New to biking and looking for a new bike

[Norm_Leeds]

Hi All,

Just about to take my CBT this friday. I have never ridden a motorbike before so all is new and I am a mature newcomer and have been driving cars for donkeys years.

I've always fancied the idea of owning a trail bike and since I'm also 6'3" I reckon I'm less likely to look like a tool on one.

Over the last week or so I've been looking at auto-trader(bikes), ebay and the likes. To be honest I'm really on a horrendously tight budget so after spotting one or two of these Lifan/Hongdus 125GY's for £650 I have been almost tempted.

Up to now I have read some real horror stories about these bikes so I am now looking for a Yamaha DT125R instead. But this has almost doubled the cost which means I'm gonna have to wait a lot longer b4 I make a purchase.

Are Lifan's REALLY that bad? Or am I just hearing the bad stuff because people only tend to report horror stories?

Surely the Lifans aren't so bad or the company would have collapsed years ago?

Does anybody have anything good to say about them?

Trust me I am skint and managed to find nothing in my price range. Last thing I want to do is to have to save up and then find its winter!

(even if the Lifan only lasted me 6 months I'd be happy)

Cheers

Norm.

[stinkwheel]

Get an old MZ 2-stroke. They last forever. They aren't a trailie but they are pretty substantial, 'adult' sized motorcycles. The world goes past at 55mph but you would get a good example for under £300.

They are certainly good enough to give you a feel for motorcycling, they are very cheap to run and insure and chances are if you like it, you will go on to do your test and get something bigger. At this point you can either flog your MZ for exactly the same as you paid for it or keep it on as a winter hack.

For the £650 you would have paid for your yuk-fu motorcycle you could get a 125cc 2-stroke with all MZs racing pedigree behind it (Admittedly this is let down a bit by all the racing having being done in the 1950s and the design having changed little since) insure it and put petrol in it for a year.

stinkwheels guide to cheap eastern block 2-stroke motorcycles
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[G]

MZs are still being raced these days :
https://www.swaffs.co.uk/photo/image.view.thumb.php?photoid=1711


You should be able to get a decent DT125 or KMX125 from about £800, less for a tatty one. I have heard plenty of bad things about the cheap brands; also when things to go wrong there is a lot less knowledge and parts to help you sort them.

[Norm_Leeds]

Thanks for your replies. Its all food for thought. The more I look the more the Yamaha seems to be the right choice for me.

If there are any other very similar bikes then I'm still open to suggestions.

Cheers

[Norm_Leeds]

I'm dying to find the 'one Lifan/Hongdu supporter' out there.

Seems too much like trying to find the holy grail though!

[epz]

i seem to remember stairing at one of them for 5 minutes trying to work out why a 125 had bigger cylinder casings than my sv650, then again ive seen custom 125 singles with a second exhaust pipe that isnt even connected to the engine.

[kawakid]

Are you in Leeds,

I'm thinking of selling my Honda CG 125 for £750,

Its a 51 Plate, it was in a crash in another life, but is fully repaired etc(thats how I bought it).

I bought in Feb, its been serviced and have passed my test on it last week, if you do get your CBT, if your interested let me know, would be able to ride it over for you or anyone else is the West Yorkshire area.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[Norm_Leeds]

[Norm_Leeds]

https://shytalk.plus.com/media.jpg

Is it safe to say that it looks like the above? How much did it suffer in its previous life?

[bish777]

Id say the MZ, 650 will get you an ETZ 125 in good nick!
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GSXR1100J

[epz]

the prime concern about buying a 125 is the ability to sell it on, unless you need a hack to commute vast distances for tiny mpg they are mostly only usesfull to learners so get a hard life.

i would say buy a cheap one, learn to ride then flog it on and buy a gs500 er5 or divvy which can all be had for about the same price.

ps the cb125 may be dull as hell but they go for ever and i even managed to wheely one once by accident.

[Norm_Leeds]

[Simple]

Honda varadero 125,

ive got one, its for sale, its too big for me (5ft 4) but wud suit a taller individual.

top quality 125,

asking £1750 if your interested, other examples out there probably closer o you than coventry, but seriously have a sit on one at a honda dealership, such a great bike


simple
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Insta - FemFeral

[kawakid]

The bike is okay, their is a dint on the left of the fuel tank.

It has 10 months TAX and MOT Till Xmas.

It is a Blue Honda CG, Just over 3 years.

Don't worry about it if not interested, I know I can sell it, when I bought it the bloke had lots of calls. You can drive em with a CBT and they are an ideal bike, easy to service and not a 2 - Stroke, so no engine rebuilds etc.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[cunni]