Sub-£1500 first 400-600ish cc machine for a 6' 6" biker?

[SWTH]

I'm looking to do my DAS in the next few months, I currently ride a Varadero 125 which I find very comfortable, if a little slow in corners (though it doesn't have the best tyres fitted).

Ideally I'd like something like a Triumph Sprint ST, but I suspect for insurance reasons I'd be better to have a year on something with a smaller engine.

So really, what I'm looking for is:
Sub-£1500 budget (don't mind doing some work myself)
Suitable for a 6' 6" rider
Ideally road-orientated
Reasonable to insure

Any ideas?

[BuzzBravado]

VFR750, ZZR900 Or Blackbird? Does CC really have any bearing on insurance?

Edited by BuzzBravado on Wednesday 25th February 10:11

[Dannaz]

Any bike capacity wise can be a first, some are just more challenging than others, but you won't go wrong with poss any of the following and can all be had in your budget;

Yamaha Thundercat
Suzuki GSXR 600 SRAD
Kawasaki ZX6r
Yamaha Fazer 600
Honda Hornet 600

HTH

[southgate]

Get some insurance quotes on bigger machines. You'll probably be surprised. Some larger cc bikes may well be cheaper. Sprints, GSs etc may be statistically less likely to be crashed, making insurance cheaper than expected.

[Tall_Paul]

Anything with fairings is likely to be more to insure, that's how it was for me. Run a few quotes on bikes you like the look of, it'll rule quite a few out.

At that price, for a naked bike, buy on condition - there'll be some dogs out there under £1500 but some decent bikes too. Hornet, bandit, sv650, fazer, cb500 etc.

[dapearson]

I know of an FZS600 going for about a grand. 31k miles, but seems ok. Would be ideal.

PM me if interested and i'll see if i can get you in touch.

[SWTH]

Thanks for the advice folks, I suppose some of my thinking was also along the lines of whether it would be best to get experience on a 600 before going for something bigger. That said, early Sprint 955s seem to produce only slightly more power than some of the 600's suggested. I actually prefer the looks of naked bikes, but I do a regular 180-mile round trip and even the Varadero's screen and fairings make a huge difference to how comfortable it is.

I went through a few insurance quotes - very pleasantly surprised to find a 955 could be insured for sub-£250, less if I fit some decent security. I honestly thought something like a near-litre faired bike would be near-impossible to insure for an inexperienced rider.

I looked at the VFR750 and found that a few early VFR800's are dropping into budget - as much as I like the Triumph I do have to say that the Vara has been all that I expect of a Honda - total reliability, no dramas. A VFR would be more of the same I guess?

[defblade]

I'm 6' 4" and would say.... go sit on some bikes. When you can, test ride them. For example, the Triumph Sprint has ONE position your bum's locked into and as soon as I started riding I could feel my knees being pushed into sharp egdes on the bodywork. Shame, the engine's great

Anyhow, how your legs, arms etc feel is so much down to you, your preferences and proportions, that anything that suited the next guy may be 'orrible to you.

[Pothole]

SWTH said:

Thanks for the advice folks, I suppose some of my thinking was also along the lines of whether it would be best to get experience on a 600 before going for something bigger. That said, early Sprint 955s seem to produce only slightly more power than some of the 600's suggested. I actually prefer the looks of naked bikes, but I do a regular 180-mile round trip and even the Varadero's screen and fairings make a huge difference to how comfortable it is.

I went through a few insurance quotes - very pleasantly surprised to find a 955 could be insured for sub-£250, less if I fit some decent security. I honestly thought something like a near-litre faired bike would be near-impossible to insure for an inexperienced rider.

I looked at the VFR750 and found that a few early VFR800's are dropping into budget - as much as I like the Triumph I do have to say that the Vara has been all that I expect of a Honda - total reliability, no dramas. A VFR would be more of the same I guess?

Indeed. Bit bland, perhaps, but a good starting point. Make sure there's not an expensive VTEC service due soon if you do decide on a VFR800 (unless you're looking at the very early Fi models of course)

[thatdude]

Pothole said:

ndeed. Bit bland, perhaps, but a good starting point. Make sure there's not an expensive VTEC service due soon if you do decide on a VFR800 (unless you're looking at the very early Fi models of course)

Another way of looking at it is if there is the valve clearence check due, then use that as leverage to knock down the price

[Pothole]

thatdude said:

Pothole said:

ndeed. Bit bland, perhaps, but a good starting point. Make sure there's not an expensive VTEC service due soon if you do decide on a VFR800 (unless you're looking at the very early Fi models of course)

Another way of looking at it is if there is the valve clearence check due, then use that as leverage to knock down the price

I like your thinking!

