Classic CBR 600 as first bike?
Discussion
My good lady has a 2000 CBR600, its her first big bike after passing her test three years ago, I dont think shes ever gone over 90MPH on it , someone mentioned enough they are docile enough in the mid range , so they dont really "run" away from you like a larger engine possibly can but I still find it an exciting thing to use as well, its extremely comfortable as well.
Ultimately, we bought it as it was in budget , insurable and in great condition, I would suggest for you sticking to the 600cc bikes but widen your search to things like Fazers and Thundercats as mentioned above but remember at £1000, the priority is to buy on condition more so than what someone is recommending you on the 'net..You will find that MOST 20 year Honda's will be in better condition than Yamaha's of the same age ...
Ultimately, we bought it as it was in budget , insurable and in great condition, I would suggest for you sticking to the 600cc bikes but widen your search to things like Fazers and Thundercats as mentioned above but remember at £1000, the priority is to buy on condition more so than what someone is recommending you on the 'net..You will find that MOST 20 year Honda's will be in better condition than Yamaha's of the same age ...
Speed addicted said:
I had a Kawasaki GPZ600R as a first bike, still have it 19 years on (with others).
A couple of things to think about, £1000 is about as cheap as working motorbikes generally get.
Are you reasonably competent at mechanical stuff?
If not you’re likely to end up spending quite a bit on it for parts and people to fit them.
The CBR has a great reputation for reliability, this doesn’t mean it won’t be worn out and corroded by the time is 20 years old.
You also often get the joy of annoying electrical problems once bikes get older, water gets in and corroded wires, connectors and everything else.
It’s also comfortable for a sports bike, this doesn’t mean it’s comfortable overall. Something like a Fazer or Hornet is a more natural shape if you’re not used to bikes.
The other thing to consider is just how cheap PCP is on new bikes, you’re looking at a couple of hundred a month. For something that will always start when you want it to.
I am reltivley handy with cars the bike world is new to me but I guess I can pick it up. However the though of tinkering on does put my off and its a good point on the PCP front I can get a Ninja 650 KRT for the following A couple of things to think about, £1000 is about as cheap as working motorbikes generally get.
Are you reasonably competent at mechanical stuff?
If not you’re likely to end up spending quite a bit on it for parts and people to fit them.
The CBR has a great reputation for reliability, this doesn’t mean it won’t be worn out and corroded by the time is 20 years old.
You also often get the joy of annoying electrical problems once bikes get older, water gets in and corroded wires, connectors and everything else.
It’s also comfortable for a sports bike, this doesn’t mean it’s comfortable overall. Something like a Fazer or Hornet is a more natural shape if you’re not used to bikes.
The other thing to consider is just how cheap PCP is on new bikes, you’re looking at a couple of hundred a month. For something that will always start when you want it to.
Cash Price £5,999
Deposit £199
Total Amount of Credit £5,800
Duration of Agreement 36 Months
Monthly Payment £161.11
Total Amount Payable £5,999
Representative APR 0%
Speed addicted said:
I had a Kawasaki GPZ600R as a first bike, still have it 19 years on (with others).
A couple of things to think about, £1000 is about as cheap as working motorbikes generally get.
Are you reasonably competent at mechanical stuff?
If not you’re likely to end up spending quite a bit on it for parts and people to fit them.
The CBR has a great reputation for reliability, this doesn’t mean it won’t be worn out and corroded by the time is 20 years old.
You also often get the joy of annoying electrical problems once bikes get older, water gets in and corroded wires, connectors and everything else.
It’s also comfortable for a sports bike, this doesn’t mean it’s comfortable overall. Something like a Fazer or Hornet is a more natural shape if you’re not used to bikes.
The other thing to consider is just how cheap PCP is on new bikes, you’re looking at a couple of hundred a month. For something that will always start when you want it to.
I am reltivley handy with cars the bike world is new to me but I guess I can pick it up. However the though of tinkering on does put my off and its a good point on the PCP front I can get a Ninja 650 KRT for the following A couple of things to think about, £1000 is about as cheap as working motorbikes generally get.
Are you reasonably competent at mechanical stuff?
If not you’re likely to end up spending quite a bit on it for parts and people to fit them.
The CBR has a great reputation for reliability, this doesn’t mean it won’t be worn out and corroded by the time is 20 years old.
