Woohoo! DAS passed. What first bike?
Discussion
So passed my DAS a couple of weeks ago and am now on the hunt to kit myself out.
I'm actively looking at bikes (nothing ridden yet as license only came back yesterday) but I have absolutely no idea what to go for. Ideally I want something that I am not going to get bored of in 6 months as I plan to buy new. I can't even decide if i prefer naked or sports!
Any advice on what I should be looking at? Bikes to consider?
I'm actively looking at bikes (nothing ridden yet as license only came back yesterday) but I have absolutely no idea what to go for. Ideally I want something that I am not going to get bored of in 6 months as I plan to buy new. I can't even decide if i prefer naked or sports!
Any advice on what I should be looking at? Bikes to consider?
I got a Triumph Street Triple as my first bike in Feb this year. I have done 4000 miles on it so far and I’m not bored. With 103 bhp it has enough power to keep me interested without being mentally powerful, by today’s standards.
My mate got his first bike a month after I did, an L15 GSXR 600. He is thinking of selling it already because it is so uncomfortable, having riden it I don’t blame him. Sports bikes just aren’t for me despite loving the look of them.
My mate got his first bike a month after I did, an L15 GSXR 600. He is thinking of selling it already because it is so uncomfortable, having riden it I don’t blame him. Sports bikes just aren’t for me despite loving the look of them.
Well done. I'm hoping to be in your shoes come the summer.
I'm torn between the Triumphs (Speed or Street) or something more retro like a Bonneville, CB1100RS or Kawasaski Z900 RS.
The feedback from others has generally been that if you are sensible, a bigger bike isn't a totally insane option. I'd only be using mine as a weekend toy but if you are commuting then I guess something more practical might be a better fit.
I'm torn between the Triumphs (Speed or Street) or something more retro like a Bonneville, CB1100RS or Kawasaski Z900 RS.
The feedback from others has generally been that if you are sensible, a bigger bike isn't a totally insane option. I'd only be using mine as a weekend toy but if you are commuting then I guess something more practical might be a better fit.
It's difficult to recommend a first bike really... In 2001 I had a 1999 R6 at 24 years old after my DAS. I'd been on the back of my mates and decided I liked the look of them too.
I'd suggest going to a helpful shop and see if they'll let you ride a few. I think the new SV650 looks pretty funky. Cheap on their finance too if you need it.
I'd suggest going to a helpful shop and see if they'll let you ride a few. I think the new SV650 looks pretty funky. Cheap on their finance too if you need it.
Plenty to choose from, have fun getting your list ready and then buying the first one you test ride, as I did.
Also, bikes are very hard to be bored of after a few months for a newbie. I should know, I got a list of my next bikes, but two years in on my ER6F, my commuter, my b-road bike, my beautiful candy lime green bike, I have learnt a lot on it and still not bored, and for the record I have done 8,000 miles on it. I would have clocked up a lot more, but the birth of my first child put a lot of the riding this year on hold.
Also, bikes are very hard to be bored of after a few months for a newbie. I should know, I got a list of my next bikes, but two years in on my ER6F, my commuter, my b-road bike, my beautiful candy lime green bike, I have learnt a lot on it and still not bored, and for the record I have done 8,000 miles on it. I would have clocked up a lot more, but the birth of my first child put a lot of the riding this year on hold.
My first bike was a GSXR600, it’s a very easy bike to ride, docile at low revs, very light and comfortable to ride once you learn the nack of riding a sports bike. The only people I’ve seen who can’t do this either have back problems or are very tall.
Get the bike you want and remember to ride safely whilst you build your skills, experience and talent!
Get the bike you want and remember to ride safely whilst you build your skills, experience and talent!
Speed triple type bike a good punt but ideally something you can drop accidentally or catch on a wall without too many tears lol. A hyperbike with 4 grands worth of plastic fairing is ripe for damage as your first timer unfortunately, we've all been there.
Once you've settled in and got some no claims the world's your oyster, some great tackle around these days for not mega bucks.
Once you've settled in and got some no claims the world's your oyster, some great tackle around these days for not mega bucks.