[Pothole]

thatdude said:

Pothole said:

ndeed. Bit bland, perhaps, but a good starting point. Make sure there's not an expensive VTEC service due soon if you do decide on a VFR800 (unless you're looking at the very early Fi models of course)

Another way of looking at it is if there is the valve clearence check due, then use that as leverage to knock down the price

I like your thinking!

[SWTH]

Pothole said:

ndeed. Bit bland, perhaps, but a good starting point. Make sure there's not an expensive VTEC service due soon if you do decide on a VFR800 (unless you're looking at the very early Fi models of course)

Looking at the very early Fi models - VTEC machines aren't in budget yet. Didn't realise the VTECs need a specific service, good to know if one does become available.

[Pothole]

I know I'll come across as a fanboy but you've already said Triumph, so if you're looking for the best handling 600 you can buy in your price range, don't overlook the TT600 (go post 2002 so the fuelling issues are sorted) A decent private one can be had within your budget.

[SWTH]

I like the look of the TT600 but the MCN review does make a point about legroom being a bit of an issue for taller riders. I also can't find any 02 bikes for less than £2200

[darkyoung1000]

Another vote for the VFR750 here, a 6'4" mate has one and finds it very comfortable over long distances. The last model with the gear driven cams is the one to go for, c£1500 for one in decent nick, and cheap to insure too!
Alternatively, you can go all 80s throwback and get one of the double sided swing arm models for around £800. Preferably in white
Cheers,
Tom

[defblade]

SWTH said:

I like the look of the TT600 but the MCN review does make a point about legroom being a bit of an issue for taller riders.

Thing is, don't write it off because they mention that... go try it. It might just fit you perfectly.

For consideration, I bought my Bandit mainly as it was the most comfortable to sit on in the show room (was restricted to 33bhp so no test rides, and you can't go far wrong with a Bandit anyhow, everybody says so ) and rode it fine for a couple of days. Then I got around to moving the seat to the high position - I'm 6'4", high would have to be better, right? - and started riding some more. I noticed over the next few weeks that I wasn't feeling as happy with the bike as to start with, when I was obviously hoping for the opposite. I realised that moving the seat up 10mm had caused my elbows to be locked when I was riding instead of bent, and that was causing me trouble steering. So I put the seat back down and carried on riding that bike for another 4 years with no trouble, legs or arms.

[BritishRacinGrin]

defblade said:

carried on riding that bike for another 4 years with no trouble, legs or arms.

It's great to hear that you have no trouble now, doubly so since you have managed this dispite having no legs or arms

[powerstans]

I am 6'5" and found most sports bikes too small especially in the 600cc range.

Tested a BMW 800S and found it un nerving as my nose was in front of the screen. Sat on a thundercat which seemed more roomy but I didn't get around to test riding it.

Had a bandit 600 as a first bike (you can get a half faired one) although some have slagged them off I found it to be quite a big lump for a 600 (an advantage I think at our height) and relatively relaxed but with enough power to lift the front wheel by accident occasionally.

Tried one of the early injected Fazers and found it horrendous to pull away smoothly on a hill start, (Mrs P abandoned it as it was that bad and I had to retrieve it), may have just been the one we tried, have heard the earlier carb ones are better.

Second bike at 1 years experience was a Honda CB1300 found that even more comfortable and a great lazy engine, if thirsty, insurance wasn't rediculous either!

Try a few as they are all different.

[defblade]

BritishRacinGrin said:

defblade said:

carried on riding that bike for another 4 years with no trouble, legs or arms.

It's great to hear that you have no trouble now, doubly so since you have managed this dispite having no legs or arms

I have a tongue controlled throttle/brake and wrinkle my nose to use the clutch. Steer by leaning. I can signal by raising the appropriate eyebrow. Actually, the riding's not too bad, but getting the wife to knock up all those controls from the odds'n'sods in my shed took bloomin' ages!