First Bike after direct access

[IATM]

Hi All,

I know this question gets asked A LOT and I have read up on it A LOT. But this is more centered around what bikes would be good potentially as a first bike or maybe after 6 months.

Still deciding if I will potter around in a 250-500cc bike for the first 6 months after doing DAS.

My heart has always been set on an R6 but with near enough everyone saying its a wepon of mass destruction, I think common sense for me is to maybe work up to it. Plus I don't want to ride something I am worried to use and don't know how to use so want to also build up my skill and need a bike that will allow me to do that.

I have read the the street triple is a more forgiving bike as is the ZX6r Ninja.

What are peoples thoughts on these bikes and what would be a good 400-500cc first bike as soon as I pass if these three are too race focused.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

[IATM]

Thanks for the reply guys.
The ninja is rather lovely.

I'm thinking if the ninja is a little more forgiving than the r6 I would happily have it and keep it for a year and then get an r6.

Not so keen on the triumph.

[IATM]

Interesting food for thought.

What are peoples views of the Daytona 675

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

[IATM]

Tall_Paul said:

jackh707 said:

Or you can do best of both worlds, seeing as winter is coming.
First colder commute this morning.

I'd buy a £1,500-£2,000 reliable 600 semi snotter that you don't care about if you drop/get salty/ do something stupid to.
You'll be much more likely to go out over the coming months as you won't worry about spaying the thing off after every ride.

Then change up for your r6 or whatever you want in March when the good biking starts again, you never know you might even fancy a 1000cc bike the

And remember what ever bike you buy, it isn't permanent. You can sell it 2 weeks later if you don't like it, and get something different.

Exactly what I'll be doing if/when I pass my tests in a few weeks. Buy a £1000-1500 winter hack to replace the varadero, run this until April when I get a years NCD and the weather gets better, they buy something nice.

OP - have you spent time on a 125? First time on a bike, on a hardcore supersports machine, in winter? You'll be gutted if/when you drop it wheeling down the drive/putting your foot down on some diesel/ice and those lovely fairings are scratched to buggery.

Also, have you done insurance quotes yet? Anthing relativelt sporty is out for me (33 year old, no accidents/clean licence, 0 NCD, 10k miles pa, new rider just passed test), quotes on a GSXR600 SRAD or a Daytona 675 were £1500-£2000 for the year, whereas a street triple was £500, even a CB1000R was only £750

Edited by Tall_Paul on Thursday 2nd October 09:07

I done my CBT two years ago but got busy and its expired now.
Insurance seems OK for me in my area. The ninja I linked was 1100 fully comp from MCE and the r6 was cheaper at 761 once again fully comp from MCE. I put down new rider no ncb etc etc I'm 28.

I am happy to buy a snotter for 1500 for the winter but I don't want to buy a crappy one that's not mechanically sound and rides st and it puts me off and doesn't help with my riding experience either. I guess it would be a case of asking for some help from someone who knows bikes to go check them out with me.

Honestly I would be happy with the r6 or the ninja. They are both bloody amazing bikes and stunning to look at.

Would be happy to get one or the other first and then swap after a year or two just to experience both.

[IATM]

Tall_Paul said:

Hmm MCE insurance...

I tend to ignore any quotes from them, mainly becuase of the high excess (£500+ when everywhere else is £150) and they're not that high regarded for customer service from what I've seen/read. They tended to be quite a bit cheaper than everyone else, but personally I'd rather go with someone else

lol oh no don't say that - the next quotes jump up to 1400 for both the r6 and ninja lol

[IATM]

Hi All,

Thanks for all the kind and informative replies. I am glad I asked the question as I was rather worried of being shot down or people thinking I am being foolish.

I have wanted to do this for the last 7 years and generally being quite a fast driver in a car I knew when I was younger I would be too immature to ride a bike and push the limits beyond my ability; in a car this is not so bad as you always are more secure but on a bike there is no chance.

5 years on at the age of 28 I know now that I am 100% mature enough to not take bait from someone or take the risk of going that bit "faster" if the risk is far too high or beyond my ability. It is with this mindset that I decided that yes a 600cc sports bike should be fine because as people have said its up to you how you use the "go" handle.

For me it was also about what 600cc sports bike would be good at confidence building/increasing my ability and by this I mean something that is sporty and good to drive but won't bite me if I do make a small mistake.

I guess a car example would be a ferrari 458 or an Audi R8 - General view is the audi is more forgiving and easier to drive and can even make a very average driver drive well due to the way the car is progressive/predictable and of course the tech. The Ferrari on the other hand is amazing but I do feel would require more skill to drive to the same ability as the R8.

With that being said the R6 is a fine bike and yes I do want one but only marginally more than say another sports bike like a daytona 675 or the Ninja I linked on page 1.

From the reviews and videos I have seen the R6 IS a wicked bike but many say it is twichy and you need to keep your wits about you to ride one, the Ninja or even a GSXR Suski seem to be more forgiving or compliant on the road not to mean you can close your eyes and ride them.

For me I would be happy to have a Ninja for the first bike and if I feel like a change then yeah ill get an R6 and then yeah ill swap for a daytona.

I do that with my cars right now, basically change every year as I just want to try something else.

The other point someone mentioned which I find very interesting is the weight and the width of the bike is very important and I can understand that as when I was in the yamaha dealership 3 years back I remember sitting on a R6 which I felt was just about ok for me and then sat on an R1 which felt like I was trying to get my legs round a double decker bus. Bearing in mind I had only ever done a CBT for a day on a 125cc at the time so that explains a lot.

Thanks for all your advise. If anyone else can shed more experience on an r6 or the Ninja that would help alot.

Thanks

[IATM]

I Manage to find a bike insurance comparison site and it gave me the ninja at 800PA from a company called bennets direct ? I hope they are better known for being good.