Help me! LAMS bike for the lanky bloke

[Erelyes]

Howdy all. 28 years old and new year's resolution was to get my learners. Was expecting to have to do 4-5 45m lessons to get it. At the end of the 2nd lesson guy says 'Do you wanna sit your test now'. Well I passed and got my learners the next working day after :)

Now I am 6'3", or 192cm. 90kg. My inseam is about 87cm.

Did lessons/test on a Scorpio 225. That was OK but the handlebars did hit my knee once. Just sat on a GN250E instore.... :no:. Knees + handlebars big time.

Bike store guys (who were very helpful) basically recommended I get a road legal dirtbike. I'm not totally against it but can anyone recommend a more standard road bike that would suit? I plan to get some practice in on weekends / evenings around my neighbourhood when it's quiet, and eventually commute.

It looks like a Ninja 650 ABS LAMS or a GSX650FU would be a good fit but 15-16k on a new learner bike? That's nuts.

If I was to look forward ~3 years I envisage myself on a medium-capacity 'road sport' bike. I have no Hayabusa or Harley aspirations really!

Any second hand LAMS street/road bikes I should be looking for for a tall guy?

[FJRider]

A 400-500cc single or twin cylinder would be better for you. An old cheapie for 6 months or a year. Until you get a better idea on preferred bike types. THEN spend the $$$ on a bike you may keep for a while (Depending on your budget)

[Dogboy900]

I dont have one nor have I ridden one but the Hyosungs are a decent size for a learners bike and fairly cheap. The newer 650 looks surprisingly good too. Under $10K brand new so pricing is pretty good the 250's go fairly cheap second hand.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/sports/auction-555537744.htm

I have seen a few of the new Kawasaki ninja 300's around and they are a sharp looking bike!

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/sports/auction-517970726.htm

Hopefully someone who has ridden one will step up and give you some better advice on what they go like.

Good luck :)

[carburator]

at 6'1 84 inseam ( missues copped a grope ( dity bitch ))

ive had a mates hyosung 650 out.
was'nt bad.. derestricting it is a case of drilling
out two spot welds on the throttle throw on the carb.

little pogo on the front end, nothing a change in oil weight
would not cure.

easiest thing is throw a leg over a bike, and even take one
for a ride and see what you like..

[ducatilover]

Hyosung GT650/250 (same dimensions, different frame/motor)
Suzuki GS500
Kawasaki GPZ500/EX500/GPX500
Kawasaki ZZR400 K and N models

These would be my top of the list
Otherwise get yer leg over a DR650/KLR

[EJK]

Get a ZX10R. They are a good learner's bike.

[Glowerss]

Hyosung GT650/250 (same dimensions, different frame/motor)
Suzuki GS500
Kawasaki GPZ500/EX500/GPX500
Kawasaki ZZR400 K and N models

These would be my top of the list
Otherwise get yer leg over a DR650/KLR

What he said.

Keep in mind that only restricted hyobags are LAMS legal, so you'll end up buying a new one for 9k or so.

Personally, I'd stay away from restricted bikes if you can. They're fuuuuuuuuuuucking expensive for a learner bike, and they're not designed to be learner bikes so they always end up being heavy/underpowered ect. IE, the lams GSX650f is something like 218kg dry. FARKING heavy for the BHP it's restricted too.

To add onto Ducati's list, check out a Hornet 250. The hornet 250s are the same size as the Hornet 600. Good full sized bike, peach of an engine, nice fat tires, 16k red line and a beautiful bike :woohoo: Last forever, and they hold their value pretty goddamn well.

[oneofsix]

What he said.

Keep in mind that only restricted hyobags are LAMS legal, so you'll end up buying a new one for 9k or so.

Personally, I'd stay away from restricted bikes if you can. They're fuuuuuuuuuuucking expensive for a learner bike, and they're not designed to be learner bikes so they always end up being heavy/underpowered ect. IE, the lams GSX650f is something like 218kg dry. FARKING heavy for the BHP it's restricted too.

To add onto Ducati's list, check out a Hornet 250. The hornet 250s are the same size as the Hornet 600. Good full sized bike, peach of an engine, nice fat tires, 16k red line and a beautiful bike :woohoo: Last forever, and they hold their value pretty goddamn well.

