I know, I'm sure you've heard it before!

[FantasticMrFo...]

I'm certain this has cropped up time and time again, but I'm going to post anyway as I'm having difficulty finding answers, Maybe a sticky in this section wouldn't be a bad Idea?

I'm looking at which bike to get once I have passed my full licence, I'll be taking my tests on my 125 so anything I buy will need less than 33bhp.

So what sort of 250's fall into this category?

Would I be better off getting something that is naturally less than 33bhp or getting a bigger bike like a 600 and restricting it, bearing in mind cost is the biggest factor I'm taking into consideration.

I'm not someone who wants a mega fast bike, I just want something capable of carrying a passenger and myself comfortably at 70-80 with a little left in it for overtaking, accelerating out of a dodgy situation etc.

I was looking at the Honda NSR 250, but read somewhere it has 48hp. Would this really need a restrictor kit added?

out of getting a 250 or a 5-600, which would be cheapest to insure?

If anyone could help me put together a post listing the "favourites" of the restricted licence holders, so I can give a brief summery of cost to purchase, rough estimate for insurance, power output, top speed, parts availability and cost, common faults and reliability for each and create a table of sorts for comparison and reference to anyone in a similar situation as myself, to maybe minimise the amount of "what first restricted bike should I get" threads, then maybe it could become a sticky in the new bikers section so its easy for people to find and contains a lot of the information they're seeking in one place.

Sound like a good idea?

Anybody able to help me get it off the ground by recommending a few bikes that I can then research and put the info together?

Thanks for reading and not falling asleep lol
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Women are the cause of ALL accident's, If it isn't because one has run you off the road, it's because you have spent too long checking her out and driven up the arse of the car in front!
That or she's parked on an island, on a bend, leaving a gap even an anorexic couldn't fit through sideways!

[J.M.]

Buy a bigger bike and restrict it. Cheap restrictors can be bought and they're easy to fit yourself. You don't need any certificate nonsense.

I bought myself a 2004 GS 500 F which was insured for £380 at 18 with 1 NCB. Other insurances quotes for me included:

[FantasticMrFo...]

Thanks for taking the time to contribute that I'll do some revision on the bikes you have listed to get some perfomance specs and average prices etc tomorrow

Top man!
____________________
Women are the cause of ALL accident's, If it isn't because one has run you off the road, it's because you have spent too long checking her out and driven up the arse of the car in front!
That or she's parked on an island, on a bend, leaving a gap even an anorexic couldn't fit through sideways!

[Rogerborg]

I went the "250" route, a weedy lardy cruiser and then a 305cc bike bang on the 25kW/33bhp limit. I reasoned that it avoided any insurance issues (having to declare a "modified" bike), and there's no sense in hauling around dead weight and unused performance.

In retrospect though, I think that was a mistake, I should have gone for a restricted 500+ bike. They're just so much nicer to ride, and a 500 twin would be only marginally more expensive to run while being ridden at 25kW power.

In terms of insurance, my GPZ 500 was a £0 cost swap from my 125 - it may even be cheaper to insure.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Kradmelder]

Buy the biggest bike you can afford and can legally ride, then you are less likely to get bored with it and want to trade it in within 2 months.

I took my bike in for a service at BMW and they gave me a 600 for the day as a courtesy bike, one of those twin 800s detuned that they call a 600.

When I took it back and they asked me what I thought of the bike, I told them to pull their piece of shit out of arse, as it doesnt have the power to remove itself. Now they only loan me 800s or 1200s
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2011 KTM 990 Dakar
2009 BMW 1200 GS

[FantasticMrFo...]

I've just had a brief look at 2 bikes in particular, honda CB 250 ('03) and the CBF 500 ('03) and got quotes for both.

250. £1000 - £1500 to buy with around 15 - 30k miles, insurance for the year (0 NCB, new restricted licence) £206.00

500 £1500 - £2000 to buy with around 30k miles, insurance for the year (again, 0 NCB, new restricted licence) £310.00 plus around (I'm guessing) £200.00 to get it restricted.

Clearly long term the 500 is the better buy, bit more expensive to start off but a much better investment!

I'm still compiling all the data to make that table I was on about, I'll post it up as soon as I'm done.

Thanks for the replies and information, muchly appreciated
____________________
Women are the cause of ALL accident's, If it isn't because one has run you off the road, it's because you have spent too long checking her out and driven up the arse of the car in front!
That or she's parked on an island, on a bend, leaving a gap even an anorexic couldn't fit through sideways!

[banditjohn]

gsf 600 or 650, just get a quot yourself but come up cheap as chips, and now you'll get all the abuse but they are reliable and pretty bullet proof. once you've had it a while have the restrictor removed and there are loads of aftermarket bits and bling if that's your thing.

All the best John

[numpty2]

I've had 250s for 12 years now, but I've had a full licence for 27 years. I choose 250s as cheap commuters, and I accept the very limited performance. Running costs are very important to me, and the 250s do work out cheaper.

But your posting suggests you will be mostly pleasure riding, and I suspect you will be much happier with a restricted 500/600 cc. There is a lot more go to them, and many of them are very cheap 2nd hand. And if you find one you love, then when it is time to remove the restrictor you won't have the hassle of changing the bike.

[FantasticMrFo...]

[Kradmelder]

[FantasticMrFo...]

[J.M.]

£200 to get it restricted?

Slightly expensive, but for around 45 quid you can buy some restrictors off of eBay: click here!

It's not really a hard job to fit them yourself. Give yourself a day for it and you'll do it easy.

My GS500F was bought for £1270 and £380 to insure, so a total of £1650. About 22k or 24k miles I think, I can't remember.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[numpty2]

My one other contribution concerns the Honda CB250.

I've had one for many years and whilst I love the thing for its low cost etc, it isn't really capable of a comfortable 70mph with a pillion. In fact it really isn't happy with the extra weight at any speed. The CB250 is only 18 bhp. You do get more torque than a 125, and it is fine for playing on country roads, but it is very, very dull to ride. I think it was designed strictly for old farts, of which I am most definitely one. The same applies to the Honda 250 rebel, except this is for old farts who like chrome.

There are some faster 250s, eg Ninja & Hyosung, but they are physically quite small. May be a squeeze. If you want to take pillion, the bikes physical size should be an important factor. I would be tempted by the Honda CB500 - quite big, very reliable, lots to choose from.

[FantasticMrFo...]

[J.M.]

[FantasticMrFo...]

[J.M.]

[FantasticMrFo...]