Finally a "biker"!

[Womble of Wimbledon]

At 29 and after 6 years of nagging to the mrs, she's finally relented and said I can get a bike.

Having never ridden properly before I needed the full monty when it came to the training and BHS. I did this through Rider Skills out near Te Atatu. My instructor was Phillip, I thoroughly recommend them. I was very happy with the training and passing the BHS;
now the bike search begins...

The training was on s GN125, which I liked especially the gear indicator, which helped a lot for a newbie such as me. This made me think a GN250 would be a good choice for me and my budget.

I will be riding to Auckland Airport from central Auckland every day and so a mix of city and motorway riding will be done. After reading A LOT (thank you fellow kiwi bikers) about learner bikes and am still a bit unsure of what bike I should focus on.
I am no way a speed freak and am after a sensible bike with a good fuel efficiency, hence the GN250...However...I cant help but look at bikes such as the ninja and think maybe it would be better/more fun for the daily commute. But my budget would only stretch to an older model.

So basically my questions are:

1. A newer (2005/06) GN250 (pro's = fuel and gear indicator) vs older (91-94) ZZR, GPX, CB250 etc (bit more power!). I dont want to be tearing down the road at 140kmh, but I dont want to be stuck at 90kmh full throttle either.

2. I know next to nothing about bikes, and buying off trademe would want to get them checked out first, does anyone recommend anyone in the city that does this?

3. Anyone got a nice bike to sell under $3000!!!?

All the help you could give a newbie would be greatly appreciated!

[Akzle]

3. Anyone got a nice bike to sell under $3000!!!?

gsx750. only 2999 for you...

(don't buy a gn)

[Subike]

You got lots of option bud,
how about this?
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-530894125.htm
or this
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-532307616.htm
maybe this?
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-532186448.htm
Have fun searching, don't limit your choices

[skippa1]

gsx750. only 2999 for you...

(don't buy a gn)

agreed....dont go GN
and for fucks sake do a search. There are so many similar threads its ridiculous....

[mossy1200]

agreed....dont go GN
and for fucks sake do a search. There are so many similar threads its ridiculous....

Or dont read them and get to the stage of looking for a gs500 to buy.

Look http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-529491659.htm

talk him down to near 2k and do a road trip.

[nathanwhite]

Howabout a Yamaha Scorpio? Fun, light, Cheap. More then enough for a first bike.



I also happen to have one that will be for sale in about a month. '09 with about 15K k's on it

[EJK]

Get a busa

[arcane12]

If you want some words from someone who has, and is, going through the process here are my thoughts.

First - it depends on your situation. Will you be able to afford to upgrade in 6 months time if you buy a Scorpio or gn? The Scorpio will go motorway speed, but you may not feel comfortable doing it. It was a great starter bike for me, but not everyone would be happy staying with it for the 2 years it now takes to get your full.

Of course getting a good LAMS bike at that money would mean some sort of compromise. The gs500 is a good bike by all accounts, but my experience is limited. I have erred towards later bikes to reduce the chance of a thrashed lemon.

You might want to familiarise yourself with your local bike shops and try not to be afraid of taking a test ride. Your local bike shop may be happy to do a pre purchase inspection, though depending on how much you pay will dictate how thorough they will be.

I assume you have all your gear? Another expense to keep in mind. Good luck, and I hope you make a decision that fits you best.

[Glowerss]

You got lots of option bud,
how about this?
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-530894125.htm
or this
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-532307616.htm
maybe this?
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-532186448.htm
Have fun searching, don't limit your choices

Arrr mate, not to be an ass, but if you're going to suggest bikes to learners, make sure you're responsible about it aye? A 1988 FZR 400 is a baaaaaad fucking call. First off, it isn't LAMS approved so that's out straight away. Second off a raped 50,000km FZR400 is going to put the poor lad off of bikes forever when it detonates on him a week after ownership. It's just not nice!

Or dont read them and get to the stage of looking for a gs500 to buy.

Look http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-529491659.htm

talk him down to near 2k and do a road trip.

