Motoring Big Motorbike!

[Dukat]

No doubt Throd will beable to help alot here, but since I cant get on IRC from work, here we go:

I'm taking my direct access test soonish, and after that I can get a bit more of a meatier motorbike, which, having been on a CBR 125 for two years now, will be a nice change

I'm looking at either a 400cc or 600cc CBR at the moment, but I was wondering what my options were? I've been looking around, I'm mainly limited by my pricerange, which wont be massive for a start (say £1500ish), and so while I obviously want a 600cc bike over a 400cc one, I'm wondering whether I might be better off going for a 400 due to my limited price range.

That said, the only decent 400 (supposedly the CBR) is only available as an import, and while most of the parts are the same as for the 600, they wont all be the same. Also worth mentioning, is that supposedly the 400cc bikes are now all going to be atleast 10-15 years old due to them not being made anymore, or something

My main concerns are:

* Sportsbike look & feel, similar to the CBR125R I currently have, only preferably bigger

*Reliable enough that I dont have to buy a F1 pit crew to keep me on the road (no 2 strokes!)

*Halfway decent fuel consumption preferable

Any suggestions? Also, any decent tips for the direct access test?

Any help much appreciated!

 

[Dark Orb Choir]

Honada CBR 600

Suzuki GSXR 600

 

[Dukat]

Honada CBR 600

Looking like I'll be trying to get one of these, the 400's are going to be a pain to get hold of I think.

Apart from the 400 and 600 CBR's there doesnt seem to be much else out there, the kwaks seem to be unreliable, the Suzuki's seem ok but a little more expensive than honda's.

Guess I've already made my mind up, just trying to have a look around to make sure

 

[throdgrain]

Honda CBR600 is one of the most boring motorcycles the world has ever known, RR model excepted. Its pretty well made, pretty comfortable, does everything its supposed to. Me I'd sooner watch a kettle boil

However that's my opinion not yours. If you like it, do it

The CBR400RR is not the same as the 600. Its smaller slower less comfortable and infinately more fun. it's also cheaper, being secondhand obviously, and yes they're are all imports. No parts are interchangeable with a 600 to my knowledge. The 400 has an engine with gear driven cams, its a masterpiece, and sounds like a sewing machine. Dont forget the NC29 CBR400s are all much the same, however the CBR600 has been around for donkeys years and there are different models as the years go by, with vastly different componants.

The GSXR600 is more exciting than the Honda, but slightly less well made, less comfortable but better handling.

Both the standard choices of people looking to buy a 600 I expect. If you want a sports 600 or semi sports 600 that or the Kawasaki ZX-6R are good choices. Ive seen a few buggered gearboxes on the Kawasakis mind you. If you test drive one and it jumps out of gear even once, dont believe the seller saying it was bad gear selection, and run like fuck. The Hondas suffer from regulator/rectifiers that burn out, but thats not the end of the world, and from rattly cam chains, normally a new tensioner sorts that out. The Suzuki has electrical problems sometimes, no very often though.

If you're going to buy older bikes on a budget, the Suzuki I'd maybe leave. The CBR600s on maybe an R reg or so, FV model maybe, are very worthy, but like I say a bit boring. The older ZX6Rs never suffered a gearbox failure to me before 1996, and dozens after 1996.

Yer pays yer money and yer takes yer choice

 

[Dukat]

Ahh ok throd cheers, I didnt realise the cbr 600 was a boring bike I was hoping for an RR model, but those available for the sort of money I want to spend are only F models.

I'm just happy with honda's build quality on the 125 I've had for the last two years, was hoping to stick with it if I could. Would hondas build quality still be as good on a 10-15 yr old 400 though?

I might have to look at suzuki's if the cbr600 isnt going to be much fun.

Cheers for the advice though, much appreciated as always

 

[throdgrain]

Dont get me wrong mate. You might not think it's boring! Try a couple. It really depends how much you've got to spend, as to what year bike you're going to buy. If it was a 1997 bike for example, I'd probably buy a Honda over a Suzuki. If it was a 2007 I'd probably get a Suzuki over a Honda.

