First Bike - CBR500R vs Ninja 300ABS what else?

[MudwiG]

Looking to get my first bike, I have been on a 125cc scooter for the last year and will soon be on my full licence, which means I can ride anything.

Supersports are out as I want a commuter (10miles round trip) so fairly upright and easy to ride.

I will be looking at used from 2012 onwards.

Anyone got any recommendations or thoughts on a Honda CBR500R or Ninja 300 ABS, (ninja 650 is out of budget). Based in Sydney so would like to be able to take it out for some rides in the hills too.

[MudwiG]

trickywoo said:

Is that a typo and should read 100 miles?

Not a typo, its a short commute over the bridge into the city, so no need for anything too big, would want it to be fun for the weekends though

[MudwiG]

Tall_Paul said:

As you're in Aus are you limited to LAMS bikes? Equivalent of our A2 licence.

The CB400 VTEC super revo is one of the best LAMS bikes, 50ish bhp, ABS on the current ones. I have a jap import 2001 model and it's an awesome little bike. I believe you can still buy them new over there.

If you can ride anything, get something with more than 50bhp, you'll very soon get used to the power. I've had the CB400 for a year and a half, done 15k roughly and find myself at full throttle in most gears apart from 1st a lot of the time. Something with 100ish bhp would be perfect.

Edited by Tall_Paul on Friday 3rd June 10:57

Not LAMS, I will be on the equivalent of a UK A licence so no power restrictions.

It will be my first bike coming from a scooter, im 35 so not going to be stupid but worried about hoping straight on something too powerful and difficult to ride?

Also dont want to be buying something else in 6 months if I do find it too slow, hence the CBR500 as a compromise?

[MudwiG]

wilbo83 said:

How about a Yamaha XJ6 (FZ6R in US, so not sure what it is called in Oz)? Great first big bike, very smooth, it has a detuned old R6 engine. Can be had naked, half faired or full faired.

Good suggestion, this looks good

http://www.bikesales.com.au/dealer/OAG-AD-5658258/...

[MudwiG]

Doesn't need to be that new, just dont want to worry about repairs as much, but you are right if its looked after should be fine, so the concenus seems to be that the 500 will start feeling slow pretty quickly

[MudwiG]

Im 6'1 so size should be fine, would really like a MT-07, they are still a bit over my budget in Aus at the moment though.

Lots of good suggestions here, thanks guys.

[MudwiG]

XJ6N is looking like an option, think ill have to take for a ride

[MudwiG]

Update, thanks for all the advice, I went for a second hand CB400 in the end, the inline 4 sounds great and it will be good for me to develop on and get more practice.

[MudwiG]

CaptainSlow said:

Nice looking, why did you go for that rather than a newer CBF500 with ABS?

I got a really good price on it, this one does have ABS as well