First bike questions

[sportsbikesrock]

So I'm jumping the gun a little bit here - going to be getting a bike once I'm licensed but I thought I'd ask anyway and mull things over. My first bike will be a sports one. I don't want the fastest thing out (yeah weird) - bike has to be 6 speed, easy to ride, economical-ish, 2T would be cool, but a 4T is fine.

I don't want to just jump on a fully worked 250 and end up stuffing myself and the bike as a noob. Is it worth starting with a 150cc rather than a 250 and after L's and R's if I want to, then get something bigger? I can get a Yamaha YZF-R15 new and would like to treat myself to my first ever new vehicle, plus I would have to run it in, making me baby it as I gain confidence. Honda CBR???, Suzuki RG/GSX or Kawa Ninja are also on the cards too, but I'm liking the idea of a brand new 150.

[The Baron]

Bikes are to make life fun. So if a new 150 puts that smile on you then do it because thats the whole point of having the bike in the first place.

[DMNTD]

IMO....don't over spend on your first ever bike, especially a 150cc.
The Yamaha is a great wee bike but for that sort of coin you could get a similar bike for less coin.
Believe it or not but the 150 may end up frustrating you (power-wise) sooner than later especially if you're looking to do some open road riding in before you go for your full license.

[tigertim20]

DMNTD is on the right track, first bike, why buy new? if youre over 15, youll be on your full in 12 months, 18 months of youre younger. whats the point?

Get a good condition second hand 250, youll more than likely get very bored very quickly on a 150.
lots of good 250's out there, go research, sit on, and test ride a bunch before choosing one, the main thing is to have some self control, and youll be fine.

Put your pennies away, and save up for a really nice new 600 afer you get your full, one of them will last you for years.

[EJK]

IMO....don't over spend on your first ever bike, especially a 150cc.
The Yamaha is a great wee bike but for that sort of coin you could get a similar bike for less coin.
Believe it or not but the 150 may end up frustrating you (power-wise) sooner than later especially if you're looking to do some open road riding in before you go for your full license.

Listen to what he said.

[TOTO]

Listen to what he said.

yes, listen to what EJK said !

[bsasuper]

Hey, my first bike was a 125, and I thought a 250 was a monster:yes:

[NighthawkNZ]

IMO....don't over spend on your first ever bike, especially a 150cc.
The Yamaha is a great wee bike but for that sort of coin you could get a similar bike for less coin.
Believe it or not but the 150 may end up frustrating you (power-wise) sooner than later especially if you're looking to do some open road riding in before you go for your full license.


DMNTD is on the right track, first bike, why buy new? if youre over 15, youll be on your full in 12 months, 18 months of youre younger. whats the point?

Get a good condition second hand 250, youll more than likely get very bored very quickly on a 150.
lots of good 250's out there, go research, sit on, and test ride a bunch before choosing one, the main thing is to have some self control, and youll be fine.

Put your pennies away, and save up for a really nice new 600 afer you get your full, one of them will last you for years.


Listen to what he said.


yes, listen to what EJK said !



errrrmmmm what they said... pretty much sums it up...

[ducatilover]

errrrmmmm what they said... pretty much sums it up...

What he said.

[Old Steve]

What they said. Buy a 2nd hand 250 that pushes your buttons, and spend some money on your helmet, jacket, pants, gloves and boots. Ride with a club, get a mentor, put the kms under the wheels, and treat all other road users as if they're trying to kill you.

[sportsbikesrock]

Even before reading what everyone said, I had decided stuff the new and the 150 idea. Stuff will happen as a n00b to the bike. If I did that I'm stuck with the thing until I have paid it off (what the hell was I thinking?) And there's nothing for me to "grow into" after I have my R's = bored. Looks like I'm scooting for a bit longer and saving up for a good old 250 6spd 4 stroke.

Gear wise I have a decent full face helmet and good gloves - I wouldn't want the current un-armored jacket I use on my scooter for protection on a real bike though.

Lol - too damn right about everyone out to get you, or is it just worse on a scooter? I may have to borrow that club idea and get some studs for my gloves......... Seriously though I may look into the mentor idea once I get a bike.

[Sable]

KR150s and RG150s rock. Tiny bikes lots of power (2t single w/powervalve). Cheap too and will piss all over a modern 250. :yes:

[DangerMice]

I wouldn't want the current un-armored jacket I use on my scooter for protection on a real bike though.

So it hurts less to fall off a scooter at 60kph than it does on a "real" bike? Guess the jandals & t-shirt brigade aren't so dumb after all :shutup:

[Maha]

So I'm jumping the gun a little bit here - going to be getting a bike once I'm licensed but I thought I'd ask anyway and mull things over. My first bike will be a sports one. I don't want the fastest thing out (yeah weird) - bike has to be 6 speed, easy to ride, economical-ish, 2T would be cool, but a 4T is fine.

I don't want to just jump on a fully worked 250 and end up stuffing myself and the bike as a noob. Is it worth starting with a 150cc rather than a 250 and after L's and R's if I want to, then get something bigger? I can get a Yamaha YZF-R15 new and would like to treat myself to my first ever new vehicle, plus I would have to run it in, making me baby it as I gain confidence. Honda CBR???, Suzuki RG/GSX or Kawa Ninja are also on the cards too, but I'm liking the idea of a brand new 150.

Do it mate, your first ever new vehicle!:woohoo:
Dont care what it is, if its brand new, and you can afford it, it will be a real buzz to own it.
It will be for a short time, shorter than you may foresee.
I was once in the very postion, my first bike was brand new, straight out of the crate. I wanted something bigger within say 12 months?
I bought a YZF600 (2nd hand but low K's and a minta) while on my restricted.
To be honest, that was the bike that have kept for the shortest time.
Wasn't long until I traded it in on a Triumph Sprint.
Had that for two years then bought a brand new bike again.
See how this works?
Buy new in the begining if you can, that way you options are easier when you are ready to trade up, you will always have reasonable bike and it wont be long until you are back on a brand new bike again.

[sportsbikesrock]

Do it mate, your first ever new vehicle!:woohoo:
Dont care what it is, if its brand new, and you can afford it, it will be a real buzz to own it.

It was tempting. I would have to had finance on it (dumb, yeah but hear me out. I have ZERO credit history and was initially thinking this could be way to build some while having a nice new bike to ride around through my L's and R's and the next few years. Anyway, scrapped that idea.)

I would really rather a used 250 now. FZR, CBR etc all that late 80's early 90's stuff. Looks and sounds great! To be honest I am a rev junkie - and that 10k red line on that R15 will not satisfy me when I pass the initial scared of winding the bike out a little phase, not that I sit on limiters all day long, but its a bike - its supposed to rev! Plus I would feel good after buying it once I had saved for it.

[DMNTD]

It was tempting. I would have to had finance on it (dumb, yeah but hear me out. I have ZERO credit history and was initially thinking this could be way to build some while having a nice new bike to ride around through my L's and R's and the next few years. Anyway, scrapped that idea.)

I would really rather a used 250 now. FZR, CBR etc all that late 80's early 90's stuff. Looks and sounds great! To be honest I am a rev junkie - and that 10k red line on that R15 will not satisfy me when I pass the initial scared of winding the bike out a little phase, not that I sit on limiters all day long, but its a bike - its supposed to rev! Plus I would feel good after buying it once I had saved for it.

If you want to create a credit rating go and buy a stereo on 18months interest free or similar...works the same way plus will save you a shit load of coinage.

Second point...find yourself a mentor of sorts up your way to at least help you out coming to grips with riding a m'bike.
May I suggest doing an ART day or similar too.