First Bike after Twenty Year Break - Advice Please
Discussion
Coming back to biking after 20 years away. What bike do you suggest? I'm 6'2" so feel a bit big on 600s. My heart lies with things like an R1 or Blade but my head says maybe leave those 'till year two! Trouble is I want to open the garage door and think wow! I've looked at Tuono and quite like the idea of a more upright naked sports bike while getting back into the swing of things. Not being flash but money not an issue and I want to buy new. Any ideas much appreciated.
If you haven't ridden any bike at all in the past 20 years you may not want to jump straight onto a 1:1 power to weight ratio bike i.e. R1 has about 170bhp at the crank and weighs about 172 kgs and same for the Blade. Having said that I have owned both and both are awesoe bikes with the Blade being the easier to ride. This is just my humble opinion but you may want to have a quick refresher course before jumping on these machines.
The Aprilia Tuono is supposed to be a very good bike but can be a bit of an animal if provoked, but as always all bikes will only go as quick as you turn the throttle.
Good luck,
Andy.
>> Edited by Andy Oh on Friday 2nd June 09:22
The Aprilia Tuono is supposed to be a very good bike but can be a bit of an animal if provoked, but as always all bikes will only go as quick as you turn the throttle.
Good luck,
Andy.
>> Edited by Andy Oh on Friday 2nd June 09:22
Bandit 1200 ... huge torque ..very reliable GSXR 1100 engine ( air/oil cooled ) and can be tuned to your hearts desire ...140bhp at the back wheel is easy to get with just head work and it`s Great fun adding gold bits and bobs ..a good first choice ... I used to watch a guy on a tuned 1200 with WP suspension wipe the floor with ALL the sportsbikes at a few trackdays ...
>> Edited by F.M on Friday 2nd June 09:50
>> Edited by F.M on Friday 2nd June 09:50
>> Edited by F.M on Friday 2nd June 09:50
>> Edited by F.M on Friday 2nd June 09:50
If you're used to driving an AMV8 and an SR3 I'd suggest buying a 'lesser' machine will be a bit of a waste of money. You can drive the superbikes as slow as you like until you're comfortable with the performance/handling. I came back after 19 years and bought a new Aprilia RSVR Factory - the faired version of the Tuono. Haven't looked back. I too fancy having a go with a Tuono, but I trust my dealer when he says it's a complete wheelie monster, mine occasionally surprises me by picking its front wheel up when I hadn't planned it, so with the weight a bit further back and those high bars the Tuono must be a handful. I'm 6'5" so really needed a physically bigger bike.
I came to the conclusion when looking at all the Blades, R1s, GSXRs, Ducatis etc. that any of them would fit the bill and it was down to which one I preferred the looks/styling of as much as anything.
I didn't bother asking for test rides as first of all I was too nervous on someone else's bike and secondly I decided I was too out of practice on bikes to make any sensible kind of appraisal from a test ride. With 2.5k miles under my belt since getting it in February I'm starting to be able to use the performance a bit more, especially as the roads are a bit warmer/drier.
You'll probably get some interesting insurance quotes
I came to the conclusion when looking at all the Blades, R1s, GSXRs, Ducatis etc. that any of them would fit the bill and it was down to which one I preferred the looks/styling of as much as anything.
I didn't bother asking for test rides as first of all I was too nervous on someone else's bike and secondly I decided I was too out of practice on bikes to make any sensible kind of appraisal from a test ride. With 2.5k miles under my belt since getting it in February I'm starting to be able to use the performance a bit more, especially as the roads are a bit warmer/drier.
You'll probably get some interesting insurance quotes
BobM said:I think you've managed to hit several nails on the head there. I'm leaning towards going for what appeals the most and if that happens to be a 170bhp monster, relying on a slightly more mature head than twenty years ago controlling what I do with that twist grip. Trouble is - as I know from racing the Radical - that eighteen year old is still in there somewhere! Mind you I've looked at the performance of 600s - the supposed 'sensible' route - and as far as I can see one of those will get you into trouble pretty dam quickly anyway so I might as well go the whole hog to begin with.
