400cc or car!!!??? :(

[TheFerg]

hi guys,

i've had my 125 since oct/nov now and i go 100% everywhere. this weather hasn't stopped me, i've been out in the rain, snow and ice and i've not fallen off or anything. (dead proud ) had a few hairy slides but that's it. Here's the arsehole though... i'm turning 19 on march 1st and with the new laws i could have a 400.... but i'm off to uni and thinking about a car... i've been into cars since before i could write (literally!!!) and i've only caught the bike buzz since i've had my 125 and i've caught it bad! i'm seriously torn between a 400 and a car.. the kid in me says bike, but the adult says car, but a bike is cheaper to run and insure as i wouldn't get car insurance for less than 2.5k for a 1.0L as its my first car. plus i need to haul my girls ass around too.... i can have pillions though now too please help me rest my mind guys? and could you recommend any awesome 400's and cheap as shitty chips first cars? i've been thinking about a Bandit 400, as my price range is around £1,000. please help guys! this is actually a really big decision for me!!!

Thanks!
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current ride: Lexmoto XTRS 125.... not bad for a 'Chinese cheese' bike

[kramdra]

Most 400's are old, or commuters, therefore shit

You should be able to restrict a 600 twin?

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I just had a look on ebay and found this, what the fuck is it ?????
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251225668625

[Ingah]

400s are not, by and large, very good bang for your buck.

Honestly, you'd probably be better with a 500 or 600 once you take account of all the shagged parts you'd usually need to replace.

I don't suppose you have somewhere off-road to keep the car/bike while not using it (if at uni, you're probably better off having neither with you!). If so, keep the 125 and get a car too - they don't both need to be taxed/MOTed/insured at once do they?

But if you only have a grand to spend.... why are you even considering the car? They cost thousands to keep on the road, as a new teen driver.
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-- Ingah

[Ohmz27]

In my experience, even a 125cc is way more fun than a 1L car. An old cager took my 125 away from me 2 weeks ago, and I was given a C1 as a courtesy car because they had trouble finding another 125... I had driven small cars before and had lots of fun, but after riding a 125 for a month, the C1 felt kind of sluggish and dull.. I can’t wait to hand the in C1, and get back on 2 wheels! The only things that’ll be missed is the added protection against icy roads, greater visibility to other, and being able to go on the motorway.. Oh, and better acoustics haha.

A 125 will be nippier than the 1L small cars a new young driver will be looking at, but will lack the top speed of the car. The fastest speed I got to on my CBF125 was an indicated ~72, on the car I got to ~105mph. I’m confident a 400cc bike would offer more performance than a small car. I’d pick the 400 over a small car, and would probably go for a 250/500 over the 400 (but that’s just me). I’d even go for a 125 over a small car actually, but wouldn’t fancy carrying a pillion on one. In fact the only time I’d choose the car was if I was regularly carrying passengers and/or safety was a major factor. The car would probably have less wrong with it as well actually.

The car would be more practical and safer. The bike would be more fun, less costly, and better against traffic. Not sure about the 400cc choice though, haven’t really looked at what’s on offer. GS500/SV650 restricted to A2 46bhp might be something to look at?
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Full UK Driving Test Pass - 6 / 12 / 2012
Car Insurance Quote Search - 7 / 12 / 2012
Completed CBT - 8 / 12 / 2012, Picking CBF 125 up on 22nd Dec =D

[BenZXR]

To the haters.

I have a Kawasaki ZXR400 51' plate and I love it!

Went from a moped to it and Christ it's a massive boost! Would reccomend it!

But you will have to shop around for a looked after one, as like the others say, not many good 400's made no-more and the older they get the more stuff wears out.
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CBT 03/10/12 | Theory 11/01/13 | Mod 1 16/01/13 | Mod 2 18/01/13
Current: Suzuki GSXR600 00'.
Old: Peugeot Speedfight 56', Kawasaki ZXR400 51'.

