Motorbike!

[Dukat]

Hey all,

Ok, so I had my first go on a bike the other day (riding on the back of my dad's "suzuki 1100" thing) and I've suddenly become obsessed with the idea of getting a bike and getting on the road ASAP!

I'm 20... 21 in like 9 days, and I'm just looking at how much in the way of funding I would need before starting out. I've been looking around on the 'net for information on this, some of it has helped but some of it is still unclear.

I hold a standard provisional drivers licence, does this mean I can get on any <125cc bike as soon as I do the CBT?

Also, I really, REALLY want to be as far away from the "scally scooter" crew as possible, I'm not much a fan of the 'dirt bike' look either and I'd really like to get a bike that looks like a bike, hence I've been looking at some really nice Honda NS125R's, which apparently are "Learner Legal". would this do for a decent starter? or is this too much? would the insurance be affordable? some of the reviews I've been reading up on are apparently of people who had a NS125R as thier first bike. If an NS125R would be too much, is there something that is better suited to a beginner without looking like a toy? (I've been looking at other, similar bikes also, the Yamaha TZR125 and the Kawasaki KR1-S in particular)

I'm not worried about the speed to begin with, I dont want to be killing myself or anything, and I reckon that for a starter I'd like to take it easy anyway, but I dont want to be going around on some jumped up hairdryer that has my neighbours giggling every time I start it up

Any help much appreciated!

EDIT: and btw yes, I have searched these forums for similar threads, found one that kinda helped but alot of what I feel I need to know is unclear, hence this thread

 

[GDW]

Bin the KR1-S for starters. Its 250cc (was very quick in its day) and it will kill or maim you without some decent road skills.

My advice is to buy a learner restriced 125cc bike. If its the race reps you are after then the little NSR will do you just fine for a couple of years. Once you have had a couple of years experience on this then you can move onto something a bit bigger, say a 600cc fourstroke .

 

[Dukat]

Bin the KR1-S for starters. Its 250cc (was very quick in its day) and it will kill or maim you without some decent road skills.

My advice is to buy a learner restriced 125cc bike. If its the race reps you are after then the little NSR will do you just fine for a couple of years. Once you have had a couple of years experience on this then you can move onto something a bit bigger, say a 600cc fourstroke .

Cheers for the advice, much appreciated want to aviod killing myself if at all possible

Definately been thinking alot about the NSR alot more, although after looking around I've also seen alot of praise for the Aprilia RS125, is this worth considering as an alternative ?

Just trying to research a bit to see where abouts in the price range I should be looking, it seems like you can pay as much as you want to for these things in terms of quality, but I'm just trying to find something that will see me through the first few years. I'm not certain on how much cash I'll have to spend yet, but obviously getting the best deal possible would be what I'm aiming for.

Cheers again for the advice though!

 

[throdgrain]

All the 2-stroke 125's are essentially hand grenades. ie they blow up!
Get a CBR125, 4-stroke and much better.
Or even better than that, wait until you are 21, then take the full A1 test via a training scheme, and then buy a proper bike , say 400cc or 600.

 

[Aada]

Hey all,

Ok, so I had my first go on a bike the other day (riding on the back of my dad's "suzuki 1100" thing) and I've suddenly become obsessed with the idea of getting a bike and getting on the road ASAP!

I'm 20... 21 in like 9 days, and I'm just looking at how much in the way of funding I would need before starting out. I've been looking around on the 'net for information on this, some of it has helped but some of it is still unclear.

I hold a standard provisional drivers licence, does this mean I can get on any <125cc bike as soon as I do the CBT?

Also, I really, REALLY want to be as far away from the "scally scooter" crew as possible, I'm not much a fan of the 'dirt bike' look either and I'd really like to get a bike that looks like a bike, hence I've been looking at some really nice Honda NS125R's, which apparently are "Learner Legal". would this do for a decent starter? or is this too much? would the insurance be affordable? some of the reviews I've been reading up on are apparently of people who had a NS125R as thier first bike. If an NS125R would be too much, is there something that is better suited to a beginner without looking like a toy? (I've been looking at other, similar bikes also, the Yamaha TZR125 and the Kawasaki KR1-S in particular)

I'm not worried about the speed to begin with, I dont want to be killing myself or anything, and I reckon that for a starter I'd like to take it easy anyway, but I dont want to be going around on some jumped up hairdryer that has my neighbours giggling every time I start it up

Any help much appreciated!

