[Closed] motorbike (mk2 - vintage, small) - should I?

Jebus!

How crap would a 50cc be?

EDIT...restricted to 30mph, I can pedal faster!

Al your original post details what sort of thing you fancied but did not really say why you wanted it.

I would stop worrying about the fast bike will kill you thing. The biggest threat you have on a bike is at junctions with cars pulling out on you. These don't go away on a 50cc bike.

Why not do your DAS on a 500cc bike so your choice is totally open. You will get a good idea if the whole idea is for you or not.

Incidentally I got a new bike the other week a Triumph Street Triple its a 675cc naked (no faring) bike with around a 100BHP. It will out accelerate most supercars to 100mph, but its so easy to ride and so forgiving of mistakes. It looks cool and because there is no fairing it keeps my straight line speed down. It really is such an easy and stable bike to ride.

I would not feel safer on any of the smaller bikes mentioned in this thread. I have the brakes grip and power(if needed) to get myself out of trouble much easier and its upto me if I want to use the power to get into more trouble but I can choose not too.

TJ similar comments re. this?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270774229091&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Would going to a dealer be best?

bazzer - I'm looking to dip a toe in the water TBH, I can probably afford a starter 125 etc this autumn, I don't want to be blowing £££ on a big big & testing etc straight away. Looks like I can do the CBT & get kitted-up for £500 + bike + ins....DAS would be way more...and I could save my way up to that if I wanted to.

I like classics (but not if they are cost/maintenance headaches), I like the idea of slow - it's unlikely to be used for days out or "fun" riding - just short trips in town & locally.

I actually owned and H100 (not the S). That one looks like a much tidier bike than the earlier one you linked to. good wee bike as well.

a dealer would be best - but the same applies - non knackered small bikes are rare thus expensive

I still think you are heading in the wrong direction / answering the wrong question.

Cool that makes a lot of sense.

If your on a budget for the bike then anything remotely sexy is pretty much out as sex costs 🙂

The amount of fun you can have on a 125 will depend on which one you get. All have crap power but some have nice handling and are fun to ride (if not a little frustrating)

One of the changes in the second hand bike market is that smaller lower power bikes now have a market again as people who didn't do DAS or are not 21 or over are limited to 33BHP so bikes that typically fell in between a proper big bike and a learner bike now have a market again.

If you want to run something older and interesting though its going to cost you in the wallet or in time spannering yourself.

So it might just be worth getting something not so cool to start with enjoy it build up some no claims and then if you enjoy it move up.

Just try not to be put off, the difference between a crap bike and a good one is huge.

TandemJeremy - Member
I still think you are heading in the wrong direction / answering the wrong question.

I know....but I've said I don't want to outlay much to start with, and I also want to learn myself, rather than jump on a 500 cos I've been told to.

Ta bazzer - you get me! for 33bhp bikes I need CBT, then theory and practical test on a 125 yes? Would a >125 but <250 be cheaper/better value due to the market?

How best to identify a "good"/"good handling" bike? I don't want to be spending lots of time looking.

[img] [/img]

Perfect.

And when you get fed up with it [i]next week[/i]:

[img] [/img]

Can't find a conveyance made entirely out of snot though ...

On just a CBT (assuming you are at least 17 :D) you can ride a 14.6BHP 125

If you take your Theory, and practical tests as well on a 125cc you can then ride any cc bike as long as it has no more than 33BHP

So if you went that route I would have thought some >125 with a lot less than 33BHP would be cheaper. Not sure what falls into this category as its not something I have looked at.

Best thing is go to a bike dealer look at all the really shiny cool bikes with bling bits on them realise you need to have one do DAS and sell a kidney and buy a new Ducati 1198 🙂

Wait until you can afford to do it properly. Doing it on the cheap and buying a cheap old small motorcycle will be no fun and a total waste of your time and money

Buying in the Autumn is a bit daft as well - you will not use it over the winter

TJ - Cheaper in autumn..it's not going to get used a lot any time of year, but there are good days Autumn - Spring are there not?

And I think you are transplanting your "fun" for what I have said I am after.

Gawd this is pointless.

No - I am giving you the benefit of decades of experience. You don't want to listen. I'll leave you to it.

Oh well. bazzer understands.

Please stop TJ.

Please?

