Newbie - Just taking lessons and dont know which bike?!

[markizok]

Guys, I have been through my cars in the past and to conserve cash and have a bit of fun I took my cbt and bought a 125cc scooter. Love the scooter but its just too slow and a bit light in the wind so I am currently taking my bike lessons.

I should pass in the next month or so and could do with some advice regarding my first “big” bike. I am 30 in November and this will be bought to possibly use all year round. As it is my first one I don’t want to overspend so I was hoping for some advise, especially as I guess insurance will not be cheap!

As for my taste, I love the look of the sports bikes but think they could be a nightmare to commute on, also they do look smaller. From what I have read the speed triple could be a winner but I don’t like the looks……

Any help would be appreciated!

[Chilli]

Hello mate, howe far is the commute?

[markizok]

Its about 5 miles, but i think a less porty bike may make be moe more sensible.....

[lawrence567]

I got a thundercat as my first & sold it 4 months later and now have a brand new k8 gsxr 600, i commute about 3 miles and its absolutely fine!

[markizok]

Its about 5 miles, but i think a less porty bike may make be moe more sensible.....

[toxgobbler]

Can't go wrong with a Honda for your first bike as they're quite forgiving, although probably not the blade or the blackbird for the first one. Go and sit on some as not all of them will fit.

[randlemarcus]

5 miles? I presume thats the short way round?

Unless the long way via the twisties is a bit longer, there's not a lot of point getting something thats going to blow your socks off, as the tyres wont even be halfway warm by then.

Is it purely for the commute, or do you think you'll be bitten, and use it for weekend fun and games as well?

If its purely for the commute, ask the DAS place if they are shifting any of their CB500s or similar for silly low money.

[markizok]

Well commute initially but overtime who knows.
To be truthful I am a bit scared of bikes so I will be careful, but I know what I am like, if its built to go fast I will want to – if I could get a sporty looking bike that was built more for cruising, that I could just chill on I would be happy – lots of torque!

Love the thundercat, cbr, cb1000, but really love the Daytona 600 – not too sure what kind of riding they are built for though!

[Chilli]

TBH, if it's purley for the commute of 5 miles, I'd get a big scooter!

[dern]

Although some bikes are most definitely easier to ride than others I commute 30 miles each way on a fireblade so over 5 miles you really could use absolutely anything you like. I'd get pretty much anything I fancied the look of which wasn't too weird and for which there was a ready market 2nd hand for and then ride that for a year. Then you'll have more of a base from which you can make a decision on what sort of bike you want after that. If you're riding it all year round though I'd steer clear of anything too chromy

[toxgobbler]

Just before you buy ask yourself luggage or rucksack. Some bikes lend themselves to one or the other.

[markizok]

Does anyone rate the thundercat, the cbr or the daytona 600?

[dern]

I really liked the thundercat I had.

[rsv gone!]

Chilli said:

TBH, if it's purely for the commute of 5 miles, I'd get a big scooter!

I'm with the decisive one on this.

Imagine the wear all those short journeys would inflict on your high performance engine. The oil would never get hot, the tyres would never heat up and likely, the battery would hardly charge.

[markizok]

This gets no easier..... what did you guys have as your first bike then, am I perhaps aiming a bit too high?

[randlemarcus]

CBR600F. Lovely thing, but the 5 mile trip wont do any of it any favours...

[Busa_Rush]

markizok said:

Does anyone rate the thundercat, the cbr or the daytona 600?

Chap I know has one, abuses it as a daily commuter, uses it for track days, brilliant bike, underrated and cheapish to buy because of it but plenty fast enough to keep up with modern bikes on the road. Seems to have been reliable too.

I had a Daytona 600, nice bike but not in the same class as the rest, if it's very cheap then it might be worth considering but a thundercat or cbr600f would be a far better choice, assuming similar condition.

Edited by Busa_Rush on Wednesday 20th August 17:15

[Al_g]

What about naked bikes. I had a mk1 fazer 600 as my first bike and it was awesome, does everything can be got very cheap, keep up with most of the sports 600's if ridden by average riders. Otherwise if it's gotta have a fairing i'd say the honda cbr600F is a safe bet.

[Ruttager]

To throw a curveball into the crowd my first big bike was, and still is my BMW 650 GS - def not a sports bike but comfertable riding position, easy to chuck gear on, easy to ride, rock solid and reliable and very easy to service and maintain. Might not be what your looking for as its a single cylinder but it's still fast enough to get to grips with. I commute about 10 miles to work on it and it always puts a big smile on my face.

Rutts

[cyberface]

rsv gone! said:

Chilli said:

TBH, if it's purely for the commute of 5 miles, I'd get a big scooter!

I'm with the decisive one on this.

Imagine the wear all those short journeys would inflict on your high performance engine. The oil would never get hot, the tyres would never heat up and likely, the battery would hardly charge.

See if you can find a Gilera 180 two-stroke scooter.

I had 3 of these for a 5 mile commute... they are monstrous fun and I could easily keep ahead of a bloke on a Fazer back from the station until the roads got straight Seriously, the 180 is light and quick enough to pull wheelies off the throttle, big stoppies if you fancy, uprate the suspension arm bushing and you can just about scrape the centrestand (or get your knee down if you're wearing the kit).

I'd have another one in a shot but all 3 of mine got stolen. I guess the chances of getting a decent one now are fairly low - all the big engined scoots are 4-stroke and weigh as much as a modern 600 sports bike.

I've got a CBR600F now but as pointed out above, it won't be warm by the end of the ride and TBH, for 5 miles I'm expecting it's urban, right? A twist and go is SO much more convenient around town than pissing about with a clutch and gears and far too much power (any modern 600 is faster than you'll ever need on commuting and on virtually all roads). Of course, a scooter with too much power is even more silly but it's fun when you're in your 30s and can be really irresponsible

Only downside is that tuned ones make a bloody horrible noise, really really offensive. I was almost embarrassed about the noise mine made...