If it was a 1995 and a nice example, I'd get a Kawasaki over either of them

 

[Dukat]

I passed my test yesterday 2 minor faults on late lifesavers when going round parked cars but other than that no problems at all, I was well stressed before the test though!

Ripped up my L plates, how bloody good does that feel? Now I can really start to look at these bigger bikes properly!

Kinda out of the blue, but what do you think about VFR400's?

 

[DaGaffer]

Kinda out of the blue, but what do you think about VFR400's?

Congrats.

VFR400s are great, but good luck finding a good one. Real track day favourite that one.

 

[Dukat]

Congrats.

VFR400s are great, but good luck finding a good one. Real track day favourite that one.

Cheers

It looks like there's a NC30 going at a local superbike place for under £2000 (with 20k miles on it though), thinking of going to look at it this afternoon!

 

[Overdriven]

Congrats on passing Dukat ^^

 

[TdC]

yeah, congrats dude! well done!

 

[Trem]

Cheers

It looks like there's a NC30 going at a local superbike place for under £2000 (with 20k miles on it though), thinking of going to look at it this afternoon!

They sound sexual!

These deliver - Motorcycle Dealer | Motorcycle Clothing | Battery | Parts | Accessories

These deliver - MV Agusta Motorcycles For Sale - MV Agusta Motorcycles Staffordshire UK

But on either I could have a look for you if theres owt you fancy, Dans shop is a lovely place to go, always really friendly and helpful.

 

[Uara]

congrats Dukat, dont go driving too fast!! Don't want to hear about a lion being caught at 100mph on the motorway!

 

[Dukat]

Cheers everyone

I've been looking at a few links, including the ones you put down for me trem and it looks like there is alot more out there for under 2k than I'd first thought.

I've seen a couple of fairly new ZX6R's and CBR600's (as in under10 years), and they're tempting me quite a bit! I've got a few options, I guess the best bet is to just go out and test drive a few and see what I like and what I dont

I've had quite a varied experience on 125cc bikes considering - I've been on five different ones (several times each) over the past two years, although none of them were a patch on the CBR for me! but I imagine 400's and 600's will be completely different again, so I'd like to try and see whats what.

I'm really impatient when it comes to things like this (I got my CBR before I did my CBT etc), so I'd like to get a big bike asap, but I think it will be worth seeing what is about this time around and how they all compare

cheers again for the help everyone!

 

[Dukat]

Ooook I went to look at a CBR600F for 2k today, but ended up setting my heart on a 2.8k bike of the same model, but two years younger and only four thousand miles on the clock, instead of thirty!

I'll be spending a bit more than I had originally planned, but I think its worth it to get something that will last me a while.

I had a ride on both the F and F-Sport models today, and I have to say that the Sport one seemed a little too racey for me at the moment - the riding style reminded me alot of an aprillia RS50 I had a few goes on a while back (just with about a thousand-fold increase in power of course ), and I kinda struggled to see myself doing longer trips on the thing.

The F model looked exactly the same to me as far as the seat/bars placement was concerned, but felt totally different the whole "RS50" feeling was gone though, and I felt alot better on that - somewhat similar to the 125, perhaps without being so upright. I really like the digital fuel gauge/speedometer too!

It was a difficult call though, because I half wanted the F-Sport model, it looked nicer to me in some ways, but I think the F is the better choice for me, seeing as I've never had anything more than a 125 before - and even then, it wasnt a particularly fast 125 either!

I'm looking at firming things up this week and hopefully getting it bought asap, I cant wait to get my hands on the thing - I felt a little iffy riding it when it wasnt "mine".

Pics to follow as and when!

 

[throdgrain]

Nowt wrong with that bike mate I reckon it will be fine

 

[Dukat]

Picked it up a few hours ago!

All I can say is... WOW !!