If you're used to driving an AMV8 and an SR3 I'd suggest buying a 'lesser' machine will be a bit of a waste of money. You can drive the superbikes as slow as you like until you're comfortable with the performance/handling. I came back after 19 years and bought a new Aprilia RSVR Factory - the faired version of the Tuono. Haven't looked back. I too fancy having a go with a Tuono, but I trust my dealer when he says it's a complete wheelie monster, mine occasionally surprises me by picking its front wheel up when I hadn't planned it, so with the weight a bit further back and those high bars the Tuono must be a handful. I'm 6'5" so really needed a physically bigger bike.
I came to the conclusion when looking at all the Blades, R1s, GSXRs, Ducatis etc. that any of them would fit the bill and it was down to which one I preferred the looks/styling of as much as anything.
I didn't bother asking for test rides as first of all I was too nervous on someone else's bike and secondly I decided I was too out of practice on bikes to make any sensible kind of appraisal from a test ride. With 2.5k miles under my belt since getting it in February I'm starting to be able to use the performance a bit more, especially as the roads are a bit warmer/drier.
You'll probably get some interesting insurance quotes
F.M said:Thanks for the advice - and temptation! - why is the first bike's luggage rack bent?
Bandit 1200 ... huge torque ..very reliable GSXR 1100 engine ( air/oil cooled ) and can be tuned to your hearts desire ...140bhp at the back wheel is easy to get with just head work and it`s Great fun adding gold bits and bobs ..a good first choice ... I used to watch a guy on a tuned 1200 with WP suspension wipe the floor with ALL the sportsbikes at a few trackdays ...
>> Edited by F.M on Friday 2nd June 09:50
>> Edited by F.M on Friday 2nd June 09:50
It`s a pic from a wheelie school in Yorkshire... the extended rigging means you can pull huge wheelies without the risk of going over the back ..
BTW they can be turbo`d for £3k with around 200bhp at the back wheel if you feel the need to kill yourself ...
0-160 over the quarter mile in 9.00 secs ...
>> Edited by F.M on Friday 2nd June 10:52
BTW they can be turbo`d for £3k with around 200bhp at the back wheel if you feel the need to kill yourself ...
0-160 over the quarter mile in 9.00 secs ...
>> Edited by F.M on Friday 2nd June 10:52
F.M said:Thanks F.M I can see you could be a bad influence. By the way the luggage rack thing was my attempt at a joke................!
It`s a pic from a wheelie school in Yorkshire... the extended rigging means you can pull huge wheelies without the risk of going over the back ..
BTW they can be turbo`d for £3k with around 200bhp at the back wheel if you feel the need to kill yourself ...
0-160 over the quarter mile in 9.00 secs ...
>> Edited by F.M on Friday 2nd June 10:52
I'd buy whatever your heart says, but I'd seriously consider a couple of days back with a training school, seriously if you haven't had a bike for 20 years and passed your test longer ago than that, thinks have changed big style, I did my Instructors course nearly 10 years ago and have never used the qualification since, but I'm very very aware that alot has changed in even that time. Simply ring up a few out of the yellow pages and talk to them then do maybe a day or 2 on the your bike with a radio and instructor, (see I bet you've never even had a radio on with an instructor before!) Then buy anything.
There is nothing wrong with getting whatever bike you want and even with racing experience in a Radical and driving Aston Martins won't help with modern superbikes, four wheels is very different to two wheels. With 12 years of national & international racing under my belt, albeit in four wheels and a few years ago now, I still learn everyday from my R1 and I've had a Honda CBR 1000 RR & 2005 Yamaha R1 over the past three years.
