What would be a good frist Ride??

[CAPONE]

Hey Guys I have just booked my dac for a couple of months time (my 21st) and was wondering if you had any advice on what to go for or my first bike?
I have been lookin at vfr400s and bandits but im still not sure what would be a good first bike.
I have been riding a 125 prilla for bout three years (if that helps?)
Any advice on the subject would be more than welcome.
Thanks alot Ash..

[Ste]

What are you wanting to use the bike for? If you're wanting a bike for long commutes then a Bandit would be good and a VFR400 isn't good, but if you're wanting it for riding on sunny Sundays then something like a VFR400 would be better than a Bandit.

Whats the rough budget as well?

[CAPONE]

well for the actual bike i have about £2000
and i think i would use it or just about everythink I onli work just round the corner from my house tho so i dont really need it to comute.

[Kye]

I'd say get a VFR, ZXR, RVF or at a push, CBR if your after a 400, since spares are most common for them.
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Ducati 600SS
Vespa PX125

[Krs]

[dangerousdan]

As a first big bike I would recommend either a 400 like the VFR etc or an SV650.
The only thing with buying a 400 is that (with the exception of ZXR's) the youngest ones (I mean from day of manufacture not when it was imported and registered) are now 10 years old. My old FZR's suspension had given up the ghost and the engine was starting to burn a disturbingly large amount of oil (piston rings were going).
Refreshing an old engine like that is expensive. Also, if you go to look at any VFR/RVF's check that the spark plugs have been changed. They take a garage 3 hours to change and have a nasty habit of snapping.
I'm selling my SV650S at the mo for about 2000. Its only just over 4 years old and is great fun and easy to ride. Interested?

[scottiel]

I past my test 14 months ago and bought an fzr600 1990. It was going really cheap at the time and is cheap on insurance. I have riden it in all weather and right throught the winter. I looked at loads of bikes and tested loads, but insurance is the big think. The bike cost me 800 quid insurance 300 so if I get 2 year no claims out of it then job done as i have a 750 gixer lined up. SV's are great so are Bandits. CBR's rule but insurance is a nightmare. I went cheap and cheerful and it worked for me.

[dangerousdan]

Well done scottiel. Sounds like you did well out of that.
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Two strokes good, four strokes bad

[CAPONE]

thanks man i havent got any quotes on anything yet,
Makes me sound quite thick but i didnt even think about insurance! lmao!
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Witness my prilla of DOOOOM..

[Josh|RD125LC]

Commuter bikes are worth a look. Bikes like the Suzuki GS500, Yamaha FZS600 'Fazer', Honda CB500, Kawasaki GPZ500, Yamaha XJ600. All these are worth a look and the insurance shouldn't be expensive, especially as you are 21. As others have said, a nice sports 400 is always worth considering. Yamaha FZR400, Kawasaki ZX4, Honda CBR400, Honda VFR/RVF400. These I'm sure are a blast and are pretty fast.
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Honda MBX50 | Yamaha RD125LC | Suzuki RG125F Lucky Strike | Suzuki GSF600S
RD125LC Pictures

[scottiel]

Shop around for insurance and play one against the other believe it or not they will give discount, but remember and be honest as they might ask for proof of quote. Money and time spent on the phone is money saved on insurance. It took me a week to get the right company but some companies were quoting me 1400. I was lucky that all my mates have bikes and 4 of the guy's that work for me, so they pasted on advice. Week of calls saved me 1100. SV's are good on insurance. Might be worth tlakin more to Dangerousdan.

[CAPONE]

thanx man but i think im guna plump for a 400, stuck between vfr/and zx4 anyone know any shops with sites??
Ive looked on ebay and seen a couple i liked.
Ash
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Witness my prilla of DOOOOM..

[dangerousdan]

Just buy the best bike you can afford Capone, theres alot of crap out there
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Two strokes good, four strokes bad

[slowarse]

what about a gsxr400???
why does nobody mention them?? more special than a common old cbr and way better looking than the fzr or zxr!!!

[CAPONE]

dam good point my friend!
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Witness my prilla of DOOOOM..

[paulyzf600]

I had a go on a VFR 400 the other day and it is the last bike I'd recommend to anyone for their first bike.
It might have something to do with the fact that I am pretty tall so it felt a bit too small for me was good fun but once back on my thundercat I was pleased I went for the cat.
Actually the Thundercat is a brilliant bike for everything and is no slouch either!
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Yamaha YZF600 Thundercat

[Tom C RX50]

Hey guys, you are forgetting the gsxr400, a bloody sexy bike, and lovely to ride. I only rode it once, as it was my dads and i was 15 at the time, handled a dream and i am hopefully buying it back, dad got it for 2100squid and it was a 1996, hope that helps

[slowarse]

damn right mate !! they ride brilliant !!!
and mines for sale if anyones interested!!

[Kye]

How about the fact the GSXR's are rare and are fragile, parts being expensive etc, not worth the hassle in my opinion.
____________________
Ducati 600SS
Vespa PX125

[Gazdaman]

XJ600, both myself and white noise have one. He has the newer diversion type.

They've got a good chunk of power derestricted as you'll be wanting. 72bhp, they're cheap to pick up, and their power delivery is unlikely to bite you.

Gaz

[slowarse]

kye, i have to say i think your wrong about the gsxr's. i've had mine 3 years i've had no hassle with it at all, and they are definitely not fragile. and the parts are no more expensive than any other 400., and i've never had a problem getting parts either !!!

plus the fact they're rareish, is another good reason to get one, every man and his dog have got a bloody honda !!

[tony532]

plenty of parts on ebay for gsxr400's

lots of people breaking them so not hard to get parts for


i have a gsxr400sp 1990 model

11k on the clock


and its running fine at the mo