Discussion
After the 1st test was cancelled due to excessive wind, I awoke this morning to a very icy outside. Not again, I thought to myself.
Anyway, by lunchtime everything was fine & I headed off to the test centre. Personally, thought it was the worst I had ridden for a number of days, however, come the end of the test I passed.
The trip back to the test centre down the motorway was, whats the word........... enlightening.
Now just got to get myself a bike.
Broom broom.
Anyway, by lunchtime everything was fine & I headed off to the test centre. Personally, thought it was the worst I had ridden for a number of days, however, come the end of the test I passed.
The trip back to the test centre down the motorway was, whats the word........... enlightening.
Now just got to get myself a bike.
Broom broom.
Looked at both the Kawasaki ZX636R & the Triumph 675 Daytona.
Loved them both. However, the Triumph is nearly twice as much to insure as the Kawasaki (for reasons beyond me), hence the Kawasaki won.
Not getting one until March, as after yesterday I honestly don't think I would hardly use it until the decent weather comes.
>> Edited by hobo on Wednesday 23 November 09:48
Loved them both. However, the Triumph is nearly twice as much to insure as the Kawasaki (for reasons beyond me), hence the Kawasaki won.
Not getting one until March, as after yesterday I honestly don't think I would hardly use it until the decent weather comes.
>> Edited by hobo on Wednesday 23 November 09:48
hobo said:
Looked at both the Kawasaki ZX636R & the Triumph 675 Daytona.
Loved them both. However, the Triumph is nearly twice as much to insure as the Kawasaki (for reasons beyond me), hence the Kawasaki won.
Not getting one until March, as after yesterday I honestly don't think I would hardly use it until the decent weather comes.
>> Edited by hobo on Wednesday 23 November 09:48
Thing is, you may want to start looking now, as prices tend to drop a little over the "dark" season! You can keep it in the garage and "play" with it till the spring...
chilli said:
Looked at both the Kawasaki ZX636R & the Triumph 675 Daytona.
Loved them both. However, the Triumph is nearly twice as much to insure as the Kawasaki (for reasons beyond me), hence the Kawasaki won.
Not getting one until March, as after yesterday I honestly don't think I would hardly use it until the decent weather comes.
>> Edited by hobo on Wednesday 23 November 09:48
Thing is, you may want to start looking now, as prices tend to drop a little over the "dark" season! You can keep it in the garage and "play" with it till the spring...
I'll second that. Now is the best time to buy a bike as prices are always lower in the winter.
Plus its good to get some bad weather experience in before you go bananas in the dryer months. The slippery sonditions will stop you from winding it right up too soon after passing and will start off your repetoire of riding skills nicely. Its a good foundation.
Having spoke to the local Kawasaki dealer, he is currently selling '06' spec ZX636R's for £6400, instead of the £7300 list price.
He did however say that if I put a deposit down now that he would honour this price on a brand new 06 plated bike to collect on March 1st.
Best of both worlds I thought.
He did however say that if I put a deposit down now that he would honour this price on a brand new 06 plated bike to collect on March 1st.
Best of both worlds I thought.
Do you really want to buy a brand new bike as your fisrt? Because you WILL drop it. Everyone does with their first bike.
I had a ZX6 R as my first (although my instructor said a Ninja was a bit too much as a first bike) bike and it was perfect. Not too intimidating, inspires confidence and has a good feel.
Just my 2p. .
I had a ZX6 R as my first (although my instructor said a Ninja was a bit too much as a first bike) bike and it was perfect. Not too intimidating, inspires confidence and has a good feel.
Just my 2p. .
hobo said:It's the same bike, it'll just be registered later
Having spoke to the local Kawasaki dealer, he is currently selling '06' spec ZX636R's for £6400, instead of the £7300 list price.
He did however say that if I put a deposit down now that he would honour this price on a brand new 06 plated bike to collect on March 1st.
Best of both worlds I thought.
He'll have a shop full of them, get it for £6k now
Maybe so. But, I honestly don't think I'd ride it much between now & then, and therefore might as well go for an '06' plated bike in March.
Gives me time to sort out somewhere to put it, etc (looking at them bike shed thingy's which the bike slides in/out of.
Can't be an ancient bike anyway, as Kawasaki is changing the colours for 06 bikes.
Gives me time to sort out somewhere to put it, etc (looking at them bike shed thingy's which the bike slides in/out of.
Can't be an ancient bike anyway, as Kawasaki is changing the colours for 06 bikes.
caduceus said:
Do you really want to buy a brand new bike as your fisrt? Because you WILL drop it. Everyone does with their first bike ... Just my 2p
And my 2p … here's an alternative view for ya ...
I had budgeted for a new(ish) bike, but bought a second hand one instead. Using the money saved, I did all this:
- Bought excellent clothing, helmet, boots, etc
- Learnt how to ride in the real world with www.advanced-motorcycle-training.co.uk/
- Did the California Superbike School
- Had an absolutely stonking dirt-biking holiday in Spain
It's been an absolute ball! In my case, thank goodness I changed my mind about splashing out all my cash on a ubiquitous 600 supersports.
That second hand bike was an SV650, which has grown with my riding. It's performed astonishingly well on road and the odd track day. It's even dealing with commuting in this weather with aplomb. What more could I ask for?
I rode a GSX-R 600 on track at Mallory. Lovely bike and I can easily see the attraction. Frankly, however, it would have been a complete waste as a first big bike, because I'd never have appreciated it.
hobo said:
Congrats Mark.
Cheers Stu.
Hopefully after I get a bit more confidence you can show me how its done on track, eh ?
Love to. Cadwell Park is awesome on a bike. The ride down's pretty good fun too.
Are you planning on getting some more advanced tuition in the meantime - or a dirt bike for practise?
What protective kit are you going to get?
StuB said:
Congrats Mark.
Cheers Stu.
Hopefully after I get a bit more confidence you can show me how its done on track, eh ?
Love to. Cadwell Park is awesome on a bike. The ride down's pretty good fun too.
Are you planning on getting some more advanced tuition in the meantime - or a dirt bike for practise?
What protective kit are you going to get?
Was planning to get a bike, ride the thing senseless for a month or so, and then get some advanced training.
Protective gear. Well at present I only have 'all-weather' gear & therefore intend to buy leathers, etc when I get the bike. Apart from them what else should I get ? Do they not have adequate protection built in ?
hobo said:
Protective gear. Well at present I only have 'all-weather' gear & therefore intend to buy leathers, etc when I get the bike. Apart from them what else should I get ? Do they not have adequate protection built in ?
Other than leathers (I wear either one piece or AXO leather trousers + Suzuki All Weather jacket) I have a back protector, which I always wear on the bike and I also have a very good pair of boots, Alpinestarts GP Tech with Kevlar shin plate etc. etc. and I also have a pair of Gaerne MX boots if I'm riding in the winter. I also have an Arai helmet - strong, very light, quiet (on the move) and serviceable (unlike some other lids I had when I was a lad). Gloves - one pair of thick for winter and some racing gloves for summer.
A lot of kit has protection built in these days. Get the best quality you can afford as it's worth it if you need it and it usually looks and feels better if you don't need it. An ex racers suit can often be a very good buy as they get really thick leather and it's nicely broken in (plus looking pretty shagged might be cool again?). Now's a good time to buy if you know the colours you want.
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