Choosing the first bike (MT-07?)

[Orennayar]

Hi everybody,

Here come another summer thread about a newbie choosing his first bike, contain your excitement.
So basically I've been riding my ybr125 for almost 5 months now and I got my DAS booked for the 8th of july. Hopefully I won't screw it up too bad and pass it. So there I am, starting to look for my first "big" bike (that's a lie I've been looking for months but that seemed a bit premature).
After lurking a while on the noobs threads here I narrowed down my choices to a few models:
New MT-07 or used XJ6

Now I struggle to decide, I really love the mt-07 as it's the kind of bike I'm looking for (mostly commuting and occasional fun on the weekend) and in my price range. But then, being a new rider, I guess I might drop it, or maybe I'll discover it's not comfortable on the long term or something... I guess I would then regret buying a new bike as devaluation makes selling it particularly painful then.
Whereas if I get a second hand bike it'll probably have less devaluation and be easier to sell if I ever want to change (and also less hate myself forever if I drop it).

Also I've been looking at the mt-07 pillion seat and it seems rather small. Do you guys think it's realistically possible to carry on passenger on this in decent conditions or is it just total rubbish? (as some people seem to say). I can't find any pictures or videos of pillions on the mt-07 so if anybody have insight on that it would be greatly appreciated

tl;dr: My mind tells me second-hand xj6 but my body tells me mt-07. Is it ok to buy an unused new bike as a first bike? If yes, will the mt-07 be okay?

Thanks!

PS: I'm not specifically nazi on the models I want so if anybody have a good sugestion I'm always taking advices.

PPS: I've looked at fireblades ads in my area and couldn't find any in my pricerange
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DAS passed: 21/07/14
2011 YBR125(sold)
2009 XJ6N

[RhynoCZ]

No need to talk, just get something you actually like.

The first proper bike is about looks, not performance nor mpg and so on. If you like MT-07, then I say get it.
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[_Troy_]

Pillion ability is dependent on who you're taking on there. My other half weighs just over 7 stone, so she could be pillion on a panigale and probably be comfy enough. But then if you want to put a 20 stone 6 foot man on the back, a larger more accommodating seat could be a good shout.

XJ6s can be had quite cheap now, and they are pretty nice bikes. The MT looks better, and has a bit more cool about it. But then they are completely different engines. Personally I prefer an IL4 engine, and never really liked twins. So maybe you should figure out if there is a preference in that area, because that would be a big factor for me.
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Current bike: ZX6R J1
Previous bikes: CLR 125 | GS500 | ZX6R G2 | SV650

[Rogerborg]

Are you actually looking for reasoned arguments, or do you want the MT-07 confirmed?

It's a very well reviewed bike that's cheap to begin with. The depreciation will be less than with other new bikes. What else are you going to spend that money on?

Pillion seat, how often are you really going to use it? Bungie a cushion on the tail or get the missus to eat more pies.
____________________
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

[Orennayar]

Thanks for the replies
I do like the look of the mt yeah for the pillion it's mostly for my OH so I should be okay weight wise, I was more concerned about the lack of handles and stuff, I've never been a pillion myself so I don't know how that affects the comfort on the back.
Regarding the engine my only experience is the ybr so I guess this is still something to be discovered. Is there such a big difference between motors?
Hopefully I'll have a good feel on the DAS bike to help up make my mind.
____________________
DAS passed: 21/07/14
2011 YBR125(sold)
2009 XJ6N

[Orennayar]

[Bendy]

[Rogerborg]

Do try and ride a few before buying though, you don't want to be selling up a new bike within months.
____________________
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

[Bendy]

He won't though, due to the incredible power of 'now I have it, it is awesome'.

Which tends to last until you see something else you fancy and suddenly there are a dozen reasons why what you have is shit and why the new object of affection would solve all the problems in life.

Rinse and repeat.

[map]

[Matt B]

Just get the red one. Red bikes are the fastest and bestest ones
____________________
stinkwheel: He had an animated .gif of a cat performing fellatio. It's not socially acceptable. It can have real life adverse effects on other people.

[_Troy_]

To be fair engine type perhaps won't be of a concern for a first bike, you'll love it either way. But after a few I have found the smoother revving IL4 is much more my style. That's not to say I'd turn down a bike because it was a twin, and will definitely have a big twin at some point.

Personally if I were in the position to buy an MT I probably would have. I've not really heard anything bad about them, and their price is pretty appealing. But as Roger says, make sure you test ride it before you buy. Also test ride the XJ6, the ER6 from Kawasaki and maybe an SV650 from Suzuki. This should give you a good idea of how different engines behave and stuff.
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Current bike: ZX6R J1
Previous bikes: CLR 125 | GS500 | ZX6R G2 | SV650

[Orennayar]

thanks for the insight
yeah I guess that once you got your bike it instantly becomes the best in the world
Test ride seems the way to go, can I just show up at my yamaha dealer and ask for one? I fear they might be a bit bitchy about me just getting my license the day before :/
____________________
DAS passed: 21/07/14
2011 YBR125(sold)
2009 XJ6N

[_Troy_]

[Orennayar]

It's a full license so that should be okay. I'll see what they say Last time I checked they had a demo one in the shop so at least I should be able to sit on it and judge the size etc..
____________________
DAS passed: 21/07/14
2011 YBR125(sold)
2009 XJ6N

[_Troy_]

[MC]

I think you'd be more likely to drop the heavier XJ6, although tbh with any big bike once they're going you can't stop them unlike a 125, but having a new bike every little scratch and ding will cause you pain

IL4's are smooth but it depends if that's what you want (smooth can also be boring ). Don't have much experience of parallel twins but if Paddy comes along he'll tell you they're the worse creation in the history of humanity
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Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[ipip]

If you can afford it and you want one, then get the MT07. I asked exactly the same question and always knew what I really wanted. Went and bought a new Street Triple and don't regret it for a second. I'm sure I'd have enjoyed the alternatives (for 10 mins!), but would always have been thinking, what if?

Do it now

[pinkyfloyd]

[Val]

MT-07
____________________
Adrian Monk: Unless I'm wrong, which, you know, I'm not...
Yamaha Fazer FZS 600, MT09, XSR 900

[TallPaul_S]

If you get the mt07, at some point get the akra on it. And then "lose" the baffle. Sounds glorious

https://youtu.be/gNyl9SkOhDo

They're ridiculously light so less likely to be dropped - as a fun first bike I think they're brilliant.
____________________
00 Honda VFR800 | 09 Aprilia Tuono Factory
CBT 06/03/2014 | Mod 1 and Mod 2 passed 15/10/2014

[Orennayar]

Thanks all for the replies!
I guess mt-07 is the way to go the, I guess if I'm gonna spend a lot of money and time on a bike I might as well spend it on the one I want
Anyway I still have to pass the test first.

[deadwolf]

What are the chances of waiting for a second hand MT-07 to pop up, while saving up more money the whole time?

If that could happen in the short/medium term, you could avoid the hassles of running the bike in, make depreciation your bitch and also have enough dosh around for extra goodies when you do get the bike.
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Motorsapien Art

[pinkyfloyd]

[Orennayar]