500 too big for first bike?

[matt16v]

Hi all,

Have had a good read through some of the sticky threads, very useful information. Had a nose round a few other forums but this one seemed the most friendly.

I'm planning to start riding next spring. I'm 21, been driving for 3 years quite successfully (no crashes yet). Commute is 5 miles of 70mph dual carriageway. 5'9" and about 9st.

The bike really is going to be a "toy" so to speak, mostly to be used on country roads. Though I anticipate I may enjoy it and end up commuting on it at times, this won't be it's main purpose. I'm hoping to do the CBT and A2 at the same time in an intensive course and then get a CB500 / CBF500.

Some people have warned me that I should get a 125 for a while first as I'm told I will crash if I get the 500 first. I like to think I'm quite sensible and have good self control, I'm quite serious about wanting to not die. I live in Milton Keynes which is really full of 70mph dual carriageways and roundabouts, lots of stopping / slowing for roundabouts and then having to get back up to speed. The 125's I see round here get treated like cyclists and the bigger bikes seem to have much more road presence as they're able to keep up with traffic.

I'm genuinely open minded about this, if a 125 would be better for me to start out on then I have no problem with that at all.

What do you think?

[NJD]

I think unless there's a vardero for sale in your area there's no point in getting a 125, plus if you're buying the bike after gaining your A2 then there really is no point in a 125.

It's a commonly misunderstood that bigger bikes are more dangerous and pose more of a threat, bollox.. there safer, more road presence, handle how you want them to and generally provide an all round better time, you head out on those NSL on a 125 and you're going to become the hazard, don't, just don't.

Your CBT + A2 Training will be more than adequate to ensure that you're comfortable with a bike of 47bhp, you wont pass the tests if your not safe, everything after passing is down to you, after passing the tests is where the real learning starts, during the training you'll really want to make the most of the NSL roads used, as you'll be using them the most by the sounds of it, any tips your provided with keep in mind and improve on when you next hit a NSL road.

[DrSnoosnoo]

Lol are these people who ride bikes who tell you that you will die?

CB500 will be a good first bike. I went from zero to hero via DAS and then .... I got a 600! with 100 bhp!!!!

I'm not dead.
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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[WD Forte]

"Had a nose round a few other forums but this one seemed the most friendly. "

Really?
Jeez ! where have you been?
This is BCF you know
aka B*stards C*nts F*ckpigs
( *s cos he new and may be easily upset)

Flee young man!, flee for your life and sanity!
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bikers smell of wee

[Silver_Fox]

Hello from Milton Keynes too! I just passed my Mod 2 two days ago

In my (very) limited experience, a 5 or 600cc bike won't chew your arm off unless you want it to. I rode a Suzuki Gladius 650 and a Yamaha Fazer 600 while learning, and both needed to be cranked up to really let rip. Reasonably upright riding positions to inspired more confidence as a learner than perhaps a sports bike more forward stance. I agree that the extra size commands the roads around here better too. I'd like the extra power just to get me out of trouble or keep up with traffic better. Just because the bikes will do 0-60 in 4 seconds doesn't mean you have to ride it like that

[Aff]

If you're buying a bike purely for weekend fun, don't buy a CB500.
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Current Bikes:Honda 929RR Fireblade, Honda CD200 Benly (Project), Stomp Z2 140
Electric Bike Project

[struan80]

[wr6133]

[delsol]

[Silver_Fox]

[wr6133]

[Silver_Fox]

I have actually been threatening to get a pink helmet to piss off the rest of the tour group

[Matt B]

[Silver_Fox]

I live here, not from here though. I only have 5 toes on each foot

[Rogerborg]

[stevo as b4]

You do sound far to sensible and grown up for riding a 125!

You also seem to know what you want which is a big from me, as many newbies really don't know what they want or are incapable of making an informed decision on their own.

All I would say given the current system, is that if it was me being 21 and all, then I'd be all for the A2 compliant bikes and enjoy 3ish years of 47bhp. I would out of preference also prefer a bike that naturally falls at or under the 47bhp limit, instead of restricting a 90bhp bike down to suit it.

