Yet another new bike input thread...

[Beren]

Hi,

Have finally decided to definitely can the car and get a bike for commute... if I have to do 500km's a week I want to be able to enjoy some of it! As I also come accross the bridge everyday from the north shore it will save me a LOT of time.

Anyways - after reading all the dropped bike stories and having looked around a bit I am reasonably settled on a 'naked' bike. I have around $4k to spend, I think I have narrowed it down to either a Hornet 250, VTR 250 but possibly a Bandit or Balius.

I am pretty set on not getting a single pot, but not entirely set on a twin or inline 4 - though I like the sound of the extra oompf I haven't been on a bike since dirt bike years urmmm 15 years ago or so.

I am just a tiny bit shy of 6' and since I am wandering down to silverdale from KKK every day want something with enough grunt to get past those lovely people who think 80k's is fast enough...

Are obvious issues to check on one of the inline 4's or any other bikes I should be looking at would be gratefully listened to.

[Oblivion]

Great thing to do is to see what bike 'fits" your image. Go to one of your local dealers and just sit on them to see how they feel. ( If you haven't done so already )

Also, the decision for Inline or twin really lies in whether you would want more torque, or just the little bit more oomph at the end of the rev range.

Personally I think that the little bit of oomph sounds way better

Also, Don't just think that you just want a naked bike. Sometimes you can get a Sports bike, strip the fairings of as a "precaution" against crashing and just put them back on again after your skills improve. Hell, you might even prefer the look of the bike with them off

The best bike for you may be the one you least expect.

[Autech]

Take a look at the Naked Hyo too, better for bigger chaps and looks the best (I may be a bit biased...). Great fuel economy on them too for the commute.

Have you test ridden any of these bikes? That is the key, take em out, see which one suits how you like to ride best and then go from there

[mikemike104]

Ride lots of bikes before any purchase, as many as possible ! Had I done that I wouldn't now have a 89 GPX250 that owes me seven and a half thousand dollars

[Beren]

Spending saturday morning down at holespot? Takapuna to see if they will let me take a few out for a spin - actually a bit nervous about it though as I am still a complete noob and have visions of stalling bikes pulling away etc and generally behaving badly enough that they refuse to let me drive more than one!

Unfortunately money issues have delayed the actual buying of the bike for 6-8 weeks... so there is now LOTS of opportunity to test drive a heap of bikes.

[DrunkenMistake]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=360574794
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-361697666.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-361697666.htm

Just a few, the first one is mine, and would happily arrange some deal in the way of transport,
The cool thing with Hornets is, you can go from the 250 to the 600 without having to worry about a higher bike etc due to the 600 being in a 250 frame.

[nodrog:Me]

Also, Don't just think that you just want a naked bike. Sometimes you can get a Sports bike, strip the fairings of as a "precaution" against crashing and just put them back on again after your skills improve. Hell, you might even prefer the look of the bike with them off

I hope all you learners are wearing your seatbelts in your cars? Wouldnt want you falling out because you have taken all the doors and panels off.

Fanny.

[gijoe1313]

Of course, I would say opt for a lil'ol'hornet! But the best thing is to go out and sit on each of them to see which one you "take" to. PM sent!

[Beren]

Thanks for the mail GiJoe - Awesome insight, you aren't the first to recommend a Hornet by a long shot either... Only wish was that there was a way for me to get one on finance but being a Pom I don't qualify which means back to the long way round. Got to get the grrr Toyota Estima Wof'ed and sold to get the cash - and that is probably going to be a grand's worth of work.

Oops Rambling, thanks for the advice guys. Much appreciated!

Unless of course anyone on here has a dirty old 250 lying about that they would part with for a few hundred notes that I can get WOF'ed and pootle around on till I get the cash for the right bike sorted...

[AllanB]

Bit more $ I'd recommend
http://www.motorcycletrader.co.nz/Vi...008/42616.aspx

But for $7 you can get a earlier Hornet 900 off trademe ......

[Beren]

Hey Allan

<-- Learner limited to 250cc

So those options are out for me unfortunately

[sinned]

When do the new regulations on engine power for learners come into play? If you can wait you may get something better suited to you.

[matdaymon]

When do the new regulations on engine power for learners come into play? If you can wait you may get something better suited to you.

2013 I believe

[DrunkenMistake]

Actually, I dont know how you feel about the Idea but my boss has a .. Suzuki TF125 that is road ready all it needs is the paper work done at VTNZ which is.. $400 he has the breaks certificate, and off the top of my head he wants $600 for the bike, its in primo condition, he has done about a grands work to it and it looks good

[Beren]

Mikemike: Thanks for the mail and the offer, but actually the option is dead - I might be wingeing about it but I need to save/get the cash to buy my first bike. Even if I could get a loan now think I wouldn't as there would be a heck of a risk of ending up with a loan and no bike!

@DrunkenMistake - Mmmm that sounds highly tempting, I wanted an off road bike at some point anyway... Where abouts is the bike - Your location says Dunedin and I'm up in Auckland which could be quite some road trip on a 125!! And any idea what year it is? They have been making those for umm a while! A 2 stroke 125 might well be strong enough to do the road work - and would definitely be awesome when I can get a bigger road bike and take that back to the dirt.