Which first bike?

[PEEBLES]

i'm looking at getting a restricted 33bhp 400cc for my first bike to restrict.
and i have looked at all the sportbikes and generally i see honda as being a better bet, but some of the hondas are relatively ugly, (only some)
kawasaki zxr 400 seems okay and the suzuki bandit 400 seems ever more the apealing.
i'm generally mroe looking at 1k and a reasonably price on the insurance (cheaper the better)
cheers

[PEEBLES]

by insurance, i mean catergory.
however you may spell it ^

[Rogerborg]

Why a 400?

If you're assuming that smaller engine = cheaper insurance, you might be surprised.

You can get a more modern 500/600/650 that's had an easier life for less money, it'll go the same, and might cost you less to insure.

Insurance changes from day to day and person to person, and you can't even go by the category since there are hidden weightings applied - 125s, for example, cost far more than you'd expect based on their category.

So you'll really have to do the work to find out what your quotes are going to be on a range of bikes. I'd suggest your 400 candidates, a GS500F, Yamaha Diversion 600 and an SV650, to get a representative range.

Don't list them as "modified" with a restrictor, some insurers will gouge you on that. Go with the cheapest, ask then if they would charge you more if you declared a restrictor, and if so, don't bother. Just ensure that you're riding them within the terms of your license.
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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

[cimbian]

What I would say is that on my XL650V I got a quote for £358 over the phone but when they asked what I thought I told them I'd got a much better price elsewhere and in under three minutes they'd 'found' another price for me of £253 including business use!
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22PlusY
Current: Moto Guzzi 1100 Breva. Previous: Honda XL650V TransAlp
Bearded, Balding, Born again Buddhist Biker