New Bike

[TomReilly]

Going to save up £200 each pay day (every month)

I'd say for about 10 months , so there's £2000, would it be worth buying a brand new bike, or would I be better of buying a second hand one? Benefit to the second hand one I'm more likely to get a better bike for a bargain price, but the new bike.. well its new.

It would have to be a 125 also, thoughts?
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Motorcycle riding can be really cozy. If you want to be a little closer to your passenger, brake a little quicker for the next stop.

[Sable]

My thoughts are £2000 would get you a license and a bigger bike

Also, £2000 is not going to get you a YBR or equivalent, what bike are you going to get for 2k? If its Chinese, why pay 2k for it?

[Slacker24seve...]

[-Matt-]

How old are you now? If by the time that 10 months or so passes you're anywhere close to being able to do your full test etc i'd seriously consider holding off and putting it towards that/a big bike.

[P.addy]

Probably not old enough.

Grab something jap, used and reliable, Varadero or something.
Ride around learning the roads and getting used to other wankers.

Or save £1000 and buy the tidiest YBR.

[-Monty-]

I think I remember OP saying in another thread he is 17 (or 16 and nearly 17) so he's going to have to wait 2 years anyway.

I would buy a second hand japanese bike. You wont get a brand new Jap bike for £2000. About £2,500 is the absolute minimum unless you manage to get a very good deal with a pre-registered one.
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Present: [Kawasaki ZX7r][Suzuki DRZ 400s]
Past: [Honda PCX 125] [Yamaha RXS 100] [Honda CB 500] [Triumph Speed Four] [Honda ST1100 Pan European - Po-Po Edition]

[Slacker24seve...]

[TomReilly]

Yeah I'm 17, 18 in July.

Would anyone still recommend holding off or trying for a 2cd hand Jap bike?
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Motorcycle riding can be really cozy. If you want to be a little closer to your passenger, brake a little quicker for the next stop.

[BravoCharlie]

2nd hand jap bike for definite.


Paddy's shout on the Vara is a good'un, pal of mine went through his L's on one, i always envied it. probably more towards the top end of your budget, but iirc my mate sold his on to a dealer down south for a profit.

it depends though on what style of riding you're looking for. you could get a lot for that money, and maybe even less (thus giving you more towards insurance).

if its going to be 10 months or so away though, it's difficult to tell where the markets going to be and what's going to be out there for you.
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Current: Kawasaki ZL600 Eliminator
Past: Suzuki GZ125, Kawasaki GT550, Kawasaki GPX600R, Honda vrx400,Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Suzuki SV650 K5
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.

[TomReilly]

Thats true mate,

Before I had my first bike I always wanted a sport type of bike, but my first was a supermoto and I loved it, I'd love to get a fully working supermoto that's reliable!
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Motorcycle riding can be really cozy. If you want to be a little closer to your passenger, brake a little quicker for the next stop.

[-Matt-]

[GeorgeB.]

If I were you, I'd save up the money, buy something that I could sell on for the same price when you turn 19 (CG, Varadero etc) and then use the money to do my A2 license, get something for ~£1000 and use the rest for insurance.

Or if you were still saving when you get your 125, you could get something even nicer when you pass your A2
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Current: '99 Fazer 600 | '99 Range Rover P38 4.6 HSE
Previous: Keeway TX125 | CBF 125 | CB400SF Project Big One
CBT 04/12/12 | Theory 03/12/13 | MOD 1 06/01/14 | MOD 2 13/01/14

[Walloper]

[stevo as b4]

In my mind you should be able to get a truly excellent second hand 125 for under £2000. Stay with a second hand Jap or European bike, and if you find a minter of a bike do not be scared of an old one, or weather it's 2 or 4stroke.

I would say that if the law says you must stay on a 125cc for 2years+ you might as well get a good one, and a bike that is going to last well, and maybe is still going to be worth something when it's time to sell.

If your a tall bloke and like the upright riding position of an all rounder/trail bike, then the Honda Varadero seems to be the darling of the 125cc class these days. They are in demand and hold strong good prices, and also have the build quality that Honda's were once noted for. A 125ccc along these lines, that's fun, capable and decent would be my choice for 2years, and I'd look after it and keep my money safe too.

I certainely beyond extreme's keep open minded about what type of bike to get. Having said that if your 6'7'' you won't want a sportsbike like a Mito, and if your pretty short you might find a Yamaha TW125 or SR125 etc more comfortable.

Decent 125's are in demand now as much as ever and more so due to the license changes. You should find a nice second hand machine for well under £2k, my KMX was well under that price for example.

I would always be tempted just as an example by the 125 stalwart that is the CG125, as I've never lost money on one of these, and there cannot be a more simple 125 to own and maintain. As they get rarer you will find good ones will be highly prized.

Then again you might stumble across a minter of an old bike like a Cagiva Supercity, or a tidy old Aprilia or just a nice older Jap 125 like a DT, TZR, NSR, or XLR125 etc etc.

[Slacker24seve...]

[P.addy]

Get 2, a nice 4 stroke commuter and a fast buzzy 2 stroke. Aim to spend 1k on each

[Rogerborg]

How about you ask again in 10 months when you're actually in the market?
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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

[G]

About £1k should get you a decent enough NSR125.
Keep it well looked after and they are very reliable.
Not too bad on fuel/2 stroke.
Derestricted good for 100mph on the clocks, a bit more in good nick if you're not too big.
Acceleration that will still get you to 60 faster than most cars and matching the current £20-30k hot hatches.

I commuted on my NSR125F for some time and it was fine - you do have to get used to revving it a bit, but you also get a decent reward for that.

[Walloper]

[Robby]

Do you have space for more than one bike?

I haven't read up on the new licencing requirements because I'm a grown up, but I understand that at 18 you're looking at a couple of years on a 125 after passing your test, and even after those couple of years you'll be on something restricted.

So turn the problem upside down. You can't get anything powerful and fun on the road, but you could get an off-road bike and have your fun off-road, where a 125 will have quite enough power to be exciting. Keep a normal 125 road bike as well so you don't have to compromise on either bike by using dual sport tyres and the like.

[Walloper]

[G]

[Wonko The Sane]