Fao: Any Bikers On Here

[Fidgits]

I know there are a few bikers on the site, so I thought i would pose a question on here, rather than searching for a forum which may, or may not be helpful...

Anyway, I passed my bike test back in 97/98, had a little one for Uni for 6 months or so, and havent ridden since...

Now, i'm considering getting a bike for the weekend, and had a look at prices, insurance etc...

My choice would be a Ducati 748, but being a novice rider, perhaps this isnt the best place to start.

What would you reccomend as a good starting point?

[Twincam.GTi]

A BSA Bantam or James Cadet or Honda 50 :P ?

Seriously have you considered a Honda CBR600 from the mid 90's (not a Blade version as you said you are just starting out again!) they can be picked up for below £1900 in brilliant condition and are very durable. Another nice bike to pick in the mid range would be a Kawasaki Ninja 600 from about 1996 but do not have anything with more than 15000 on the clock unless you know the history most have around 7000 on the clock and price seems to be around £2000 for a superb example.

I presume you are after a sort of 'race look' which is why I mention these two as opposed to a 'sit up type'.

Other people i'm sure will have there ideas/sugestions :D

P.S. With Honda CBR beware of some insurrance companies, they tend to lump the standard CBR in with the Blade!

[bluepaseo]

Nooooooooo, thats not a good choice! Ducatis, even modern ones are tempremental little beasts. The best you could do is a classic 70s/80s Japanese bike, say a Suzuki GS750, Kawasaki Z650, both are fast enough and cheap to buy as well. Insurance would be classic and cost around £100 including breakdown. You can get a mint bike for under 2k as well. You will get your riding skills in time and then when and if you want a boring modern bike you wont lose any cash on the old one... cant go wrong! If you must have a modern thing then a Moto Guzzi 750 Breva is a good starter bike.

[Fidgits]

Thanks guys...

I do like the italian style, but yeah, i suppose a 600 jap would be better to start... mind you, what about an Aprilla 250 V-twin?

I am quite short though... which could be an issue...

Not so sure about classics, im not great at getting my hands dirty..

[bluepaseo]

You wont need to get dirty, the Jap stuff is so reliable as long as you get a good one. The Guzzi 750 Breva is ideal for shorter riders too. I tried one out and its superb, fast enough and handles well, but Im too tall for one.

[sotal]

I've got a thundercat - It was my first big bike (as signature)

It's 600cc, it does 0-60 in 3.5 seconds and has a top speed of 172mph (you'll never reach it though!)

The advantage with the thundercat is it's excellent seating position, it doesn't force you to lie over the tank with your heels behind your ears but you can if you want!

I would really recommend the Thundercat, although I think I will probably be selling mine to get something a bit smaller as it's too hard to get out of the shed (and it scares the ***** out of me when I ride it!!)

As others have said the Ducati will have little faults normally niggly little things but they can be a pain.

Get yourself down to a decent motorbike shop and have a sit on them and see what you like.

As for insurance Ducati's can be a bit High, my insurance is £281/year I'm 22 with 2years NCB

[KidKoala]

If you are quite short get a CBR400, more than enough poke for most people, and very light to throw about.

[Fidgits]

yeah, ive just been getting insurance quotes..

Ducati 748 - £500

Honda CBR400RR - 327

Honda CBR600F - 420

Aprilla 125RS - 285

[AMH]

No good - Ian is shorter than that

Seriously though - there are some places around that hire bikes - you could hire one for a week and see if you still like it before going further - it can seem very exposed after a few years in a car ...

[martin_longbow]

What's wrong with a good 400 or 600?

I know what you mean I used to ride bikes etc years ago when you simply just got one. Now I am older and trying to do it legally it is difficult. So I am 6ft 1, I have the jacket, helmet, boots and leathers all for my Honda Custom 125 cc

It's a joke, byt anyway I will get my theory started later this year and then the full license. The object is to have a real proper size bike for next summer, after all I only got my Gen 6 a few weeks ago so cant push too hard

[Gnome]

You want a proper oldskool Suzuki mate.

Summit like a GSXR 1100 or 750. Hell, get the 750, sell the engine, and buy the 1100 engine, and get yourself mental power in a lightweight frame.

I got a Bandit 600 myself, and me and a mate are just about to drop a 750 motor in it.

Bandit 1200 is big, fast and cheap to insure/ run. Lots of power low down the revs, with more torque than graham norton...

