Which first big bike?

[Baryonyx]

Just get whichever bike you really want, and jump the step of buying and selling the bike you think you should get first.

[s2kjock]

After doing my DAS 8 years ago or so I went out and bought a VFR800 (I had been driving a VTEC Honda for a few years too as it happens).

Most of my riding was going to be 180 miles mix of m-way, DC, fast a-road, twisty a-road Friday night, then the reverse on Sunday afternoon. Odd weekend day ride out or trip round the highlands also. I reckoned the vfr was the best tool for that job and it pretty much was.

Downside for me was the weight and relative expense. I was always worried about dropping it and was consequently hesitant and did not develop confidence quickly.

Took me much longer than it really should have to develop skills and feel comfortable on the bike which kind of held me back. I do wonder if I had had a year or more on something smaller or lighter and cheaper I might have improved my riding more quickly before moving on to a heavier bike.

Don't get me wrong, the vfr is a terrific all rounder and it did save me the cost and hassle of an intermediate bike change, but for me "baby steps" might have been better.

[Willy Nilly]

My first was a k6 SV650S and I liked it. Swapped it for an ex demo 2012 CBR600F. The CBR suites me better, a little more comfy, much fast but it has to be revved hard, longer service intervals and much more reliable. I've ridden it to Germany's Black Forest, the Dolomite Mountains in Italy and did a lap of France this year on it.

Don't be suckered into thinking that because a bike is 600cc it is slow, it might be a slow bike, but it will still leave most cars standing. I'm not a brilliant rider and managed to out drag a B7 Audi RS6 on my CBR600.

What ever you buy there will always be something faster, better, newer

[SVS]

BobSaunders said:

after six months i am now contemplating a litre.

However, insurance cost and skill level determines that i should consider a year on my 600 zx6r.

You've outgrown a ZX6R after six months motorcycling experience?

Instead of contemplating a litre bike, I'd first recommend investing a day with Rapid Training to get a lot more out of your bike Brilliant fun and you'll get a lot of extra skills for when you finally do get that litre bike.

Edited by SVS on Sunday 27th September 15:46

[kenloen]

digger_R said:

Thanks for all the replies.
I wasn't blown away by the Bandit I rode - my gut is pulling me towards a Honda of some sort - I had a few VTEC cars in the past and have always had a soft spot for them as a manufacturer.
Which beings me to the

(circa 2002) Hornet vs (2000-02 ?)CBR 600 (F) vs (?) VFR 800

The bike should be motorway worthy and it should be comfortable enough to handle a 100 mile motorway journey without deafening me.

I don't want to go to the 1000cc category just yet.

Given that I'm looking at £1200-1500, can anyone tell me what the main differences will be in riding style/experience.

Out of those I would go the CBR600 route. I had a 98 CBR600F3 any it could handle any abuse given, was OK on Motorways and good around town. The Hornet will not suit any form of M/W journey over 5 miles even with a screen (I have a F7 now) but is much better around town and on a A road. The VFR is a better cruiser, choose this is you will spend most your time on the motorways, but for a mixture I would choose the CBR.

[Mastodon2]

SVS said:

You've outgrown a ZX6R after six months motorcycling experience?

Instead of contemplating a litre bike, I'd first recommend investing a day with Rapid Training to get a lot more out of your bike Brilliant fun and you'll get a lot of extra skills for when you finally do get that litre bike.

Edited by SVS on Sunday 27th September 15:46

Do you get paid by the post to mention Rapid Training?

[SVS]

Yes. £1,000 per mention and I get to have their babies too

[Yoda400]

That looks pretty good, wish it was further north. I'd be open to further training after my break from biking, in the absence of being able to do trackdays.
In answer to the OP, can you try test riding different types of bike, such as faired vs naked, V4 vs straight 4, etc see what feels right for you?

[digger_R]

Yoda400 said:

That looks pretty good, wish it was further north. I'd be open to further training after my break from biking, in the absence of being able to do trackdays.
In answer to the OP, can you try test riding different types of bike, such as faired vs naked, V4 vs straight 4, etc see what feels right for you?

That's pretty much what I'm planning - though I don't see much point in riding another bike without a fairing as it's not really for me.
I want to try the hornet, CBR and a VFR and try and decide from those I think

[SVS]

Yoda400 said:

That looks pretty good, wish it was further north. I'd be open to further training after my break from biking, in the absence of being able to do trackdays.

Hi Yoda, Rapid Training go as far North as Hull, but RideDrive will have someone actually in the North West.

Also, I agree with your advice about test riding.

[BobSaunders]

SVS said:

BobSaunders said:

after six months i am now contemplating a litre.

However, insurance cost and skill level determines that i should consider a year on my 600 zx6r.

You've outgrown a ZX6R after six months motorcycling experience?

Instead of contemplating a litre bike, I'd first recommend investing a day with Rapid Training to get a lot more out of your bike Brilliant fun and you'll get a lot of extra skills for when you finally do get that litre bike.

Edited by SVS on Sunday 27th September 15:46

No, i have not outgrown it at all - hence why i have stated in my original post that my skill levels determines that i should consider a year on my 600. You accurately quoted me as well.

I will have a look at this "rapid training" - do you have a discount code?

[Yoda400]

SVS said:

Hi Yoda, Rapid Training go as far North as Hull, but RideDrive will have someone actually in the North West.

Also, I agree with your advice about test riding.

Cheers

[Rosscow]

digger_R said:

Rosscow said:

100 mile motorway journey?

VFR800. I'm also someone that had a Hornet for their first big bike, and as brilliant as it was, if you're doing lots of motorway miles it's not the bike for you.

I won't be doing lots of motorway miles but it shouldn't be out of the question for the bike.
Do any of you have any experience of 2/3 of these bikes? Just looking for some kind of more direct comparison of each

I did a few 2 hour plus motorway runs on my Hornet, not the nicest experience.

[ZesPak]

Rosscow said:

I did a few 2 hour plus motorway runs on my Hornet, not the nicest experience.

or any naked for that matter!

A small screen might help, but I haven't ridden a naked yet that was comfortable at 80+ all day.

[The Beaver King]

ZesPak said:

Rosscow said:

I did a few 2 hour plus motorway runs on my Hornet, not the nicest experience.

or any naked for that matter!

A small screen might help, but I haven't ridden a naked yet that was comfortable at 80+ all day.

Taking the Brutale from Birmingham to Newcastle on Friday, then back on Sunday.

I'll let you know how I get on

The day I picked up the bike, I went from Leeds to Birmingham on the M1-A42-M42. Not exactly comfortable, but felt okay sat at 80pmh. It does get too much at 90mph+ though.

Wouldn't go naked if you regularly use the M/W.

[digger_R]

Well I got bored of waiting this morning - I just bought this (unseen). seller seems nice enough on the phone.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301760165349?_trksid=p20...

being delivered tomorrow - I hope I haven't done something very silly....
comments welcome

[digger_R]

And does 317 gbp fully comp insurance sound reasonable for a first bike? It's with MCE via the MCN website

[Reardy Mister]

Great choice.

[Baryonyx]

Great bike, hope it turns out to be a good one! Also, dodge MCE. Cheapest for a reason, if you believe what you read. Plenty of tales of bungled claims and the like.

[digger_R]

are there any good comparison sites you'd recommend?