[TheFerg]

cheers for all your replies guys appreciate it as i only really have a grand to throw at it i cant really find any 500's or 600's for a grand, the only real bike i could consider is the gsf400. anyone had one? any tips and tricks on buying? if i do get one i want to get a looked after one. thanks guys!!!
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current ride: Lexmoto XTRS 125.... not bad for a 'Chinese cheese' bike

[BenZXR]

I picked my ZXR up for a grand Admittedly it needed work tho'.
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CBT 03/10/12 | Theory 11/01/13 | Mod 1 16/01/13 | Mod 2 18/01/13
Current: Suzuki GSXR600 00'.
Old: Peugeot Speedfight 56', Kawasaki ZXR400 51'.

[haroman666]

[G]

For £2.5k insurance you could get an awful lot of taxis.

Don't see the problem

[CaNsA]

I paid 900 for my zxr400.

Looks a bit "used" but is in decent mechanical condition and goes like stink.
I do miss my 1995 cbr600f on 100+ miles journeys though as my knees are fuxord.

[mosc7pc2]

Are you going to be living at home or in uni?

If you are going to be living in uni, then first year you will most likely be living in halls. If you are going to be living in halls, does it have a secure car park? Is it likely to get wrecked by piss heads passing by after their pub crawl on a Friday night?

What about when you meet your group of mates and later on decide to rent a place together, are you then going to leave it on the streets? Or are you going to ask you mate to choose a house with a garage just because you have a bike?

I just spent 5 years in Manchester uni, I don't think I cope with all the hassles of owning a bike. May be if I was studying somewhere which is "closed campus" like Nottingham then I could possible have made it work. But my main point is that you need to think about all the nitty gritty day to day things before committing yourself to a decision.

First car/bike is a big mile stone in your life and you want to make it a positive one! Hope that helps!
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CBF125 (Traded in)
GSX650F (Present)

[Ollie1995]

I've got a 1988 Classic mini and have got a quote fully comp of £767 from compare the market, They're also fairly cheap to buy, do not depreciate and economical to run. Oh and look fucking awsome.
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XR 125, DT125 LC, Greeves Scottish, RS200, XS400, GPX600r

Theory Passed - 18/7/13 MOD1 Booked - 24/9/13

[blito]

I'd say stick with the 125 until you finish uni, then get a decent job, earn some cash then get a car and a bike... and a house... and a wife... and kids.... and you get the picture
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2012 Zontes Monster

[haroman666]

[Nick__C]

GS500 is about 46 bhp full power I believe?
Got mine two years ago '02 8.5k odd miles £855
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'02 GS 500.

[moonzoomer]

[Nick__C]

[Clutchy]

[Tuffers]

if you want a 400 get a supermoto! They look the dogs bollocks and go like stink and they are super easy to ride. Not so good for motorways though.

The most fun I've had on 2 wheels are on supermotos!

Suzuki DRZ400
CCM 404 DS/ R35
KTM EXC

forget 400 sports bikes they are rubbish compared to supermotos.

This is just my opinion though..
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Suzuki Bandit MK2 '02 - DRZ400s '02 - SV 650S '00 - Bandit 600 MK1 '98 - Honda NXR 125 Bros '04 - Yamaha YBR 125 '12 - Gilera RV 125 '88 - Reiju RS2 Matrix '07

[G]

[CaNsA]

[Tuffers]

Any bike can be stolen easily, SuMos will burn sport bikes in the corners you sacrafice stupid speeds that are illegal anyway for pure fun
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Suzuki Bandit MK2 '02 - DRZ400s '02 - SV 650S '00 - Bandit 600 MK1 '98 - Honda NXR 125 Bros '04 - Yamaha YBR 125 '12 - Gilera RV 125 '88 - Reiju RS2 Matrix '07

[G]

[CaNsA]

Ah!

[moonzoomer]

Are you an idiot or a troll?[/quote] that is what my gs500 made at the back wheel on a dyno and its top speed of a true 105mph reflected that output, by comparison my old VT500e which made 34 bhp (claimed 50 bhp at crank )at the rear wheel was a damn sight quicker in every way although it was a heavier bike so do not pay too much attention to maximum outputs quoted at the crank.