Beginner bike on a budget?
Discussion
I'm not like most on here - I'm pretty poor. I'm a student who drives HGV's to earn spending money.
But I recently started my DAS training (doing weekly lessons) and I'm loving it. Best thing I ever did.
I don't want a 125. And it doesn't need to be super fast. I just want something to get out into the peak district and explore. Age isn't important - but something fairly reliable would be nice. And it would be good if it could carry a pillion so I can get my partner out exploring with me when I pass.
Realistically I can't afford 10k on a bike. And my budget is only 2-3k. I have safety equipment and can get insurance on top of that.
Any recommendations? If I need to expand my budget let me know and I'll save up more. This is a toy for me and as I've said I am not flush with cash. But I'd rather save up and get something decent if I need too.
Thanks
But I recently started my DAS training (doing weekly lessons) and I'm loving it. Best thing I ever did.
I don't want a 125. And it doesn't need to be super fast. I just want something to get out into the peak district and explore. Age isn't important - but something fairly reliable would be nice. And it would be good if it could carry a pillion so I can get my partner out exploring with me when I pass.
Realistically I can't afford 10k on a bike. And my budget is only 2-3k. I have safety equipment and can get insurance on top of that.
Any recommendations? If I need to expand my budget let me know and I'll save up more. This is a toy for me and as I've said I am not flush with cash. But I'd rather save up and get something decent if I need too.
Thanks
milkround said:
I'm not like most on here - I'm pretty poor. I'm a student who drives HGV's to earn spending money.
But I recently started my DAS training (doing weekly lessons) and I'm loving it. Best thing I ever did.
I don't want a 125. And it doesn't need to be super fast. I just want something to get out into the peak district and explore. Age isn't important - but something fairly reliable would be nice. And it would be good if it could carry a pillion so I can get my partner out exploring with me when I pass.
Realistically I can't afford 10k on a bike. And my budget is only 2-3k. I have safety equipment and can get insurance on top of that.
Any recommendations? If I need to expand my budget let me know and I'll save up more. This is a toy for me and as I've said I am not flush with cash. But I'd rather save up and get something decent if I need too.
Thanks
2-3k you say? reliable and capable of taking a pillion, you say? Good for doing some touring? Age not important?But I recently started my DAS training (doing weekly lessons) and I'm loving it. Best thing I ever did.
I don't want a 125. And it doesn't need to be super fast. I just want something to get out into the peak district and explore. Age isn't important - but something fairly reliable would be nice. And it would be good if it could carry a pillion so I can get my partner out exploring with me when I pass.
Realistically I can't afford 10k on a bike. And my budget is only 2-3k. I have safety equipment and can get insurance on top of that.
Any recommendations? If I need to expand my budget let me know and I'll save up more. This is a toy for me and as I've said I am not flush with cash. But I'd rather save up and get something decent if I need too.
Thanks
I give you the VFR800fi
Has one of the best sounding motorbike engines made (V4 with straight cut cam gears), plenty of power but not enough that it'll intimidate you, it's heavy but handles well. Very reliable, comfy for many, many miles and has a large pillion seat. £2k will get you choice of many, many mint examples. Most of them in red
Get a 2000-2001 model (has the H.I.S.S system) and you'll not need to worry about manual choke, or rusty downpipes.
https://youtu.be/XHBpAvG7dTs
Thanks Paul.
That is just the sort of thing I was thinking about.
For me it's a toy to enjoy when I have time off. I might do a small amount of commuting with it. But mainly it's for weekends. At the moment I am enjoying riding so much I wouldn't mind going out in the rain. But that might change.
And I have to say that is a lovely looking bike!
If yours is for sale within the next couple of months please let me know
That is just the sort of thing I was thinking about.
For me it's a toy to enjoy when I have time off. I might do a small amount of commuting with it. But mainly it's for weekends. At the moment I am enjoying riding so much I wouldn't mind going out in the rain. But that might change.
And I have to say that is a lovely looking bike!
If yours is for sale within the next couple of months please let me know
Edited by milkround on Thursday 15th March 23:23
Early CBR 600s and SV650s can both be had for between 1-2k and both would be good bikes to grow into. CBR would probably be better with a pillion.
Don't be put off smaller parallel twin bikes such as Honda's CB500 or Kawasaki's GPZ500. They might not be as glamorous as the bigger bikes but they will be fast enough to have fun on, less intimidating than bigger bikes, and cheaper to insure, run and fix too.
When I came back into biking last year I wanted something cheap and cheerful and ended up spending a grand on a 98 GPZ500, with very low miles and in great condition for it's age. It still feels fast compared to my car and because it's old and a bit pants, I don't really have to worry about anyone stealing it. I can also use all of its 60hp without killing myself or losing my licence. I was going to get rid of it asap but with a wedding and house move coming up, I think I might just keep hold of it for another year.