I rode my 125 to the garage, an hour and a half away, then bought the new bike and rode that home (only took an hour going back! haha) I was a little cautious at first, but by the time I was 40 mins into the journey I really was enjoying myself - I was taking it easy, not really going too fast, but just having fun, a couple of times the road emptied on a nice straight and I opened her up a bit, wow she likes to move!

Overtaking pesky white vans suddenly isnt such an exercise in military planning it used to be, generally I just felt a hell of a lot more confident on the road with almost 500 extra cc's under me

I've put it away for a bit, cant wait to take her out again tomorow though!

Pics:

Spoiler

 

[TdC]

looks awesome mate. enjoy yourself!




ps where'd you take those pics? Trem's new driveway?

 

[Trem]

ps where'd you take those pics? Trem's new driveway?

LMAO!

Funny you should say that, Samm saw the pics and said "is that our driveway?"




















Bitches

 

[Uara]

ooooooooh shiny, makes me want to learn to drive a motorbike

 

[Jeros]

Awsome bud!

A young man? on a fast motorcycle?

More of a chopper/cruiser style fan myself though

 

[Dukat]

haha

My parents are trem-admirers and decided to make the drive like his

Went out again today, found a nice dual-carraigeway and tried her out, seems to be awesome so far going to take a bit of getting used to though! I have to drive up to middlesborough in a few weeks, so I'm trying to get a feel for it a bit before then.

I might try to get a tank-cam linked up at some point (got a camera here, just need to sort it out), if I manage it I'll post a video

 

[Trem]

Well I have passed my theory and done my CBT and bought a helmet today so I would like similar advice as the midget.

Whats a good bike for the taller gentleman, I am really liking the look of the Yammy TDM and it looks comfy.

I did my CBT yesterday and I am in total agony today, my arse bones are killing me

What the TDMs like throdbacon?

 

[Ctuchik]

comon, get a REAL bike :/ the plastic crap ur looking at only squeels in such a unmanly way when you crash them... no get one that rattles and throw sparks and all that manly stuff.

 

[Ctuchik]

Overtaking pesky white vans suddenly isnt such an exercise in military planning it used to be, generally I just felt a hell of a lot more confident on the road with almost 500 extra cc's under me

thats whats gonna make your bike do all those unmanly sounds tho....

 

[throdgrain]

Well I have passed my theory and done my CBT and bought a helmet today so I would like similar advice as the midget.

Whats a good bike for the taller gentleman, I am really liking the look of the Yammy TDM and it looks comfy.

I did my CBT yesterday and I am in total agony today, my arse bones are killing me

What the TDMs like throdbacon?

Not my kind of bike but that means nothing. They are pretty well made with no big faults, a forward inclined twin if I remember properly. Bloody tall, not mad fast but fast enough

 

[Trem]

Not my kind of bike but that means nothing. They are pretty well made with no big faults, a forward inclined twin if I remember properly. Bloody tall, not mad fast but fast enough

Yeah the tallness appealed to me and they are meant to be really comfy as well. I fancy a bit of what you did (ride to Europe) and I reckon this one will suit me. Bloody hard to find though, what was your old works website throd?

 

[throdgrain]

motorcyclecentre.com

Something springs to mind about TDM's, be careful for noisy camshafts, they run in the head.


edit They've got one too many miles though !

(As a motorcycle buying lesson, you can see that bike has been used for commuting, the Scottoiller is a sure sign, as well as the not high-but-getting-there miles. Gawd my old boss would kill me )

 

[Trem]

motorcyclecentre.com

Something springs to mind about TDM's, be careful for noisy camshafts, they run in the head.


edit They've got one too many miles though !

(As a motorcycle buying lesson, you can see that bike has been used for commuting, the Scottoiller is a sure sign, as well as the not high-but-getting-there miles. Gawd my old boss would kill me )

I like that one though throd

When you next going there luv? Have a look at it for me if you don't mind, they would have to deliver it though.

 

[throdgrain]

I'll see if I can get up there monday if you like mate. I've not been in nearly a year though