Quarter life crisis!
Discussion
Having recently finished University and now fully immersed in the drudgery that is full-time work, I'm looking to inject a little excitement into my life.
The choice is going to be either between a motorbike and a 'hardcore' sports car, such as a pokey Westfield or some other 7-esque car. Living in a city centre, the bike is the most practical! (And secure parking isn't a problem).
I already hold a manual motorcycle licence and have most of the kit, so all I need to do is chose a bike! This'll be my first 'proper' bike, having mainly ridden large scooters up to now (500/600cc). My experience on manual bikes has been limited mainly to sub 500cc machines so my intention is to get a bit of training first.
I want something that'll last me 2-3 years that I won't tire of within a few months (I bore easily). I have a car to do the boring/business miles in so initially the bike will be purely pleasure.
That said, if things go to plan my total mileage will be reduced considerably but my commute will become 15 miles each way of fantastic (but often busy) roads making the bike a good option.
Other criteria is that it should be under 6k and I would prefer to buy new.
My short-list is, so far:-
I'd really like to whittle the choice down to 2-3 bikes so I can test ride. Once i've chosen 'the' bike for me, I can then pit it against the idea of the Westfield.
Opinions of the above bikes? Willing to look at others too!
The choice is going to be either between a motorbike and a 'hardcore' sports car, such as a pokey Westfield or some other 7-esque car. Living in a city centre, the bike is the most practical! (And secure parking isn't a problem).
I already hold a manual motorcycle licence and have most of the kit, so all I need to do is chose a bike! This'll be my first 'proper' bike, having mainly ridden large scooters up to now (500/600cc). My experience on manual bikes has been limited mainly to sub 500cc machines so my intention is to get a bit of training first.
I want something that'll last me 2-3 years that I won't tire of within a few months (I bore easily). I have a car to do the boring/business miles in so initially the bike will be purely pleasure.
That said, if things go to plan my total mileage will be reduced considerably but my commute will become 15 miles each way of fantastic (but often busy) roads making the bike a good option.
Other criteria is that it should be under 6k and I would prefer to buy new.
My short-list is, so far:-
- Yamaha Fazer S2-N
- Kwak ER6-N
- Kwak Z750
- Suzuki SV650/S
- Suzuki GSR600
- Ducati Monster 695
- Ducati Monster 696
I'd really like to whittle the choice down to 2-3 bikes so I can test ride. Once i've chosen 'the' bike for me, I can then pit it against the idea of the Westfield.
Opinions of the above bikes? Willing to look at others too!
I had a Fazer after passing my DAS in Oct 06. was a great bike in every way. cheap to run, commute, fast and did everything I wanted. only reason I sold it was that I always wanted a Speed triple, had the money and the wife's go ahead
I also like the Kwak Z750. best to test ride then all and see what you want.
and for a proper sports car check my profile. not a caterinvan on westy but great fun also
I also like the Kwak Z750. best to test ride then all and see what you want.
and for a proper sports car check my profile. not a caterinvan on westy but great fun also
Edited by RemaL on Sunday 13th January 19:48
I used to get bored of cars pretty quickly, too. I include a particularly outrageous car in that.
With bikes it's different. Every time you open the garage and get on it, before you've even started it, you feel alive, awake and possibly scared. Whether you're off on a trackday or tootling to work, its hard to get bored of it.
Sorry, I was rambling. SV650S.
With bikes it's different. Every time you open the garage and get on it, before you've even started it, you feel alive, awake and possibly scared. Whether you're off on a trackday or tootling to work, its hard to get bored of it.
Sorry, I was rambling. SV650S.
podman said:
I cant see any in that list that will keep you interested for 3 years...thats a hard call for a new machine with a 6k budget...if its something sporty your after you can ,with another £500 to your budget ,get a new GSXR750 K7...food for thought..
