Short term biking?

**SlowHand** · 21st May 2011, 16:56

A long time ago (feels like it anyway) I sold me gixxer to go studying again. Finally got a job that can pay a bike bill, but need to save up some more to get a decent one.

Which leads me to the point of this post. I need a cheap bike that I can commute on until I can afford a better bike. It'd mean getting another half hour sleep in the morning, and being able to park in the building for free (both very valuable). I was thinking of a little 400 to help me get rid of this squid itch (I initially planned to sell the gixxer and get an adv bike because I was bored of road riding, but I long for those days after a such a long hiatus), but I'm also thinking of its resale-a-bility, which might mean I'd be better off getting a popular starter/commuter bike.

Q1. What would you do?
Q2. What's hot in the bike market at the mo? I'm out of the loop.

Chur in advance.

EDIT: oh yeah, budget is $3000, and that's stretching it. Unless I get a small loan, which I'm not really a fan of.

**Bonez** · 21st May 2011, 17:13

Scorpio 250.

**blackdog** · 21st May 2011, 17:41

Originally Posted by Bonez

Scorpio 250.

Good luck finding one of those!

(scorpio is 225) and definitely won't scratch a squid itch!

Much more likely to find a decent 400 in your budget than a learner bike.

**Bonez** · 21st May 2011, 17:48

Originally Posted by blackdog

Good luck finding one of those!

(scorpio is 225) and definitely won't scratch a squid itch!

All depends on how and where you use it.

**blackdog** · 21st May 2011, 17:50

Originally Posted by Bonez

All depends on how you use it.

Just because that's what she said don't make it true.

**jaffaonajappa** · 21st May 2011, 17:52

Originally Posted by Bonez

All depends on how and where you use it.

You saying size doesnt matter?

**matdaymon** · 21st May 2011, 17:54

Defo get something like a 400. Keep in mind they're changing the rules on us and bringing in something similar to LAMS which could leave a 400 as a learner bike in a couple of years or so

**blackdog** · 21st May 2011, 17:57

Originally Posted by Bonez

All depends on how and where you use it.

Nice edit.

**Bonez** · 21st May 2011, 18:03

Originally Posted by blackdog

Nice edit.

Thank you for noticing.

**racefactory** · 21st May 2011, 20:45

Just get a NC30 or a CBR400RR, they will do the trick nicely.

Actually a MC22 CBR250RR will provide heaps of thrills for little cost and they are awesome bikes for track when $ permits. Actually a CBR125 is a fun bike and has good suspension unlike all other small bikes. You can have heaps of fun cornering and braking hard on those things... fuel consumption is amazing.

**Milts** · 21st May 2011, 23:25

I would look at getting either of these:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...400-Super-Four

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...B400-1-reserve

Both could be a cheap bucketload of fun... if I had the cash and the space I'd probably buy them both and use one to commute one week and the other the next!

The price of sub-250 bikes is inflated due to the learner law, and 400s aren't a bad size for NZ roads. Depending on what gear you have, you may be better off spending 2kish for a good non learner legal bike + some good gear rather than overpaying for an old and abused learner 250 (scorpios included).

**ducatilover** · 22nd May 2011, 02:11

Cheers for the advertising Milts

But the CB is more or less sold now.

However on the flip side, I have a ZZR400K1 that I may let go for around $2.5k when it has a WoF and new rear tire...

**SlowHand** · 22nd May 2011, 10:56

I've got all the gear still so that's not an issue. Scorpio would be a laugh a minute (maybe 5 minutes) but I'd be flogging that off as soon as couple months, whereas summin like a GB or the other squid 400s I might keep till summer, when I realise again what kind of riding I'd rather do.

Dang, what happened to all the $500 GNs?