First Big Bike

[FireStorm-X]

Hi there

Getting near to the time I will be getting my first Big Bike.

Looking for a Bike 400cc to 750cc, not really into fully faired or part faired bikes as I like them naked but dependent on the insurance price I will look at fully faired bikes.

Main use will be commuting, but I will be wanting it for going away for a few days here and there and ride outs.

I am looking for a bike that is economical, due to the commuting as my present 125 was bought to save me money.

So far have looked at:

CB400
Bandit 400 - whatching one on eBay (shop)
Gpz 500s - not for me as it has fairings
Bandit 600 - a bit pricey around wigan area
Hornet 600 - same as above
CB500 - whatching one on eBay (shop)
XJ 600 - whatching one on eBay (shop)
ZR 750 - whatching two on eBay (one shop)

So far insurance ranges from £65 to £98 for third party for a year. I also have upto £1500 to buy the bike.

Any comments on these bikes or suggestions on different bikes would be welcome
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Lexmoto Street 125 (sold) - Kawasaki ZR7S

[Gazza M]

GPZ500 would be poifect. I just happen to be selling mine, does 60mpg sitting at 80, yet can surprise a few people if you want to! PM me if ya like.
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Past: '07 YBR125, '00 GPZ500S, '99 ZRX1100, '98 CBR600 track bike, '97 ZX9R
Present: '05 R6 track bike, 140 pit bike

[Rogerborg]

Agreed, I'm getting on very well with my GPZ500S.

But you don't want faired, so how about looking at a CB500? It's almost identical in size and performance[*], but you get more bugs in your teeth.

[*] Peak, I'm not sure how it delivers it. The GPZ is friendly and economical under 7000, then it flips suddenly to hooligan mode to let you know that you're gambling 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

[Nick_Giles]

[P.addy]

CB400 Super Four

[FireStorm-X]

I have to admit, I did not think I liked the GPZ 500 when I have seen pics of them. But today while going to look at a XJ600, they had one in the shop. That was in mint condition, not a mark on it, so I thought what the hell. I'll ask to have a sit on it and it did feel nice and the shop would be willing to take a deposit and hold it until the end of next month when I sell my 125 and move up.

The CB500 is also a bike I would consider
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Lexmoto Street 125 (sold) - Kawasaki ZR7S

[G]

If I wanted a very capable all round bike in that budget I'd go for a G/J/A ZX6R if I wanted fun, or ZX9R if I wanted ease of riding.

If I wanted naked, I'd take the fairings off.

Might be able to just find a speed four in that price range too, which comes ready-naked.

If I wanted economy (which a bit late, I've just noted you do), I'd go for the GPZ500s I reckon - and it gives you another 'step up' - the 600cc sports bikes have the capability to be very fast bikes. We're talking 11.something second standing quarter miles - so Ferrari 458 sort of speed off the line.

However, at this sort of budget I'd also just be looking to see what's good value not too far from you.
A F800s say, may come up for not much over your budget close you and you might decide it ticks the boxes enough to justify it as you'll probably be able to sell it for £500 more if you don't like it.

[Rogerborg]

[Nick_Giles]

.
£1500 might buy you an earlier Hornet.



Nick
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Peter Cook: "I have learned from my mistakes, and I am sure I can repeat them exactly".

[dannymassive]

[FireStorm-X]

Interesting insurance quote on the GPZ500s, £79.50 third party and £80.69 Fully Comp with £250 excess, not bad at all also the same for a XJ600n

Even more interesting quote on the ZR750, £98 third party and £90 Fully Comp lol with £300 excess.

Have to admit I am surprised at how low the insurance quotes have been on most of the bikes I have looked at, plus how little it has gone up from third party to fully comp.

But add brake down cover to any of them with the insurance and the excess shoots up to £800 + not so good plus the price gose up by about £30 on each of them.....hum RAC for my car and it covers my bike as well again then

I would have added Bandit 600 and Hornet 600 to my list, but they seem a bit on the expensive side around Wigan as I like the as well
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Lexmoto Street 125 (sold) - Kawasaki ZR7S

[Islander]

+1 on the Hornet.