EDIT: and btw yes, I have searched these forums for similar threads, found one that kinda helped but alot of what I feel I need to know is unclear, hence this thread

Get abit of experiance before you jump on any powerful bike.. as someone said the sheer power will suprise you and will likely cause an accident.

 

[GDW]

All the 2-stroke 125's are essentially hand s. ie they blow up!

No offense Throd but that's bollox. If you look after them the way they are mean't too. I've ridden 2-stroke motorbikes for over 20 years and never had one even seize on me let alone blow up...and yes I've thrashed the nuts off some off them.(then again Im a 2 stroke nut and do look after them)

Get a CBR125, 4-stroke and much better.

Yes they are more reliable and will do more mpg but do you really want to look like a twat (plus they are slow and handle like a thirty year old bike.) These bikes are mostly ridden by commuters and old men, I think he wants a bit of fun

Or even better than that, wait until you are 21, then take the full A1 test via a training scheme, and then buy a proper bike , say 400cc or 600.

Fine if you can wait that long

 

[Tom]

Before you get a motorbike, get a pushbike and ride around a city centre for a few weeks.

You'll either learn good road sense and be a good rider, or you'll be so traumatised by the experience that you'll forget about buying a motorbike.

Remember, most car drivers are ignorant of proper road safety. Most motorcyclists I see are split into two groups - safe, experienced riders (the majority), and organ donors.

 

[Dukat]

All the 2-stroke 125's are essentially hand grenades. ie they blow up!
Get a CBR125, 4-stroke and much better.
Or even better than that, wait until you are 21, then take the full A1 test via a training scheme, and then buy a proper bike , say 400cc or 600.

Yea Throd I've been thinking about what you said about that in IRC. There seems to be two schools of thinking when it comes to 2 stoke 125's. One is that they are unreliable, dangerous and not worth it, the other is that they look after you if you look after them.

I've been thinking about it, seeing as I'll be 21 in like 5 days waiting for that isnt an issue, I'm thinking of the CBT only for now to try and give me an easy start - I'd like to learn a bit before I buy a bike that I can really go to town on and spend alot of money making it into what I want. Mainly I just want to get a feel for all of this on a low powered bike, while having something that I think looks nice

At the end of the day it seems like the most cost effective start for me is to get a 125 on a CBT licence and leave it at that for 6 months to a year, then upgrade to a full licence and a bigger, 'proper' bike when I have the experience and the funding to beable to give it the money it needs. I know that it wont be cost effective if I'm continually have to buy replacement parts, but I dont think it should be all that bad if I look after the bike.


Cheers again for all the advice, you have all really helped alot!

 

[throdgrain]

Theres people that say that RS125s are reliable.

And theres people who have experience of them

Our other branch sells a lot of them, and they have a very high failure rate. This is partly because they are tuned to fuck. I know its only a 125, but they have a very very high bhp/litre figure, at least as high as a F1 racing car. that makes them good fun for a bit, then pretty expensive.
GDW I know you have an opinion on this, but Im talking about ecxperiences with dozens of them.
I wont even have one in my shop.

edit actually GDW after re-reading your post, you have simply taken my post to pieces for the sake of it.
Let me help you out. I dont care how many pony 2-strokes you have ridden, we're not talking about them, we're talking about RS125s. They blow up mate. Period.
CBR125's look quite sporty, and go quite well. They are a much better bike than a Aprillia.
He says hes 21 in 9 days, so its not long to wait is it?
Im sure you're aware, but I worked full time in the motorcyclre industry for 15 years. And before that I was a full time biker for a futher 10, including some despatching, not that that matters much I know.
This doesnt mean my opinion is everything, not when an opinion is just that, an opinion. But it does mean a lot when talking about the chances of something blowing up, because I see a lot of examples of the same bikes, and I know the percentages.
IE Not all Kawasaki zx6rs and zx9rs have gearbox problems in post 1998 models. But Id say 15 -20% do.
And not all RS125's blow up, but Id say a good 10% of those we sell do, and bear in mind most only get a months warranty, so if they blow up post then I wouldnt get to hear of it!