Relly? Six and a half for a new one. Thieving bastids, I paid £8 for mine!!!MKH9130 said:
My short-list is, so far:- In the same situation last year, this was my thought process
As you can tell I went with the SV650S, which I ride most days of the week to work for the last year. I didn't really put a vast amount of thought into the purchase as I assumed (correctly) that as a new biker its unlikely that I would be able to make any conclusions up on the test ride other than to check that the bike worked well.- Yamaha Fazer S2-N - Don't like the look of it, too upright wanted a proper sports bike
- Kwak ER6-N - Decent looking bike but why buy it when the SV650S is basically better than it in every way
- Kwak Z750 Out of my price range, and got some pretty awful reviews in Bike
- Suzuki SV650/S I bought a 99 SV650S with lower fairing for £1900
- Suzuki GSR600 To much bike for a noob, plus you have to rev nuts off it to make it fly
- Ducati Monster 695 Didn't even consider a Ducati as a first bike, probably something to with me already owning an Italian performance vehicle with attendant paranoia that brings (what's that noise/vibration and how much will it cost
- Ducati Monster 696
As far as the speed issue goes the SV650S has enough poke to get you into trouble fast enough on most roads and I rarely find myself thinking I want more power even after owning it for a year. I would however like some more damping preferably some adjustable dampers as I am 16 stone and thus probably outside of the limits that they designed the bike for.
Or buy the bike you think you will want in 6 to 12 months now and take it easy. That way you save on the cost of changing, and you will be going out more because it is on a bike you want, not a compromise.
I have said before, you can kill yourself on an SV650 just as easily as on a CBR600. Get what you want and don't listen to the little deomon on your shoulders! (of course, this only stands if you are confident riding any bike. If you are not a confident rider by all means get something less intimidating or you risk having no fun at all).
I have said before, you can kill yourself on an SV650 just as easily as on a CBR600. Get what you want and don't listen to the little deomon on your shoulders! (of course, this only stands if you are confident riding any bike. If you are not a confident rider by all means get something less intimidating or you risk having no fun at all).
Cheers for the replies chaps.
I'd prefer to buy new, even if I have to extend the budget very slightly for the right bike. Whilst it is all relative, £2k for an 8 year old bike or £4k-£4.5k for a brand new bike makes it a no-brainer for me.
I'm not really after an all-out sports bike. Sure, I enjoy speed, but I'm more after the experience rather than anything else. Some of the best fun I've had (clothed) has been on 50cc mopeds on the right road, right time, right weather etc etc! Hence why the Ducatis appeal a lot to me.
I'm also happy to have a more powerful bike and restrict myself to riding it within my ability! I'm not a complete noob to two wheels, but essentially am for manual bikes! I learnt to drive in a 250bhp car and didn't kill myself!
The MCN review I've read had said that the ER6 is better than the Fazer and the SV650?
I know the best thing to do is to test ride them, but I don't want to test ride 7 or 8 models. Too much choice! I'd rather narrow my choice to 3 or 4 bikes and take the decision from there!
I'd prefer to buy new, even if I have to extend the budget very slightly for the right bike. Whilst it is all relative, £2k for an 8 year old bike or £4k-£4.5k for a brand new bike makes it a no-brainer for me.
I'm not really after an all-out sports bike. Sure, I enjoy speed, but I'm more after the experience rather than anything else. Some of the best fun I've had (clothed) has been on 50cc mopeds on the right road, right time, right weather etc etc! Hence why the Ducatis appeal a lot to me.
I'm also happy to have a more powerful bike and restrict myself to riding it within my ability! I'm not a complete noob to two wheels, but essentially am for manual bikes! I learnt to drive in a 250bhp car and didn't kill myself!
The MCN review I've read had said that the ER6 is better than the Fazer and the SV650?
I know the best thing to do is to test ride them, but I don't want to test ride 7 or 8 models. Too much choice! I'd rather narrow my choice to 3 or 4 bikes and take the decision from there!
I have to say I went straight to the GSX-R600, (new as well 
) just for those reasons mentioned above, did not want to buy and insure a bike, only to change it a few months later, seemed an expensive way to do it.
The thing is, I have been through the usual new biker experience, I dropped it. Slowly, but enough to do some cosmetic damage, scratched fairing and new crash bung, would have been a lot less, but it was on the curb
. Had it fixed, not to expensive, and all is fine. As to riding it, it is quick and it will perform way above my abilities now but I still have something to grow into. You can ride sensibly on any bike, but it does take restraint and control. Would I do it again.... I can not say that sometimes I do wonder if maybe getting a bandit would have been a more sensible option, especially now in winter, but on the whole I am happy with my situation, and the lessons learned.
You just have to be prepared to suck it up if, when, you make a mistake. it will still cost money to repair even if you are on an older machine, but maybe not as much.
