A2 Bike suggestions

MTmanc · L Plate Warrior Joined: 14 Apr 2015 Karma :

Hey everyone!

I'm hoping to take my bike test soon and will be on my A2 license. I was wondering if anyone could give some suggestions for decent bikes that will meet the restrictions.

Currently I've been looking at the Kawasaki ER6f restricted and the Ninja 300, from what I can see the 300 will run better as it's not restricted where the Er6 will give me better experience with a bigger bike but a lot of bikes don't restrict well.

Ideally I would look at bikes up to £2500 (Ninja is £3500 but seems to be the best out there)
What do you guys suggest?

Minty · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Dec 2005 Karma :

I suggest a search *points to upper left of screen*
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SQL · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Aug 2012 Karma :

Bandit, fast enough to kill yourself, heavy enough to finish the job.

DRZ4Hunned · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Apr 2014 Karma :

SV650, then use it to do your A license.
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Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

Depends on the purpose, depends how you get on with the A2 training bike.

Tourer or motorway commuter, ER6f.

Suburban/urban commuter, Ninja 300.

Sunday fun bike... depends again. Riding in groups, ER6f. Just going out for a laugh on your own, Ninja 300. Probably. Maybe. Bikes are very personal.

What have you you ridden so far, and what did and didn't you like about it?
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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

Beehive Bedlam · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Oct 2013 Karma :

I'd suggest an A category bike which can be restricted to ride on an A2 license then you don't have to pay a training school to use their bike when you are old enough to take the A modules.

Which brings me to the Fazer 600 98-03 brilliant bike and can be had well within your budget.

MTmanc · L Plate Warrior Joined: 14 Apr 2015 Karma :

I'm on a CG125 at the moment, having done my CBT last November the Bandit is looking good I'm assuming an 08 bandit 600 would need restricting to be A2 compliant by any other suggestions would be good.
Currently city commuting but we are looking to move to the outskirts do something relatively suitable for ~1hr motorway commute would be handy.

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

SQL · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Aug 2012 Karma :

I all honesty I love my bandit even more now I have changed the suspension.

It fast enough to leave almost any car from the lights, it puts a smile on my face and most importantly I enjoy it.

MTmanc · L Plate Warrior Joined: 14 Apr 2015 Karma :

This thread has definitely piqued my interest in the Bandit and Sv 650 even with having to get a restricted fitted they fall at least £1000-1500 cheaper than a ninja or Er6.
Are you riding the Bandit restricted or not? If so based off your comment it rides fine restricted.

RedPanda · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 07 Oct 2014 Karma :

ER6, FZ6 and SV650 seem to be the way to go for a first 'big' bike. I also like the look of a (Kawasaki) 250R, pretty cheap and should be fine on a motorway. Ninja 300s seem expensive considering the engine size (but they are all newer).
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MTmanc · L Plate Warrior Joined: 14 Apr 2015 Karma :

From what I can see about the Kawasaki 250 a lot of people say it struggles on the motorway as it has no power at 70 so you've nothing left in a sticky situation. I think my main concern was wether a restricted "big" bike would run as well as if not better than say a ninja 300. If that's no problem then I definitely think a bigger bike would be the better idea in terms of experience and in a year I can take my A license and remove the restriction.

Wednesday Biker · Spanner Monkey Joined: 11 Sep 2014 Karma :

Apart from the 0-60 I don't think there is that great a difference between a 300 and a 250. 250 is way cheaper.
Mine did 110 top end and that's about same as the 300.Power between 70 and 85 is good as its right where the power is revs wise.I say power Smile

The 300 maybe slightly better but its not going to pull you out of trouble like a 600+ anyhow.
But I would sway towards getting a bigger bike and restricting it.I think the ER6f is pretty good restricted.
I was close to getting a bandit or sv myself.Not sure how good a bandit is restricted as the power is higher up than the sv.
My girlfriends z750 was restricted and the 250 was faster.But that was only 33bhp restriction and it only revved to 6k which was below where the power really kicked in.
You can get some cheap sv's and you wont lose as much money like you would with an er6f or ninja when you upgrade

Remoulay · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 21 Sep 2014 Karma :

I'm in a similar situation but I only have mod 2 to go Very Happy

I'm leaning more towards sv650... Cheaper and reliable.

I did my mod 1 on a '13 CB500F... They really do tease you, considering insurance would be two grand Laughing

I know of bandits being heavy and chunky nevertheless my bf's is used for 2+ hours commuting a day from one end of London to the other with no issues. 5 days a week.
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