A what bike from me..

[LiamB]

The time has come, I am finally doing my big boys test in less than a month and other than 'oooh I'd love one of them' thoughts, I haven't actually had a serious think about what to get.

Budget is going to be around £1500-£1700 excluding insurance and everything (Gonna need to buy all new riding gear, I've lost loads of weight )

The bike will be used for sunny commutes, but mostly for fun as I drive now so don't have to use the bike for everything. As well as track days (Can I do them on an A2 licence? I've been itching to do one for years)

So far I am attracted to older 400's like the ZXR and the GSXR, I know they will probably be hard to find in non shagged condition but I love the looks of them, and they seem fast enough for what I want (On road, and want to do a few track days) and I can actually maintain things now without breaking them!

BUT

I would also love another Supermoto just because they can do everything a sports bike can and more and they are all I have ridden pretty much apart from my RS which was one of my favourite bikes.. but I also got into A LOT of trouble on my 125 SM's so would hate to think how much of a chav a proper SM would make me

Or I could get an older R6 and 'restrict' it. I'd love to do that, and I'd trust myself to do that but depends on insurance.

As you can probably tell I am very confused, please throw suggestions at me.

[CarsOrBikes]

ZXR was a decent thought, or the Honda V4's which people rave about, a friend had the ZXR and it was ideal for their first bike of the type, and not a bad idea if you want to get used to that sort of bike, too small for some though. What about a ZX6R J2? The twin headlight model on carbs, cheap, can be restricted, and more capable than some may think. Bit less focused than an R6 on the road, and an easy bike to commute on still.

[Dannaz]

I would look for one of the older 400's or an SM, because on A2 license you cannot ride/restrict any bike that exceeds 94BHP/70Kw from when it left the factory, Dont the early R6's, ZX6R's make around 98BHp? I could be wrong though. What about the usual suspects like Suzuki SV gen 1 carb'd

[lindrup119]

Not sure A2 counts as 'big boy' but that's where I currently am and have been for the last few months.

This is what I ended up with after dicking around with an old (albeit poor example) FZR400: KTM RC390

I'd seriously considered going down the restricted route as well and very occasionally regret not doing so, but it does what I need it to do perfectly for now and I still crack a smile every time I get on it.

Edit: Forgot to mention, budget. Mine was very similar to yours but I ended up going the finance route in the end - couldn't pass up the 0% deal.

Edited by lindrup119 on Wednesday 17th June 16:00

[sc0tt]

Ahhh

Liam, best threads ever

Don't buy Prillia 125 - Buys 125
Don't buy scooter - Buys Scooter
Don't buy chinese bike - Buys Chinese bike.

In light of this, don't buy an r1

[RizzoTheRat]

SV650's got to be the standard answer hasn't it?


There's quite a few supermotoish but not really supermotos out there too if that's the kind of style you like, eg a DRZ on road tyres.

[Jonjo91]

ZXR 400 gets my vote. Did everything on mine. Commute, trackdays. Weekend blast.

[jjones]

The vfr400 is a cracking bike, unless you are over 5ft 10 or a well built director.

[crashley]

jjones said:

The vfr400 is a cracking bike, unless you are over 5ft 10 or a well built director.

If you can get one for that budget. They've been creeping up for a while. Should be able to get a bit of a project for that though (NC30 flavour)?

[LiamB]

sc0tt said:

Ahhh

Liam, best threads ever

Don't buy Prillia 125 - Buys 125
Don't buy scooter - Buys Scooter
Don't buy chinese bike - Buys Chinese bike.

In light of this, don't buy an r1

How'd I know you would make a comment like that

So, an R1 it is then!


Thanks for the suggestions, I have considered an SV650 and quite like them but again, it depends on insurance and I need to look into the restriction rules some more.
I am leaning more towards a 400 though as I would like something to maintain over winter, and think it would be the next logical step from a 125. I don't like the look of any of the new 300's etc like the Ninja or R3. I'm very very undecided atm

[MrB1obby]

I had the chance a few years ago to ride a zxr400 and a cbr400, I much prefered the zxr, just seemed so much more fun than the cbr and it looks like and feels like a fairly decent size compared to the cbr.

Although I would say a sportsbike is more versatile than a supermoto, they're rubbish at anything but short journeys, on slowish twisty roads, or a little bit of greenlaning. Whereas a sports bike can do everything well, except off roading!

[spareparts]

Hornet. Zorst. Perfect!

[bennyboysvuk]

The ZXR400's going to feel a lot more focussed than the SV, but then the SV is a great teacher of a bike.

Hmm, my vote goes to the ZXR, just because it seems a bit more focussed.

[Chunkychucky]

Good man Busbeige! I intend on doing my das early next year when funds allow, an R6 would be a hell of a bike

[RumpleFugly]

For that budget I think you'd have most fun on a CCM 604 or 644. Great bang for buck.

[Jazoli]

sV650

Fast enough, robust, forgiving, not a 20 year old knackerd old 400, easy to upgrade, rides well with restrictors in, unlike a 400 which will be st as they need to rev, very cheap to fix when you break it and cheap to buy, £1500 will buy you a very nice one, unlike a 400 thing.

RumpleFugly said:

For that budget I think you'd have most fun on a CCM 604 or 644. Great bang for buck.

Until you want to go any distance, or overtake a car doing the nsl, they are OK for short local rides and pulling wheelies and general ttting around but utter crap at anything else.

Edited by Jazoli on Thursday 18th June 11:20

[graham22]

Another vote for a SV650 - in real terms will probably be quicker and handle/stop better than any 20+ year old 400 import. Not to mention the undo/correcting/making worse 20 years worth of budget bodges already on the bike - Unless it's a resto, I've never seen a 400 really well looked after.

Similar vein but are ER6s getting into that price range now?

Variation on the R6 idea, what about a 600 Fazer, Mk1 or Mk2 or as mentioned above, 600 Hornet?

Edited by graham22 on Thursday 18th June 11:44

[RizzoTheRat]

graham22 said:

Similar vein but are ER6s getting into that price range now?

Given Liam's supermoto background a Versys might make sense too, upright riding position similar to a supermoto but trading hooliganism for every day usability. If he's planning on doing track days though the SV would still make a lot more sense.

[Hooli]

I vote SV, just because they sound bloody lovely with a decent can.

[Mr OCD]

Jazoli said:

Until you want to go any distance, or overtake a car doing the nsl, they are OK for short local rides and pulling wheelies and general ttting around but utter crap at anything else.

Edited by Jazoli on Thursday 18th June 11:20

This.

I may know of a mint 2002 low mileage SV650 that's been fully rebuilt that could be up for sale shortly.