Hey all, I am new to motorcycles and so i have no idea what anything means....... i am going to do the CBT within the next few weeks and intend to buy a used 125 to learn on. I am after a sporty looking 125 like the Honda NSR, but i have only got around £1000 to spend on a bike. Could anyone possible suggest something cheaper or even perhaps sell me one. I live in the West Midlands and have looked on Biketrader.co.uk buy cant seem to find what i'm looking for. Hope you can help.

Dan

Be very carefull buying a sporty 125 like the NSR or Aprilia, the majority of second had ones are for sale for a reason, better to buy a CG125 or the like to start with, faired bikes are quite expensive to repair, as all of us have dropped our bikes at some time during our learning period. Buy something as cheap as you can to start on and save for a better bike when you have passed your test, insurance is also going to be considerably cheaper on a less sporty bike, and don't forget a learners 125 is restricted to about 14 b.h.p, if you ride a de-restricted machine you risk an awfull lot as your insurance and driving licence are invalidated.

Any idea what the price of one of these bikes would be or where to get one from, i just checked on Biketrader and theres one going for 1200 and one on ebay for 400, thats quite a difference. I just dont want to get ripped off, any advice would help.
Thanks again

That's the problem, you need to test the bike first, bearing in mind most 125's come in at about the £2,000 mark new. It will depend on age, mileage and general condition of the bike. Your best course would be to find a bike dealer in your area who has a good reputation and be guided by him. Look at the prices you will then have some guidelines as to what to expect. In your possition I would be looking to spend no more that £600 on your first bike, you will still need to get protective gear, Helmet, gloves, boots and a jacket as a minimum, you also need to see what prices you are qouted for insurance that may also have a bearing on the bike you can buy. Biking is not cheap, but once you have all the gear it gets cheaper.

I totally agree with ancientd, don't spend too much on your first bike as you probably won't be keeping it very long. Ask the seller on ebay a few questions like how long is left on the MOT, has it been involved in a RTA and the ultimate one could I ride it home. You must know someone who knows about bikes (or maybe if someone on here who is local and willing to help (c'mon guys)) take them to have a good look at a bike before you buy. As for insurance try bennetts for an online quote (just as a guide) then add about 20% to the figure quoted, you have to add this because the quote assumes it's kept in a brick garage, has datatag and alarm/immobiliser which it probably won't.

anyway enjoy the CBT and happy hunting in your bike search

have a look at this...
http://www.findit.co.uk/motorbikes/honda/bikes/1308484.htm
probably been sold now though

I'm also after a 125cc to start....
I was looking to a Aprillia RS125...very good looking, but due to some problems, the deal is off..

So...i'm looking for a bike again..what bikes do you guys reckon are the best to start?

I went for a Honda CG 125 but in the end the choice is yours.
i want to save the sports bikes etc for when i pass my test.

wouldnt want a faired bike at this stage, if i came off and smashed all the fairings i would be gutted......

Wouldn't touch a second hand RS125, they have reliability issues and second hand ones have usually been thrashed. Get an unfaired bike as your first, forget about posing to your mates, learn to ride before you get a Sports bike.

I'd just repeat what the guys have already said. The CG, although not looking as nice as a sporty number will do the job. Ask around a bunch of bikers and probably the biggest percentage of people who started on 125's will have owned a CG. When a bike is on the market for 15 years, there's got to be something right with it.

i mentioned last night in chat that a cg would be a great learner bike! should be fairly easy to get hold of, cheap + cheap to insure!

i had one for a little while last year, was great!

+ it's prob what u'll do your cbt on!

+ you prob won't have it for long!!!

i wouldn't go for a sporty 125 as a first bike! Expensive fairings to damage + it'll prob be hard to find a decent one for your budjet as they hold their price + have often been ragged to death!!!

Found one!!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...ssPageName=WDVW

But it's sooo far from Reading.....

Is this any good for first bike?
i allways liked this bike, a mate in Portugal had one a couple of years ago and i used to ride it a couple of times and liked it a lot...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...2487718096&rd=1

it would be illegal for you to ride this bike due to it being 33bhp - max you can have while riding on CBT is 14bhp.
this would invalidate your licence & insurance.

nice bike tho

Hi JP agree with others unfaired 125 as first bike less painful on the wallet/purse strings if you drop it. I had a cbx125 and did me fine as a learner bike.

As for the mito that one states its at 33bhp which you would not legally be allowed to ride on l plates with out it being restricted back to 14.6bhp. However a m8 has one and reckons his is the muts nuts so to speak but they aren't anywhere near as easy to get parts for like the cg for example. Oh and in case you think you wouldn't get noticed for a bike having a higher bhp than intended they can check the output (that is the police) if you get a pull. Personally not worth any risk.

End of day decision is yours happy shopping

ho well...the cagiva is gone....

Yeah...think i'll take everyone advice and buy something around £600.....if i drop it....it wont hurt as much as if i buy one for 1K...

The problem...to find it!...i've been looking around ebay and biketrader...and it's hard to find something...

dink, i found this one..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...ssPageName=WDVW

is this the one that you are refering to ?

I had one of them years ago. I thought it was a great bike. You need to give it a good going over, just to make sure things are okay.