[Sako]

i also agree with above, think i'd have a look at a hornet too.

[Scotsman37]

I concur with the above and I would go for the Hornet, as I used to own a Hornet 900 (919) in the past, and I found it to be a very reliable well built bike with good enough amount of low torque to get you quickly up to speed or even tight maneuvering at low speeds around things.

I would however with the Hornet install mushrooms/frame sliders at the sides of the frame because the rear seat cowl does stick out a little bit at the sides plus the fuel tank a little, and so with the above mentioned protection will be life saver cosmetically for the bike!

[Andy_Pagin]

A mate of mine bought a Honda Bros 400 after passing his tests last year and loves it, looks good in black too.
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They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[Benson_JV]

I have a Bandit S which has a bikini fairing up for sale for a good chunk lower than the figure in your OP. PM if you'd like!
____________________
Willson - "If you go out on that CBR600 in the winter, you're going to do more miles on your side than on your wheels."
Riding: CBR600FW Driving: Audi A6
Previous Bikes: '96 Bandit 600, '96 GPz305

[FireStorm-X]

Ok after thinking hard and long about the GPZ500S, even though it is mint and felt nice when I sat on it in the end I don't like faired bikes so its not for me. Thanks for the feed back on the GPZ500S, you made it real hard not to say yes to it but I do like unfair and naked sit-up and beg types more.
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Lexmoto Street 125 (sold) - Kawasaki ZR7S

[Fizzer Thou]

[andys675]

speed four
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Some people feel the rain, others just get wet.

[FireStorm-X]

Dose look nice very similar to my 125 or should I say my 125 looks like it

A few CB500 but no CB400 but the CB500 look ok as well.

Main thing will be what is available in 5 weeks time, as I need to keep my 125 until then as one of the blokes at work is buying it and I want my NCB. But will added CB400 and CB500 to my list lol, it is getting bigger
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Lexmoto Street 125 (sold) - Kawasaki ZR7S

[FireStorm-X]

Next question is what mileage would you consider as a maximin on buying a secoundhand bike, so far I have been told not to look at anything over 30,000 would you say that sounds about right, or just being picky ?
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Lexmoto Street 125 (sold) - Kawasaki ZR7S

[Scotsman37]

When a bike reaches 10 years old then you are looking at a possible engine strip down to inspect for worn gears/circlips, as I know of two Kawasaki bikes that happened to after reaching that age with 60,000 or so on the clocks for each of them. So, 30,000 is still pretty decent just as long it's been maintained well throughout it's mileage at regular intervals should be ok!

[Hondaondabrai...]

I had a Hornet for my 1st and thought Id never want to sell it. Try sitting on a CB500 or maybe try a SV650 for size.

[ScaredyCat]

[FireStorm-X]

Ok have been looking at big bikes and found a few only problem with one is that it is in London, but the shop has said they will hold it for me if I put a deposit down it is a Bandit 600, with 11,000 miles on the clocks taxed to the end of the year and tested until jan next year. The price is right even when adding in the cost of getting a train to London but I hate trains nearly got locked up, the last time I was on one due to them trying to dump me 20 miles from home due to problems on the line. In the end they had to pay for my taxi home

The next one is closer just up the road, ZR7S with not tax and but has MOT test until September and 13,500 miles on the clock. So I would have to tax it, which means it will cost the same as the Bandit 600 to get it on the road. Have to phone up tommorow to see if they will take a deposit and hold it ?

In the end I would be taking my new bike for a good long ride the day I buy it, so from London to home or around the lakes and then home.

My first choice would be the ZR7S, but I do like Bandits doh.

Will have to decided tommorow as I have things to arrange lol.
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Lexmoto Street 125 (sold) - Kawasaki ZR7S