Don't be put off smaller parallel twin bikes such as Honda's CB500 or Kawasaki's GPZ500. They might not be as glamorous as the bigger bikes but they will be fast enough to have fun on, less intimidating than bigger bikes, and cheaper to insure, run and fix too.
When I came back into biking last year I wanted something cheap and cheerful and ended up spending a grand on a 98 GPZ500, with very low miles and in great condition for it's age. It still feels fast compared to my car and because it's old and a bit pants, I don't really have to worry about anyone stealing it. I can also use all of its 60hp without killing myself or losing my licence. I was going to get rid of it asap but with a wedding and house move coming up, I think I might just keep hold of it for another year.
There are plenty of bikes out there for the money as mentioned. It really depends what sort of bike you want. i.e. Sit up naked, something with a fairing... If you want to do touring though I'd avoid the naked as motorway miles are horrendous (personal opinion) without some form of wind shielding. But then again you may not find it an issue.
Instead of people giving the OP some choices and ideas can we all just recommend the bike we own and post lots of pictures of it too.
Oh.....................
On a slightly more serious note there will be a huge choice of bike at the top of the budget, less somtowards the bottom. However, rather than buying one model of bike you should buy based on condition and thencosts of maintenance too.
I’d suggest a simple Bandit 600, or a Fazer would be perfect do it all bikes and make for great tourers on a budget, despite not being the most engaging of rides. If you want a bit more oomph then the litre bikes of the above are well worth considering.
Oh.....................
On a slightly more serious note there will be a huge choice of bike at the top of the budget, less somtowards the bottom. However, rather than buying one model of bike you should buy based on condition and thencosts of maintenance too.
I’d suggest a simple Bandit 600, or a Fazer would be perfect do it all bikes and make for great tourers on a budget, despite not being the most engaging of rides. If you want a bit more oomph then the litre bikes of the above are well worth considering.
Gavia said:
Instead of people giving the OP some choices and ideas can we all just recommend the bike we own and post lots of pictures of it too.
Oh.....................
On a slightly more serious note there will be a huge choice of bike at the top of the budget, less somtowards the bottom. However, rather than buying one model of bike you should buy based on condition and thencosts of maintenance too.
I’d suggest a simple Bandit 600, or a Fazer would be perfect do it all bikes and make for great tourers on a budget, despite not being the most engaging of rides. If you want a bit more oomph then the litre bikes of the above are well worth considering.
Take a pinch of salt with the above but the comments on the bandit 600 and Fazer are well grounded IMO. Oh.....................
On a slightly more serious note there will be a huge choice of bike at the top of the budget, less somtowards the bottom. However, rather than buying one model of bike you should buy based on condition and thencosts of maintenance too.
I’d suggest a simple Bandit 600, or a Fazer would be perfect do it all bikes and make for great tourers on a budget, despite not being the most engaging of rides. If you want a bit more oomph then the litre bikes of the above are well worth considering.
Not ridden the 600's but the 1200 bandit and 1000 Fazer are both very good bikes. Easily capable of touring and have a great blend between ability to ride around lazily on a wide spread torque band and rip decent wheelies and p
s off into 3 figures with ease when revved. If I were in your shoes, I'd spend £1500-£1800 on a good condition bike and bank the rest towards your upgrade when you decide you want one, or a second bike because as soon as you have one. You usually want another!
Thanks guys.
I already have most of the safety equipment which my instructors rate as 'good'. But I do want to buy some special trousers - as I only use my truck driving trousers at the moment. These are just thick cargo type trousers with lots of pockets. They are okay for driving a truck - but wouldn't offer too much protection if I fall off a bike.
I really appreciate all the advice. Once I've passed I'll take all the suggestions and then look for the stuff local to me. I might have a slightly larger budget by them. But it seems £3k will get you something reasonable.
Have fun riding your bikes this weekend if you are. I'll be stuck in supermarket depots most of the time locked away in a glorified cage so I can afford this stuff!
I already have most of the safety equipment which my instructors rate as 'good'. But I do want to buy some special trousers - as I only use my truck driving trousers at the moment. These are just thick cargo type trousers with lots of pockets. They are okay for driving a truck - but wouldn't offer too much protection if I fall off a bike.
I really appreciate all the advice. Once I've passed I'll take all the suggestions and then look for the stuff local to me. I might have a slightly larger budget by them. But it seems £3k will get you something reasonable.
Have fun riding your bikes this weekend if you are. I'll be stuck in supermarket depots most of the time locked away in a glorified cage so I can afford this stuff!
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