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RE8ELD0G
Renault 5 Driver



Joined: 24 Oct 2014
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PostPosted: 19:46 - 24 Oct 2014    Post subject: Noob saying hello Reply with quote
Hey guys and gals.
Im a complete nooob when it comes to bike and associated thing, but i have taken an interest and been weighing up the "do i, dont i" about doing my CBT.
Well im booked in for it on the 1ts Nov and have a helmet on its way to me.

I want a bike to be able to get out and about on, mostly for Green laning and camping as using my 4x4 cost a bloody fortune and being on a low income can really get too far to go and see nice places. (Wales and Scottish highlands)

Im hoping for some advise on what bikes would be suitable.
Im leaning towards a 125cc trails or supermoto but thats as far as my knowledge goes. Unusually YouTube is letting me down with reviews for these type of bikes.

So any pointers, my budget is sub £1500.
So far looking at a Sinnis Apache, Pulse adrenaline or second hand Kawasaki klx.........
Fav so far is looking to be a WK Trail 125.
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Snop Doog
Brolly Dolly



Joined: 29 Jul 2014
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PostPosted: 19:58 - 24 Oct 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hey, welcome to the forum Very Happy

You'll no longer be a complete noob once you do your CBT, I assure you.

Good call on the trails bikes, sounds like that kind of bike will suit your needs very well. I'm no good on recommending bikes so I'll leave that to the other members Smile
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Andy_Pagin
World Chat Champion



Joined: 08 Nov 2010
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PostPosted: 20:27 - 24 Oct 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
I'd avoid anything Chinese, especially if it's going to get a bashing in the middle of nowhere.
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Nash GT
World Chat Champion



Joined: 12 Sep 2014
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PostPosted: 20:39 - 24 Oct 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
Welcome, good luck with the CBT, as mentioned above don't be tempted by cheapo Chinese Shite if you are planning to take it into the dirt.
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RE8ELD0G
Renault 5 Driver



Joined: 24 Oct 2014
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PostPosted: 21:11 - 24 Oct 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
Its never going to a sand/clay pit etc just few green lanes, easy to do with just A/T tyres on a 4x4 so should be ok i would have thought.
Im not going to be high speed or high revs, just gently plodding with some mud and ruts involved.
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Snop Doog
Brolly Dolly



Joined: 29 Jul 2014
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PostPosted: 21:57 - 24 Oct 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
RE8ELD0G wrote:
Its never going to a sand/clay pit etc just few green lanes, easy to do with just A/T tyres on a 4x4 so should be ok i would have thought.
Im not going to be high speed or high revs, just gently plodding with some mud and ruts involved.
Just plodding with some mud and ruts is enough to kill a Chinese bike, as is turning the ignition key, and touching the bike, just looking at it may make things go wrong. Look for some 2nd hand Japanese bikes Thumbs Up
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Val
World Chat Champion



Joined: 03 Nov 2012
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PostPosted: 23:46 - 24 Oct 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hello and welcome,

as above I would avoid dodgy bikes, go for proven ones like Kawasaki KMX 125, Yamaha DT 125, Honda XR or XL 125, Suzuki TS 125 X.
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mase101
Nitrous Nuisance



Joined: 09 May 2014
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PostPosted: 00:22 - 25 Oct 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
Welcome to the forum. Do the CBT and try and get full licence. You have taken the first step, and your on the right path. Good luck!
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Pigeon
World Chat Champion



Joined: 27 Sep 2012
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PostPosted: 00:39 - 25 Oct 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
Suzuki Van Van seems to have many fans, especially as you can throw it at green lanes as well as the daily commute.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha
World Chat Champion



Joined: 22 Nov 2012
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PostPosted: 01:18 - 25 Oct 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yeah vanvan's a possibility. Bit dear though - and the back tyre is only good for the mildest stuff, otherwise it just sits on top and slides around. Good clearance compared to a "normal" bike though. Can you put some kind of knobblies on a city fly? That might be better tbh.
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Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125
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Rogerborg
nimbA



Joined: 26 Oct 2010
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PostPosted: 08:52 - 25 Oct 2014    Post subject: Re: Noob saying hello Reply with quote
RE8ELD0G wrote:
So far looking at a Sinnis Apache, Pulse adrenaline or second hand Kawasaki klx.........
Fav so far is looking to be a WK Trail 125.

KLX.

However, I do have to take issue with the lacist lumping of all Chinese bikes in together.

The WK, I wouldn't. I had a look at a used one. The welds didn't impress me, it was rusting at 6 months, and the 5.6 litre tank ruled it out. Cost is way too high for such an obviously budget bike.

The Pulse and Sinnis have very similar (and more credible) specs and the prices are now more sensible too: they've both come down about £400 this year.

I haven't looked at a Pulse, but the Apache 125 I seat-sniffed was surprisingly nice, at least in showroom fettle. Neat welds, stainless parts, felt like a proper bike. This vlogger makes a good case for it versus the Pulse and he does light greenlaning on it - I wouldn't recommend hammering the suspension or frame.

Although like a lot of perpetual L platers, he's only still on it because he's a pussy who makes deluded excuses for pissing away money on a CBT every two years rather than just manning up and doing his tests.

So really... I'd suggest getting an A license first, then whatever bike you like. No need to waste your time on a tiddler unless it's through choice.
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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

Last edited by Rogerborg on 09:40 - 25 Oct 2014; edited 1 time in total
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nowhere.elysium
The Pork Lord



Joined: 02 Mar 2009
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PostPosted: 08:56 - 25 Oct 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
I had a pulse adrenaline, and I had fewer problems with it than my wife has with her CBF or the cg she had. They're not intrinsically bad bikes. Parts are cheap and readily available from cmpo, the mechanics are simple and the electrics are limited, which is always a good thing.
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Rogerborg
nimbA



Joined: 26 Oct 2010
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PostPosted: 09:44 - 25 Oct 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
nowhere.elysium wrote:
I had a pulse adrenaline, [...] parts are cheap and readily available from cmpo, the mechanics are simple and the electrics are limited, which is always a good thing.

