Big name Japanese or cheap Chinese for learner? Vintage/Mod

[Grumpy Joe]

Hi everybody, I'm taking my CBT next week and would like a bit of advice on choice of 125cc bike to purchase afterwards.

I'm a total novice when it comes to bikes so as you can imagine I don't want to buy something that is rubbish and stops half way through a journey. I've been watching ebay and gumtree for a decent bike and I wanted to know whether people thought a big name make such as Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha or Kawasaki would be better for my needs rather than a cheaper Chinese make like Sinnis or TMEC? I've read mixed things about Chinese bikes, mostly bad but some good.

I'm wanting to use the bike to get to and from work (approx 200 miles a week) and possibly off road at the weekend and like everybody else I don't want to spend that much, ideally under £1000. But this is the thing, I've seen some early 80's Honda's (between £500-£900) and they appear ok but what are they going to be like for repairs? Am I going to have to pay through the nose for a vintage part that is hard to find or will most garages have a replacement part readily available and not at a vintage price?

Also if it's an 80's or 90's bike by a big name is it going to be a lot more to insure?

Additionally, I will be storing the bike outside off the street and I don't want to pay £2K for a modern Yamaha for it to get nicked if a cheaper Chinese bike would do what I need and then were to be nicked. Any advice is welcome, thank you in advance.

[Amreet]

honda

[i.p.phrealy]

As a Chinese bike owner, and because you said you want to go off roading, buy a Jap bike.it will take the abuse better.
spares are easy to get still, even now because:
A) Wemoto and various other suppliers do a load of pattern parts
B) the Chinese bikes are often clones of the 80's Jap ones, which is where most of A comes from.
speed for speed there isn't much in them, some lad went past me on the A46 last Wednesday morning doing about 2 an MPH more than me on a YBR 125, and I put that down to him having a slight faring and me being about 8 stone heavier than him.
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[G]

As above - you can still get parts for the Jap bikes and it's more likely that when something breaks on the Chinese bike you replace it with a jap part.

However, if your budget is £1k, you can get a newer Jap bike.

I know you say 'Vintage', but with that budget doing 200 miles a week I'd look to a CBR125, or possibly a Varadero 125 (though I hate the idea of that much weight on a 125, they do seem to get some good reviews.)

[Darth_Da]

Pay a bit more and get a Jap bike, you'll save money in the long run

[pits]

Couldn't find the noon section I take it?
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[Ribenapigeon]

How long are you going to be on a 125 for? If your a teen and stuck on 125s till your 19 then get a jap bike. If your just using it to get some practice before doing tests then get the cheapest thing you can find if money is an issue. Likely a second hand chinese bike will have had any manufacturing faults seen to as well.

If your needing the bike for commuting then dont bother with the weekend off roading, its not worth risking your work horse on. Better just wait till youve got a full licence then get two bikes.