Which first big bike on a budget?

[Jimmydoodaa]

Hi there,

Shopping around for my first big bike having recently passed my test.

Lead contenders seem to be the ER6f, or a Bandit. I'd be using it daily in commuter traffic, but to get out of town on the bigger roads whenever possible too.

Don't want to get something too new and shiny, and have a limited budget (could stretch to £3.5k I reckon). Having said that, my thinking is the newer I can afford, with as little mileage as possible the better? (spent 10 years with a 60 year old vespa, fed up with spanners).

A 2013/14 ER6 seems about right? Passed my test on a Honda CB650.

Any opinions?!!!! There must be!

Cheers,

J

[Andy_Pagin]

My first big bike was and still is a 2003 Fzs600 Fazer. I can't imagine a better choice.
____________________
They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[Barnoe]

If your first choice is a ER6F then that's what you should get.

Anything else will feel like you made the wrong choice after a while and you will have to scratch that itch and end up with one anyway

You know you want to
____________________
You know you are old when you're told to slow down by your doctor and not the police.

[Az]

Full A or A2?

[talkToTheHat]

Bandit S is a big comfy thing that eats miles and screen is big enough to keep most of the weather off. Does pillion + 3 piece hard luggage + motorway easy enough. Handling is quite soft but very surefooted. Brakes work well but need a firm hand, will stoppie or lock front wheel if you are so inclined or clumsy. gearbox is really smooth. Headlights on the MKII are really good. Loads of underseat space.

I found a garage queen MKII last year, 500miles or less every year from new and regularly serviced at main stealership. I've doubled the miles on it in less than a year. It works well for me as it's physically very big for a 600 and I'm 6'0 and wide with it.

Good condition low mile but older bike is likely to be better than one that's been bought by a mile-muncher and only washed when it was time to get another one.
____________________
Bandit. does. everything.

[Snowdonia Rider]

Air/oil cooled Bandit
____________________
I want your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle.
Suzuki GP125 Suzuki GSX600F Suzuki SV650S KTM EXC250F SkyTeam Bongo 125
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/SnowdoniaRider

[Rogerborg]

At that budget, I'd consider two bikes. A commuter hack e.g. a CB500, plus something fun for playing like a CBR600F or Hornet.

If you definitely only want one, then sure, ER6.
____________________
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

[colink98]

is 3.5k remotely close to 2nd hand MT-07 money ?
____________________
PCX125 (stolen) - CBF600 (current)
Ride it like you stole it.
ride sensible and not like an idiot and you wont get 6 points in one week.

[adriansk]

[Mark_F]

Fazer IMO

FZS or FZ6S2 are both great bikes.

[Jimmydoodaa]

Thanks for the tips. So will definitely go look at Bandits, Honda CB ranges, and Fazer too.

£3.5k is literally a 'finger in the air' guess based on bikes I've seen online that are not too old and don't have tons of mileage. 2013 or newer really.

Maybe age is less of an issue for a first bike that I might sell in a year or 2? Cheaper would be better, and can spend dosh on helmet, clothing, etc. But equally don't want a bike that's got issues.

Cheers

[SkyBadger]

I'm looking at getting an FZ6 S2 as my first bike. 2.5k gets a very tidy one, 3k would get you a mint one by the looks of things so you would have some money left over.

To me it seemed like the most bike for the money

They are also very reasonable to insure too...

[NJD]

Sounds like you've more money to burn that you realise and don't have a clue what to do with it, advance carefully.

Bandit what 600 or 1200? I sat on a 600 and liked the seating position, location of all the controls, distance to bars etc but it was a heavy lump at standstill and M.C tells me it's top heavy so isn't really ideal around town, Borg advised me £1000 is a sensible price for the 600 so if you're going to look at them then make sure you're not overpaying.

ER6F's are recommended, and have been to me on my hunt for a big bike, and you can pick up one of the older ones for £1500-£1600 or thereabouts. Insurance for me was far too high, for whatever reason, so run dummy quotes before you leave the house. Has a nice space in the swingarm for a chain to go through if anything but that's just personal preference and something I look for. Luggage / touring capability.

I wouldn't worry too much about age because it's your first bike and you're still to discover what works for you.

On the older bikes before you agree to buy make sure you take a torch with you and inspect things like: exhaust header pipes (connected to engine), swingarm, rear suspension, fork legs, radiator, underside of the bike, tyre tread depth and whatever else. Buying a bike is an expense and you really don't want more bills on top of taking it out of the showroom so get a deal that's right for you. I walked away from the Bandit because the guy stood over me like he was waiting for me to choose a chocolate bar in a shop and instead, months latter, purchased a ZR because the guy left me alone to bounce the forks up and down, move around, sit on, start up and so on to my desire. I'd take someone with you so that they leave you alone more and two eyes is always better than one pair, even more so when those have stars in them.

Really you just need to visit a few dealers and sit on some to see what's for you. In the same way I once wanted a SV 650 I was put right of the idea after I sat on it and felt like I was going to headbutt the tank because racebike seating position. A lot of its personal preference and drawing up a shortlist on the internet only works to a point.

Best of luck with the hunt.
____________________
The do it all, T̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶r̶o̶k̶e̶n̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶,̶ ̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶i̶g̶ ̶l̶u̶m̶p̶,̶ ̶C̶h̶o̶n̶g̶ ̶N̶o̶o̶d̶l̶e̶

[chris-red]

Bandits are shite, there is nothing they do better than the competition other than being cheap.

If you are commuting and are set on a 600 go for a Fazer IMHO.
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[Rogerborg]

What makes an FZ6 S2 a better daily commuter than an ER6?
____________________
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

[chris-red]

[Baffler186]

[Azoth]

The Kawasaki ER6 has been around for some time now. I just looked up the issues people have had with it, on a users' forum. Quite a lot of stuff there. 61 pages of forum threads on people trying to solve their ER6 problems. Of course, dedicated and/or highly competent people can keep any bike running - even much worse old bikes from the 60s, but in my view Honda is just in a completely different league.
____________________
Safety in numbers

[Shinigami]

my first was an 03 hornet, it was a great bike to ride but the electrics were fucked.

sold it on for same as I paid and bought an fz6 s2, which I still ride, they're a good bike and i've had very little trouble with it (besides a brake issue which was down to PO cross threading one of the bolts, solved with new caliper)
____________________
Current: Honda City Fly CLR125 2003 Honda CB600F Hornet 2008 Yamaha FZ6 S2 + 1991 Kawasaki GPZ500
"Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes sense.

[Jimmydoodaa]

Commuting is definitely a factor. Will be squeezing through London rush-hour traffic. Hence why I thought the ER6 might be good to try out. It's relatively small, and I'm also a bit of a shortarse.

Also, in 2018 the EU Emissions laws are coming into play. No bikes in London over 13 years old. That might to be an issue if I actually end up with an older bike that's otherwise a keeper.

[NJD]

[Rogerborg]

On it.

[Jimmydoodaa]

[Polarbear]

[wr6133]