Greetings :)

[alastabesta]

Hi all,

I'm a newbie on the biking world - thought about getting a bike for a couple of weeks and now I'm gona put some action into achieving it. Gonna get my handling tests at mid/end of Feb and go from there Currently don't have a bike yet but looking for a "good for beginner" sorta bike :P

A

[Dodgyiti]

You have come to the right place if you want good advice on all sorts of learner entry bikes.
Of course I have never had one and am no use whatsoever in that respect.
But between the KB crew, there would be somone somewhere that has owned, borrowed or crashed each and every 250 avaliable in NZ

[MSTRS:Me]

You slowing down in your old age, Wari? Welcome bikeless enthusiast. Ignore (some of) the advise here. It will only end in tears :sly:

[XTC]

Welcome. Once you start riding if it's in ya blood you'll never give it up willingly.

[thehollowmen]

welcome...
If you've got a mechanical mind or have friends / relitives who bike and will give you a hand, consider going second hand and save the money to buy a big bike when you get your full.

Whatever 250 you get it will feel small very soon.

and they're right... you'll take a minute to hug your bike if you ever go on holiday without it...
:love2:

[Sniper]

Welcome mate. Ill tell you now, be prepared for the wacky types you will meet here, but have fun.

Good luck for your test, keep us posted

[Riff Raff]

Welcome to KB

[alastabesta]

thx all for the warm welcome

thehollowmen> yep I do work on my car all the time so I should be able to tackle some of the problems in a bike. Saw one for sale in Masterton so might go down for a roadtrip if its worth the money - I mean, for $500 I ain't gona expect anything as long as it gets me from A to B w/out breaking down. Its a 1984 Suzuki GN250 and the owner said it goes alright, need to replace the seat cover and side cover is missing but other than that nothing major... what are you guys's thought on it?

[madboy]

I'm making some assumptions here, don't know your financial position nor preference for toys. But this wee story may interest you.

I bought a bike, I like speed and many think I have a deathwish. Well documented in my previous posts.

My better half saw the joy my bike bought me, and decided that she should get one too. So she got her licence, ignored the advice of the sensible rider training guy (buy an old GN250 for a few months) and bought a brand spanking new GSX250. No test rides, she didn't want to bin it in traffic with zero road experience. Didn't even want to take my bike for a blast to get an idea of how different a real bike is to a GN100 learner jobbie in a carpark.

She rode it approximately once before figuring that she didn't share my deathwish, nor sense of adventure. She didn't like riding in traffic. She didn't like riding at high speed. The other six or so times she rode it over the seven months she had it just confirmed her impressions. See the picture?

We sold that bike a week or so ago. Seven months old, 1100km on the clock (about 900 of which was me riding it to and fro work to keep it ticking over).

Choose carefully. And if you're not too concerned about licence restrictions, I can do ya a deal on a 1990 FZR400 that's never been ridden in anger

[Coyote]

Almost all 250s would suit you. My CBR is nice and smooth, but still has more power for when you have built up the skills to ride a bit faster.

Allthough, I do reccomend the AX100, very fun bike to ride, and dirt cheap. Hopefully have one for the next rack day

Wilkommen to the site

[sels1]

Hi all,

I'm a newbie on the biking world - thought about getting a bike for a couple of weeks and now I'm gona put some action into achieving it. Gonna get my handling tests at mid/end of Feb and go from there Currently don't have a bike yet but looking for a "good for beginner" sorta bike :P

A

Welcome aboard Alastabesta.

Another option for learners is get a street legal trail bike. You can ride it on the road but you can also play around on the dirt and increase your skills in an offroad situation - you can fall off with little harm to you or bike in mud or sand etc.

[alastabesta]

madboy> my financial situation is not so good - working on my car's interior in diy style, also being a full time student means stupid uni is leeeeeeeeching off my wallet at the moment I just want a reliable bike that will survive 1 year (until I get my full) and then rest is all negotiable. Probably not too big in size as I've been on the good old vespa and also 500cc ones so I 100% know what you meant by the difference between different bikes.

In regards to your proposal, I would need to talk with my friend as she is putting half the money into it as well but wooooooowwwww 400cc bike... /drool

also can I say THIS FORUM'S SMILIES ROCKS!!!! never seen so many smilies before

[alastabesta]

sels1> yeah I've heard horror stories that people fell off their bike and broke their wrist - never be able to ride again

ouch.

[alastabesta]

alarumba> is ax100 made by suzuki?

[avgas]

Allthough, I do reccomend the AX100(Suzuki), very fun bike to ride, and dirt cheap. Hopefully have one for the next rack day

Have to agree here, AX100 would be a perfect way to start.
Anyone can ride a bike of anysize, but only a fool would try and take a corner too fast with no skill.
AX100 you could drop it and probably make money off it if it was filmed. Try that with anyother bike.
If thats too slow how bout a GP125, or GN250
Then you get into the FXR150s