Spicy110 made the point that when he got some erratic electric issue on his Sinnis, that rather than dicking around with it, he just replaced the whole loom for £30 and a couple of hours of work.

Having wasted much longer than that trying to find and fix a single bad connection on my GPZ500, it's fairly compelling reasoning.
____________________
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
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Rogerborg
nimbA



Joined: 26 Oct 2010
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PostPosted: 09:48 - 25 Oct 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
nowhere.elysium wrote:
Parts are cheap and readily available from cmpo, the mechanics are simple and the electrics are limited, which is always a good thing.

Agreed. CMPO should be the first port of call when considering any Chinese bike. If it's not there (and the WK isn't), forget it.
____________________
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
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Northern Monkey
World Chat Champion



Joined: 17 Nov 2013
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PostPosted: 10:02 - 25 Oct 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
My Yamaha XT125 cost me £1400 last year, and I had no issues with it for the 4000 miles that I kept it. Something a bit more off road focused that then Scorpion tyres that it came fitted with, and it could have made a credible, if slow, green laner.

It used the older carb'ed YBR125 engine, so I'd expect it to stay reliable. I last saw it in a dealer up for £1800 a few weeks ago

I think it managed about 80 or 90 mpg
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nowhere.elysium
The Pork Lord



Joined: 02 Mar 2009
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PostPosted: 10:05 - 25 Oct 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
Rogerborg wrote:
Spicy110 made the point that when he got some erratic electric issue on his Sinnis, that rather than dicking around with it, he just replaced the whole loom for £30 and a couple of hours of work.
£30 does make for a good counter-argument, but I found that the only real electrical weakness in the Pulsewas the fact that the wire insulation was on the cheap&cheerful dissolvable side. Nothing that a bit of electrical tape couldn't solve.
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waffles
World Chat Champion



Joined: 04 Oct 2009
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PostPosted: 10:22 - 25 Oct 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
SpartanX wrote:
Just plodding with some mud and ruts is enough to kill a Chinese bike, as is turning the ignition key, and touching the bike, just looking at it may make things go wrong. Look for some 2nd hand Japanese bikes Thumbs Up


I had a Chinese crosser type bike and it went rusty sitting in my garage. It served a purpose though, it was cheap and proved that I really did want to pursue biking.

OP - as already advised go for a recognised brand (Yamaha, suzuki, Kawasaki etc) rather than the lure of something cheap and cheerful.
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Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125
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Rogerborg
nimbA



Joined: 26 Oct 2010
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PostPosted: 11:18 - 25 Oct 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
waffles wrote:
I had a Chinese crosser type bike

I've seen a rusty Suzuki, therefore all Japanese bikes rust and are rubbish.

Right?
____________________
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
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RE8ELD0G
Renault 5 Driver



Joined: 24 Oct 2014
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PostPosted: 20:01 - 25 Oct 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
There are so many different makes, models and types to choose from......
Im more confused now than ever lol
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha
World Chat Champion



Joined: 22 Nov 2012
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PostPosted: 20:03 - 25 Oct 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
Then our job here is done. Mr. Green
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125
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RE8ELD0G
Renault 5 Driver



Joined: 24 Oct 2014
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PostPosted: 22:21 - 25 Oct 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
Ok so after careful deliberation i think my choice is going to be......

A Yamaha XT125R

...........................................................................
(awaits major belittling and degradation)


Ok its a little under-powered, but thats easily sorted with exhaust, Big carb and some work on the ports with a dremmel.

But....it looks ok, does Off road well and i can get one for sub £1000 so fits nicely in my cheapskate price range.
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nowhere.elysium
The Pork Lord



Joined: 02 Mar 2009
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PostPosted: 22:25 - 25 Oct 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
RE8ELD0G wrote:
Ok its a little under-powered, but thats easily sorted with exhaust, Big carb and some work on the ports with a dremmel.
That's the bit you'll be subject to derision for - you won't be able to improve it, there's nothing to de-restrict, and if you honestly reckon you can tune a 4-stroke with a Dremel, then you're vastly overestimating your engineering capabilities. An XT125R is a perfectly competent 4t 125 - don't go ruining it with misguided ideas of unlocking moar powah, all you'll end up with is an expensive and functionally useless garage occupant.
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Pigeon
World Chat Champion



Joined: 27 Sep 2012
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PostPosted: 00:44 - 26 Oct 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
nowhere.elysium wrote:
That's the bit you'll be subject to derision for - you won't be able to improve it, there's nothing to de-restrict, and if you honestly reckon you can tune a 4-stroke with a Dremel, then you're vastly overestimating your engineering capabilities.


Maybe he's thinking of using the Dremel as a an extra power source.
That wire brush attachment at 15,000rpm would put out some serious air flow!
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Tinkz
Nova Slayer



Joined: 22 Oct 2014
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PostPosted: 00:57 - 26 Oct 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
Good luck with your CBT mate Thumbs Up
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Musketeer
World Chat Champion



Joined: 27 Jun 2011
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PostPosted: 08:26 - 26 Oct 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hello and good luck Thumbs Up
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Current Bike: Yamaha XSR900 Previous bikes: Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade, Kawasaki ZX-6R Ninja, Aprilia RS125 2-stroke
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