Suzuki Intruder 125, wasn't on the list (it's too old) and when I went in for my first Mod 1, the examiner said that he had to assess it as an A1 bike, rather than an A2, which it is. He advised me to contact Suzuki and get a letter off them to say that it fulfils the requirements for the A2 license.

Got the letter, passed (finally) the Mod 1, just need to pass the Mod 2 now.

I'd also check, if you're getting a Chinese bike, that it is on the list before you buy, some of them don't give enough power and are A1, not A2.

Of course, if you're riding with a school, you'll be taking the test on their A2 class motorbikes, so the above won't be a problem.

Andy

[mcfcbiker]

Im going to do the test with the same place I did my CBT, the bloke was great. He said they hire the test centre and take you to practice the MOD 1 the day before you do it for real to get a feel for it and they lend you one of there bikes for the training and test, I think they are ER-5 machines from what I saw in the garage.
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Current Bike = 2011 Triumph Street Triple R
Previous Bikes = Yamaha YBR 125, Honda CBF 125, SYM XS 125K

[mcfcbiker]

My YBR 125 arrives tomorrow, woohoo.

Been out and bought all my gear over the last few weeks, just though Id let you know what I bought

I bought the Weise Colorado Jacket and pants which both are waterproof and have the armour in the arms, elbows and back and hips and knees.

HJC IS-MAX Raptor helmet.
Weise Ventoux Boots
Weise Aspen Gloves
Hi Vis vest

Then I bought the Oxford Anchor Force ground anchor and the Hardcore XL chain to keep it "kinda" safe from the chavs and evil doers and a cover as it will be staying outside for the time being.

Thoroughly enjoyed buying the stuff for it.

Then there was the insurance which wasnt as much fun buying, hated getting quotes and phoning round.

Will post some pics tomorrow when the bike arrives.
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Current Bike = 2011 Triumph Street Triple R
Previous Bikes = Yamaha YBR 125, Honda CBF 125, SYM XS 125K

[mcfcbiker]

Not the best pic but it was inbetween heavy showers and I rushed it

https://www.deeb.co.uk/files/Bike/Bike%201.jpg
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Current Bike = 2011 Triumph Street Triple R
Previous Bikes = Yamaha YBR 125, Honda CBF 125, SYM XS 125K

[carlosthejack...]

Nice. When you doing your test?
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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