Splash out on your first bike?

[HJM]

So then chaps and chappetes(lol wtf is chappetes), Was going to go with a cg125 but since im prolly gonna have it for a year (i plan on passing within the next 2-3months (restricted)) but seeing as i might as well ride the year's insurance off i was contemplating getting a nicer bike instead, something like a cbf125.

Soooooooo then what did you lot do and would you change what you did?

Thanks mateys!

[snikks]

I bought a more expensive bike than is generally recommended, took good care of it, and got my money back on it when I sold it. I wouldn't recommend buying a NEW bike, as it's a good way of throwing money down the drain more than anything else. Mine was about 3-4 years old, with low mileage.

I wouldn't change what I did, as it turned out well for me, but I would advise anyone planning on following a similar route to consider it carefully, as the standard advice of buying a cheap commuter and then moving on from there is standard because it works out well for the majority of people.
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- CBT: 02/01/11 Theory: 26/04/11 Mod 1: 19/05/11 Mod 2: 19/08/11
- 2007 Honda XL125V Varadero (Sold), 1999 Yamaha FZS600 Fazer (Sold), 2001 CBR600F

[J.M.]

I rode my 125 for an entire year for insurance purposes, the same as you're planning to do.

Bought a CBR125, probably wouldn't buy another. It was a great bike to ride and it never let me down, but as soon as you drop it (which is likely as a newbie), you ruin all of the pretty plastics.

I've sold that bike now, but I actually miss it. I cornered faster on that little thing than I do now on my GS500F.

I'm turning in to a straight line hero.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[HJM]

[snikks]

[The Tot]

When I was 17, my dad insisted on buying me a brand new XR125L. 4 stroke, cheap, reliable, comfortable for commuting in London and seemed to have more street cred than a CG.

With that, I hooked up with some of the herts bcf lot who were on supermotos of various sorts and had a play. Stoppied and wheelied it lots and generally a fun toy.

Would I do it again? Probably, but would have got my dad to buy me a used example. To my parent's best intentions, it was on 0% finance over 1 year and we managed to get £150 off so it's nice having that support from my parents to get onto two wheels. I wouldn't have had to get the 40% depreciation knock when it came to me selling it on for a ZXR250... Then I became a sportsbike fiend.

Insurance was cheap for a 17 year old - £450 TPO.

I took a fair few spills on that thing, but used it all through the year and didn't have to worry about cracked fairings!
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[pendulum]

I bought a sub-£500 CG125 with the intention of just doing the tests with it. I enjoy it so much I will almost certainly keep it for a year if not longer.

I love the fact I only spent £470 on the bike, I can insure it TPO (cheapest insurance), won't have to worry too much if I drop it, less chance of someone going to much effort to steal it etc

[snikks]

[bikertomm]

I got my 125 for just over a grand.

1 owner from new.

Like J.M said I too will probably be keeping it for a year for the insurance, then will be looking to sell it on.

You're probably not even going to lose much / anything if you get a decent bike.


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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[Ayrton]

[J.M.]

[HJM]

[bikertomm]

[TomGT]

I've riden a Vespa 50 since my cbt last June (16th birthday) now my £1000 Hyosung GT 125 Comet is waiting to be riden, I've taken it around the block and love it so far. Datatool, Bridgestone Battlax's, the list goes on

[lama16]

I went to the dealers and got a Brand new bike. 4K. I could always part exchange it further down the line when I pass the full license. plus insurance was cheap this way costing £300 (i'm 28)
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Current: Suzuki GSX R 600 L2
Ex Bike: Aprilia RS4 125

[robbyb]

I passed my CBT but failed my DAS first time so I thought I would cheer myself up by buying a brand new Aprilia RS125 for nearly £4k.

Worst mistake I had ever made, I dropped it on my 3rd time riding the bike
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Yamaha FZ8

[HJM]

lol that musta sucked, i was more looking @ spending 600 on a cg125 lool

[robbyb]

[Alpha-9]

[robbyb]

[Ribenapigeon]

After nearly thirty years of second hand cars in various conditions I decided that as I could afford it to splash out on a new bike.I'm not regreting it, I bought a Yamaha WR125X and its superb.I use it for work all day every day. No servicing worries no MOT for three years, fantastic! And when I pass my test I can keep it for my work uses and get a second hand ninja 250 for weekends.

[blurredman]

Got my 1991 CG for £350. Had been off the road for 5 years. Tax was £15 (at the time), and the only initial fail for MOT was the the handlebars were slightly bent. Cheap fix- and indeed a set of wider and slightly lower bars makes the bike look better and feel better.

Insurance was £300TPO @ just turned 19.

Took me through my tests and was a great learning experience.

It's got over 27k on it now and I've had it two years. It has never ever let me down mechanically and it has always ticked over nicely.

I keep fighting my better judgement to sell it and buy a 250 offroader..
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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 (295cc) - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 51k.

[johnnyarctic]

i bought a xr125 for a little over a grand, passed my tests on it. only had it 4 months then sold it for what i paid for it

[centurion]

Aprilia Rs4 125 - 4k brand new !

Asolutely love the freakin thing, no regrets, 1st off on the 1st day, none to report after, 4500miles done, will pay it off in the next 8 months as I'll trade it in for my 1st big bike.

If you've got the money, go for it !!

[HJM]

cheers for the replies guys, was wanting to go down the supermoto road, i mean living in london and with what london brings a nice sports bike (which is what i orginally wanted (not for my first bike but in the future)) seems only to be trouble.

Any1 kno of the cheaper 125 motards? No chineese sh t thankyaa
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"90% of all statistics are made up"

CBT-18/04/2013