Sub-£1500 first 400-600ish cc machine for a 6' 6" biker?
Discussion
Have a sit on a load of bikes, you'll find some won't fit you and it'll be the leg area that's the problem. My legs only just fit into the tank cutouts on some bikes, if I had an extra couple of inches I think I'd struggle to fit 
Make sure to put your feel on the pegs as if you were changing gear or braking too, with your toes on the pegs your feet will sit further back and so your knees will be lower.
Make sure to put your feel on the pegs as if you were changing gear or braking too, with your toes on the pegs your feet will sit further back and so your knees will be lower.
Benbay001 said:
I paided £1400 for my Deauville.
Its incredibly well built, comfy, quick enough to pass anything at normal speed but not quick enough to get you in trouble.
Plus its very practical.
In terms of getting into trouble, I found the opposite: when I got bored and decided to get a bit of a shift on, i got into trouble plenty of times because it had similar acceleration to the cars around me.Its incredibly well built, comfy, quick enough to pass anything at normal speed but not quick enough to get you in trouble.
Plus its very practical.
For £1400 though it's a no-brainer as a commuter if you've got something more interesting in the garage for kicks
Tried a few bikes this morning, including a CBF1000, Sprint 1050, ZZR600, Thundercat and Sprint 885.
The Sprint 1050 was by a long way the most comfortable bike there - plenty of room, pedals easy to get to. Admittedly a 1050 is out of budget, but if the 955 is anything like as comfy, I'll be very happy. Controls all seemed to be in just the right places, and it felt like a quality bit of kit.
CBF1000 - bit of a wild card, wasn't expecting it. Surprised to find an 8 year old bike nearly in budget, though it had around 40k on the clock. More of an upright riding position, though my knees were close to the fairings. Only real issue was that I had to get my left foot almost vertical to get under the gear shifter - the arm seemed very short. Not an insurmountable issue, and apart from that I found it more to my taste styling-wise, being half-faired rather than full.
ZZR600 - way too small, felt like a monkey bike.
Thundercat - same again.
Sprint 885 - didn't try it for size, the styling is just too dated. I don't much like the looks and on that alone it's not something I'd buy.
Really I need to find a VFR at a local dealer before I make my mind up.
Looked online at a Deauville, but to be honest they look too much like a two-wheeled armchair. Undoubtedly a good reliable machine, and it does seem to tick several boxes, but it just looks too lazy to me.
The Sprint 1050 was by a long way the most comfortable bike there - plenty of room, pedals easy to get to. Admittedly a 1050 is out of budget, but if the 955 is anything like as comfy, I'll be very happy. Controls all seemed to be in just the right places, and it felt like a quality bit of kit.
CBF1000 - bit of a wild card, wasn't expecting it. Surprised to find an 8 year old bike nearly in budget, though it had around 40k on the clock. More of an upright riding position, though my knees were close to the fairings. Only real issue was that I had to get my left foot almost vertical to get under the gear shifter - the arm seemed very short. Not an insurmountable issue, and apart from that I found it more to my taste styling-wise, being half-faired rather than full.
ZZR600 - way too small, felt like a monkey bike.
Thundercat - same again.
Sprint 885 - didn't try it for size, the styling is just too dated. I don't much like the looks and on that alone it's not something I'd buy.
Really I need to find a VFR at a local dealer before I make my mind up.
Looked online at a Deauville, but to be honest they look too much like a two-wheeled armchair. Undoubtedly a good reliable machine, and it does seem to tick several boxes, but it just looks too lazy to me.
BuzzBravado said:
VFR750, ZZR900 Or Blackbird? Does CC really have any bearing on insurance?
Nope, not that I can see.Try what you want OP, sometimes bigger bikes are easier to ride as they have lazier engines so don't require so much effort to find the right gear. My GSX14 can be left in 6th right down to 20mph if I'm feeling lazy, try that on a 600.
Oh & as to naked bikes etc, you get used to it. If you ride daily your neck muscles grow & after a month or so you don't even notice the wind below 100-110mph.
depends how important speed and space are to you really, cheap insurance usually means stay away from the classic sports bikes but that ok because at 6'6 you won't fit on any. you're best bet for space would be an old tourer like a black bird, FJR or even a Paneuro if you don't mind looking like a courier. it would be pretty hard to look past a supremo really, smaller engines, nice and tall and pretty nippy in on A and B roads, something like the Shiver, ducati hypermotord (not the cheapest) aprillia sxv would fit the bill.
A Blackbird is a possibility, as is an FJR.
Ducati Hypermotard is way outside of my budget and the Aprilia too much of a trail bike, as well as being over budget again.
Pan-European makes a lot of sense, but I don't have the white flip-front helmet and hi-viz coat that all Pan-Euro riders need.
Ducati Hypermotard is way outside of my budget and the Aprilia too much of a trail bike, as well as being over budget again.
Pan-European makes a lot of sense, but I don't have the white flip-front helmet and hi-viz coat that all Pan-Euro riders need.
SWTH said:
the Aprilia too much of a trail bike
The Shiver is nothing like a trial bike (I may be biased ) but possibly not the easiest first bike to get on with. Too much "character", possibly, an IL4 UJM probably a better bet. It suits me well as the third big bike I've had. Did feel tall for the first few miles, but soon got used to it. defblade said:
The Shiver is nothing like a trial bike (I may be biased ) but possibly not the easiest first bike to get on with. Too much "character", possibly, an IL4 UJM probably a better bet. It suits me well as the third big bike I've had. Did feel tall for the first few miles, but soon got used to it.
Sorry, I meant the Aprilia SXV - just checked up on the Shiver and while it looks cracking, it's way over budget for me ) but possibly not the easiest first bike to get on with. Too much "character", possibly, an IL4 UJM probably a better bet. It suits me well as the third big bike I've had. Did feel tall for the first few miles, but soon got used to it. 
Doing some more insurance quotes, a Blackbird is nearly £600 to insure, whilst the CBF1000 and VFR800Fi are more reasonable at £320. The lowest quote was for a 2001 Bandit 600, £165. However, all of them had higher compulsory excesses than the Sprint ST (in the case of the CBF a £650 compulsory excess!).
Looked into FJRs and they're a bit out of my price range.
Looked into FJRs and they're a bit out of my price range.
I did this about 1 year ago, back into Bikes after 20 years away and I am 6'4''.
I bought a BMW 1200 RS. It is easy to ride as you almost don't have to change gear if you choose not to. It goes like stink if you do change down and it is hugely comfortable for any height rider. Everything is adjustable.
I paid near to your budget a little over, and having looked at part exchanging now just this weekend, I am being offered more than I paid against a newer bike.
Insurance is mega cheap however I am near to Saga age now.
Sit on one if you see one, they fit well the bigger rider.
I bought a BMW 1200 RS. It is easy to ride as you almost don't have to change gear if you choose not to. It goes like stink if you do change down and it is hugely comfortable for any height rider. Everything is adjustable.
I paid near to your budget a little over, and having looked at part exchanging now just this weekend, I am being offered more than I paid against a newer bike.
Insurance is mega cheap however I am near to Saga age now.
Sit on one if you see one, they fit well the bigger rider.
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