First big bike
Discussion
Passed test at 45 (one year ago), first bike 600 Bandit N. Big bike feel, loads of cheap parts, and street fighter look optional if that floats your boat, cheap insurance, etc.
A bit heavy but stable with decent brakes and handling, found it good starting point for first year. Also as I am 6'4" found it a good roomy ride.
Put it down a couple of times at parking speed when either foot slipped on wet floor or gravel, resulting minor marks didn't bother me, glad it wasn't a bike with a fairing at that point. Current bike Honda CB1300, bigger again and naked, more straight line beast than one for the bends. Dont tell the wife but I may swap it for a speed tripple when I have another years experience and 2 years bonus.
A bit heavy but stable with decent brakes and handling, found it good starting point for first year. Also as I am 6'4" found it a good roomy ride.
Put it down a couple of times at parking speed when either foot slipped on wet floor or gravel, resulting minor marks didn't bother me, glad it wasn't a bike with a fairing at that point. Current bike Honda CB1300, bigger again and naked, more straight line beast than one for the bends. Dont tell the wife but I may swap it for a speed tripple when I have another years experience and 2 years bonus.
I'm in a bit of a similar situation tbh, I passed my full test a month ago on a Yamaha xj6 and have been looking at several first "big bikes" to get me started although my budgets the 2.5 -3k mark. You may also want to consider the kawasaki er6, I've been looking at the F (faired) version and they seem to be quite forgiving. At present the sv650 is in the lead due to the number available and insurance although I'm very tempted by the honda vfr. I'm planning to test ride one of each shortly and can try to report back if it'd be of interest?
Mike
Mike
Was in the same position as you a few months ago. Passed CBT at 47 years old having never ridden a (motor)bike before, bought YBR125, commuted for a year before doing DAS. I was considering a Suzuki ER6N or Yamaha XJ6 Diversion. Always liked the look of the Street Triple but having read all the reviews and comments about it being a "hooligan" bike I thought it might be a bit much as a first big bike.
After much indecision I threw caution to the wind and bought one anyway! I've used it in all weathers commuting to work and the odd run out at the weekend. No problems at all with it so far. It's easy to ride, nimble in traffic and when filtering, and more than fast enough for me on the open road. For the first month or so I found the acceleration quite astonishing, still do but to a lesser extent (the shock must be wearing off!). Oh, and the lights are waaay better than the YBR.
I don't think you'd have any regrets if you bought one, but of course my experience is limited.
If fuel economy is really important to you there are more efficient bikes out there, I'm averaging about 50mpg (2013 model), the older ones do worse apparently.
Hope that's of some help.
Rob.
After much indecision I threw caution to the wind and bought one anyway! I've used it in all weathers commuting to work and the odd run out at the weekend. No problems at all with it so far. It's easy to ride, nimble in traffic and when filtering, and more than fast enough for me on the open road. For the first month or so I found the acceleration quite astonishing, still do but to a lesser extent (the shock must be wearing off!). Oh, and the lights are waaay better than the YBR.
I don't think you'd have any regrets if you bought one, but of course my experience is limited.
If fuel economy is really important to you there are more efficient bikes out there, I'm averaging about 50mpg (2013 model), the older ones do worse apparently.
Hope that's of some help.
Rob.
I passed my test in November, having ridden a CBF125 for 4 months. 2 weeks ago I took delivery of my brand new 2013 Street Triple R. I've only covered 87 miles (due to the rain and the fact it's a bike for fun and not commuting), but already I'm in love with it. Looking forward to getting the first 500 mile service out of the way, as I have to keep the revs below 6k RPM. It's such a smooth bike and great on the roads. My husband is a sports bike fan, but I got him to test ride it before we made the decision and he thought it was amazing for what it is - a sporty naked, that's easy to ride, and nice and agile on the move. The engine sounds stunning too, even with the stock exhaust.
I contemplated the Yamaha MT09, but I'm extremely happy with my choice. Go and test ride one. You will not regret it.
I contemplated the Yamaha MT09, but I'm extremely happy with my choice. Go and test ride one. You will not regret it.
PICSCaptainSlow said:
I must have been looking at an earlier model, they don't look too bad. I prefer the naked look though.
Just note, with the naked option, longer, faster journeys can be a bit tiresome battling with the wind.As Volution and BmthRob, I've got a 2013 STriple. I commute 45 miles a day on it, into and out of London. The 2013/4 bike has folding mirrors which are great for nipping through gaps.
Due to some engine issues early on, I've ridden a fair bit of the Triumph range. Tiger, Sprint GT, Bonnie and Daytona.
Took the Tiger into work a couple of times and found filtering a PITA as the bars were wider. Mirrors didn't fold and they sit right up at transit mirror level. I didn't bother trying to ride the Sprint into work! Just trying to turn it around in the dealer forecourt was enough to advise me otherwise. The Bonnie was fun, but not my cup of tea and the Daytona.... well, I was playing about with the quick shifter and I couldn't quite believe the speeds I was doing as it all felt pretty calm at the helm. I put it down to the fairing and screen.
Going back a year or so, when I considered my first bike bike, I looked at the NC700x. As a commuter bike it ticked all the boxes. Storage!!, good on fuel, I found it pretty agile on the test ride. Visibility was good and the riding position was much more like the CBF125 that I had before. Thing was within a couple of minutes I had the throttle pinned and whilst it wasn't exactly slow, I knew I'd be bored of it before long.
Still, it might be a viable option if you want something sensible to commute on that has a bit of poke.
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