A conundrum... opinions welcome (Needed!) - Long

[Barker-CBR 600]

Not buzzed around for a while but now i am in dire need of some morale support (or valid opinions!). Might be a long one but am interested in what people think!

Basically the situation is -

Am 20 (21 in August) Currently i have no bike having sold the CBR6, in doing so I kept the cash for University and parents kindly bought me a 2001 Ford Fiesta 1.2 (mum not keen on bikes at all so was bribing me into selling it... typical!).

Now University is over in 3 months and between myself and the parents we are working out whether a car is needed and insurance should be renewed, a bike is wanted and who's paying for what.

I should mention that i am in centre of Manchester and am likely to continue working for the University in an internship for a year which is not brilliantly paid (about 14 1/2K) before hopefully a staff position for at least two years on much better pay. Getting to University Campus is a very cheap (60p) and very easy (busiest bus route in europe apparently) 10 minute bus ride away. No car parking available. Car is used 95% for Tesco shops and lazy lifts that could be walked/bussed. Occasionally for travelling down to london to see the family or on trips out etc and moving house etc.

Also i have 3 points for a TS10 on my car license. Stuck in traffic and i skipped the lights at 8mph apparently, obviously stuck on the back of a queue but not alot i could do as there were camera's that flashed. Full bike license is totally clean for 3 1/2 years now.


Have no NCB on cars and i believe 1 year on bike (although have a question about this later!)

The two options are -

Option 1

Keep the car and parents are willing to insure it for a year as it costs close to 1100 fully comp. Pay for own services/MOTs etc.

Option 2

Sell the car and get the money for it, 2500 is a realistic figure, then use it to buy a bike which i have to insure and run.


The downside of having the car is firstly costing parents 1100 when in all fairness i am big enough and ugly enough to look after myself. Secondly in a year's time with 1 NCB only having limited effect on the amount the insurance for the car drops which i will have to pay. It would be very VERY cheeky to keep the car for a year while its free then sell it rather than re-insure it. And having it depreciate another year seems wasteful since i do not hugely need it for getting to work or anywhere specific.


Downside of havin the bike is, where i live now has private off road parking (apartment complex) but i would be keeping it in a space that is relativly sheltered from the wind but not the weather until July when i move. Also the girlfriend (who is likely to remain the g/f for good! ) has never been into bikes and doesnt own any gear or have much enthusiasm for the idea. Would have fully comp insurance and would lock it to something big and solid but Manchester is not the best area for bike theft


The Bike

On my budget and my personal taste i am fairly sure i am looking at a '99 Suziki Bandit in great condition, maybe a few cosmetic 's , but nothing mechanical wrong with it. Hopefully will have a service/MOT for as long as i can get.

I turn your attention to my example

Have priced them at around 1400ish with insurance in the region of £700 3rd Party F&T. <--- Worked this out with NO NCB as i have quetion about it below. So its a top end worst case estimate after using about 10 companies.

This would give me £300-400 left once i have bought and insured to spend on security, covers, cleaning/maintenence stuff.
Already own all my own leathers gloves boots, good ones, and a decent helmet although i would very much like a set of textiles for the wet days. Its last priority after the locks etc though.


So any help with any/all the following would be great -

Which do you think is the better option?

What is your opinion on keeping a bike outside in Manchester security wise with decent chain and disc lock?

How much maintenance would a Bandit need to not rot away over winter?

Any qualms with a Bandit? Other options were the cheaper commuter 500's - ER5, CB5 etc?

Does NCB need to be continuous? as i sold the CBR 2 years ago and had a years NCB on it for definite when it went i just wander whether you lose the NCB after a break?

Just to check what i think i already know. Car points dont count on a Bike license do they?

Want to buy an excellent condition Ford Fiesta 1.2 with pretty wheels ?


Thanks for letting me waste part of your fridays!!!

Chris
____________________
Previous - Gilera DNA50 / XVS125 Dragstar/Honda CBR 600F/GSF 650 Bandit
Current - 2013 Suzuki VZ800 Intruder
'Is this a rhetorical question?'

[Ichy]

Blimey, my head hurts

Anyway points on your licence count as points on your licence, doesn't matter if its car or bike, its all lumped together.

What about another option. Get a cheap commuter and keep the car? That way you can decide if it is the right decision, and still keep the missus happy.

TBH if it only cost me £1.20 a day I'd stick with the bus for work.

[stan hyd]

I would sell probably sell the car. Buy something for fun and trips to London.

But I would keep using the Bus for work.
____________________
DAS Passed 12/12/07 2 minors!
Looking for a hornet - ?1900 mark

[Kal]

[hedjehog]

Hi Barker,

[BFG]

[olionel]

So any help with any/all the following would be great -

No worries!


Which do you think is the better option?

Sell the car, get a good bike and a crap banger.

Or just sell the car. To be fair depends where your gona live. If your gona live around Fallowfield, Rusholme or Vicky Park just walk (I do) or get the bus on rainy days.

You could have the bike for fun and biking, and go places if you wana go anywhere further than Uni, nice places like the big Soundcontrol and and I dont know... few nice roads around here

What is your opinion on keeping a bike outside in Manchester security wise with decent chain and disc lock?

I keep mine chained to a metal fence, front of the house, 2 chains, 1 disklock, steering lock, and a cover. I live in between Longshite and Victoria Park so crime is just like very very common.

