Another "What bike" thread

[chris___]

As some of you may have seen my post I passed my A2 test on friday, so the time has sadly come to retire the RXS. I was hoping for some advice on what bike to get next, I'm on a budget of around £1200 but could stretch a few hundred quid over and I definately want to get a bigger bike and restrict it rather than a de-resrticted 125. Because of my budget I will obviously be buying a used bike. So what would you guys suggest?

cheers

chris
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Yamaha rxs100 > Kawasaki ZZR600 > Kawasaki ZX6R > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda Bros 400 > Suzuki SV650S K2
Bikepics page

[dodsi]

For £1200 there are 500 twins which are easily restricted.

sport 400's

commuter 400's

Commuter 600's (bandits)

want to narrow it down?

[Gazdaman]

You could be a cliche on two wheels and get a sports 400. VFR, CBR, ZXR etc.

You'd be lucky to pick up a decent example for that money though.

Personally I would, (and did) go for a slightly less popular 600. Like an FZR 600 or something. My XJ600 cost me £425, £500ish in insurance, and I can get my knee down, hit 100mph with no problems and I'm not particularly worried about throwing it down the road.

Or you could go for a commuter 500, ER-5, GS500 etc, a wise choice, nice and cheap, plenty of power if you derestrict. Although as with everything, you'll yearn for something bigger.

Please don't spend ALL your money on a bike, keep a bit of a buffer incase something goes wrong.

Imagine spending every last penny on a bike just to find that it needs new tyres or the clutch is on its last legs.

Gaz

[chris___]

I've been mostly looking at ER5s and GS500s but I really want something a bit sportier and a bike with fairing but those bikes all seem to be out of my price range
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Yamaha rxs100 > Kawasaki ZZR600 > Kawasaki ZX6R > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda Bros 400 > Suzuki SV650S K2
Bikepics page

[dodsi]

I ride around on an ER-5.

However I was very lucky and got mine for £1000 which had 7500 miles and was in great condition.

If you are not au fait with bigger bikes an ER-5/GS500/CB500 is a great place to start. Cheap to run and easy to ride.

you can allways upgrade later.

[Frost]

It's your first bike after passing your test, you say 'sportier' but something like an ER5 will still scare the shit out of you!
Regardless of how sporty the bike is, it will still be 33bhp so they will all be just as quick.

It's understandable that you want something sporty, but you can work your way up to it

Just hunt around and see what you can find for your money rather than trying to find the perfect bike, then trying to find an example for the right money.

All of the bikes mentioned so far would be suitable, so it's just a case of what you can find.

[chris___]

Thanks for the advice! I'm guessing that the jump to 33bhp is gonna scare the shit out of me at first! So I'm just gonna look around for nothing in particular and try and find a good bargain
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Yamaha rxs100 > Kawasaki ZZR600 > Kawasaki ZX6R > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda Bros 400 > Suzuki SV650S K2
Bikepics page

[Gazdaman]

Paulodd got his ER-5 for £610 off ebay, it's a good little machine.

I find it quick, although it is now derestricted with 50ish bhp.

I suggest you get something like that, it'll teach you a lot. When you get bored, derestrict it, when you get bored with that, get something else. But at least you'll be prepared for it then!

Gaz

[mchaggis]

A sportier 500 with a fairing? How come nobody's mentioned the Gpz yet?
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I must not be a troll...
Mmmm, Guinness
Discovering the delights of Hammerite and a 3/4" brush.

[dodsi]

yeah, what about a GPZ500?

[m99dws]

[dodsi]

Jimmy has blown his head gasket and is getting his head skimmed.

[instigator]

You could have my er5 off me, restricted for only £1100!....welll probably amount to £1200 delivered

[dodsi]

Bloody hell greg thats a bit cheap, your ER-5 is in fantastic condition!

[mrchips]

GPZs are not bad machines like, my da has one it goes well on up the rev range and he has the middle fairing part which just makes it. Still costs the same to insure as an ER5 so I may end up insured on it in July.
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Northern Irish? www.nibikers.com

[iCraig]

Hmmm, I certainly wouldn't recommend the GPZ500S to anyone, well the A series GPZ anyway.

Mine is the most unreliable heap ever, though I bought a lemon though.

[BigBoss]

For £1200-1500 you can pick up a nice CBR400.
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CBR 400 Tri-Arm

[extreme3d]

[iCraig]

[mchaggis]

It's a bugger finding a light blue one like the picture though.
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I must not be a troll...
Mmmm, Guinness
Discovering the delights of Hammerite and a 3/4" brush.

[extreme3d]

[extreme3d]

[Flip]

Pick a bike you like and can afford to insure and buy it. It's that easy. I don't see why every person who passes their test has to make a post asking which bike. Can no one think for themselves any more?

/End rant.

[lilredmachine]

Agreed. When I come to get a big bike, I'm gonna get what I can afford and screw everyone else's opinions. What the point of having free will if your not gonna use it.
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Bikes: too many, too much for one man to maintain anyway.

[JonB]