You will not regret it, I think you would enjoy yourself on any of those bikes. At the end of the day, just being out there is the key.
) just for those reasons mentioned above, did not want to buy and insure a bike, only to change it a few months later, seemed an expensive way to do it.The thing is, I have been through the usual new biker experience, I dropped it. Slowly, but enough to do some cosmetic damage, scratched fairing and new crash bung, would have been a lot less, but it was on the curb
. Had it fixed, not to expensive, and all is fine. As to riding it, it is quick and it will perform way above my abilities now but I still have something to grow into. You can ride sensibly on any bike, but it does take restraint and control. Would I do it again.... I can not say that sometimes I do wonder if maybe getting a bandit would have been a more sensible option, especially now in winter, but on the whole I am happy with my situation, and the lessons learned.You just have to be prepared to suck it up if, when, you make a mistake. it will still cost money to repair even if you are on an older machine, but maybe not as much.
You will not regret it, I think you would enjoy yourself on any of those bikes. At the end of the day, just being out there is the key.
MKH9130 said:
Whilst the SV650/Fazer/ER6 are the stereotypical first 'bigger bikes', I'm unsure they'll last me more than a year before I want something with more soul/speed. The Dukes look fabulous (in my opinion) which makes up for their lack of sheer go, and the GSR600 and Z750 seem to be good beginner faster budget bikes.
too!
I've got a SV650S and would say you've got it spot on.too!
Out of those I'd go for the GSXR-600. the Z750 doesn't get such good reviews... though it may come down to the riding position you prefer.
I was in your situation and went for the SV650S Sport (fully faired model from the factory)
I bought it new for £3800 from my local dealers.
It is pleanty quick enough off the line. It will get to 120leptons very easily even on little straights. It handles very well for a budget bike.
Its not very comfortable though. I'm 6ft and 13.5 stone it makes my balls ache and makes me want to fart non stop.
I have to say the sound of the Vtwin is by far the most sexual sound to come out of a bike that i have ever heard.
More to the point it is great for learning to ride on, its absolutely hilarious when your passing noobs on 1000 4's on your favourite twistys as they had it as a first bike and are to scared to ever use it properlly for fear of spinning the rear out of a corner and making a hole in the hedge. Yeah they can do 170+Leptons down the straight but cant ride for shit in the corners.
I, to be honest, do now crave for a quicker straight line bike. My next bike will be a SS1000 because i want to do 170+leptons, but I DO NOT for one second regret starting of on a cheaper bike to learn to ride PROPERLY on.
Its your choice though, have a look on the sv650.org the community is amazing and any problem you get with the bike will be easily sorted as there is plenty of advice from great people on there.
For sheer fun, learning, noise and community i would recommend the sv650.
I bought it new for £3800 from my local dealers.
It is pleanty quick enough off the line. It will get to 120leptons very easily even on little straights. It handles very well for a budget bike.
Its not very comfortable though. I'm 6ft and 13.5 stone it makes my balls ache and makes me want to fart non stop.
I have to say the sound of the Vtwin is by far the most sexual sound to come out of a bike that i have ever heard.
More to the point it is great for learning to ride on, its absolutely hilarious when your passing noobs on 1000 4's on your favourite twistys as they had it as a first bike and are to scared to ever use it properlly for fear of spinning the rear out of a corner and making a hole in the hedge. Yeah they can do 170+Leptons down the straight but cant ride for shit in the corners.
I, to be honest, do now crave for a quicker straight line bike. My next bike will be a SS1000 because i want to do 170+leptons, but I DO NOT for one second regret starting of on a cheaper bike to learn to ride PROPERLY on.
Its your choice though, have a look on the sv650.org the community is amazing and any problem you get with the bike will be easily sorted as there is plenty of advice from great people on there.
For sheer fun, learning, noise and community i would recommend the sv650.
I had a ducati monster m600 as my first bike and loved it for the first few months then got a bit bored of it. If your into fast cars the likely hood is you'll want a fast bike, maybe not for the first couple of months but you'll soon want more i ended up getting a vtr 1000 sp1 with the intension of using the duke to commute to work on, in reality i rode it about 4 times, then in the end sold it. Dont know about 695 monster but dont think it will be much different. But if i done it again i'd just go straight for a bigger bike and remember the thing on the end of your right wrist is there to control how fast you go.
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