Just got my learners (Michaelt)

**Michaelt** · 24th July 2006, 22:38

I did my 6L about half a month back and the basic handling skills course was the first and so far the last time I've ridden a motorbike.

Any recommendations on what to get (without spending too much cash) and how I can learn to ride as I'm not quite confident enough to go on the roads yet. Something that'll eventually get me to uni and back easily (from St. Johns (Auckland Eastern Bays)) and possibly from uni to grafton campus and back if there's free parking there.

Also needs to be cheap and reliable to run as well as cheap to buy, so no 20 year old wrecks that need "a bit of TLC".

**Wasp** · 24th July 2006, 22:49

Bike depends on cash.

I learnt to ride on the hill that i live on, then slowly ventured out onto roads and eventually onto the motorway.

Welcome to KB and congrats on the license.

**Ixion** · 24th July 2006, 22:50

Congratulations, welcome, and check out the Suzuki GN250. No better value, and an excellent introductory machine. Cheap as chips to run, cheap as a cheap thing to repair when you drop (as you may); no expensive fairings to break; reliable as a reliable thing, and very easy and safe to ride.

Alternatively, the FXR150 looks fancier and is even more economical.

EDIT: Ms crashe will soon be here to extol the virtues of the Virago, and she is right. As to learning to ride, find a car park not in use . Many businesses have large car parks, deserted at the weekend. And check out the Ride Right Ride Safe courses once you are confident enough to venture a little afield.

EDITY EDIT. As to the learning to ride, if you advise what part of Dorkland you hail from, I'm sure someone would be willing to spend an afternoon running you through the basics. And somewhere on the site there is a thing you can sign up to ask for a mentor, though that may be more about learning to ride fast, which is quite a different matter. Learn to ride safely first.

**limbimtimwim** · 24th July 2006, 22:55

You've opened a can of worms here. Everyone is going to wade in.

ME.. I think the Honda v twin 250s are just great. I had a 1998+ VTR250, which was great fun. I also have had a quick go on a ~1986 VT250F thingy and thought that was pretty damn good too. Very light motorcycle too, so you won't fear dropping it. Engine is tame, but will be happy to do ~100km/h no problem. But at the same time there is no need to ring the shit out of it just to get from A to B. Unless of course you want to

.

250s don't depreciate fast. So you can easy start off with a very basic one (Like, as Ixion suggests, a GN250) and then once you have mastered that, move onto something a bit sexier and not loose any money. If you get the $$s together.

**Hawkeye** · 25th July 2006, 07:19

One thing no one has mentioned here but is a major factor.....

DON'T forget the armour. Don't fall into the trap of spending everything on the first bike and having nothing left to buy some form of protection. Make sure you budget for some basic gear. Even if it is second hand.
Just remember that whatever gear you do buy can be used on your next bike and your next.
You can very quickly grow out of your first bike so don't be too fussy. Use the first bike as a confidence builder. Once out on the road and your confidence rises, you will soon know what type of bike you really want.
Just get your hands on a cheap, reliable first bike and don't worry too much about it being a xyz plod along or a abc rocket. As long as it gets you out there, it will do.

**bobsmith** · 25th July 2006, 08:18

what they said.

a lot of people say GN250. and I agree if you can find a old gn250 (like 20 years old) for about a grand, than after you've throughly thrashed it, you can get a 250 that will last you for the rest of your learner/restricted period. but in my opinion the newer gn250 that goes for about 3300 from dealers just aren't worth their money they don't hold their value very well anyway.

Fxr150 is great, it's light and handles very very well, just watch some of the cheap tyres that's on some of them. they're fine for most riding but if you start thrashing it around corners in the wet or realise you're too fast halfway around a corner... they don't give you much more. the bike is definately much more capable than the stock tyres on it. look for some with one of the three tyres: pirellie MT75, bridgeston BT39 or dunlop TT900 (tt900 is bloody expensive but very very good I hear, I had bt39 on mine and they were excellent on the wet)

FXR150s hold their value well (I bought one for 2500 earlier this year and sold it for 2300 last month, I did put new tyres and chain while I had it but than I did crack off (read: broke the rear end off) the back fairings and put a couple more scratches as well as a crack on the front fairing so that really held its value) and they will do about 110-120km/hr comfortably, it won't go much faster though - but generally a great bike to learn on and it's pretty quick off the lights (quicker than my zzr250 for first 0-25km/hr or so until you have to start changing gears every two seconds on the fxr...)

