first bike

[ben lizard]

what would be a good first bike , will hopefully pass me test soon then looking to get a vfr 400 but other peeps have said a cbr 600 is the best for a first bike ,
any advice?

cheers

[mel]

My vote would be for CBR600 but it does depend on your height, weight etc alot of people are just too big for VFR400's and find them uncomfortable, remember they were designed for the "home market" in the land of the little yellow people not fat Europeans. (says the 6'3" bloke that spent a season racing a RGV250 years ago)

[kwacker]

The first bike I rode after passing my test was a Streetfighter. It had a GSXR 1000 engine in a sponden race frame. A little too powerful and not easy to ride. So I gave it back to my mate and bought a ZX6R, Easy to ride and quite powerful(i'm getting used to it now).

But anything like a ZX6R ,CBR600, Faser600 should do nicely!

[mhibbins]

I had a zx6r for a year and I found the steering to be very quick and the bike had a tendency to tuck the front in. I would not say it was an ideal first bike at all... in fact I thought it was cr*p. It was brand new and had a camchain tensioner failure and a gearbox failure. Added to that the cr*ppy handling and the gutless engine and the constant cleaning of the green wheels and I wouldn't touch one with a bargepole. I now have a fireblade and it handles much better, get one of those

[serious mode...]
My first bike was a zxr750 which scared me witless for 2 years until I traded down to a thundercat. I learnt more in a month on the thundercat than in 2 years on the zxr750. In my opinion start as low as you can, buy privately (take a mate) and trade up as soon as you're ready and you'll learn faster and shouldn't lose too much cash. Don't be pressured into getting a fast bike through fashion or by your mates. If you get confidence quickly on a smaller bike you'll be faster than them in a year or so anyway. If you must get a 600 sports then I found the thundercat to be relatively easy to ride but I'd either go for a 400 sports or a 600 naked bike like a bandit.

Mark

[Tony Hall]

First bike was bought in 2000, was a 79 honda XL185 traily (21 years old and only 2000miles on the clock) Seemed a good buy, it was, it taught me about going down the road on my head, cornering on 20 year old square cornered tyres, tucking under the screen at 70mph, to get it up to 71mph and lots lots more. Got a Triumph Sprint ST now, comfortable, dependable, fast, and no vices (yet). Don't get an out & out sports bike for your first bike. You'll only damage it, you and possibly others.

[pdavison]

My first bike was a cbr400 - I have to say it was a great first bike, easy to handle and not too quick. I'm only 5'7' so this is probably why is was so well suited to me.

After having it a year I got used to the performance so because I couldn't afford to insure the R6 I was after, I had it dynojetted and fitted with a K&N air filter and a race can - end result was a quicker, more responsive better sounding bike. Then a year later, I thought sod the insurance and bought an R6 anyway - take what you want from that !

It's probably down to personal preference, but I don't think you can go far wrong with either the cbr400 or the vfr400 (the later offering smoother power delivery).

Cheers

Paul

[Lagoo]

I passed my test at 19, and my first bike was a zxr400 (the only offically imported 400 to the UK) and i am 6ft and coped well on it ( i think its the largest 400). I learnt loads on it and i think it stopped me from killing myself.

[pelo]

SOuld first bikes not be 150-250cc? evemn the learner bikes can go bloddy fast (relative to firsat cars thast is) i rode on a m,ates 150 zuki and fck it wos scary 0-100ks 7secs i think, bout 200 ks top
I want to get a bike and now u dudes have spoilt us for chioce!

[s2ooz]

I opted for a 600cc bandit, its easy to ride, and cheap to insure, I suggest you get quotes first, its expensive stuff. but I wouldnt recommend the bandit, they dont hold there value, and there more expensive to service.

a fazer would be my recomended, but you will want to goto a supersprot like a gsxR600 within ayear.