 

[Dukat]

Cheers again for the advice throd, been looking at your website and its clear you have alot of experience that I could learn from

My dad's also had alot of bike experience (he's been using a bike since he was in the army at 15 and did the signal's display team course at one point). He said that the NSR seemed like a nice starter bike and that it shouldn't seize up as long as it's looked after.

Is this a reasonable statement? as long as I keep the bike in a relatively good state of repair should it be more or less as reliable as a CBR?

Just wondering, being a bit of a bike newb means I just dont know some of the things you experienced people may take for granted I understand the difference between 2 and 4 stroke, and so I can see why a 4stroke would be a good thing to go for, but that said is a 2 stroke really that bad and unreliable?

Cheers again for the advice, whichever bike I choose the advice definately helps and I'm grateful for it!

 

[Trem]

I had a TZR 125 when I was a youngster, bloody quick if you turn the power valve to the open position, good for 100mph iirc.

I am also thinking of getting back into bikes but need to take the tests, I am not sure I can be arsed with all that, besides I will fail(again) anyways......can't listen to people telling me stuff etc.

My favourite 125 was my KMX, that was lots more fun and easier to ride than the TZR, but its a trial bike look. I always felt the Yamaha's felt stiffer somehow.

Listen to throd, no offense to GDW but throd knows his shit.

 

[GDW]

Throd, I didnt take your post apart for the sake of it. Im a big fan of two stroke bikes and have been for a long time. You said in your post that "All the 2-stroke 125's are essentially hand grenades. ie they blow up!"

I took issue on that because it was a sweeping generalisation. Had you said that it was the NSR that was a handgrenade then I wouldn't have made any comment as Im only famiiar with the first model that came out in the late eighties.

I respect the experience you have, both as a biker and as someone who works in the industry, but having ridden owned and restored a shed load of two strokes I believe I have enough experience to take issue with you on that comment.

 

[Trem]

My dad sold cars, he was a car salesman. He hated certain makes and models because of the grief they gave him(he hated Fords the most). I imagine its a similar thing with throd and certain bikes, but even the big Aprillias are unreliable I hear.

The old NSR 125's were sloooooow, I always wanted an NSR 400(or 500) can't remember which it was, they were sex.

2 strokes also have the best smell, brings back my youth when I smell one.

 

[throdgrain]

Its not a irrational dislike tbh m8. Most sporty two-stroke 125s are pretty unreliable for everyday use, its just that the RS125 is the worst
Only last week we did a RS seizure job, it cost the customer about £400 plus no bike for a fortnight. And that was a discounted job too!
I tend to become a bit obsessed with whats reliable and what isnt, after all thats where my main headaches come from, especially when the bike is owned by a novice.Id always recommend a 4 stroke to a beginner, every time.
Its a bit different for people for accustomed to bikes ,they can deal with it a bit better, but to a new rider, 4 stroke everytime.
There arnt many ring-dingers about nowadays anyway, which is a shame in a way, but thats life I used to sell RD and RG500's way back , they were good fun. But of course time moves on, you put a RD500LC up against a CBR600RR and the Yamaha is going to get its arse handed to it.
Progress innit

 

[Dukat]

Ok so I'm now looking at either a CBR 125 or a NSR 125 I think I'm beginning to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each, I guess the CBR may be the better choice but I think the NSR will suffice as a good alternative for my first bike.

I think it will depend alot on what I can find for what price, as cash will be the main limiting factor. I'm looking to spend between £500 and £1000, but I'm not sure how realistic this pricerange is for a first bike, so I may well end up having to go over that.

Obviously I've been looking in all the usual places for used bikes - autotrader, ebay and the like, although I think (and hope) that I'll have more luck when I get back home as I'll beable to check local adverts and ask around from there.

Cheers again for the advice, much appreciated, if I do end up getting an NSR I'll make sure to take extra care with it.

I'll let ya know how it goes

 

[Trem]

Get a bike off throd, he will do you a good deal I'm sure.

 

[Dukat]

Get a bike off throd, he will do you a good deal I'm sure.

Yea, it would be good if I could get a bike from throd tbh, online tech support!! I can see it now...