You also often get the joy of annoying electrical problems once bikes get older, water gets in and corroded wires, connectors and everything else.
It’s also comfortable for a sports bike, this doesn’t mean it’s comfortable overall. Something like a Fazer or Hornet is a more natural shape if you’re not used to bikes.
The other thing to consider is just how cheap PCP is on new bikes, you’re looking at a couple of hundred a month. For something that will always start when you want it to.
Cash Price £6,599
Deposit £199
Total Amount of Credit £6,400
Duration of Agreement 36 Months
Monthly Payment £177.77
Total Amount Payable £6,599
Representative APR 0%
MY first bike was 2002 CBR600F4i.
I passed my licence on it.
I still have the bike and ride it daily.
Now 90000km and I had it for 5 years.
Does it bore me? No.
Sometimes it feels a little bit slow in acceleration (usually when I ride it back to back with my bigger bikes), but it is more than fast enough for the roads.
I put braided brake lines, I upgraded suspension front and rear, I am enjoying this comfortable bike with great wind protection.
I passed my licence on it.
I still have the bike and ride it daily.
Now 90000km and I had it for 5 years.
Does it bore me? No.
Sometimes it feels a little bit slow in acceleration (usually when I ride it back to back with my bigger bikes), but it is more than fast enough for the roads.
I put braided brake lines, I upgraded suspension front and rear, I am enjoying this comfortable bike with great wind protection.
Stu-nph26 said:
I am reltivley handy with cars the bike world is new to me but I guess I can pick it up. However the though of tinkering on does put my off and its a good point on the PCP front I can get a Ninja 650 KRT for the following
Cash Price £5,999
Deposit £199
Total Amount of Credit £5,800
Duration of Agreement 36 Months
Monthly Payment £161.11
Total Amount Payable £5,999
Representative APR 0%
Bear in mind a Ninja 650 is not really a sports bike as such, more of a sporty road bike, it has a decent riding position and will be dead easy to ride, its more of a warmed over Versys 650 with a fairing, but that's not a bad thing as the Versys is/was a great bike, you can also pcp them for under £100/month with zero deposit if you shop around, one also to consider if you are looking at new ones is the SV650, they are dirt cheap and can be had for around £70 on a PCP which is almost pocket change.Cash Price £5,999
Deposit £199
Total Amount of Credit £5,800
Duration of Agreement 36 Months
Monthly Payment £161.11
Total Amount Payable £5,999
Representative APR 0%
Im 6'3 and had a K4 GSXR 600 as my 1st bike, absolutely loved it!
Have also had a 1996 CBR 600F which was an amazing little bike, so much fun - only paid £900 for it too.
I would just have a look at some, sit on them so you get an idea of comfort and go from there - Ninja for me was very cramped on the legs.
Have also had a 1996 CBR 600F which was an amazing little bike, so much fun - only paid £900 for it too.
I would just have a look at some, sit on them so you get an idea of comfort and go from there - Ninja for me was very cramped on the legs.
Ho Lee Kau said:
MY first bike was 2002 CBR600F4i.
I passed my licence on it.
I still have the bike and ride it daily.
Now 90000km and I had it for 5 years.
Does it bore me? No.
Sometimes it feels a little bit slow in acceleration (usually when I ride it back to back with my bigger bikes), but it is more than fast enough for the roads.
I put braided brake lines, I upgraded suspension front and rear, I am enjoying this comfortable bike with great wind protection.
My 85 GPZ600R has a raging 75bhp, or did 34 years ago. It takes a bit of revving as not a great deal happens below 7k rpm, and the handling is interesting compared to modern stuff but it's still a bloody good laugh!I passed my licence on it.
I still have the bike and ride it daily.
Now 90000km and I had it for 5 years.
Does it bore me? No.
Sometimes it feels a little bit slow in acceleration (usually when I ride it back to back with my bigger bikes), but it is more than fast enough for the roads.
I put braided brake lines, I upgraded suspension front and rear, I am enjoying this comfortable bike with great wind protection.
I had it out the other day, doing 9k rpm along country roads was amazing fun.
The thing is I rebuilt mine over the last three years (parts are hard to find), so it's got refreshed suspension, a new shock, braided brake lines, new seals everywhere, a full respray and so on.
