Which first bike to buy?

[sapstar]

Passed my Mod 2 for A license yesterday and looking to buy a motorcycle now...

I wanted to get the Harley Davidson Street 750, but I have problems securing the bike in front of my house, so want to go for some decent bike around 650cc in the price range £2000 to £2500 just to enjoy and get accustomed to riding in the UK. I have many years of riding experience outside the UK.

Can you please recommend some bikes? I am 5'6" (short).
I have given my test on Suzuku Gladius 650 which I really liked riding, but I thought it wasn't very comfortable for riding 1 hour at a stretch. My shoulders were aching.

I am planning to view and may be test ride Kawasaki ER-6N (2014) and Yamaha MT-03 (2008) available near me. How are these bikes? Will they be good for 40mins commute?

I live south east of London near Dartford. Are there any recommended Used Bike showrooms which I can visit?

[RhynoCZ]

Buy whatever catches your eye.

Go and have a test ride on the ER6 and MT03 to see what suits you the best, at this moment. Once you gain a bit more experience, you'll find out yourself what you prefer and seek in a motorcycle. It's quite like your first love, you didn't pick your first girl/boy because of her/his personality. You just wanted to have a go.

By the way, the biggest difference between those two is the engine. For constant high speed riding (motorways), I'd go for the ER6 only because it's a twin cylinder, meaning smoother operation. I recently found joy in riding ''big'' single cylinder motorcycles, but they are crap at commuting at constant high speed, tiring. On the other hand, city traffic riding is amazing on a single cylinder engine motorcycle, all the torque at very low rev range, effortless acceleration and slowing down (engine braking).
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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

[NJD]

[Polarbear]

A big single is an aquired taste. They are not my cp of tea unless it's a second bike and something like a Royal Enfield.

Wifie had an ER6N. It was her favourite bike she has owned. I found it a bit boring but there is no doubt it does what it says and is an ideal starter bike.

If you go for one just check the exhaust mod has been done if it's an early bike, they had a tendency to crack where the silencer met the down pipes.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[linuxyeti]

[stinkwheel]

I doubt you would regret owning an ER6. They punch well above their weight.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[sapstar]

Thank you very much for your replies. Looks like ER-6 is widely recommended. I will try to get a test ride on this.

Looked around for insurance and see that it will be very expensive to leave the bike outside. I will speak to my neighbour and if he is fine, I am going to get something like an armadillo box so that I can reduce the insurance costs. Otherwise I may have to put the bike in the house.

Also price wise how is £2800 for a 2014 ER-6 N with 12000 miles?

[NJD]

Insurance will be expensive. I tried to get an ER6F (has a fairing over the N) as my first "big" bike and found the insurance cost too much, and so went with a ZR7S instead. Beside that, however, London. Being the theft capital insuring any bike inside of that place must have insurance companies on their toes at the moment.

It also then comes down to what level of cover you're looking at: TPO, TPFT or FC. If TPFT or FC be sure to look at compulsory excess cost as its money you have to pay before a claim is even looked at. If its more than policy price don't buy as in the event of a claim there's nothing to be paid out to you. TPO isn't always cheaper, and in London is one heck of a risk, but make sure you compare all three levels.

Can't comment on the price but 12,000 miles isn't that much. Looking at the service chart there's no serious things to be replaced, but be sure to look over the bike to spot things that may need replacing: tyres, suspension, chain and sprockets.

Service manual:

https://mototh.com/files/kawasaki/ER6n/Kawasaki-ER6n-Service-Manual-EN.pdf
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[Ribenapigeon]

Yamaha Xj6. Better build quality than ER6 and plenty around.
Sore shoulders? Youd be suprised what a small adjustment to the bars can do. You can risers to lift them and you can rotate them as well. I was getting a sore wrist once and just a few degrees of rotation to slightly flatten the angle completely sorted the problem.

[Polarbear]

[Bhud]

Check the general condition and service history.

[ThatDippyTwat]

Might want to have a look at VFR's. Predicatable power response, cheap, plentiful spares, bullet proof unless abused. Downside is they're a bit portly, but you once you're moving it's fine, and I can't see a noob out-riding the bike for a couple of years yet.
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'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)

[sapstar]

I see that full coverage insurance for kawasaki ER 6N is around £550 if in a garage with £350 excess. If parked on drive it is around £850.

My neighbour said he doesn't mind me putting a bike box on my drive. Armadillo box can only be delivered in the new year if ordered now. I also need to look into getting my sloped drive levelled.... Probably can't buy a bike until the new year .

I will have to look at options available at that time. I can see a few suggestions on the thread and will try to find one of those.

Thanks very much for your inputs.

[sapstar]

[sapstar]

[Polarbear]

[kolu]

hey, I've been in the same situation half a year ago - 0 NCB and fresh in the UK. ended up with 250cc because of A2 licence. the cheapest insurance was from Lexhams at £800 TPO, TPFT was exactly that + stated bike value (£1000) so I just got TPO and massive chain (16mm Pragmasis) and hi-spec ABUS brake lock. a bargain, isn't it?
shopping for the next year it looks like mce insurance (found through gocompare.com) is around £250, and I can get around £300 for 500cc. so I'll be probably looking for some dirt cheap GS500 and bigger chain next year.

funny enough, my GV250 is 2007 model but 2008 reg so 'ULEZ compliant' but actually not (still with carbs) - I was quite surprised when I found out at the TFL website. hadn't had any problems yet... so I guess anything '08 and on should be OK and you can run the plate on TFL site (https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle-35896) just to check what they think even before buying.

[ThatDippyTwat]

[sapstar]

[sapstar]

[sapstar]

[sapstar]

I have found this on the internet which provides a list of pre 2007 motorcycles that are ULEZ compliant.

https://www.bikerandbike.co.uk/list-pre-euro-3-motorcycles-with-ulez-exemptions/

[stinkwheel]

[Howling Terror]

Hold off getting that new Fireblade because Honda have just submitted a new trademark. the Hunter Cub.

https://pbs.twimg.com/card_img/1199717197486137347/7mNqicAd?format=jpg&name=small
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[stinkwheel]