Do this. A GS500 would be the perfect bike for what you want it to do. Cheap and reliable as. Not much to go wrong and they're cheap to repair. Suzuki has been making them since like the mid 80s pretty much unchanged. Just make sure you have somebody check it out before buying.

Short of that, as somebody who went through the decision you're making now over the last 7 months, don't make the same mistakes I did!

If you're going to do a fair bit of motorway commuting, make your life nicer and avoid any of the singles. The Scorpio and the GN250s are nice to learn on (BTW Do GN250's even have gear indicators? I thought that was only the 125s) but they struggle on the motorway. They vibrate like hell, make a hell of a lot of noise, and they're largely tapped out on the motorway. Especially if you're a larger bloke. If you're going to do a lot of commuting on it on the motorway, I wouldn't buy a ginny or a scorpio.

The ZZR250s aren't bad motorway workhorses if you can't find anything better. They sit about 9,000 RPM on the motorway with a 13k redline. They vibrate ilke hell too, however, so make sure you take a squizz on one before buying.

I ended up on a Hornet 250. Fucking fantastic bike and I love it to death. Handles the motorway easily, it's comfortable, and they're reliable as hell. Quite a few KB members have had hornets go over 100,000 KMs. If you can find one of those for sale in good nic you won't regret it.

That or a GS500 gets my vote.

[GrayWolf]

Mossey and Glowerss have it just about 100%

GN's are and will be for some time one of the best learner bikes around. Bearing in mind usually (often) first vehicle for a youngster, so very forgiving of rider error and/or over enthusiasm.
Your obviously not a greenhorn on the road, so I would also go along with a GS500.... they arent a lot faster than the Hornet or the Ninja/GPX/ZR250's BUT and its a big BUT, they are not as likely to have been owned by a horde of raving frikkin loonies who only know 2 throttle setting, flat out or stop. Also as pointed out a Ninja is doing around 9k revs at 100kph.... the GS will be doing quite a few less revs at motorway speeds.

[nzspokes]

Get a busa

Agreed. Get a Busa

[Womble of Wimbledon]

Thanks for the advice and suggestions guys.

So it seems the consensus is to steer clear of the GN (presume lack of power?) and keep a look out for a GS500 (they seem hard to come by, but will keep my eyes open).

If you guys don't mind, in the next week or two I'll post a couple of links to bikes I've seen and ask for some thoughts. I appreciate any advice given. For those of you that are bored of reading 'similar' threads from excited/nervous newbies, I advise avoid lurking on the wannabe & newbie biker forum, or failing that just ignore it.
But for those of you who are there to help and be constructive, thanks.

I saw this bandit:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-533303966.htm
whats people thoughts on something like that?

[mossy1200]

Thanks for the advice and suggestions guys.

So it seems the consensus is to steer clear of the GN (presume lack of power?) and keep a look out for a GS500 (they seem hard to come by, but will keep my eyes open).

If you guys don't mind, in the next week or two I'll post a couple of links to bikes I've seen and ask for some thoughts. I appreciate any advice given. For those of you that are bored of reading 'similar' threads from excited/nervous newbies, I advise avoid lurking on the wannabe & newbie biker forum, or failing that just ignore it.
But for those of you who are there to help and be constructive, thanks.

I saw this bandit:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-533303966.htm
whats people thoughts on something like that?

Not bad.
Idd go the GS but the bandit would be good.
Theres a vtr in Tauranga also.



http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-511481829.htm

Thats a good bike from a good dealer. You could give them a call and see what they can do for cash.

[Road kill]

Or dont read them and get to the stage of looking for a gs500 to buy.

Look http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-529491659.htm

talk him down to near 2k and do a road trip.

This is the best idea so far,a very good idea.
Go anywhere do anything...on the tar of course.

When ever I see a GN I always think "how cute" an then sort of expect the rider to be a Smurf.

[bosslady]

Good thread. I have my first lesson with rider training in a couple weeks. Excited but scared mostly cause I'm super unco! Those who know me would attest to that! Presuming my experience isn't completely awful ill be on the search for a bike eventually also. Good luck!