New Rider

[tim2100]

Hi

I'm doing my Direct access course in Jan, and I'm wondering what Bike to get after my test, I was thinking of getting a 6 year old CBR600, but the insurance was way to high - £1900 TPFT (I'm 23 with two car accidents (Both 2 years ago)

A friend has suggested a Suzuki GS500, What do you think of these?

I don't want a mega quick bike, just something I can throw around, and it doesn't cost the earth If i drop it, but I don't want a 250 that I have to kill to get any decent speed.

What would you guys recommend?

Tim.

[tycho]

I passed a few months ago and it was the best thing I have ever done! I bought a GPZ500 which, admittedly it is not the greatest bike in the world but it is still quick enough to scare me. I plan to keep it over the winter and sell it in March/April and get a 600 sport bike. Just ride a few and see what you like best. You won't regret it.

[s2ooz]

bandit or fazer? both 600. sprots bikes are too high on insurance.

NB a 250 (was/is?) the fastest accelerating bike available due to power/weight. and will probably top 130mph.

my mate had an aprillia 125 that hit 115mph..

[Whoozit]

GS500 good, solid but dull. Cheap to run. Fazer/Bandit/Hornet/SV650 all recommended as beginner's bikes. I've had an SV650 for the past two years since I passed my test, I ride every day and I'm still learning about what this bike can do, let alone a sportsbike.

[tim2100]

Right,

Thanks for your replies

Wouldn't mind a Bandit,
don't fancy a SV as bigger engine=higher insurance - nice bike though!,
whats bikes a hornet?


Had some insurance quotes online.

GS500 £504.79
CBR600 £1078.40
Bandit £912.50

Seems to be a large insurance gap by going to a 600 from a 500. So looks like I will be on the lookout for a GS500, unless there is anyother 400-500 bikes worthwhile looking at?

Tim.

edited to say thanks for replying

>> Edited by tim2100 on Friday 13th December 13:36

[Whoozit]

Are you sure you told them it was a 600 bandit? That quote looks a little high, there is also a 1000cc bandit. Remember that there are different flavours of 600cc bikes, as well - a Honda CBR600 is a completely different animal from a Honda Hornet, but they both have the same size engine.

Another alternative to think about might be a motard-type bike, like an XR650 or maybe a 400. Not that much power but a real laugh, apparently.

[s2ooz]

The SV650 is happily considered a commuter by the insurance folk, so engine size isnt a problem here. try a quote, it is a good bike.

They make a 1200 bandit (sorry being pedantic) and a 600, check your quote, that seems high.

have you tried the online bennets site?
www.bennetts.co.uk

[tim2100]

It was definatly a Bandit 600, the online insurance gave two 600 option's, on with fairing and one without, I select the one with.

Agree with you on the SV front, however they are still fairly new, so I doubt I will get a good one for less than the £2400, I can just about afford.

Tim.

[iguana]

Suzi GS is tight for tall people, I had a Kwaker ER500 as a loan bike and thought it was was ace and pretty nippy when wound right up. The Honda CB500 is similar but a bit better built and is thus a bit more expensive.

[dimmadan]

what about baby blade? 400cc fireblade, or Honda Hornet, theyre v chuckable , you can get your knee down on roundabouts all day, 600cc....

[epo88]

The Kawasaki ER 500 is much underated. Get an un-restricted one and there is plenty of cheap fun to be had - reliable too - or for a more sporty image and better brakes etc get a GPZ500 - and don't feel hard done by having to ride smaller bikes - in many ways they are as much fum as big ones because the smaller mass makes them easier to chuck about and manoever, and even a 500 is quicker than all but the mostly badlly and quickly driven cars. I seem to buy a big one and wish I'd kept the small one and then do the opposite every year or two!

[steveblade_uk]

Is a smaller sports bike out of the question? There are some dam good 400cc bikes out there, they arn't always cheap though although the insurance is cheaper. RVF 400 is a good but expensive one maybe a 400 import bandit would fit the bill, not realy a sportsbike but very close! I started out on a yam FZ600 cost me £1600 and £800 for insurance.

[tim2100]

Ou looking at bikes over the weekend, with my father.

We are looking for bikes for me, and He buys a 2003 ZX9R in light blue!!! - Git!

Saw a really nice 600 hornet, Y reg, 5000 miles, for £3400 a bit more than i wanted to go, but can just about afford it, then checekd online insurance (quick quote on bennetts.co.uk) and it was £50 more than on a CBR600?

Also saw an ER5, so think I will go for a GS500 or ER5, i think the GS looks better, & newer.

Tim.

[Basil Brush]

Have you tried 1stQuote insurance? They were very cheap for me on a CBR400 when I first passed my test. I can recommend a Baby Blade if you are less than about 5'10" as it's a bit cramped above that.

[s2ooz]

1stquote? they gotta website?

[tim2100]

www.1stquote.co.uk.

Haven't tried them yet, I was just using bennetts as a guide, cause you can change the bike very easily when getting a number of quote's for guidance

Tim.

[RichH]

Are the 'baby blades' old models? I'm in the same situation - just about to take my test - insurance is too expensive on anything 600cc or above.

I've been looking at ZXR400s for about £4.5k which are insurable for £350 (as opposed to £500 for a bandit and £800 for a CBR600).

Rich

[tim2100]

I thionk that the baby blades are slightly older models, supposed to be very very good bikes, but only available on import.

I may be wrong on that though!

I will be doing my test at the end of jan after having my direct access course paid for as an Xmas pressie

Tim