Which A2 bike?

[DRZ4Hunned]

Hi,

I'm soon going to be turning 19 and I'm looking to do my A2 licence as soon as I turn 19 as my theory and CBT shortly after expire.

I currently have a YBR125 '04 and have owned it since I was 17 so have some basic bike knowledge.

I'm struggling to decide what motorcycle would be most suitable for me to enjoy riding, be moderately economical and be suitable for commuting roughly 35 miles of A/B roads.

I have my heart set on a DRZ400 SM as they're a fairly fun and simple bike maintenance wise and can also be purchased cheaply. I've also been quoted £240 TPFT which is another reason. However I feel I may get bored of the low power and then want a faster road bike, are these likely to be much more insurance wise?

I'm basically looking for a good all rounder for >£2.

Thanks

[Az]

DRZ's aren't all that going by what a friend has said and things i've read on BCF seem to confirm my mates opinion. He had a DRZ400 and said it was just too slow, he kept it for like a month before selling it on. Wheelie'd well though.

Yamaha MT-03 (if you can stretch your budget by another £500). Light, 60-ish MPG going by Fuelly, no need for restrictions and they can be fun to ride but, they're not very quick. (I got 94mph out of the one I rode) it just didn't give me that feel of 'Wow this is quick!' like you'd typically get once stepping up from a 125.

Yamaha Fazer 600 (1998-2002) - You could buy and insure a Fazer with your budget with money left over for some tasteful mods. MPG seems to be decent considering it's an IL4 600 (50+ mpg). They're meant to be good all rounders for the money. Detuned YZF-600 engine, R1 brakes, parts are plentiful, cheap to buy and insure… you can't really go wrong for the money.

[DRZ4Hunned]

[Commuter_Tim]

Does that mean you're selling the Yammy?
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The above post is most likely nonsensical.

I ride a Bandit 600... badly.

[DRZ4Hunned]

[Az]

[DRZ4Hunned]

[c-m]

Here's a few on the limit, so no restriction needed.

https://ridershandbook.com/a2-licence-friendly-motorcycles.html

They can all be had 2nd hand, but the Honda's might be a bit pricey.

[DRZ4Hunned]

DRZ400 and FZR600 are top of the list at the moment.

NC30/21 looks appealing too but worried these are getting too old now. Would these be too highly tuned for 35 mile/day commute?

[Conzar]

Get the DRZ at 19 it will be the most fun bike for you.
____________________
Current ride: ZX6R 636 ------- Previous:KTM EXC 450 Supermoto --- ZX6R B1H --Hornet 600--CBR 600--SV650
11:05:35 Rob Fzs: i just wanna own an rd350 valve before they send us to war with durkadurkastan

[DRZ4Hunned]

[Conzar]

I'm the same age and I've rode one, you wont get bored of it mate.
____________________
Current ride: ZX6R 636 ------- Previous:KTM EXC 450 Supermoto --- ZX6R B1H --Hornet 600--CBR 600--SV650
11:05:35 Rob Fzs: i just wanna own an rd350 valve before they send us to war with durkadurkastan

[DRZ4Hunned]

Think I've made my mind up on either the CCM 404 or the CCM 644. I understand I would get away with restricting the CCM 644 but I doubt I'd find a restrictor kit for this bike? I've read that there's no way to check the bike's legal by the police/ VOSA other than a dyno test but this is uncommon? So would I get away with riding it unrestricted for two years then doing my A license when I'm 21?

The reason for choosing the CCM over Suzuki is that they have better specs such as KTM's WP suspension and can be found much cheaper. I have however heard the build quality is a bit inferior to Suzuki.

Should I risk going with CCM or stick it out with the DRZ?

Thanks,

[TheCatSatOnTh...]

[Rogerborg]

[thomp1983]

depending how old your willing to go the older 400 sports are still worth a look, there cheap enough now and if looked after realiable

https://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f109/thomp1983/20110719_002.jpg

that's my old zxr i used to do 50 miles a day on happily

[Fladdem]

I would just put up with it restricted, not worth the risk IMO.

I thought it would be horrible waiting for my 33BHP to finish, and yet it's flown by and I never really got bored of my TTR 250, which is even less powerful than a DRZ, and supposedly more dull. In fact, I'm not even sure if I'll bother upgrading,I will , but I don't really need anything bigger than mine, and the longer you stay on one bike the more you learn about it so the harder you eventually end up riding it, because you know everything about it.

I fin supermotos and the like are the most expensive to insure, because they can be picked up and chucked in a van easily, they have the potential for offroad use, a big no-no for insurance companies, and people like the SuperRetards given them the hooligan-machine stereotype.

£350, for my grey import 20 year old banger of a trail bike fully comp.

£84.92 for my GPZ550, with 3 times the power and a higher top speed.
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Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget.

[DRZ4Hunned]

I'd rather not break the law regarding restrictions but If it's unlikely I'll get tugged for it then it's something I'll still consider. Top of the list currently is a CCM404 and then second would be the 644 (illegal though). Sports 400's I thought were my cup of tea but it doesn't seem I'm that interested in them now.

I've already spent 2 years almost on a 125 so I'd rather leave the dullish commuters such as the GPz until I'm a little older. The CCM insurance is only £289 TPFT so I'd rather pay a little more for the extra grin factor. Looks like I've made my mind up unless anyone should sway me against the CCM 404.

[Fladdem]

I hope you didn't misunderstand, I wasn't recommending the GPZ, but I was just giving you a comparison of insurance prices with normal bikes and supermotos. Yes, the GPZ is a touch bland but it should be plenty quick enough for me, the only teenager with some self-control when it comes to bikes.

Check out G's review on the CCM 404, it looks like a good bike to me, a moderately reliable engine in a decent chassis.

I would stick with the legal options.

My mate used to commute on a 2013 EXC125, however, he got caught for wheelying it past a police car. They then seized the bike and dynoed it at 36BHP, so he was riding without insurance, on a 33bhp restricted licence, without a licence technically, and could have got majorly screwed over. Luckily, he got a big fine and lost his licence, but when he gets it back, insurance will be a fortune now for the next 5 years, I think.
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Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget.

[Rogerborg]

Eh, go for it. The issue for me would be the rarity. There are only two for sale on eBay / Gumtree (one is for sale on both).

The private seller is clearly a "VERY RELUCTANT SALE" sort given what he's asking compared to the barely run in dealer bike, so I'd whittle that down to a short list of 1. Suffolk OK for you?
____________________
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

[DRZ4Hunned]

Yes the rarity of them is making it hard for me to find much out about them. However most reviews seem positive.

Already scowled eBay and only found a few. I'd be willing to travel or arrange a courier for the right price. I've had experience with eBay before so I can smell the 'my wife said no' numptys a mile off.

I would've gone for the GPz had the insurance on these not been so cheap for me.

I'd still probably buy a 644 if one came up locally and and probably ride it on A2. If the police seize it I'll vandalise it somehow so they can't dyno it.

[Conzar]

CCM will have have broke down before it makes a full turn of the wheel
____________________
Current ride: ZX6R 636 ------- Previous:KTM EXC 450 Supermoto --- ZX6R B1H --Hornet 600--CBR 600--SV650
11:05:35 Rob Fzs: i just wanna own an rd350 valve before they send us to war with durkadurkastan

[DRZ4Hunned]

[Fladdem]

[Rogerborg]

There was a CCM parked up next to my Enfield today. It had a bigger pool of oil under it!
____________________
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