Hi. I'm sorry if you've been asked this a million times before, but I'm after some advice on bikes.

After sitting in my car in traffic queues for years watching bikers sail past me and paying stupid car parking charges when I get there I've been thinking that a bike would make much more sense for my daily commuter. I do 70 miles a day on motorway and then A-roads.

I've not ridden a bike for more years than I want to remember and even then it was a little 100cc thing so I've been looking at the CBT/Direct Access courses.

The bit I need advice on is what would be the best bike for me once I've passed my test? I would need something that could cruise comfortably on the motorway and I'd like something that looks reasonably good too. I was looking at spending about 3k on the bike itself, I've been looking at a CBR600. Or would I just end up driving it straight into a wall the first time I twisted the throttle?

How cheap are bikes really to run? I would be doing about 20k miles a year, would a bike last say 4 years at this mileage or will I be forever having it serviced?

Any advice you can give me would be very much appreciated.

Cheers.

Yug.

I know nothing, of course

Check out a vfr-800... that'd do the mileage without doubt (best get the pre-VTec one by some accounts) and is a cracking bike (ask M'learned Hilts if you will) all round imho.

Others will have stuff to say I'm sure

3K will get you a whole load of bike, but beware the insurance monster.
Ring around or get on the net for quotes and then decide.
I got back into biking after a 13 year spell away and was appalled at some of the insurance quotes i was given £750.00 tpft for a £1000 gsxr750. Suki had to give me "cpr".
I don't do a lot of mileage so i went for an aged gsx250 which turned out to be an under powered back of cack, so i slotted? in a gsx400 engine and am now Happier
The cbr600 is a nice bike and i personally would give my left nut for one, maybe next year, and i might even get to keep the left nut

Get yersell a fazer, might be tempted to sell mine for 3,000 grand come March. Cheers Mally

Mally that's just prostitution.

If you're planing on doing a few miles. How about a Honda Deauville. It has a shaft drive and a upright riding position, should be okya for a learner as well and you get panniers.


http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/motors/motorcycles...auville_nt650v/

Rick is right - its insurance that will swing the decision. i would sya ignore the vfr route and get yerself a zzr 1100 but the insurance will cane you probably.

My tip woul dbe something like a gpx 250 or a zzr 250 - both could handle the commute no bother and are straight forward at service time - read cheap.


Almost any bike is better than a car and no car is a match for any bike come heavy traffic time - id like to see the man who tries to stuff a ferrari mondial up a two foot gap on the outside in the face of oncoming traffic.


Just get something cheap is my advice and see if you like it. scary business sometimes riding a bike and some just dont take to it. Once the wheels are sorted get some training or some experienced mates who arent idiots. Times marched on and bikes are fast and stop quick sometimes leading to problems.
Go easy mate and let us know how you get on.

Best distance bike I had was an FJ1200, did 120miles/day for two years with no hassle, loved it! Sold it for part deposit on a house and regretted it ever since. Petrol consumption was no better than the car though.

Vtec?
there are bikes with VTEC? I'm assuming the similar theory to the car VTEC?

Why can't you keep quiet!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have to have one now

i did 34000 miles on a mid range bike... granted it was a CX 500, BUT V twin, shaft drive, and at the time i was a few brain cell short of an idiot and a sadomasochist , that poor bike did some things a CX shouldn't do i guess i shouldn't of done either! but it was great fun, i managed to hold onto my licence, but it didn't bounce very well! ~( i once again wish to thank mr fisher for presenting me wiith the broadside of his car! depriving me of my GPZ turbo, )
i like mid range bikes, i've got a 750 and its a pain in the ass sometimes, i'd be happy with a 400 but i'm a lanky git and i make em look like mopeds!

Cheers everyone for the info. I'm kind of in limbo at the moment, I am waiting for a new contract at work, I was insourced you see and I now work for Network Rail (but it's not my fault your train was late yesterday! ) Until then I'm stuck with a big engined company car I don't need.

I reckon what I might do in the meantime is get my CBT and get a dirt cheap 125, have a bimble at the weekends and get some miles under my belt. Then I can do my Direct Access when I know the car is going and get a proper bike.

I prefer the looks of sports bikes rather than cruisers, or those 'upright' ones. I quite like the look of the SV650S, and it's got what looks like a decent pillion for the missus. I guess I'll have to try a few different ones tho.

Anyway I'll come back and let you know how I get on.

Cheers

Yug.

If you're going for a cheapy, I recommend the Yamaha RXS100. You'll need to do your CBT on a 125, but the Yam is a real bike, it even handles, and it's a 2-stroke so will out-perform the 125 and it's FUN! -Apart from the fact that it goes better than it stops, that is!

It's got to be capable of easy 80-mph cruising, be forgiving but have a bit of speed, and have full-fairing, and be cheap to buy, run and insure, so I'm thinking Suzuki GSX750F