I quite often agree with you but your point is well and truly proven.You have ridden motorbikes since they were horse drawn we get it.

While I have some sympathy for TJ's point of view and also think bigger bikes are safer/more fun that didn't stop me from enjoying the 2 or 3 years I had riding 125's (and even a year on a 50cc bike when I was 16) when I was a teenager.

There was even a period when I had big bikes that my wife just had a little Suzuki GN125. Yes it was slow but it didn't stop me using it to commute on sometimes and still having fun with it. It was a different sort of fun to my own bikes, but because it was small and light you could take all sorts of liberties with it - jumping off speed bumps, pegs down on every corner, stoppies etc. I used to ride it in town and also the 10-mile each way commute to Livingston (mostly on 50/60 limits) and it was fine for that.

TJ - please read the above...it helps explain where I am coming from.

My Vintage Small Motorbike (not actually mine but the same model)
100mph, 75mpg, cheap insurance and not too heavy.
[img] [/img]

**** it

I do understand what you want. Its impossible to get. its pointless trying to talk to you as you do not listen.

Killfile back on

How is this not what I am wanting?

epicsteve - Member
my wife just had a little [u]Suzuki GN125. Yes it was slow but it didn't stop me using it to commute on sometimes and still having fun with it. It was a different sort of fun to my own bikes, but because it was small and light[/u] you could take all sorts of liberties with it - jumping off speed bumps, pegs down on every corner, stoppies etc. [u]I used to ride it in town and also the 10-mile each way commute to Livingston (mostly on 50/60 limits) and it was fine for that. [/u]

[img] [/img]

or...

[img] [/img]

one last attempt

Al -because the money you want to spend will only buy a clapped out knackered 125 which is horrid to ride.

Epicsteve is an experienced and skilled rider so can ride around the flaws of a knackered 125 and have fun. You are not. You don't want to do any real training.

Look at he secondhand market for 125s - the prices are badly inflated for learner bikes as there is a shortage of them - both 125s and 33bhp bikes

BTW - IIRC the 100 you posted cannot be used to do a test on. too small.

Epicsteve is an experienced and skilled rider so can ride around the flaws of a knackered 125 and have fun.

My wife might have taken exception to her little GN being described as knackered as it was newish and absolutely immaculate (no way would I let her ride round on a bike that wasn't 100% perfect)!

Sorry steve - did not mean to give that impression! Al wants to spend a few hundred quid on a 125 - that will be knackered 🙂

So TJ you are saying say £750 will only buy a knackered 125?

[i]So TJ you are saying say £750 will only buy a knackered 125? [/i]

Based on my mate getting nearly a £1000 for his shagged, neglected, unridden (+5 years), no MOT'd, rustbucket 600 - probably yes.

Epicsteve is an experienced and skilled rider so can ride around the flaws of a knackered 125 and have fun. You are not. You don't want to do any real training.

I doubt I'd enjoy riding a crappy 125 now. But I did when I was riding my first 125 and didn't know I wasn't supposed to be having fun.

So TJ you are saying say £750 will only buy a knackered 125?

Yup

Have a look on autotrader - there is a honda CG at £800 that might be OK and a few damaged repairables / write offs including a Yamaha TW at £950 that might be OK and would be a nice bike if it is OK

TJ is talking sense he can just rough people up the wrong way when he is making a point sometimes 🙂

I think what he is saying if your not careful you could be put off before you get chance to experience the fun side of riding.

Having a bike you can actually use is important. If its going to be a toy and for fun it actually needs to be fun. If its not it will rust in the garage. I might ride 50miles to visit a mate for no reason on my bike but would not do that in the car as the journey will be part of the reason for going. Would not do that on a 125 as it would be tiresome. But I also would not go just round the corner as I always put my leathers on so can't be bothered to do that for a 1 mile trip down the road so I either walk or take the car. So I would probably not bother using a 125.

125's carry a premium because its easy for people to access them without a lot of peripheral cost. They don't do a lot of miles before they need work and can be quite tiring to ride. Also tend to be owned by people running them on a budget and can be neglected.

So if you have something that is useful you will use it more and enjoy it 🙂

I would probably make more of these decisions after you take your CBT, but have no fear, a 125 will be tons of fun in the short-term.

Love mine, although it's a scooter 😉 *beep beep*

Whatever you get, make sure it's reliable. You don't want to be worrying that it's going to break down on you.

