First bike with a difference!!
Discussion
Motivated by the brand new old stock Aprilias brought to our attention by Hornetrider and my general lust for a v-twin sports bike; I was wondering what first bikes others here had bought, that would generally be considered to be 'too much' for a first bike.
I don't even take my CBT and DAS until next weekend but when doing to usual browse through ebay / autotrader etc, I always and up looking at RSVs, SP-1s, 916s etc etc.
In reality 99.9% of insurance companies wouldn't even entertain the idea of a 27yo new rider on an SP-1 and the 0.01% that would, would want to charge me £5k plus for TPFT cover but.........
There must be a way, surely!?
So, come on fellow PHers, tell me about the Fireblades, R1s, GSXR1000s etc etc that you bought the day after passing your test. And how much lube was required before you could take the insurance premiums?
And as a side note, are v-twin sports bikes cheaper to insure that their IL4 counterparts?
For example, an SP-1 has a hair over 100 bhp and a Fireblade has got to be pushing 180-190.
I realise the twin has a tonne of torque but they're basically equal in capacity so is the insurance the same or.....do I have anything more than Bob Hope of getting my dream bike without first building a few years no-claims bonus!?
I don't even take my CBT and DAS until next weekend but when doing to usual browse through ebay / autotrader etc, I always and up looking at RSVs, SP-1s, 916s etc etc.
In reality 99.9% of insurance companies wouldn't even entertain the idea of a 27yo new rider on an SP-1 and the 0.01% that would, would want to charge me £5k plus for TPFT cover but.........
There must be a way, surely!?
So, come on fellow PHers, tell me about the Fireblades, R1s, GSXR1000s etc etc that you bought the day after passing your test. And how much lube was required before you could take the insurance premiums?
And as a side note, are v-twin sports bikes cheaper to insure that their IL4 counterparts?
For example, an SP-1 has a hair over 100 bhp and a Fireblade has got to be pushing 180-190.
I realise the twin has a tonne of torque but they're basically equal in capacity so is the insurance the same or.....do I have anything more than Bob Hope of getting my dream bike without first building a few years no-claims bonus!?
Edited by roboxm3 on Monday 4th August 15:17
Chilli said:
I started on the 600's. Aren't Suzuki still doing their deals on insurance if you buy a new one? Mine cost me £139 for the 750 last year.
Not sure the insurers are terribly keen on those policies any longer, given the frightening amount of thefts and fires that took place in week 51 of the policies...Insurers vary tremendously, but you might find that a litre twin is less likely to be frowned upon by the underwriters than an IL4. I was quite surprised to find that the premium went down significantly for my RSV, after I wrote off the Agusta. Round about 50% of the premium, which I can only assign to the fact that they have no statistics whatsoever on the bike. WHich is nice...
Did you have any points on your license?? (I've got 6! 
)roboxm3 said:
Motivated by the brand new old stock Aprilias brought to our attention by Hornetrider and my general lust for a v-twin sports bike; I was wondering what first bikes others here had bought, that would generally be considered to be 'too much' for a first bike.
I don't even take my CBT and DAS until next weekend but when doing to usual browse through ebay / autotrader etc, I always and up looking at RSVs, SP-1s, 916s etc etc.
In reality 99.9% of insurance companies wouldn't even entertain the idea of a 27yo new rider on an SP-1 and the 0.01% that would, would want to charge me £5k plus for TPFT cover but.........
There must be a way, surely!?
So, come on fellow PHers, tell me about the Fireblades, R1s, GSXR1000s etc etc that you bought the day after passing your test. And how much lube was required before you could take the insurance premiums?
And as a side note, are v-twin sports bikes cheaper to insure that their IL4 counterparts?
For example, an SP-1 has a hair over 100 bhp and a Fireblade has got to be pushing 180-190.
I realise the twin has a tonne of torque but they're basically equal in capacity so is the insurance the same or.....do I have anything more than Bob Hope of getting my dream bike without first building a few years no-claims bonus!?
