Advice on what bike (sorry)

[Clutchy]

I know this question has been asked a million times but I'm really stuck and surly everyone gets at least one of these threads allowed

Ok I'm on a 33bhp license and have around 1-1.5k cash and could part ex my cbr 125 04.

Insurance for me (18) isn't too bad as I can add my dad on to my policies to reduce the price. For example an sv650 is around £470-£600 a year with 1 years NCB for me. Most ill pay on insurance is 700 per year.

I'm 5ft 9 and 10.5 stone so something small like a vfr400 would be ideal but is too much on insurance (£900). SV650 is my best option so far.

Something good with a restriction and easy to do with the restrictor readily available.

Other than a honda bros 400 I don't really like naked bikes as I want some wind protection.

Thanks
____________________
Malaguti F12 Phantom-Dead, Suzuki AY50- Dead, NRG power DD LQ, CBR125.
*33 BHP restriction up on 10/12/14* Current bikes/car: SV 650 S/ MKIV GOLF
Guide to pass your test with no lessons!

[G]

I don't like the SV650 personally, but thanks to lowish gearing as standard it does make an excellent first big bike.

Keep the brakes in good nick and they're all you need - but they do need regular maintenance.
Suspension can be upgraded if you find it lacking (it's not great, but I find it 'ok' for road use, if uninspiring.)

Engine is bland bland bland and even worse restricted. But, most restricted engines aren't great and bland is good for not catching you out or encouraging you to rag it everywhere.

Me; I'd spend £1k or so on a decent curvy SV and keep the rest of the cash to consider a faster bike at a later time.

Plenty of other bikes you could consider - various trail style bikes (DRZ, 600s/650 too), Hornet/Fazer. See if you can get ok insurance on a G/J ZX6R.

[BorderHooner]

hornet.
____________________
Benelli. Happy as a pig in cacky.

[Clutchy]

Ohhhhhh myyyyyy Just done a quote on a hornet, was expecting 1k+ amd its come back as £416 cheapest and 2nd cheapest was £756.

Quite an alarming deference! Wicked quotes was 1st, what are they like?
____________________
Malaguti F12 Phantom-Dead, Suzuki AY50- Dead, NRG power DD LQ, CBR125.
*33 BHP restriction up on 10/12/14* Current bikes/car: SV 650 S/ MKIV GOLF
Guide to pass your test with no lessons!

[BorderHooner]

they are excellent all rounder bikes, and have a great handling ability, it's a proper big bike, it's a honda which means excellent build quality and surface finish, reliability and resale value is strong.

other bikes I would look at would be the yamaha fazer, suzuki bandit and for balls out fun look at 600cc single super moto like an aprilia pagaso factory or ktm duke or similair.

you can fit a small wind deflecting mini screen to most bikes.

I guess it all depends what you are after.

An in line 4 like a hornet is super smooth and revvy.

A V twin is thumpy and fast in every gear but runs out of puff therefore more gear changes.

A single cyclinder 600 is very very fun.

Then there's handling.

A supermoto is about as good as you can get.

In my humble opinion stay well clear of race replicas (gixxer, fireblad etc) horrible riding position, dislikes roads that are not smooth, higher maintenance costs and servicing and tyres etc.

If it was my money I'd be going out and finding a nice hornet in my favourite colour, with some nice extra goodies thrown on and get the price right down and laugh my head off riding into the sunset.

So much better than a SV650 which everybody believes is the ubiquitous first bike.
____________________
Benelli. Happy as a pig in cacky.

[reed]

I have a hornet and am with wicked quotes, they are the best insurance company I have been with so far. They always answer within 4 or 5 rings and seem knowledgeable and helpful.

Oh and I'm 18 and paying £280
____________________
Generic XOR 50, Gilera SMT 50, GSXR 400 GK73A, Ducati Monster 600, Honda Hornet 600.
Sold. Stolen. Written off. Sold. Current.

[Clutchy]

[J.M.]

I like wickedquotes too. They're not the cheapest insurer for me but I pay extra to go with them. They're the 4th in the list of the results on thebikeinsurer with the 2nd cheapest price for me.

Can't comment on the bikes though.
____________________
2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[reed]

No worries, also, it may be use full to know that they didn't ask me for any proof of restriction, which I don't seem to have any way
____________________
Generic XOR 50, Gilera SMT 50, GSXR 400 GK73A, Ducati Monster 600, Honda Hornet 600.
Sold. Stolen. Written off. Sold. Current.

