Yamaha sdr 200 - Advice needed

[senna_f4]

Hi All,
I plan on getting either a 33bhp restricted licence or DAS in a few months time.

I saw this beauty on e-bay, and urgently need you advice, as to wether it will be a good bike for someone new to biking.
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Yamaha-SDR200-SDR-200-YPVS-not-TZR125-RD-250LC-350LC_W0QQitemZ4626089093QQcategoryZ9809QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I am good at repairing stuff including engines etc, so maintenace is not an issue.

How well does this bike handle etc. It says 34 Bhp, so could i ride it on a 33Bhp licence without restriction.

Thanks
____________________
"You don't know the power of the dark side."

[stinkwheel]

They are lovely bikes but rare as hens teeth. They weren't officially imported into the country so getting spares for one will be a bit of a challenge.

I have never ridden one (but I would love to own one). It should go like shit off a wet shovel.

This bike is a pure toy, it is totally impractical, it only has one seat, it will demand to be ridden at full-chat everywhere and will hoover fuel from its tiny little tank at an alarming rate. I would imagine that beautiful trellis frame will corrode at a rate of knots too unless fastidiously cleaned every time out.

So to answer your question. Do I think a single-seater, light as a feather powervalve that will wheelie at the slightest sniff of throttle will be good for someone new to biking? Not really, but you could have fun finding out.

If you want a bike, the sole purpose of which is to scream around back roads on sunny weekends and generally behave like a hooligan on, it will be right up there with the best of them.

If you want to commute or go anywhere, it is probably a bad idea.

You'd better watch out, or I'll buy it. It is bloody gorgeous and I want it.
____________________
“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.

[senna_f4]

Thanks Stinkwheel, I suppose I will give it a miss if spares would be difficult to get hold of .

I really like the looks of this bike, and it didn't seem overly powerful for learning!

If you do want to bid on it go on , and if you do get it could you kindly show some pictures etc of how you restore it? Oh and if our paths do cross maybe I could have a look at it in real life
____________________
"You don't know the power of the dark side."

[veeeffarr]

Haha, I'm quite near Wigan, might go and have a drool.

[stinkwheel]

Nah, I wont be bidding on it. I'll have to sit on my hands though. Too many projects already.

What I can never understand is people buy a bike like that and spend thousands of pounds on the cosmetics before they even find out if the engine is a good runner.

All seems backwards to me. He's painted the frame but might have to take the engine out yet which will mark it.

I have also been caught out with 'projects' before. You get them "Little left to do. 98% complete". What they fail to mention is that 2% is something like a duff CDI unit that turns out to be made of pure unobtanium and costs £300 when you eventually track one down in Japan.

It does look fantastic. There are similar bikes. The Yamaha SRX400 and 600 are in kind of the same mould but have 4-stroke motors (400 is also an import but there are a lot more of them about). They are physically very small bikes and the 600 is kick start which can be a pain though.

Honda XBR500 is also vaguely along those lines.
____________________
“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.

[senna_f4]

Yes, that also stuck me Stinkwheel, why paint all the tank etc, when the mechanicals haven't been sorted?

Also seems kind of cheap for such a beautiful bike

Besides if I did get a bike like that for a project I will strip engine/mechanicals do a full rebuild, test the engine/gearbox, at least on a makeshift test bed before spending any more money on cleaning it up

Anyway lovely bike
____________________
"You don't know the power of the dark side."