Many moons ago I passed in winter and immediately bought a race rep which promptly got dropped on a bend on wet leaves within a month or three causing some expensive damage. In hindsight I should have bought a naked old nail until summer and more experience under my belt. Might be worth saving your money till spring for something new as the salt and crap is horrendous soon.
the perfect 1st bike is a Suzuki Panigale R1 Bandit from the late 90s... 
Go and try some out, this is the fun bit, visit some dealers, and sit on everything, see what you like the look of, what sound you like and whether you can get comfortable on it - try and get them to let you out on a demo.
Think about how you are going to use the bike e.g. touring, commuting, track, off roading, urban vs motorway miles and try to narrow it down . Then think about how you are wired: are you a head rules heart or heart rules head and make a decision that the dominant force will be happy with. it's a personal thing and only you know your own confidence/competence level.
The other thing to consider is you probably aren't going to find the do it all bike so what ever you go for in the end will have some limitations in some scenarios. This is where the n+1 rule comes in as it does for most things. (n+1 equals the number of bikes you need, where n is the number of bikes you currently have) - man maths will make this possible so don't worry about the details or how your are going to fit them in the garage/livingroom.
I didn't do any of that btw
i knew i didn't trust myself on a sports bike and had decided a naked was the way to go as the airflow would slow me down a bit, so i went into the Ducati showroom (it was close to work) just to have a nose at the bikes, chatted for about and hour and a half, threw my legs over a couple of bikes and resisted the urge to make engine noises. Just as i was thinking about leaving, the salesman started up a monster and i handed him my credit card for the deposit. For the record i was kidding myself about it slowing me down I can barely feel the airflow below 90 - the throttle turns both ways so don't be put off by bigger engined bikes, and most new bikes will have different rider settings so you can restrict the power and throttle response of the bike at first until you're comfortable but you might want to get a few insurance quotes before striking a deal on a H2.
Go and try some out, this is the fun bit, visit some dealers, and sit on everything, see what you like the look of, what sound you like and whether you can get comfortable on it - try and get them to let you out on a demo.
Think about how you are going to use the bike e.g. touring, commuting, track, off roading, urban vs motorway miles and try to narrow it down . Then think about how you are wired: are you a head rules heart or heart rules head and make a decision that the dominant force will be happy with. it's a personal thing and only you know your own confidence/competence level.
The other thing to consider is you probably aren't going to find the do it all bike so what ever you go for in the end will have some limitations in some scenarios. This is where the n+1 rule comes in as it does for most things. (n+1 equals the number of bikes you need, where n is the number of bikes you currently have) - man maths will make this possible so don't worry about the details or how your are going to fit them in the garage/livingroom.
I didn't do any of that btw
i knew i didn't trust myself on a sports bike and had decided a naked was the way to go as the airflow would slow me down a bit, so i went into the Ducati showroom (it was close to work) just to have a nose at the bikes, chatted for about and hour and a half, threw my legs over a couple of bikes and resisted the urge to make engine noises. Just as i was thinking about leaving, the salesman started up a monster and i handed him my credit card for the deposit. For the record i was kidding myself about it slowing me down I can barely feel the airflow below 90 - the throttle turns both ways so don't be put off by bigger engined bikes, and most new bikes will have different rider settings so you can restrict the power and throttle response of the bike at first until you're comfortable but you might want to get a few insurance quotes before striking a deal on a H2. Id go with a middleweight naked, not new, a few years old will be plenty good enough. Have a season on that just getting used to riding on the road and then decide what would really suit you.
You may want a bike for touring on....
others just want a sports bike and may do track days
some want to try green laning or off road
or try to justify the expense by commuting on it too "my £15k bike saves me money dear"
the list is endless and you have a fun journey ahead of you trying all disciplines on 2 wheels if you wish ...
and yes, you will always need +1 bike to what you have in the garage
You may want a bike for touring on....
others just want a sports bike and may do track days
some want to try green laning or off road
or try to justify the expense by commuting on it too "my £15k bike saves me money dear"
the list is endless and you have a fun journey ahead of you trying all disciplines on 2 wheels if you wish ...
and yes, you will always need +1 bike to what you have in the garage
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