Good starter back after Direct Access

[drumlegend]

So I am taking my Direct Access in January and I am going to buy a motorbike in March.

I am 24 years old and I have ridden bikes in the past.

I started on a 50cc hair dryer and then moved onto a Aprillia Futura (Died of old age)

Then I bough a Rieju RS2 which I sold when I went to university. I taught myself to ride a 125 geared bike so I do have experience but it's the insurance I am worried about. I want a bike that isn't too expensive to insure and would be a bike that has a nice pull but not too powerful. (I'd rather work my way up, too many people get a big bike straight away and come off it)

Any help would be great thanks

[drumlegend]

I don't believe it's too broad of a question, I'm just asking for advice on a decent bike that's cheap to insurance. I'm sure there are quite a few people in this forum that have been in my position and I am just asking for an opinion really.

I have seen bikes I like but the insurance is very expensive.

Thank you by the way

[drumlegend]

I've heard the Kawasaki Ninja 250 is cheap to insure but it is small. I don't mind about a bike that is extremely fast but I would love a bike that does have decent acceleration and it would need to be a sports bike. I don't like sitting up.

[drumlegend]

Oh ok thank you.

I will probably go for a 600 as I couldn't find any nice 400cc motorbikes I liked the look of.

http://www.mandsmotorcycles.co.uk/used_bikes_detai...

I fell in love with this bike, but the insurance was about 700 and the excess was 1000

[drumlegend]

I know the tourers are cheaper to insure but I really don't want a tourer if I can avoid it.

[drumlegend]

I knew what you meant :P

I guess if needs be, I could get a sports tourer and just have it for a couple of years until I have some no claims.

[drumlegend]

I will check them out, I guess it would be a good idea considering my parents live 100 miles away, but they require a lot of work don't they? Lots of polishing and preventing from rusting.

[drumlegend]

peteO said:

100 mile ride on the bike sounds like a good excuse to see your parents every sunday!..

stokes and folks mate. ive just got rid of my ninja and gave that a wash about every 6 months. if your commuting in winter prob a good idea to rinse it off every week or so to keep the salt off it but theyre not gonna disintegrate if you dont.

Well I used to go down on a weekend on my Rieju but that thing was slow and it took quite a long time.

It's a lovely ride in the summer with your head down but it does hurt my back over time. Would be a nice idea getting a sports tourer. What have you got instead?

[drumlegend]

peteO said:

100 mile ride on the bike sounds like a good excuse to see your parents every sunday!..

stokes and folks mate. ive just got rid of my ninja and gave that a wash about every 6 months. if your commuting in winter prob a good idea to rinse it off every week or so to keep the salt off it but theyre not gonna disintegrate if you dont.

Well I used to go down on a weekend on my Rieju but that thing was slow and it took quite a long time.

It's a lovely ride in the summer with your head down but it does hurt my back over time. Would be a nice idea getting a sports tourer. What have you got instead?

[drumlegend]

I will check them bikes out and see if I can get on cheap. Peferably one from a dealership so I know I'm not going to get a bike that's going to break on me after a couple of months.

That's ashame about your motorbike

I'm guessing you didn't bother claiming on your insurance then?

[drumlegend]

jackh707 said:

Budget?

It's not huge as the test is going to cost me a lot

I'd say between 1500 - 2000 but I think I will have to take out finance.

[drumlegend]

black-k1 said:

I don't think there's any evidence to suggest that the rate of new riders coming off is proportional to the capacity of the bike. Get what you want, regardless of capacity, but just be aware of your lack of experience and ability. Get further training and take time to learn to ride safely before you try to ride quickly.

I wouldn't be able to afford to take anymore training after the test haha.

I was just going to do the 3 day course, like I said. I've had about 4 years experience on the roads.

[drumlegend]

peteO said:

no. it was my fault and no one else involved. lost traction and chucked me off... just havent got round to fixing it

for that price you should easy get a cbr600, thundercat, bandit with a few quid left over for gear

That really sucks man and I bet it sucks having to go back to a 125

[drumlegend]

Dannaz said:

For what it's worth, I did my DAS in April at 24. Like you I was looking at R6's, ZX6R's and GSXR 600', these were all killer on insurance so I bought a Thundercat, this set me back £1800, that's bike & insurance, with no excess.

Not a bad bike imo, plenty fast enough for the roads, likes to rev, great on fuel getting 200+ miles to a tank and only 20 to fill, plenty parts about and comfortable on long rides out.

just my 2 pence for you.

Thanks, I will check it out. It sounds perfect

[drumlegend]

The place I live has a locked compound but I've been advised not to park it in there due to thefts but the only other place I could park it is in the car park. Is there any decent security methords for motorbikes.

I don't want to have another bike being stolen. It was heart breaking the first time it happened. They don't care that you have worked so hard to pay for that and they just wreck it and sell it.

[drumlegend]

peteO said:

this is why im after a cheap stter. im in an apartment at the mo until mid next year. i have a car parking space but its out in the open. im just gonna chain it to a lamp post and put chain and lock/alarmed disc locks etc on it. if i get something for 300-350 and it gets robbed im not gonna cry where as if it was a 2k bike i prob would

Done a bit of research and one of the best tips I've seen is chain the lock to the frame rather than the wheel and keep it off the ground so they can't freeze it and sledge hammer it.

[drumlegend]

Mr OCD said:

For £1500 ... a Thundercat defo. ... perfect as a new rider bike, cheap to run and insure, excellent on fuel and a lot of fun... most will be very very tired now. So buy with care. I commuted, toured, tracked and scratched on mine for over 40,000 miles in three years ... top bike. Buy on condition and maintenance done - not mileage.

Watch out for rusty downpipes (most will have stainless now) and the dreaded 2nd gear failure... stick it in 2nd and open the throttle hard and see if it pops out of gear... slow down, and try it a few times... other than that they are pretty tough bikes. Front calipers need plenty of cleaning / maintenance to stop them sticking, rear subframes rust (steel) and the headlight is st.

Sounds like too much work :P

[drumlegend]

http://www.gumtree.com/p/yamaha-motorbikes/yamaha-...

Not bad depending on the length of the MOT

[drumlegend]

I have to hold back now. The owner of the apartment block has said I can't use the bike shed as it's for bicycles.

No bikes ever go in it but it would be a fire hazard if there was a pile up of leaves...

I asked if I could lock it outside of the shed to the fence. I'm not allowed as it's still a fire risk and could damage the paint on the fence.

They said I could get a ground anchor if I got planning permission off them (Which I won't) and I would be liable if anyone tripped over it. I would not be there long enough to gain from it.

Looks like I have to wait until June now

[drumlegend]

Baryonyx said:

Sounds like you've hit a real brick wall there. I had a look at that R6 you posted in M&S today. It looks clean enough but it needs the array of stickers removed. They also have a nice Pan Euro there. The colour on the Pan is dreadful, but it looks in good shape.

Could you link please. I don't know which one you are talking about.

We are going to move after our tenancy is over. Find a house with a garage and then I can put a floor anchor in.