Which bike do i buy

[Glen1]

Hi, I am a first time biker in NZ. I want to buy a bike to travel to work from Albany to Henderson for now. On my current budget I am thinking between Aprilla 150 and Honda Shadow 150. I am 49 but my 14 year old son wants me to pick the Aprilla ( you can guess why). Please let me know which is the better one as I want to use it only for a couple of years
Thanks

[jasonu]

Hi, I am a first time biker in NZ. I want to buy a bike to travel to work from Albany to Henderson for now. On my current budget I am thinking between Aprilla 150 and Honda Shadow 150. I am 49 but my 14 year old son wants me to pick the Aprilla ( you can guess why). Please let me know which is the better one as I want to use it only for a couple of years
Thanks

GN250
Cheap as chips and cost nothing to run and your kid won't want to nick it from you.

[Laava]

If you are wanting to ride on the motorways, do yourself a favour and get something bigger, capable of accelerating to at least the speed limit. You should try and hire a bike for a week to see if that is what you really want?

[husaberg]

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/sports/auction-1852323282.htm

[Madness]

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/cruiser/auction-1952298118.htm?rsqid=edbfbdda430e4537a02288456e91e 62e

Take out some life insurance too. Auckland drivers suck.

[jasonu]

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/cruiser/auction-1952298118.htm?rsqid=edbfbdda430e4537a02288456e91e 62e

Take out some life insurance too. New Zealand drivers suck.

Fixed for accuracy

[Laava]

Fixed for accuracy
Yep, 49% of drivers here think they're above average.

[Zipper2T]

The Aprilia, if the 150 you refer to is an ETX or a STX, is actually a Chinese bike, a Zhongshen. They manufacture some of Piaggio's products and have and an agreement to use the Italian company's brand names on some of their own design bikes. Be aware these relatively cheap small motorcycles mostly use tubed tyres which can deflate suddenly if punctured and the tyre can then come off the rim, much safer to have tubeless tyres. Have you considered some of the 150 scooters which are easier to ride in heavy traffic, have loads of storage space and tubeless tyres?

For example...

https://www.cyclespot.co.nz/bike/Piaggio/FLY%20150/999464900
https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/scooters/auction-1713142196.htm (has ABS)

I guess it depends on your budget and those listings are for new bikes but you could probably pick up a 2nd hand Fly for the price of Shadow 150.

[Scubbo]

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/sports/auction-1852323282.htm

this, get a top box, sorted.

[pritch]

this, get a top box, sorted.

I hate top boxes. Look at that abomination pictured in the current photo of the week. Ugly as sin.

[george formby]

The Aprilia, if the 150 you refer to is an ETX or a STX, is actually a Chinese bike, a Zhongshen. They manufacture some of Piaggio's products and have and an agreement to use the Italian company's brand names on some of their own design bikes. Be aware these relatively cheap small motorcycles mostly use tubed tyres which can deflate suddenly if punctured and the tyre can then come off the rim, much safer to have tubeless tyres. Have you considered some of the 150 scooters which are easier to ride in heavy traffic, have loads of storage space and tubeless tyres?

For example...

https://www.cyclespot.co.nz/bike/Piaggio/FLY%20150/999464900
https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/scooters/auction-1713142196.htm (has ABS)

I guess it depends on your budget and those listings are for new bikes but you could probably pick up a 2nd hand Fly for the price of Shadow 150.

A sudden deflation when punctured? :eek: Whoda thunk it? Best go for solid rubber wheels.

On a more relevant note. A decent capacity scooter is an option worth considering for commuting, it's what they are designed for. If it tickles your fancy OP, have a look at some of the bigger capacity scoots capable of holding their own in traffic.

[Scubbo]

I hate top boxes. Look at that abomination pictured in the current photo of the week. Ugly as sin.

for commuting they are the biz tho!!! :innocent:

[WALRUS]

I hate top boxes. Look at that abomination pictured in the current photo of the week. Ugly as sin.


Just checked out POTW.. Such a shame, if it was on a GS Adventure, V-Strom, Tiger etc.. Sure, go for it! Looks a bit out of place on one of those, though. Perhaps just a Ventura rack and some soft panniers? That said, there was someone back in Tassie selling a '99 748 with a Ventura rack on it and while I give them full props for using their old Duc' and being confident enough to travel and tour on it, the rack just looked weird on the back of one of those!