At the end of the day it's your choice and go for whatever you want
>> Edited by Andy Oh on Friday 2nd June 12:31
At the end of the day it's your choice and go for whatever you want
>> Edited by Andy Oh on Friday 2nd June 12:31
Andy Oh said:The point I was trying to make is that he's accustomed to driving high performance machinery and will therefore have high expectations of whatever bike he gets once used to it. I fully apreciate 4-wheel skills are different to 2-wheel, but the basic roadcraft is basically the same - reading the road, anticipating the other nupties, appreciating where it's sensible to 'press on' and where not etc.
racing experience in a Radical and driving Aston Martins won't help with modern superbikes, four wheels is very different to two wheels.
You'll find the Jap bikes are getting smaller and smaller. For the larger gentleman, the Aprilias are quite comfy.
But the difference in power to the bikes you'll have ridden is just enormous. The 600s you may have ridden would have been making about 70bhp. A modern 600 supersports is making more like 120hp at the fly and they weight about the same as your hat.
You fit the Born Again Biker pattern very closely. 40+ with plenty of money to buy top-notch machinery, but with outdated skills. Unfortunately, BABs are the biggest group of biker deaths.
I think the most valuable thing you could spend your money on is training. Think about doing 2-3 days on road with an instructor. And then buy a bike. There are plenty of fantastic looking naked bikes such as the MV Brutale or Triumph speed triple. Easy going, but fast and more comfortable than sportsbikes.
But the difference in power to the bikes you'll have ridden is just enormous. The 600s you may have ridden would have been making about 70bhp. A modern 600 supersports is making more like 120hp at the fly and they weight about the same as your hat.
You fit the Born Again Biker pattern very closely. 40+ with plenty of money to buy top-notch machinery, but with outdated skills. Unfortunately, BABs are the biggest group of biker deaths.
I think the most valuable thing you could spend your money on is training. Think about doing 2-3 days on road with an instructor. And then buy a bike. There are plenty of fantastic looking naked bikes such as the MV Brutale or Triumph speed triple. Easy going, but fast and more comfortable than sportsbikes.
I'm 6'2 and find Jap bikes pretty small - my new bike, the 749s, has had a raised seat (by about 2" and the bars moved and it's made a world of difference. I'm stretched out over the bike and it feels very roomy.
Power-wise it's down on the likes of the R1 and blade etc but it makes up for it in sheer character. I don't think you'd find it remotely slow either
Fancy one for your garage?
and the bars moved and it's made a world of difference. I'm stretched out over the bike and it feels very roomy. Power-wise it's down on the likes of the R1 and blade etc but it makes up for it in sheer character. I don't think you'd find it remotely slow either
Fancy one for your garage?
If cash is not a problem, hire a bike to put some serious miles in with an Ex-plod rider over 2-3 days. A course of that kind would cost you say £500, but will bring your skills back up to a good level and quickly. I'd pick a bike with comfort over distance in mind, so you enjoy your riding and are not distracted by aching knees/wrists/back. Since you're a tall chap and to go against the grain why, not try a Beemer 1200GS? Perhaps a strange choice, but based on the recent experience of a chap I know with 20+ years in the saddle, they're seriously underated and very effective in the real world. If it works out the beemer is the one, job done, go buy it. If not drop by a dealer with stock from most manufacturers - somewhere like P&H in Crawley - set up a bunch of test rides on bikes that interest you. If you're happy to buy then go for it, if not perhaps hire a bike for a weekend to confirm your choice before you buy.
Steve.
Steve.
Edited by Steve_T on Friday 2nd June 16:34
BobM said:
The point I was trying to make is that he's accustomed to driving high performance machinery and will therefore have high expectations of whatever bike he gets once used to it. I fully apreciate 4-wheel skills are different to 2-wheel, but the basic roadcraft is basically the same - reading the road, anticipating the other nupties, appreciating where it's sensible to 'press on' and where not etc.
I agree that reading the road and anticipating the other numpties is similar but on a bike you don't have that nice metal shell to keep you protected.
I'm sure Pugsey will be fine but a training/refresher course would be the best money one could spend after 20 years out of the saddle before throwing yourself onto a modern superbike.
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