Slight correction, AFAIK the GSX650F is NOT LAMS, you have to get the GSX650FU and Suzuki hasn't released information on de-restricting it once you are qualified unlike some of the other restricted bikes. It is almost as if what ever they have done to make the FU LAMS compliant is deep within the bikes build and not a bolt on.

[Drew]

Slight correction, AFAIK the GSX650F is NOT LAMS, you have to get the GSX650FU and Suzuki hasn't released information on de-restricting it once you are qualified unlike some of the other restricted bikes. It is almost as if what ever they have done to make the FU LAMS compliant is deep within the bikes build and not a bolt on.

Whitetrash is pretty sure it's restricted in the ecu. Which would mean replacing that at the very least.

He also says the Hyosung goes bloody great standard. All the bottom end of a normal one, and just peters out a bit as the revs climb. It's pissed easy to unrestrict them too.

[ducatilover]

Whitetrash is pretty sure it's restricted in the ecu. Which would mean replacing that at the very least.

He also says the Hyosung goes bloody great standard. All the bottom end of a normal one, and just peters out a bit as the revs climb. It's pissed easy to unrestrict them too.

People seem to think that derestricting bikes via an ECU is very hard :laugh:

[unstuck]

XR 600, are they on the list? If so I am getting another one to do my license.:woohoo::woohoo:

[TheTengTheory]

I'm 5ft 10 and the Hornet is about just right for me. My friend whom is 6ft 4 sat on my bike and he's basically crouching on it. Not sure if the knees hit the handle bars but I personally shuffle my arse back towards the back of the seat mould to let me put the balls on my feet on the pegs.

Try it out first. As a first bike I'm super stoked I got it. It's a right screamer when you need it to be and I've had it sit at 100+kph on the highway comfortably. Overtaking requires a drop or two in gear but it's a 250. Torque isn't exactly mountainous, gears however are plenty so you use them :D. I've done 5000km in the last 9weeks and beyond the basic preventive maintenance, I've had no problematic issues for a 250 with 69grand on the clock. Only small issue i have is the dam idling which I'm too lazy to get fixed.

Seems to run properly when its cold but idles FKed when its warmed up <_<

drz400? Seen a couple in town and they look pretty high.

[haydes55]

Drz400
Drz650
Yamaha xt660
Bmw f650gs (so many letters i think thats right haha)
Im too short for my klx250 (173cm) so even 250 motards are physically big enough for giants.
Go to some local shops and just go test sit haha good luck

[Drew]

People seem to think that derestricting bikes via an ECU is very hard :laugh:Depends on how it is restricted in the ECU.

There are three ways that spring to my mind, that are ones and zeros, there are also hardware options.

It's also not a good idea to go butchering the ECU on a brand new bike, what with the warranty voiding and all.

[ducatilover]

It's also not a good idea to go butchering the ECU on a brand new bike, what with the warranty voiding and all.

You know I would... :facepalm:

[carburator]

You know I would... :facepalm:

well according to some research, seems its a wire cut on the ECU to change modes..
for the GSX650FU to GSX650F haha...

[ducatilover]

well according to some research, seems its a wire cut on the ECU to change modes..
for the GSX650FU to GSX650F haha...

Being Suzuki, it's no doubt a very, very cheap way of restricting it :laugh:

[Erelyes]

Thanks for the help guys. GS500 looks good. So do hyosungs but I live in Otago and harder to come by.... but I'll just be patient.

Wire cutting.... heh sounds like jap cars from the early 90s. *snip* what speed limiter?

[carburator]

Thanks for the help guys. GS500 looks good. So do hyosungs but I live in Otago and harder to come by.... but I'll just be patient.

Wire cutting.... heh sounds like jap cars from the early 90s. *snip* what speed limiter?

personally id walk past a gs500 shares the same frame and running gear as the GSX250 ( invader )
could be tweaked but Meh...

[ducatilover]

personally id walk past a gs500 shares the same frame and running gear as the GSX250 ( invader )
could be tweaked but Meh...

The GS and the Hyosungs all handle like flaccid penises anyway :shifty: but I'd take the GS...