My unchained CG125 hidden behind my hedge went walkies last bonfire night, the bike was not visible form the other side of the hedge.. Ow and we got burgled once, and my housemate got mugged... and few of our friends got burgled aswell (forced entry) so ye... its a good place to have a bike as long as you keep it locked up as the burglars usually 15 y.o. chavs who seek opportunities and take anyting thats not locked

How much maintenance would a Bandit need to not rot away over winter?

Dunno

Any qualms with a Bandit? Other options were the cheaper commuter 500's - ER5, CB5 etc?

Honda's are reliabler.. apparently

Does NCB need to be continuous? as i sold the CBR 2 years ago and had a years NCB on it for definite when it went i just wander whether you lose the NCB after a break?

Already answered, could depend on the insurance company tho

Just to check what i think i already know. Car points dont count on a Bike license do they?

Already been asnwered

Want to buy an excellent condition Ford Fiesta 1.2 with pretty wheels ?

EEEWWW

Thanks for letting me waste part of your fridays!!!

No worries, I was bored of revision anyway...
____________________
1989 CG125 - Childhood Sweetheart (she got kidnapped by baddies)
1998 ZXR400 - Teenage Love (lasted three years, then she turned lesbian and left me)
2001 XRV750 - Wife Material (still getting to know her but head over heels in love)

[Wooly R6]

could always buy a scooter
____________________
R6 has been sold - 2004 Honda VFR VTEC now sold too - no bike at the moment

[Barker-CBR 600]

hand me my gun...


Nah been very useful opinions, been an sat on a few today and quite enjoying the differences! And priced up some good textiles/chains that might need purchasing.

Must say helped for me to get it all down on rather than rattling around my head more than anything.

Having brought in the 3 points on license with the insurance quotes the bandit fully comp looks out of my range. More likely along the lines of an ER-5 or CB500 now. Not as fun i think as the Bandit but i wanna be out on the road on a bike again!

Olionel
Down Fallowfield way (just before the total garage on the left just after Sainsburies). New apartment complex (White Oak Road?) with private car park cant be seen from road so i am hopeful with a couple of chains (one monster one, one with a disc lock attachment) and an alarm it should be safe enough. Locking it to a concreted in 7 foot metal corner pillar for a big metal fence, which is actually my allocated space which always helps.

Exams in Jan by the way? studying anything fun? (Final year Criminology here... so really i should be able to answer my own crime related questions!)


Another question for all -

Third Party F&T '99 Suzuki Bandit or Fully Comp '02 Kwakka ER-5?

(obviously i wont be deciding purely on what people say.. but i am interested to know the general consensus!)
____________________
Previous - Gilera DNA50 / XVS125 Dragstar/Honda CBR 600F/GSF 650 Bandit
Current - 2013 Suzuki VZ800 Intruder
'Is this a rhetorical question?'

[Kal]

TPF&T CB500 - S model if you can get hold of one

Find the right aftermarket exhaust, some good tyres and you'll be able to have licence risking fun when you want it at the weekend and still have a well behaved commuter during the week

Oh and it's a Honda so it dosn't rust away on you.
____________________
Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[Kal]

TPF&T CB500 - S model if you can get hold of one

Find the right aftermarket exhaust, some good tyres and you'll be able to have licence risking fun when you want it at the weekend and still have a well behaved commuter during the week

Oh and it's a Honda so it dosn't rust away on you.
____________________
Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[Kal]

TPF&T CB500 - S model if you can get hold of one

Find the right aftermarket exhaust, some good tyres and you'll be able to have licence risking fun when you want it at the weekend and still have a well behaved commuter during the week

Oh and it's a Honda so it dosn't rust away on you.
____________________
Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[fredsredhat]

I i were in your position I'd totally forget fully comp on car or bike (whatever you chose) with the cost of the premium against the cost of the vehicle its just not worth it. ok, so you might drop the bandit/ER-5 and be able to repair it yourself for £200 but if you claim on the insurance you'll lose the no claims and have a black mark against your name and next yr it'd cost £500 extra to insure. I dont go fully comp on bike or my car cos unless i write it off (then its my own stupid fault) i could repair it myself a lot cheaper and not lose NCB.

Oh and a girl who lives opposite me has a bandit 600 stored outside under a cover, it's her only transport and it doesn't look any worse than any other 10 yr old bike.

[Madmanx]

[gmanxiii]

I'd spend my money on a CB500 they were dirt cheap for me to insure (practically the same as a 125). The downpipes do rust to bits though but most people replace them with stainless steel ones anyway if you look around. ER-5 i wasnt a fan of i didnt find it very comfy and the finish wasnt too great either.

As for bike in the city centre, i do see a few round town that are left out (this is city centre i.e. near oxford road st and picadilly rather than south manc), you just got to hide them away under a cover and have a decent chain on it i guess. Then again if someone wants to nick it then theres not alot you can do about it (just look at the posts some people have made recently about people breaking into garages and getting through all their security measures chains alarms etc).

As for insurance TPFT is enough i reckon if the bikes pretty old. but its a risk you take.

The buses down oxford road are cheap but they are always rammed when the students are back and take like 30mins+ might as well walk and dont get me started on rusholme when Eid starts....

Dont bother with textiles if your skint, just get a cheap waterproof overcoat for your leathers. 10-30quid should sort you out.
____________________
I kills hondas

VFR400NC30 > ZZR600 > CBR600FX > CBR1000rr

[olionel]