I think it's utter bollocks mentioned by most people who say after 3years when you take the restriction away, you automatically have a new bike and something that feels good to ride. After 3years even of full fat Fireblade, most people would want a change for the sake of fashion or trying something different.

[matt16v]

Thanks for the replies all! Good to hear that I'm not far off the mark in my thinking.

I'll be 22.5 by the time I actually get it, am I right in thinking that once I turn 24 I can take the test again and have the full license? I figured 1.5 - 2 years on the 500 would give me enough time to A) Build up my experience and B) Give me a better idea of what sort of bike I'd actually want. At the moment I have something like a Street Triple in mind, but I realise I'm thinking too far into the future

Re: The "CB500 is boring" comments ; As I say, being new to this I'm not entirely sure how I'll really end up using the bike and I figured a CB500 is a fairly decent "do it all" bike that will serve me well until I figure out what I really want.

Am I a biker? At the moment I love driving, and I really mean driving. I love cars that give me maximum involvement and "feel" in what I'm doing and the effect it is having on the car. Ultimately though, a car will always be compromised on that front. You're sat inside protected by steel and glass, somewhat detached from the outside world. I love mountain biking and having that extra involvement of using your body weight and positioning. I'm also quite mechanically minded and have a love for engineering and engines, so you could say this is the natural progression.

[BTTD]

Big bikes are easier to ride. (Opinions may vary).

If you're careless you can get yourself into trouble, but you can manage that on a small bike / any bike. Big bike will get blown about less, can get out of traffics way and will make you boss.

[NJD]

[Rogerborg]

Yup, sounds like biking will be a good fit for you.

500s are a decent choice. I was happy with my GPZ500 and I'd have another. Or given their antiquity now, more likely a late model CB500 or the new CB500F.

It will struggle a bit trying to keep up with quicker bikes that are making overtakes on a ride out, and you may want a little more for long motorway runs, but for most purposes it's a great do-anything capacity.
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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

[Wednesday Biker]

Before I ever hopped on a bigish bike I always thought they were all beasts that needed taming.
Never ridden anything over a 750 but they aren't as scarey as you imagine as a new rider.
The z750 you can jump on and it wont really take off till about 8k.I'd imagine a cb500f is quite a bit tamer.
The throttle wont be some super sensitive thing that will flip the bike if you twist it 1mm too far.It will be easily manageable for someone who has just passed their test.
Now if you got a 1000 or some sports bike that kicked hard at 8 or 9k revs then yeah you might come a cropper if you aren't careful but a 500-600,you'll be fine.

[stevo as b4]

[talkToTheHat]

Statistically, the smaller the bike, the more likely it is to be crashed. Why? ridden by the inexperienced and those with teenage immortality syndrome. Every off I have had the size and speed of my bike has been irrelevant. On the 535, I was travelling at about walking pace when a moron in an asstra rear ended me. Previously about 25mph on a 125. I'm quite obviously not dead.

I have a friend who has a big wobbling paddy every time i get another bike or one of our mutual friends gets a bike. he used to ride ratty 125s, got good at cutting cars in half with them because he rode like an idiot and was part of a motorcycle club where that kind of stupidity was the thing to do. Of course he was just recovering from smashing his last motorcycle when he had a fight with a taxi on a pushbike and lost. Compound fractures of both legs and narrowly escaped amputation. But in a feat of superhuman logic he still rides pushbikes that should have been consigned to to the skip decades ago and proclaims the dangers of large motorcycles.

Mock the naysaysers. Get the fastest bike you can and don't die.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[FlightRisk]

CB500 is my first bike. Had it a year and I still love it, I think it's a brilliant first bike. I hope to keep it even if I get something bigger/newer.

Spanking it around twisty country roads at +8k rpm is anything but boring. I'm very glad I didn't buy anything smaller.
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Honda CB500S

[Rogerborg]