PikeyReaXion:"Throd the bike doesnt work!"
PikeyReaXion:"Throd Where's the igniton!?"
PikeyReaXion:"Throd Why are my tyres square?"
PikeyReaXion:"Throd where has 3rd gear gone!"
PikeyReaXion:"Throd yoda ate my keys!!!"
PikeyReaXion:"Throd the bikes out of petrol, what now!!!"
PikeyReaXion:"Throd I cant find reverse!!!"
PikeyReaXion:"Throd I want a side car!"

PikeyReaXion:""

I had the link the other day on IRC but had to go just after, I did look at it briefly but as I say I had to go out in a fair rush, and I cant seem to find it

Throd, could I get the link to it again at some point? I'd definately be interested in having a look at what's on offer!

 

[Trem]

Didn't know you were Pikey

Hello there Pikey{KEA}, you are all clear to play now btw.

Throd will see you right if you can get to him in a van(Crawley).

 

[Dukat]

Didn't know you were Pikey

Hello there Pikey{KEA}, you are all clear to play now btw.

Throd will see you right if you can get to him in a van(Crawley).

Hi

Will have to see, seems that Crawley is the other side of London from me, but if there's a decent bike going then I may beable to sort something, my uncle does alot of joinery an kitchen fitting in London afaik, may beable to swing round with him in the van at some point. I'll have to see!

All being well, by monday I'll be back at home, at which point I'll make sure to idle in IRC when we've got a match going.

 

[Dukat]

On the bike thing again,

I've been reading up a bit more about CBR's vs NSR's, and I've seen alot of references to the CBR being more sturdy and reliable but there is always some comment that crops up when talking about the CBR, something like "but its not as fun as...." etc. The NSR tends to be more universally liked, people refer to it as "fun" almost whenever they mention it. Only once or twice have I seen the reference to it being unreliable.

Are these generalisations accurate? Why is the CBR generally not classed as a 'fun' bike? I'm definately leaning towards the CBR path now but I'm just wondering what is meant by this reference to it not being as fun as most other sports 125's.

Cheers again for all the help

 

[Clown]

It's tiny and slow. It's about as big as a peddle bike.

 

[throdgrain]

Its a much better bike.

Anyway, its down to what you want, no one else. I , to be honest, dont have much to do with 125s. I dont even keep any at the branch I work at. To be they are a passport to a bigger bike. In fact I mostly advise customers not to bother with a 125, and simply take thier test on a hired bike via the week-long courses people offer.
Having said that I realise some people are younger and want a 125 because thats all they can insure. Check out our website at www.motorcyclecentre.com , the 125s are normally at the Felbridge branch.

 

[Dukat]

Its a much better bike.

Anyway, its down to what you want, no one else. I , to be honest, dont have much to do with 125s. I dont even keep any at the branch I work at. To be they are a passport to a bigger bike. In fact I mostly advise customers not to bother with a 125, and simply take thier test on a hired bike via the week-long courses people offer.
Having said that I realise some people are younger and want a 125 because thats all they can insure. Check out our website at www.motorcyclecentre.com , the 125s are normally at the Felbridge branch.

brilliant, cheers

 

[GDW]

The NSR should be quicker and handle much better. Its a fun bike for scratching along country roads. If you want a fun bike to ride at the weekends/evenings Id go for it. If you want a bike to commute everyday and use for fun then get the CBR

 

[Dukat]

It seems I've bought a CBR125

Strangely enough its actually like, 2-3 miles away from where I was staying when I was working up in middlesborough. My Dad lives up that way so he went over and checked it out for me, did a test drive and all that, supposedly it checks out nice.

I've made arrangements and I'll get it bought (hopefully) and leave it up there with my Dad untill I can get my CBT done, then go up there, learn a bit, then drive it back home(norfolk) after I've got a bit of confidence on it My dad has said he'll get his bike sorted and ride down with me so I'll have a bit of support the whole way down

Next challenge is getting the CBT done I guess. Cheers for all the advice though guys! Much appreciated!

 

[Calaen]

Bikes are for Lesbians. I understand why Trem wants one

 

[throdgrain]

Good luck with you bike mate Cal thinks bikes are for girls, but then he wants one, because he is a girl