[kiddakidda]

I disagree about the Suzuki V Twin being bland. It's a great engine that has stood the test of time.

After having a Gladius as my first big bike I can recommend the SV 650
____________________
Suzuki SFV 650 (Gladdy) > Triumph Street Triple R

[kiddakidda]

I disagree about the Suzuki V Twin being bland. It's a great engine that has stood the test of time.

After having a Gladius as my first big bike I can recommend the SV 650
____________________
Suzuki SFV 650 (Gladdy) > Triumph Street Triple R

[yaigi]

I can recommend a Fazer for a first bike - I bought mine a month ago and I bloody love it, they've got that kind of 'scream if you wanna go faster' attitude.... there's always a bit more
____________________
What would you do in life, if you knew you could not fail?
Currently own - Fazer 600, 2000, Red. (But no riding as baby on board atm)

[Dave-the-rave]

Nobody can tell you what bike to get. They don't know what's best for you or what you'll like. They'll most likely tell you to get what they like. You'll have to learn what you like from experience which takes time and well...experience.

Took me years of riding 4 pots before I had a twin. Sure it was a cx500 but when I got back on a 4 pot I realised I was bored with the high revving constant gear changing engine. I like twins now.

I'm sure you know all the bikes popular with those on restricted licenses. You need to consider which of them suits you best. Insurance is certainly a consideration as might be weight and fuel consumption, riding position, size etc. Sit on then. Test ride if possible.

Whatever you choose try and enjoy it for what it is rather than viewing it as a stepping stone up to the next ''big bike''.

[BorderHooner]

popular is bland. it's mediocrity for the masses. which is why, a long time ago, when using this forum, I asked about what first bike - I was told SV650.

bt personality I am forced to go against all the advice of my peers. I went out after DAS and jumped straight on a 1000cc V Firestorm and 3 months later bought a brand new hayabusa and put 18K miles on it.

Never settle for popular mediocrity, dare to be different and avoid the disease of bland.
____________________
Benelli. Happy as a pig in cacky.

[UnspeedySam]

[Shaane]

G2 ZX6R, Takes restriction perfectly and it's just a real amazing bike. Loads of fun. never got bored on mine
____________________
EMRA Roadstock #92 - Paperwork Permitted.
Previous: 1992 DT125R
Current: ~ 2005 ZX6R C1H

[kiddakidda]

The guy has a certain budget to work with and it needs to be restricted. Jumping on a Firestorm or a Busa might just stretch it a bit for his first big bike.
____________________
Suzuki SFV 650 (Gladdy) > Triumph Street Triple R

[yaigi]

[kiddakidda]

The guy has a certain budget to work with and it needs to be restricted. Jumping on a Firestorm or a Busa might just stretch it a bit for his first big bike.
____________________
Suzuki SFV 650 (Gladdy) > Triumph Street Triple R

[multijoy]

[G]

[BorderHooner]

I never suggested he should get a firestorm or a busa. I was simply speaking with personal experience. Both bikes are far less bland than a SV650 which is so bland I had forgotten much about them until returning to bike chat forums.

G have you owned a busa? I must say my 6000 mile euro road trip over 5 weeks was the opposite of bland as were my top speed runs at woodbridge airfield. Anyone who thinks a hayabusa is bland has a bland brain.

Anyway this is not about me or my experiences.

I will rephrase my previous comment;

Don't buy a SV650 they fucking shit and every cunt has had one, jabbers on about how they're a perfect first bike - they're bland. Very.

[G]

Not owned, but have ridden, including a top speed run at Elvington. So bland was it that when I was topping out in sixth, I thought I still had another gear to go .

Anyone that thinks a firestorm is anything but bland must have a VERY bland brain to find excitement there .

For me an engine which has different power delivery characteristics across the rev range is not-bland.
A bike that has sharp handling is not-bland.
A bike with very sharp brakes is not-bland.
A bike that when I ride it, really makes me want to lean a bit more, brake a bit later and use a few more revs is not-bland.
Don't consider either of those two bikes to have any of those for me, really.

And of course, did have a GSXR1000K6 for a couple of years which had similar power to the Busa of the same year, but with less weight, better brakes and better handling. (Ok, 2.7 hp less at peak and probably a little less mid-range, though not much difference.)
I bought it for the blandness.

I certainly don't disagree that the SV650 is bland. But I do think that's often a positive attribute for a first time bike.