As for late 250 twins like VTR250... hell if I had the money I would have gone for them but they are pretty dear.... they will likely last you the entire learners/restricted phase too.

If you're under 25 and have to wait a rediculously long time like me until getting a full, fxr150 or GN250 will sooon leave you wanting more and you will want to upgrade (probably) not much problem if you get a fxr150 or one of the older cheaper gn250 since you'll probably be able to sell it for about the same as what you bought it for if you buy wisely....

Anyhow... I talk too much...

and welcome to the site!!!

**bobsmith** · 25th July 2006, 08:22

Just to add a few things... (yeah, I know..... i'll shut up soon.... I think....)

what hawkeye said. don't skimp out on decent gear. If you're going to be commuting on it, a set of waterproof cordura is probably very good, and like he said as well, and I said before you will grow out of your first bike pretty soon. For your reference I had my fxr150 for about 3-4 months before I sold it for a bigger bike. and I was wanting bigger bike long before I actually got it....

hope all of this helps.

**kiwifruit** · 25th July 2006, 08:43

Congrats on getting ur licence

i agree with whats been said above.....
gn or fxr is a good start for a first road bike

**frogfeaturesFZR** · 25th July 2006, 09:23

Congrats and comments as above........think about a SR250 Yammy as well

**Filterer** · 25th July 2006, 12:37

Id like to reinforce some of the things said here......
Gear,Gear,Gear,Gear

Buy your gear or at least have a look at the shops first and work out exactly how much $$ you are going to need to buy your gear......

Please don't be one of the types that bike to uni in jandles,t-shirt and shorts.
At a minimum for going to uni on a motorbike IMHO you are going to need a good jacket, gloves, kevlar jeans (Shift or draggin make them) and preferable some riding boots but at the moment I wear some sturdy rugged shark leather shoes, oh and a helmet

Total Cost:
Helmet - $200+
Jacket - $200+
Gloves - $80+
Jeans - $180

Search around the motomail outlet store is a great place to look at with lots of end of line gear that it waaay cheaper then new

As for choice of bike im a great supporter of the GN250
Not the quickest by a long stretch but more then adequate for uni and back and still ok for sitting at 100+ on the motorway if your not a terribly large person (I can get 120+ on the straight and im approx 70kg)

As you said I would much rather spend more on a bike in the first place then spend money repairing motors etc

I picked my GN up about 4months ago. It had done 2500km, in perfect nick and it cost me $2500. And by the looks on trademe I could still sell it for the same so depreciation only really a problem if you buy brand new.

Im also at Uni and live in st johns (Norman Lesser Dr) so If you want to come have a look a GN250 and ask some questions feel free, just PM me and we can sort something out

**skidMark** · 25th July 2006, 12:46

Originally Posted by Michaelt

I did my 6L about half a month back and the basic handling skills course was the first and so far the last time I've ridden a motorbike.

Any recommendations on what to get (without spending too much cash) and how I can learn to ride as I'm not quite confident enough to go on the roads yet. Something that'll eventually get me to uni and back easily (from St. Johns (Auckland Eastern Bays)) and possibly from uni to grafton campus and back if there's free parking there.

Also needs to be cheap and reliable to run as well as cheap to buy, so no 20 year old wrecks that need "a bit of TLC".

hey your in same suburb as me...you prob hear my zxr most mornings depending on where you are in the area....green thing with green wheels...twin headlights....

i dunno if your in st johns or st johns park...i'm in st johns park so you may be over the hill...

if you want i can go riding with you when you start out...

i'd say go for an fxr...but you will get bored of the power (or lack of) very quickly..but they are an awesome bike to start out on

**skidMark** · 25th July 2006, 12:48

Originally Posted by Filterer

Im also at Uni and live in st johns (Norman Lesser Dr) so If you want to come have a look a GN250 and ask some questions feel free, just PM me and we can sort something out

you must be the guy with the gn under the cover by pyatt crescent correct? lol your like 200 metres away from me lol (i'm off norman lesser too)

**Filterer** · 25th July 2006, 16:09

That me

**skidMark** · 25th July 2006, 16:11

i see i see lol

hmmmmm keen for a ride later tonight or something or i can just randomly rock up at your house now LOL

got any cupcakes? or cookies can you bake me some cookies? (joking) LOL