Newbie biking advice please...

[flamingm0]

Hi there. I'm considering entering the world of biking from four wheels and have some questions, please bear with me, I've yet to do my CBT so I'm really just finding out some basics to see if it's viable for me.

I'd be looking for a bike appropriate for a 30 mile commute during more pleasant weather. What sort of machine should I be looking for, i.e. engine size etc? What sort of fuel economy can be expected? What sort of service intervals are typical? I service my own car, is realistic to service a bike diy too?

The advantages of a bike over my current second "fun" car (as I see it) are a bike will be cheaper and more fun car and is something new to learn - plus I get more room in the garage and it should get me to and from work quicker. Greener too I guess. I'm a bit concerned about the whole saefty/dying thing though so any words of reassurance around that would be good!

Thanks

[DamienCBR]

Get you CBT done then do a direct access course on a 500cc which then allows you to ride what you want. You might find that a 500cc is plenty enough for you but i went straight to a 600cc. CBR600F is a perfect commuter and you can still cut it through the twisties at the weekend with your mate. Build quality is second to none and they hold there value well.

Servicing is meant to be every 4,000 miles or 6 months but if you do not do a huge amount of miles every year is ok and it is perfectly easy to service the bike if you are with the car. I used to get about 40mpg to my CBR600FY and did give it plenty of stick at the weekends. There are other 600cc that will be recommeneded includeding GSXF, ZZR600 etc, my advice once you have done the direct access try them see which one suits you.

I currently have a CBR600RR and rode a mates GSXR600 the other day thinking they would be similar but they are totally different.

Hope this helps

D

[Vitesse39]

I did the DAS or Direct Access course to get my full ticket, but it is only open to those over 21 (don't know how old you are, and I won't be rude enough to ask )

First bike I got was a sports 400 (Kawasaki ZXR400) great first sports bike plenty fast enough and used it for a 34 mile commute. Fuel econ well I got 2 days travel (136 miles) out of 1 tank no probs £9.50 ish.
Now have ZXR750, just the same for fuel but for price increases so now about £10.20 ish.

Running costs will depend on how and what you ride - the harder the more expensive.

As soon as you get the bike get a rear paddock stand £40, it will pay for itself the first time you need a new rear tyre (you take the wheel off and to the shop for the tyre), or change the chain and sprockets yourself.

all the best mate.

[Bike Ace]

Get that test done!

Have a look at the Aprilia Pegaso Strada 650 single cylinder. It's a belter. Simple service - it's a Yamaha 5 valve engine - supremely reliable and a nice easy 50hp, still good enough for 100mph but light easy steering and slim design for traffic busting. Be a good intro to biking without the added peer pressure of riding a sportster. Alternative would be the Suzuki SV 650 twin. I ridden both and they would make superb first bikes.

You will not regret the hassle of the test/cbt for the commute.

Do it. Do it now.

[YamR1V64motion]

if he wants to go down the sportsbike route perhaps a used R6 would be a good idea?, as the early ones are quite cheap now.

[flamingm0]

Thanks for the advice all, it's given me plenty to chew on. My round trip commute is actually 60 mile per day, it looks like a sports-tourer is more appropriate for these needs. I've had a Honda VFR750 recommended to me, what's the opinion on these? Is insurance likely to be prohibitively expensive for a first bike 600-750cc? I'm 29 and looking to spend about £1800-£2000 on the bike. What should I look to spend on clothing etc without cutting corners on life preservation?

[speed8]

First year insurance is a tricky one. From my experience a CBR600 cost me a few hundred quid fully comp on a 2 grand bike (I was 29, Leeds postcode). I didn't keep it long (only a few months) and due to a cock up on my insurers part I ended up cancelling my policy and starting a new one when I bought the Sprint1050. My insurance jumped to a grand a year fully comp but the bike was about 9k with accessories and I still had no NCB. The problem is that a lot of places dont want to touch you when you are a new biker on a big bike (for good reason I guess). Anyway, with 1 yr NCB my insurance went down to under 500quid.

I won't try and recommend a bike to you as I haven't tried that many but if you can handle the insurance then get whatever takes your fancy. If you can hang on till you get a years no claims then get something a little more insurance friendly for a year. Stuff like the 600 Thundercat, cbr600, Triumph 600TT and the like were all very similar insurance-wise when I started. The VFR (pre-Vtec) is supposedly a better bike than the Vtec version, there's a buyers guide of sorts in this months Ride mag.

[daytona600]

Spend the money on getting kitted out first... Nearly every biker I spoke to, when I became serious about getting a bike, said they had come off at some point. Of course I met some who had ridden 40 years without incident, but all were agreed - good kit is essential and it costs.

I shelled out for the best kit I could afford and sure enough 8 months into my 20 mile commute a cabbie pulled a U turn without engaging mirror, signal or brain. He never even contested the insurance and my kit saved my ass! I limped a bit but lived and learned.

Go for a 600 as you will grow into it without scaring yourself and yet get a taste for the "riding bottled lightning" sensation.

Best decision you ever made...