Which bike to buy for a first bike?

**Metalor** · 17th June 2009, 00:50

This one's a bit cheaper than the Zeal. I'm guessing the guy would take a bit less for it.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-222071770.htm

Here's another:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-223752688.htm

**SARGE** · 17th June 2009, 07:01

Originally Posted by Sexy Lexy

Hi my name is Alexa and Im interested in getting a motorbike.

My boyfriend has been teaching me how to ride and so far Ive just mucked around on a gl150 on a flat field and an old xl185 at the Ashley river. It was so much fun that I decided to go and find my own bike.

The two bikes im currently considering buying are the following.

Yamaha Zeal

and a

Kawasaki Ninja

What are the pros and cons of each bike and which would be best to learn to ride on the road on?

I want to do some open road riding and trips round the Port Hills etc.

Thankyou for your help.

hey lex

if your time in the saddle is limited .. go for the Zeal.. its a little more forgiving than the Ninja and WHEN (not if) you stack it up its cheaper to repair due to lack of plastics

good reliability on those normally too

**one fast tl1ooo** · 17th June 2009, 07:14

Kawazaki's are a good all round reliable bike. so long as you can reach the ground, it really doesn't matter, within a year you should have a full licence and you can up-grade to something else.....

Have a great time out there and stay upright

**The Pastor** · 17th June 2009, 15:00

Zeal is a brilliant bike, rg150, cbr150, cbr250, gpx250, gn250,tu250, scorpio, are all brilliant bikes, get the one that you like the look of most.

**Shaun S** · 17th June 2009, 15:07

My ex was just over 5 foot herself and it was a big learning curve to find her the right bike. Its not just how tall you are, but how long your legs are too.

The Zeal is a great little bike, pretty low seat that is not too thick! The FXR someone suggested was too tall for her – so it's important to sit on the bike and make sure you are comfortable with the amount of footing you have on it. The bandit, the hornet etc, forget about them, they will be too tall for you unless you undertake to lower them. (I would not recommend this unless you have a good mechanic who knows what he is doing).

Good luck.
Have fun.
Be safe.

**Danae** · 17th June 2009, 23:08

I've only recently bought a Suzuki FXR 150 and I'm loving it so far!

**PirateJafa** · 17th June 2009, 23:11

Why the hell has nobody suggested the VTR250? By a wiiiide margin the best unfaired learner bike out there.

**Danae** · 17th June 2009, 23:26

Originally Posted by piratejafa

why the hell has nobody suggested the vtr250? By a wiiiide margin the best unfaired learner bike out there.

v-twin powaaaarrrr!!!

**Spuds1234** · 17th June 2009, 23:48

Originally Posted by PirateJafa

Why the hell has nobody suggested the VTR250? By a wiiiide margin the best unfaired learner bike out there.

Cos they are so bloody expensive. I believe her upper budget is around 4k. 3k is a much better price for anything I think.

Originally Posted by Danae

v-twin powaaaarrrr!!!

Hell yea. I love my raptor. Love winding on the power in any gear.

**PirateJafa** · 17th June 2009, 23:53

There's a silver VTR on TM at the moment in that very price range.

**Cheshire Cat** · 17th June 2009, 23:54

why are 250 ninjas so popular?

**Sexy Lexy** · 18th June 2009, 00:42

Originally Posted by PirateJafa

There's a silver VTR on TM at the moment in that very price range.

yea but is it in christchurch/canterbury?? since this is going to be my first bike, i would like to be able to sit on it and test it out to see if i like it?

**mister.koz** · 18th June 2009, 01:19

Originally Posted by Cheshire Cat

why are 250 ninjas so popular?

Cause they push out allot of fast for not much cc's and they smile as they scream like an F1 car at 19,000 rpm

I started on a GN250 that cost me $1500 and was 90% dead ($600 to buy,$900 to resurect) then 4 months later went to the zxr250a and onwards.

Best advice is get something cheap and scrapable (i never binned any of my 250s but i was fortunate) and easy to control at low speeds so you can get used to the clutch, throttle and balance arguments (not zxr). I wouldn't spend much at all on a first time bike because you will outgrow it very quickly.

If you buy a cheap 250 and loose 1/2 on the resale you have gained wheels and knowledge and lost bugger all.

Your opinion of style, performance, handling etc etc will more than likely change as you go along, i always wanted a yama-harley like my dad (virago 1100) and now i am on a zx10r dad hates mine, i hate his..

Have fun learning! and try and learn about the mechanical side of things as you go, it helped me allot to know how the internals of the bike worked and know that if there was a problem i would be sweet.

PS, if you are looking for a bike to keep for a while, my vote is on the vtr 250 - they have a good riding position, they are nimble in the steering, they have smooth power and brakes, they have enough nuts to get you places in ok times and not so much that you are terrified all day. Honda's are also cheap to look after and fix.

**Sexy Lexy** · 18th June 2009, 01:34

yea most people are saying start with something cheap and shitty, dont matter what happens to them... so just looking at ones that are just road worthy, that way it wont matter if i knock it around abit... really need to stop getting ahead of myself with flashy pretty bikes, but its hard when ya wanna be seen on a flash bike, rather than a shit box bike lol.

**mister.koz** · 18th June 2009, 01:58

Originally Posted by Sexy Lexy

yea most people are saying start with something cheap and shitty, dont matter what happens to them... so just looking at ones that are just road worthy, that way it wont matter if i knock it around abit... really need to stop getting ahead of myself with flashy pretty bikes, but its hard when ya wanna be seen on a flash bike, rather than a shit box bike lol.

Yeah fair call, but its only a temporary thing

i would worry more about paying heaps of cash for something that wont last long than binning it