new bike (help)

mirax · Scooby Slapper Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Karma :

im looking at getting my first big big at the end of the year after riding 125's for two years (rs125+dt125). i've looked at the honda bros 400, cbr400, bandit 600 , e-r 500 and gs500 as they are all pretty cheap to insure around the 400 mark tpft and can pick them up for reasonable prices. just wondered what your opinions on these bikes are as ive never riden a bigger bike before and what you would advise me to go for Smile

Gazdaman · I did a trackday!!! Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Karma :

They are all very different bikes.

The bros 400 is very small physically and lacking on power < 33bhp, but the plus side is you needn't restrict it.

The CBR400 is a sportier position, more powerfull, more expensive to drop.

The ER-5 is naked, cheap to drop, get battered by the wind, more upright riding position, a good 50bhp when you derestrict though.

Bandit 600, more expensive insurance, depeding if you get naked or not Embarassed

depends on how expensive it is when you drop it.

GS500 I have little experience with, pretty much the same as the ER-5 though.

I'd group all those bikes into 2 groups, with the CBR400 in one group, all the others in another, with the Bandit 6 hovering in the middle.

Depends if you want sporty or not, and how much insurance you want to pay.

Gaz

Merv · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 11 Mar 2005 Karma :

Hi mirax, iam nearly 18 and have been biking on the road since i was 16, i have my full licence and iam currently ridding a CBR400, my insurence is 450 fully comp through Carole Nash,you would be use to the power of the 400 if you'v riddin an RS,i had a 125 four stroke before my CBR and iam ridding it with full power and its not that quick untill you rev it hard so you wont have any bother getting use to a bigger bike,good luck!

MARV

Bandito · Scooby Slapper Joined: 01 Feb 2005 Karma :

I have a bandit... just on the verge of selling it..
had it three years and it has served me well.... great bike to move up to as its not overly powerful but kinda works well as a blend from a 125/250 to a suersport bike. Its quite heavy for a 600.. but its cheap and cheerful and a good bike to learn maintenance stuff with... Insurance as you say is great and parts and servicing is cheap...
I hear hornets are supposed to be slightly nipper though and depend who you ask a better looking bike... a 400 is also a good option. ZXR400's are nice bikes... but when buying its likely to have been ragged if secondhand..
theres my twopence worth

quik_d · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 18 Mar 2005 Karma :

is the 400 bros really that boring? i mean i've just bought one and haven't ridden it yet but i like the look of it a lot, is the performance lacking that much?
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LOOK AT DAT M8 WELL LUSH A PARROT INT IT

mirax · Scooby Slapper Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Karma :

i just want something really that i can use for work and have fun at the weekends on and will make me smile Smile

. thing is i dont wanna get something im gonna get bored of quickly really. i had a 125 4 stroke as my first bike and i thought it was a pile of crap and boring as paint drying and sold it within 2 months of having it from new

The#Doctor# · Spanner Monkey Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

I had a cbr125 and now have a cbr600fi you can get one for the same price as a decent 400 so i would go for a 600 doesnt have to be a sport 6 as the insurance is expensive a naked 600 like a sv650 would be great (brothers got 1) as when you derestrict it you would have alot of bhp on tap as when you deristrict an cb500 or something similar your probably gonna get bore with it and want something with more power so i would go for an sv or something similar as you can pick up some really good cheap ones off mcn/biketrader for the same price of a sport 400.