It's not cheap to take a tired bike up to a decent standard and I could have saved a lot of money by buying something better/newer. But it was my first bike and I've had it as long as I've known my wife!
Jazoli said:
Bear in mind a Ninja 650 is not really a sports bike as such, more of a sporty road bike, it has a decent riding position and will be dead easy to ride, its more of a warmed over Versys 650 with a fairing, but that's not a bad thing as the Versys is/was a great bike, you can also pcp them for under £100/month with zero deposit if you shop around, one also to consider if you are looking at new ones is the SV650, they are dirt cheap and can be had for around £70 on a PCP which is almost pocket change.
The cheapest i can find on an SV650 is over £100 pcm and the Ninja looks better imo. Like others have advised I need to sit on a few as I'm 6-4 and about 17 stone so a big guy which will have an impact on what I chose. Zakalwe said:
How much commuting do you intend to do on it?
As much as possible I commute by train at the moment 12 miles each way which takes about 70 minutes by the time I walk to both stations. A bike will take me around 20 mins. I'm not sure if I'd use it in the winter months when the weather is bad Zakalwe said:
SV650 is a cracking bike, probably better for a commute than a 20 year old CBR. You don’t want to be worrying about rain in the afternoon on your way home dissolving anything’s important
I'll take a look is it crazy to ride a bike in the winter months when there's ice on the roads etc? Stu-nph26 said:
The cheapest i can find on an SV650 is over £100 pcm and the Ninja looks better imo. Like others have advised I need to sit on a few as I'm 6-4 and about 17 stone so a big guy which will have an impact on what I chose.
Honestly, as someone that's 6'2" and about the same weight, something like an adventure shaped bike may be a better option.Sportsbikes tend to be pretty small for performance, and you may well find that you spend the entire time thinking about how uncomfortable you are rather than enjoying the ride.
The riding you're intending to do will also be the opposite of fun on a bike that's made to go howling round corners. Having bars the same height as the seat works well in the twisty bits but gets old fast on the motorway or in town. The do have the advantage of being slim for filtering though.
The best thing to do is test ride, but I'd be looking more at things like adventure bikes and other things with flat bars rather than clip-ons.
I bought a gsx 600 f after I passed my test following advice that a sportsbike would be too much power etc to start with.
Two months later I got a zx6r G1 which I now use for commuting 50 miles a day.
Older sportsbikes really aren't extreme at all. They feel utterly mammoth in size compared to the current crop. The boot is bordering on capacious.
You'll scare yourself before you act like a tit on it.
Blandits, fazers.....all good, good bikes. But they're a bit like watching the women's world cup.
Two months later I got a zx6r G1 which I now use for commuting 50 miles a day.
Older sportsbikes really aren't extreme at all. They feel utterly mammoth in size compared to the current crop. The boot is bordering on capacious.
You'll scare yourself before you act like a tit on it.
Blandits, fazers.....all good, good bikes. But they're a bit like watching the women's world cup.
Speed addicted said:
moanthebairns said:
Blandits, fazers.....all good, good bikes. But they're a bit like watching the women's world cup.
Like beach volleyball, more interesting than the mens?Speed addicted said:
Honestly, as someone that's 6'2" and about the same weight, something like an adventure shaped bike may be a better option.
Sportsbikes tend to be pretty small for performance, and you may well find that you spend the entire time thinking about how uncomfortable you are rather than enjoying the ride.
The riding you're intending to do will also be the opposite of fun on a bike that's made to go howling round corners. Having bars the same height as the seat works well in the twisty bits but gets old fast on the motorway or in town. The do have the advantage of being slim for filtering though.
The best thing to do is test ride, but I'd be looking more at things like adventure bikes and other things with flat bars rather than clip-ons.
Can you give me some examples of bikes to look at? Sportsbikes tend to be pretty small for performance, and you may well find that you spend the entire time thinking about how uncomfortable you are rather than enjoying the ride.
The riding you're intending to do will also be the opposite of fun on a bike that's made to go howling round corners. Having bars the same height as the seat works well in the twisty bits but gets old fast on the motorway or in town. The do have the advantage of being slim for filtering though.
The best thing to do is test ride, but I'd be looking more at things like adventure bikes and other things with flat bars rather than clip-ons.
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