Advice on learner bikes??

Tracybee · L Plate Warrior Joined: 06 May 2005 Karma :

Hi... Im Tracy, I joined the site today looking to chat to other bikers out there and get some of your great tips and advice! I recently passed my CBT, and desperately need to get out and practise, but I need to buy a bike first! Any advice on cheap but reliable learner legal bikes? Some like minded biker pals would be good too... Not many of my friends are into it like me!!

DanceLikeAMon... · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Sep 2004 Karma :

Can't go wrong with the Yamaha SR125. It's what I learned on. It's light as a feather, does 90 miles to the gallon and is cheap as owt to insure and tax.

Just sold mine, but there are always loads of them about.

Stu_666 · Brolly Dolly Joined: 27 Jun 2004 Karma :

Hi

Got an RS125 which is good but as a second hand buy I'd be careful with them. If I was looking at a cheap and reliable 125 starter bike I'd probably go for something like a Honda CG125. Honda cityfly is also pretty good what I did me CBT on.

Josh|RD125LC · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Karma :

I think the CG125 would be a cracking bike to learn on. Ultra reliable, but still has quite a punchy little engine. The newer CG's don't look too bad at all, but I dislike the older versions. For some reason they remind me of foldaway bikes. Dunno why.

If you have money to spend, definitely a Sachs XTC or Hyosung Comet Very Happy

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Ric · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 22 Nov 2004 Karma :

personally id go for a cheap as chips bike ride it for 3-4 months then go for the full test

not what i did but in hindsight would have made me happier saved me money and id have a non-restricted liecence now!

New York Doll · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 14 Feb 2005 Karma :

mr.z · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Karma :

All depends very much on how much you are prepared to throw at a bike..

I had a cg125 for a year, brilliant little bike, in fact i now have another i'm rebuilding as a spare bike Very Happy

(not really a distance bike though mind, but 125s never are)
The newer versions have an electric start (woooo) and disc brakes, the only real problem with the cg is the front brake, its utter pants... can lead to scarey moments of un-stoping. Also the handleing on an older bike like this is not as good as modern bikes.

CB125s are just as cheap and quite a bit more powerfull (3/4 bhp more is allot when you only have 11)

Citys flys - apparently very good, basicaly a slightly tweaked cg, apparently the tyres are only made by one company though Shocked

(dont know how true that is, may have changed by now)

Honda varadero is a good one, good brakes (as in they work well, the back is a bit harsh) power is flat as very flat thing, but this is a good thing when your getting used to a bike... very very easy to control, in fact if you get too used to it you wont want anythin but an upright bike Very Happy

the handleing is very good as well, confidence inspireing. They are tall though... (i'm 5'8 and its only a little shorter than my main bike which i only just manage!)

NSR 125s are a good choice, more power than a 4 stroke, still reliable if taken care of.

Aprilias and race rep 2 strokes will at some point explode or go wrong... no offence anyone with one but they do have a reputation Razz

If your rolling in money a modern bike is a good option, if not an older bike you dont need to worry about scratching/droping and will sell for more or less what you payed for it. Haveing been there and done that i'd be aiming to do the full training after 6 months or so or practice..

Good luck Thumbs Up

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