[raceboy]

Just to chuck in another factor, I'm after my 1st bike as well no restrictions on power, but I will be using it as a commuter bike mainly, 5 mile trip traffic jam all the way got to be cheap to buy (no more than £2k used) cheap to insure, and cheap to run, not asking for much am I
Any ideas anyone, and I know sod all about bikes so make it simple

[mhibbins]

quote:Just to chuck in another factor, I'm after my 1st bike as well no restrictions on power, but I will be using it as a commuter bike mainly, 5 mile trip traffic jam all the way got to be cheap to buy (no more than £2k used) cheap to insure, and cheap to run, not asking for much am I
Any ideas anyone, and I know sod all about bikes so make it simple

Yamaha RD350 YPVS F2. 2 stroke parallel twin, 60bhp, weighs nothing, will carry 2 no problem, very narrow, pick one up for a grand, doesn't require mega-expensive 2 stroke oil, cheap to insure (classics now) and cheap tyres. They are also absolute fliers and a massive laugh on the twisties. Take someone along who knows 2-strokes to view the bike.

I wish I still had mine

Mark

[Lagoo]

RD350... for a first bike.... are you mad they were insanely quick if i remember correctly, 350 2-stroke engine, asking for trouble!!

[mhibbins]

quote:RD350... for a first bike.... are you mad they were insanely quick if i remember correctly, 350 2-stroke engine, asking for trouble!!

Nah, they are pussy cats. The YPVS exhaust valve gave you some low down torque so the power wasn't all or nothing. A bandit would out run it these days but the good thing about it was that it was so light and confidence inspiring... imo. This was actually my first bike after passing my test but sold it after 2 months and bought the zxr750 which was way too much too soon. I keep forgetting about the rd350 I briefly had but it was an absolutely perfect first bike. 2 strokes rock.

Mark

[bikerkeith]

If you want a commuter bike forget about classic 2 strokes, they are huge fun but a pain to keep running. For a short ride to work a scooter would do the job, but if you want a real bike, how about a simple 500 twin, like CB500, GS500, ER5, GPZ500. All cheap to run and insure, easy to maintain if you can handle a spanner, and can even handle track days on tight tracks if you thrash the nuts off them.
Also think about getting some advanced training, helps build awareness of the other idiots on the road as well as making biking more enjoyable.

[raceboy]

Pasted my test on an ER5, so getting one now would be like buying a micra after passing my car test
Nice bike though, toying with the idea of a 600 Bandit (£300 insurance) or a Cagiva 125 SuperMoto style thing (£200 insurance)

[mel]

RD350.......Bollocks

We are now in the 21 century, My first bike was an FS1E but I wouldn't recommend one of those either. Bandit 600 as said is a good choice for unfaired or if you want plastic an older (softer) 600 such as CBR600/ZZR600/ThunderPussy would all be good. They aren't heavy and aren't set up as sharp as the real race rep stuff IMO there really is no need for anything bigger than a 600 on UK roads today, that why I ride a ZX12

[mhibbins]

quote:but if you want a real bike, how about a simple 500 twin, like CB500, GS500, ER5, GPZ500.

Ewww, dull dull dull :P

Good bikes mind, but dull. Give me a 2-stroke any day.

Mark

[mhibbins]

quote:RD350.......Bollocks

We are now in the 21 century, My first bike was an FS1E but I wouldn't recommend one of those either.

An RD350 is about as similar to a FS1E as my arse is to, say, wembley stadium

quote:Bandit 600 as said is a good choice for unfaired or if you want plastic an older (softer) 600 such as CBR600/ZZR600/ThunderPussy would all be good.

Yes but one of his criteria was that it was cheap to run and while these are cheap to run relative to your overweight starship they are relatively expensive compared to some of the commuter fodder he really needs. I suggested an RD350 because it would do the job, would be cheap to run *and* would be something a bit different and fun.

quote:IMO there really is no need for anything bigger than a 600 on UK roads today

Now that *is* bollocks.

Mark

[s2ooz]

quote:
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IMO there really is no need for anything bigger than a 600 on UK roads today
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Now that *is* bollocks.

Mark


cant agree! a 600 sports is all that the UK is good for. I have a 955cc and its pointless, harldy get a chance to use it. fine on a track, but for sunday blasts, its much more fun on a 600 gsxr or R6. you get to thrash the engine, and the turning is much more precise.

[pdavison]

I haven't had the chance to ride anything bigger than my current R6, but I have to agree that the 600 does offer great fun and handling on british roads.

Still won't stop me lusting after a 748 though !