Hello midlife crisis - I've been expecting you

[Barts]

Hi.

Learn to ride course booked? check
Basic Handling Skills Course booked? check
Obtained and read Highway Code? check

Feel confident about what bike to buy? WTF

What I do know:
- I want to commute from Plimmerton to Wellington CBD (approx 30km)
- I am 6'3" / 189cm and weigh 90kg
- I am not looking for a sports bike - just a good bike to learn on and gain some experience (ideally one that provides a neutral / head up position)

What I don't know:
- New 250cc (and keep for a good number of years) or second hand, and upgrade up when confident?
- Make....model....manufacturer...
- Price
- How much I need to budget for helmet and protective gear

What would be the most appropriate 3 bikes for me to test ride upon ownership of learners licence?

Thanks guys - I am sure you remember this feeling ?!

Barts.

[Smifffy]

For what my opinion is worth - not really even 2 cents, given inflation & GST.

I'm assuming you have a rough idea of costs anyway and want to do this with a reasonable budget. I'd look at second hand 250, and the can't go wrong standards are:

Cruiser style:
Suzuki GN 250

Sports:
Honda VTR 250
Kawasaki Ninja 250

Naked:
Honda Hornet 250
Suzuki Bandit 250

Dual sport
Suzuki DR 250

IMO you can't go wrong with any of these bikes, they all have their fans & detractors. They also have good resale potential. Hyosung also have some offerings that are worth considering by many accounts.

$500, maybe less, should see you right for gear off the bat.

Of course once you start you want to continuously upgrade. Get the bike, and the gear, and ride, ride, ride. Go for your full as soon as you can, you will see a number of threads here about people who have been riding for many years, have finally seen a big bike they think is a bargain, but still don't have their full

Ride with as many different people as you can, check their bikes out and decide what you want from there.

Do some courses

http://www.prorider.co.nz/ is a good one.

[Spearfish]

Well done smifffy!

As a learner any bike on smiffys list will do but you wont be a learner for ever.
The more riding you do the better you get, the better/safer you get the more doors open as to what you want to do eg- instead of just commuting you go wandering over the weekend then from there you start touring..on it goes.

Basically a long winded way to say you will probably out grow the learner bike so don't waste to much on it.

I wish the power weight ratio would kick in rather than the current CC limit, for me I would be camped happily at the upper end of the limit my whole biking life.

[CookMySock]

It's just whatever spanks yer monkey ay. If you are going to commute then you need something modern and reliable.

For outright buzz and good looks, there isn't much to beat a GT250R for a learner bike. They are not without their issues, but with an unbaffled screaming demon exhaust and a few other mods they are quite the business - if you like that style of bike.

BTW welcome to biking! Plz get some training, specifically - 75% of riders killed on the road is because they don't know how to swerve the bike in an emergency.

[Ronin]

It's just whatever spanks yer monkey ay. If you are going to commute then you need something modern and reliable.

For outright buzz and good looks, there isn't much to beat a GT250R for a learner bike. They are not without their issues, but with an unbaffled screaming demon exhaust and a few other mods they are quite the business - if you like that style of bike.

BTW welcome to biking! Plz get some training, specifically - 75% of riders killed on the road is because they don't know how to swerve the bike in an emergency.

Care to show some stats on that Stevey? No? Didn't think so.

Oh and to the OP. Welcome and have fun. At 6"3' you could be better off looking at the hyobag as they are a bigger bike.

[Edbear]

Care to show some stats on that Stevey? No? Didn't think so.

Oh and to the OP. Welcome and have fun. At 6"3' you could be better off looking at the hyobag as they are a bigger bike.

I think the Hyosung 250 is the biggest 250 and better for taller folk. In the cruiser side of things I think the Suzuki 250 Intruder is the biggest. Hyosung have been the top selling sports bike for a while now, mainly due to the 250 being sylish and a v-twin and a lower price. Ninja is another popular learner bike, they're a revver forever and go well for a 250 and Honda VTR is a great bike, but too cramped for my 5'11". Sounds great though!

[GPXchick]

http://www.drivingtests.co.nz/

Great help with the scratchy tests I did my learners 6 weeks ish ago, Good luck to you. I got my boy 2007 2nd NZ owner under 9500 km's good price.

[ducatilover]

Try the Hyosung GT250/GT250R
I'd say a Hornet would suit you, more pep than the ferociously gutless Hyosung and proven to be extremely reliable.
I'd suggest VTR250 and what not, but not for a person of your height.
DR250 would be worth checking out, could be a barrel of laughs too.
If you're on a tight budget and just want great value for money a Honda VT250 Spada or Suzuki GSF250 Bandit would be the way to go, both also proven to be reliable (My Spada had 154km on the clock when I sold it)
Try everything you can before buying, be patient and bloody well be safe!

[steelphoenix]

If you're on a tight budget and just want great value for money a Honda VT250 Spada or Suzuki GSF250 Bandit would be the way to go, both also proven to be reliable (My Spada had 154km on the clock when I sold it)
Try everything you can before buying, be patient and bloody well be safe!

154km? More zeroes?

Yes, try before buying - and definitely get a pre-purchase inspection on anything you don't get from a dealer (consider it for a dealer bike too). Twice it's saved me from buying bikes I would have had to do a grand (or more) of repairs on soon after purchase...

Be safe, and have fun!

[Bren]

Being a larger bloke I would think that the likes of the GN250 would be a bit small for you, but as mentioned the Hyosung250 cruiser aint too bad, and there is the option of the Kawasaki Eliminator 250...

Or another option since you are a tall lad is to maybe get permission from the powers to be to start off on a slightly bigger bike...maybe a 400. You can get dispensations from LTSA, not sure how you go about it though...

[sil3nt]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-360586161.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-362745817.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-361466870.htm

Three cheap low km bikes that look pretty tidy and are local.

My pick would be Hornet > Hyosung > Bandit.

Gear will costs you between $500 and $1500 depending on what you get.

[Timmeh:P]

Sorry to all those who feel I am repeating myself every time someone starts a "what first bike?" thread.... But...

Honda Hornet!!!

Best all round 250cc bike out there.

Great size 600 cc bike frame, so it's not a big jump in weight and overall dimensions when you upgrade.

Better HP than any kawa or hyo

will do 100000km - 100000000km (as long as you look after it)

Has a 180 back tyre (big bike look)

upright seating position if that is your thing

Only down side is the odd front tyre size... But if you call your tyre supplier ahead of time, they can usually get one in.

Good luck!!

[p.dath]

Get a second hand bike. You will do some damage to the first bike you buy. Almost guaranteed.

[slofox]

"Hello midlife crisis - I've been expecting you"


Sometimes I think my whole fucking life has been a mid-life crisis...


Yea, I know,

[White trash]

Hey Barts, welcome to KB. Feel free to pop past TSS Red Baron in Alicetown Lower Hutt. Happy to go over a variety of different bike and gear options, new and used. Might even make ya a coffee. Or get Dom to.

Ask for Jimmy.