Passing a test doesn't mean you know how to ride something with 100 bhp, I hope you take plenty of extra training.I don't even take my CBT and DAS until next weekend but when doing to usual browse through ebay / autotrader etc, I always and up looking at RSVs, SP-1s, 916s etc etc.
In reality 99.9% of insurance companies wouldn't even entertain the idea of a 27yo new rider on an SP-1 and the 0.01% that would, would want to charge me £5k plus for TPFT cover but.........
There must be a way, surely!?
So, come on fellow PHers, tell me about the Fireblades, R1s, GSXR1000s etc etc that you bought the day after passing your test. And how much lube was required before you could take the insurance premiums?
And as a side note, are v-twin sports bikes cheaper to insure that their IL4 counterparts?
For example, an SP-1 has a hair over 100 bhp and a Fireblade has got to be pushing 180-190.
I realise the twin has a tonne of torque but they're basically equal in capacity so is the insurance the same or.....do I have anything more than Bob Hope of getting my dream bike without first building a few years no-claims bonus!?
Edited by roboxm3 on Monday 4th August 15:17
Chilli said:
Aren't Suzuki still doing their deals on insurance if you buy a new one? Mine cost me £139 for the 750 last year.
Do you still get shafted on the 2nd year of insurance when these 'new bike' insurance specials finish...?A work mate some years back, did his DAS, passed, went into a Kwak dealer the day after and bought a brand new ZX6R with the hundred and something quid insurance deal.....without bothering to ring around to see what it would cost without the deal.....
The muppet didn't 'arf get a shock when the insurance renewal come through when the year was up....
The four figure quotes he was getting even with a years NCB meant that he ended up selling the bike as he realised he couldn't afford to run it.
lawrence567 said:
Passed 5 months ago bought a Thundercat 2002 model.
Trade it in (hopefully tomorrow) to pick up the K8 GSXR 600.
I'm 22 & i get butt raped for a new bike FC on insurance!
Gixxer-6 is the fallback bike really; for the moment I'm just looking at the possibility (very slim as it may be) of getting a litre v-twin.Trade it in (hopefully tomorrow) to pick up the K8 GSXR 600.
I'm 22 & i get butt raped for a new bike FC on insurance!
The engine capacity isn't the main issue really, but the only other, more sensible option appears to be a 749 but I don't really like the look of them and I've heard the 748s were a tad tempramental!?
[quoteblade7] Passing a test doesn't mean you know how to ride something with 100 bhp, I hope you take plenty of extra training. [/quoteblade7]
I realise that; I've been doing motocross for a while now and I won't pretend I can even get the most out of a 33-35bhp bike.
The main reason for wanting an SP-1 etc is the noise as much as anything and I realise that something like a 749 would be a more sensible option.
I just don't really like the look of them though, not to mention the price SP-1s and 'new' RSVs seem to be available for! (Blame Hornetrider, he started it!
)
I realise that; I've been doing motocross for a while now and I won't pretend I can even get the most out of a 33-35bhp bike.
The main reason for wanting an SP-1 etc is the noise as much as anything and I realise that something like a 749 would be a more sensible option.
I just don't really like the look of them though, not to mention the price SP-1s and 'new' RSVs seem to be available for! (Blame Hornetrider, he started it!
)Edited by roboxm3 on Monday 4th August 15:43
Edited by roboxm3 on Monday 4th August 15:46
Edited by roboxm3 on Monday 4th August 15:48
I had 3 years NCB as i'd had 125's since i was 18.
The policy for my the Gixxer is £925 but Suzuki have a deal on and they're paying the first £500 as its through their own sponsers for the BSB (express insurance.)
So all i pay on my policy is £425 FC inc pillion & a years breakdown cover.
The Suzuki deals for £99 insurance apply to someone with 4 years NCB & over the age of 25.
My policy on the thundercat was £310 TPFT so obviously the FC & the fact the GSXR is a brand new bike bumps it up!
The policy for my the Gixxer is £925 but Suzuki have a deal on and they're paying the first £500 as its through their own sponsers for the BSB (express insurance.)
So all i pay on my policy is £425 FC inc pillion & a years breakdown cover.