During my CBT, the Honda 125 I was on felt a bit poo - the gears weren't that easy to get and it took a while to start 🙂

About helmets, don't buy second hand (well I wouldn't). Most people say if a helmet is dropped, it needs replacing - with second hand stuff you can't trust that it's not damaged - besides, you have try it on for size 🙂

For example the is a nice SUZUKI GS 550 E on autotrader for £700. Looks in decent condition, bulletproof motor, nice bike , won't have been thrashed and abused by learners or commuters probably. Classic insurance so cheap to insure. Lots of miles tho

Thats a bike you would enjoy owning and riding

Yes but a GS550 could have been dispatched....

I have a nice 749S that gets used less than my Orange Five, in fact i have ridden it twice since the MOT in March!

However with my new found interest in cycling I have lost half a stone and feel great!

I was not old enough to ride a bike when they were built. Look really cool though.

Thanks gents that is clearer...however getting qualified for a 550 etc will require a CBT anyway...and trying a 125 is unlikely to lose me much money if I decide to sell it on?

do your CBT on a hire bike then have a think.

How about an Enfield Bullet, brand new about £3k and if it breaks down just go into the nearest Indian restaurant and one of the staff will be able to fix it.

FFS this could go on forever. 😯

Al - why don't you go and get a lesson or two on a hire bike and see how you get on. You'll have a much better idea after a couple of hours actually riding and you can take it from there + the school might be able to give you some options or know of suitable bikes for sale.

Ta TJ and Woody - My plan has for some time been CBT on a hire bike & have a think (I may even try to borroww kit).

do your CBT on a hire bike then have a think.

Blimey a wee trawl on Bitetrader does seem to show that you can get a better 500cc than 125cc for <£1K!

Anything between 126cc and 500cc is a bit of a no-mans land between learner bikes and toys. Certainly where the bargains are.

Yup. Beause hardly anyone buys 125s new they command a premium in the secondhand market.

But I'd need a 125 for a bit to get the experience to do the proper test to get to ride bigger bikes no? Even the 33bhp limit?

Sorry, I just find the whole testing regime convoluted.

I was confused too.

[url= http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/RidingMotorcyclesAndMopeds/DG_4022568 ]DVLA site.[/url]

[b]Direct and accelerated access[/b]
Riders age 21 or over, or those who reach 21 before their two year restriction ends, have other options.
[b]Direct access[/b]
After taking Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) and the theory test, the practical test may be taken on a motorcycle with a power output of at least 35kW...

So it looks like you can widen your scope for a bike beyond 125cc.

Take a good look at the Suzuki GS500 - it is a very capable bike for the money. It's heavier than a 125 of course, but it's a better package than any 125. I rode one (on loan) before I bought my Ducati Monster and I reckon it would have been a more practical choice. You'll also probably find a good one secondhand at a much better price than a decent 125 because they tend not to be bought by hotheads.

cynic-al - Member

But I'd need a 125 for a bit to get the experience to do the proper test to get to ride bigger bikes no? Even the 33bhp limit?

Sorry, I just find the whole testing regime convoluted.

No - you do a direct access course with a riding school - just lessons on a hire bike.

You can ride a 125 to get road experience - you cannot ride anything bigger until you have done a teston your own. You do direct access on a 35 kw bike - basically a modern 500 or above. You can ride this on the road [i]when under instruction[/i] but not on your own

This is by far the most sensible approach for someone over 21 who wants to ride for fun. Spend the money on the direct access course and get a full license.

being a bike rider and a car driver the Direct access course and lessons will be enough

There is a training school on seafield road. Go have a chat to them

Not quite suitable as a first bike......but you can get quite a lot for <£1k as several people have been telling you 😀

[img] [/img]

So the paths would be:

1. CBT then direct access course both on hired bikes. (bit daft, no practice)
2. CBT then play on a 125 for a bit then direct access course on hired bike (slightly less daft).
3. CBT then play on a 125 for a bit then buy 500, have lessons and direct access course that (least daft).

There is an option to do the test on a 125 which then allows you up to 33bhp (or k?) bike?

Some lovely 70s bigger bikes on there...would they be OK brake/handling wise?

TJ your comments are making more sense now...I was caught up in wanting to try/dip my toe in at minumum cost...and may still do so.