Bike buying market and ex school bikes

[tbourner]

Is it true that most DAS bikes won't fit into any of the new rules next year? So there's likely to be loads of 500cc ex school bikes for sale in January!
I might ask about the bikes I've been using. What else would the schools be doing other than selling them off and buying new 600s and 400s?

Is it a good idea? What pitfalls are there of school bikes - ie: what are the issues created during training mistakes/lack of smoothness?
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Trev, now a biker?
Looking for first big bike.

[dungbug]

My bike is an ex training bike (GN125), it's led a hard life as you'd imagine. Aside for the expected cosmetic grazes it was essentially a 'tool' to be used for work. Serviced for sure but not 'loved' if you see what I mean, can't complain as it was below market value. Price reflected the condition pretty much.
Not sure if there will be a flood of 500's coming onto the market, I did ask my local school about the GS500's they've got (55 plate, 57 & 58 plate models). The 55 plate was being sold but the other 2 were being kept for the foreseeable future, so there may be a use for 500's with the new rules next year. I guess Tef will know more.
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CBT: Pass 25/06/2011 Theory Test: Pass12/06/2012 Mod 1: Fail 08/07/2012
Mod 1 Retest: Pass 15/0702012 Mod 2: Pass 03/08/2012
Suzuki GN125 (Sold) ~ Current bike: Yamaha YZF 600R Thundercat

[Recluso]

From what I was told, the 500cc bikes are going to be used for the equivalent of the restricted license.
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'Just erotic. Nothing kinky. It's the difference between using a feather and using a chicken.'
Honda PS125i > Yamaha YBR125 > Yamaha XJ6 Diversion > Yamaha Tracer 900

[Rogerborg]

It entirely depends how strict the DfT and DSA are minded to be.

They're currently saying that A2 test bikes need to be between 25-35kW. If you go by Wikipedia, then only the GS500 comes in at a whisker under 35kW, all the others are above it.

It's going to be pretty harsh if training schools have to run fleets of 125s, 25-35kW bikes and 40kW+ bikes, so I hope they recant on that and require just what the 3DLD requires: that A2 bikes be at least 25kW. The 35kW upper limit is DfT 'gold plating', in their own parlance.

Of course, training schools could just turn up with a bit of paper saying "This ER6 is 35kW today, honest".
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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

[tris88]

The school I just passed with are using XJ600s and they're going to be swapping the ECUs between restricted and not.

[Teflon-Mike]

'effected' bikes are the 500's.

They will be 'relegated' as not eligible for future DAS courses, as they are under capacity limit.

Bike Schools have, already BEEN filtering out the 500's over the last couple of years since they have KNOWN the new DAS specs were coming in, and upgrading to things like the ER6, as their bikes have come 'due' for replacement. Others have never used them anyway, and offered 600 Bandits or whatever.

Others, like my local school, still have a fair few 500's... Talking to Nigel, has I think four GS500's; his 'plan' is that at the end of this summer, he'll simply sell on the 'most' tired ONE and replace it with a 600 or 650, which he'll keep as a 'Test' bike..... he'll carry on giving DAS training on the 500's..... and why not? DAS does NOT require a TEST standard bike for 'training'......

As each bike comes 'due' for replacement, he'll probably 'upgrade' to 600/650's.....

BUT for NOW, he's playing wait & see.

GS500's are still good enough for training DAS, and they are easily restricted to under 45Kw for A2 training...

He is sangiune about that... current uptake of 125 Road training for A-Restricted is PRETTY LOW, so he doesn't expect that many will follow the 'stepped' licence route.....

And he imagines that his business will polarise even more, between CBT and DAS, and more and more young riders will stick to 125's on L's, and not bother going for tests, and those that do have the interest will like as not simply wait it out until they are 24 and 'Do-DAS'.

He has actually SAID that for the likely uptake of training for A2, it is NOT worth him creating a secondary 'fleet' of A2 bikes, and fretting about the convolutions of the rules for under 24's....

But I suspect he is 'optimistic' and hanging onto the 500's is hedging his bets.... IF there is enough 'interest' he'd be able to restrict one or two of them for A2 training & tests......

SO... as far as the market being flooded with 'obsolete' DAS bikes?

No.... well, certainly isn't going to be a tidal-wave 'dumping' them onto the used market!

Prices of the typical 500 commuter twin; ER5, GS500, CB500 have been 'subdued' for the last 10-years or so, as the numbers have been swelled by aged 'school-bikes' filtering onto the market (As well as many DAS Newbies buying bikes 'like' they rode in school as thier 'early-rider')

The 600's have gradually replaced them, so there wont be THAT many to be 'instantly' dumped when they are no longer DAS-Test eligible.....

AND many schools that DO still have them, MAY yet hang on to some of them, either to keep costs down for 'Training' or to see IF there is demand for A2 training & tests.....

Restricted for A2, possible that the 500's MIGHT actually better 'hold' value than they do now..... IF there is a significant 'uptake' of A2 testing from 9year-olds.

A2 Rules provide 45bhp power limit, but added stipulation that machine CANNOT be restricted from a bike 'originally' rated at more than 90......

THAT particular caveot will basically mean that 'Restricted' licence holders, wont be able to have a 'sports' 600.... Without checking, I dont think that ANY 'sports' 6, has had less than 90bhp, since the CBR600F2 in 1992!

So they will not be able to restrict ZX6R's, SRADS, CBR's, or R6's. Litre bikes will pretty much be off the menu too, and they'll be left looking at the more 'humble' 'fours' like the Bandit or Divvy, or the twins.
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Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[Rogerborg]

[palmer]

Screw the new rules, I did my DAS on a gsf1250 and it was awesome.

[JonnyFoxtrot]

[Ingah]