The Suzuki deals for £99 insurance apply to someone with 4 years NCB & over the age of 25.
My policy on the thundercat was £310 TPFT so obviously the FC & the fact the GSXR is a brand new bike bumps it up!
roboxm3 said:
The main reason for wanting an SP-1 etc is the noise as much as anything and I realise that something like a 749 would be a more sensible option.
I just don't really like the look of them though, not to mention the price SP-1s and 'new' RSVs seem to be available for! (Blame Hornetrider, he started it!)
You dont like the look of the 749s, or the SP-1? If the latter, why on earth would you be thinking of buying one? I just don't really like the look of them though, not to mention the price SP-1s and 'new' RSVs seem to be available for! (Blame Hornetrider, he started it!
)Dont forget the tank range is appalling on the SP1, and IIRC the low end fuelling is erm, interesting (he says, with Map 2 on the RSV, which really doesnt work under 3K). I'd be tempted to have a good look at insurance on a few bikes first, as they do like to punish the first bike...
randlemarcus said:
roboxm3 said:
The main reason for wanting an SP-1 etc is the noise as much as anything and I realise that something like a 749 would be a more sensible option.
I just don't really like the look of them though, not to mention the price SP-1s and 'new' RSVs seem to be available for! (Blame Hornetrider, he started it!)
You dont like the look of the 749s, or the SP-1? If the latter, why on earth would you be thinking of buying one? I just don't really like the look of them though, not to mention the price SP-1s and 'new' RSVs seem to be available for! (Blame Hornetrider, he started it!
)Dont forget the tank range is appalling on the SP1, and IIRC the low end fuelling is erm, interesting (he says, with Map 2 on the RSV, which really doesnt work under 3K). I'd be tempted to have a good look at insurance on a few bikes first, as they do like to punish the first bike...
I love the look of the SP-1, RSV and 916 but realise that owning one as a first bike will more than likely stay a fantasy.
The slightly more sensible alternative to owning one of the above would be something like a 748, which I've heard / read are not the most reliable or a 749 which I'm just not too keen on the look of.
lawrence567 said:
In all honesty, why are you looking at a litre sports bike?
If its your first bike whatever the size of the engine your going to get raped for the insurance.
Why not pay the same money and get a newer 600 or a 750?
Or go for a VFR or something?
As I said above, I don't necessarily want a litre sports bike, I'd just love to have a v-twin for the noise and don't really like the look of the smaller capacity alternative (Duc 749).If its your first bike whatever the size of the engine your going to get raped for the insurance.
Why not pay the same money and get a newer 600 or a 750?
Or go for a VFR or something?
Just to clarify, It's not that I think a 600/750 IL4 is not going to be quick enough.
I realise that in the real world, they are plenty powerful / quick enough and I do really like the look of them.
I want a sports bike and I want a v-twin (an an ideal world), the options for this combination seem to be very limited!?
Rick448 said:
SV650?
Not that keen on the look of them really; I'm only really looking at a fully-faired sports bike.Again, please don't take this as meaning 'my ability will be beyond the capabilities of anything less than a full-on sports bike'. My preferences are based primarily on the look and sound of the bike.
As my soon-to-be DAS instructor said to me "if you don't open the garage and 'want' to ride it, then what's the point in owning it".
Edited by roboxm3 on Monday 4th August 16:37
Litre bike is too much for a first bike IMO.
I've been riding (scooters) for 8 years, 6.5 of them with a full licence and got myself a Thundercat (600) as a first 'big bike', it has a claimed 100bhp and is more than enough for a noob. Quite capable of getting to silly speeds in a very short space of time should you so desire.
Going to get used to it for a year or two, and then I'll be looking at a litre bike.
I've been riding (scooters) for 8 years, 6.5 of them with a full licence and got myself a Thundercat (600) as a first 'big bike', it has a claimed 100bhp and is more than enough for a noob. Quite capable of getting to silly speeds in a very short space of time should you so desire.
Going to get used to it for a year or two, and then I'll be looking at a litre bike.
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