Just don't get a duke. Nice bikes, but it needs a cam belt about every 2500 miles, and is very expensive to service.

Way around that, is to service it yaself, which is why I'd say a suzook, cause there's plenty of parts, and they're easy to work on.

A naked bike will be cheaper on insurance (usually), and if ya do drop it, there's no fairing to worry about.

[Boro Sera]

The Aprilia RS250 is an awesome bike, but very hard to find a good one in the second hand market.

I'd avoid 2strokers and get a 4 stroke engine as they are a bit more forgiving and smoother for less experienced riders. CBR600 is the bike to go for. Fast, reliable, Bullet proof !

A lot depends on the type of riding you're intending to do though. Long journeys, touring etc, then maybe something like a VFR750 would be a better riding position. Whatever you get though, have fun. Don't be afraid to get something that has a mental top speed - You control the throttle , they only go as fast as you tell them to.

[Tom.B]

What about that mini moto Steves selling? :D (joke matey)

[DazH]

In all honesty mate I'd go for a jap 600, would love a Ducati 748 myself, drop dead gorgeous But something like a Honda CBR600 would be a lot more forgiving given the length of time you've been off bikes

But as Rich says, it's you that controls the throttle ;) I'd also recommend going to something like the Ron Haslam Race School at Donington, you'll learn more about riding a bike fast and safe in one day there than you will in a month of sundays trying to do it yourself on the road

[earpl]

bike wise, 916 rc 45 you'll have to pay though

[knightrider]

RC45 yummy!

i had a bandit 600 nice riding posistion if your tall(sorry ian)

erm a small 600/400 sports bike

[munkeyboy]

you want a suzuki sv 650 low seat hight cheep ins and a nice v twin sound eapecially with a nice exhaust.

ps quick bike to

[daktari]

I`ve had a triumph trident for the last year, mainly as a summer toy. Not ridden it once this summer. Work seems to have taken over my life... anyway, You ought to consider a 600? Lower insurance, thrilling performance from most of them.

[Gnome]

H*nda's are for poofs!!!

:D :D :D

True the RS250 is a good bike, but like you said, avoid 2 strokes. Especially if you don't know what you're looking after.

They look fantastic when they blow up :D

How about a turbo 'busa???? Only about £10k in total, and you can squeeze 250bhp outta them nicely.....

:D :D :D

[Boro Sera]

How about a turbo 'busa???? Only about £10k in total, and you can squeeze 250bhp outta them nicely.....

←

Never saw the point of the Hayabusa. A good 600 sports bike will do more than most riders are capable of, PLUS they are much more flickable on the twisties.

DazH makes a good point about Race School days. I did mine at Cadwell park and it's amazing how much improvement to speed/style/safety it teaches you. Well worth it.

[G6AArgh]

Anyway, I passed my bike test back in 97/98, had a little one for Uni for 6 months or so, and havent ridden since...

If you are quite short get a CBR400, more than enough poke for most people, and very light to throw about

sound advice, how small was your little one? its been a while since you rode so i would go out and get a 400 (CBR 400 is ideal) i know it doesnt have as much cred as a big bike but if you ride it for a few months (or just a few weeks) it gets you back into the swing of things without scaring the crap outta you by putting you up to 100+ in seconds with a little twitch of the gas, i know that the bike will only go as quick as the rider wants BUT it is easy to get carried away and find yourself barrelling into a corner without a chance to get around unless youve got sliders, skill and balls like melons. Get a 400 and get used to reading the road and spotting bumps in the road and draincovers etc then PM me and buy my ZXR750

[Gnome]

You on't need sliders for a corner.

I've never needed them, and my last set of tyres were both scrubbed right over.

;)

But you're right - i would suggest a refresher course at least, or a track day. Well worth the money. Even ask the plod about their rides they do. Check out Bikesafe as well, and see if there's a local one. You can usually get a plod ride-out thru them.

[dj_davo]

Nooooooooo, thats not a good choice! Ducatis, even modern ones are tempremental little beasts.

interesting. my neighbour had a 748, now he has a 749 and hasnt had a single problem with either - apart from crashing 1 on a track day!

he used to have a fireblade and always complains that the ducatis are nowhere as quick - so based on that, and the fact he says they handle well, plus the beautiful sound they make (apart form the dry clutch) i would recommend, as im sure he would, a 748.

[earpl]

ive seen 340 turbo bussa engines, to fit in caterhams

[Gnome]

They go well in mini's too... ;)