Recommend large learner bike? (over 250cc)

[YAMASAKI]

All those bikes are in all honest opinion- slow, underpowered. I would of thought the list would contain bikes with substantial amount of torque to power certain people that are over weight . After all i would imagine most who apply for exemptions, are heavy and need a bike that can power their weight on the motorway, steep hills etc.

Dude I think you need to re-read the list. My KTM(yes its on the list) will quite happily lift the front wheel in third and i weigh more than No 8 ...
some of them are heavy and underpowered but there are several VERY nice bikes on the list. Personally i'd go for the Yamaha XTX660, Aprilia SXV450/550 or KTM LC4 600, lots of tourqe and easy to ride (MX based).

[Dean]

Dude I think you need to re-read the list. My KTM(yes its on the list) will quite happily lift the front wheel in third and i weigh more than No 8 ...
some of them are heavy and underpowered but there are several VERY nice bikes on the list. Personally i'd go for the Yamaha XTX660, Aprilia SXV450/550 or KTM LC4 600, lots of tourqe and easy to ride (MX based).

The power of those bikes sound definitely capable of motorway steep hill speeds, was just wondering if a person overweight ( weight varies but someone say 130kg or more) purchases this bike, how will the bike handle with very heavy loads. I assume most would want the bike to be comfortable with their weight on long trips, not just commuting. Being an MX motorcycle i would assume it has great suspension, just would the motor be under stress on long trips with a very heavy load?

[YAMASAKI]

My old FZR250 handled 200kg on it... just, ie. me and my 100kg mate. would've looked pretty funny though , so I'm sure if they're capable of carrying a pillion then they'll easily handle 150kg +

[Badjelly]

Yup a GV650 is on the approved list. As is a GT650

Last time I looked, the NZ list was a copy of the Aussie list. In Aus, several companies sell two versions of some of their bikes, a full-power version and a detuned version with a power:weight ratio low enough to satisfy the regulations. Eg a recent Two Wheels had a comparative test of (I think) a detuned SV650 and GT650. (The detuned version is considered to be a separate model and there is no officially approved method of restoring it to full-power spec. And the difference in power is considerable, by the way.)

So the GT650 and GV650 that appear on the list are probably the detuned versions, which are not currently sold in NZ.

On the other hand, if the NZ licensing authorities will give you an exemption for a full-power Hyosung 650, then I'm not going to tell on you.

And to the person who said the bikes on the list are underpowered, er yes, that is the point. I don't recall the maximum allowed power:weight ratio, but you can find it easily enough by searching on this site. I do recall that the weight they use for the calculation is the bike weight (dry?? wet??) plus 90 kg to account for rider and gear.

[Dean]

My brother weighs nearly about the amount of you and your mate (200kg) and he rides a honda cb125t!!! but his suspension is now stuffed, and it can only get to 50kph with him, it literally fell apart causing him to crash around the manly roundabout when i was riding with him. He flew so fast because of his weight and flipped over into a bush with no gear on. (he is a ledgend though he didnt even get hurt no scracthes etc anyway)
But my point is that your fzr suspension and life in the motor wouldnt of been long due to the stress you put it under having that much weight (no offense).
So a ktm may be able to take a heavy pillion or person but in the long run will the bike still be running fine, will the engine still have life left etc.

[Hiflyer]

haha no worries Dean, I hadnt construed your comments in that way. No offence given, I have a far thicker skin than that anyway.

ahh you will go far in kb then my friend, if you sift through the utter shit that most people post then you will find some good advice!

ignore wankers that try to aggrivate you just for fun and have fun on your larger-than-250cc-bike haha good on you!

respect to my similar sized bruva from anutha mutha!

[Dean]

ahh you will go far in kb then my friend, if you sift through the utter shit that most people post then you will find some good advice!

ignore wankers that try to aggrivate you just for fun and have fun on your larger-than-250cc-bike haha good on you!

respect to my similar sized bruva from anutha mutha!

Alright then no 8wire if in some way i have been a dick to you on this thread (i dont think i have) i will buy you a 6pack of steinlager pure the best there is. Im looking at getting wasted this weekend anyways.

[Hiflyer]

Alright then no 8wire if in some way i have been a dick to you on this thread (i dont think i have) i will buy you a 6pack of steinlager pure the best there is. Im looking at getting wasted this weekend anyways.

i wasnt meaning you bro peace

[The Pastor]

i'd go the ktm 660 SMC or if its ont he list the drz400SM

[Dean]

i wasnt meaning you bro peace

Either way, bunch of 2fiddy riders on kb, ride up north set up tents and get on the piss for the night, sleep it of and ride back. im down for that.

[McDuck]

Harden up and deal with it

[no_8wire]

Ended up getting a very tidy LS650 which should suit me nicely until I get my full.
1st thing is get some 4" risers and a straight bar

Then possiblely getting a new rear guard setup like so:
http://images.trademe.co.nz/photoser...60082_full.jpg


Riding it back from takanini to out west already had a guy in a Jag try to kill me. Joys of riding!

[6ft5]

Congrats . . ride safe

[LaytonNZ]

xwhatsit - What other 250 cruisers would you recommend?
I tried a Hyosung and it was ridiculous. Same deal with a suzuki gn.

I may fit a sports bike but I do not want to ride one, I just dont trust them and would feel more confident on a lower, longer bike with their more upright seating postion etc.

I have photos of me on the bikes, and then on bikes that are roomy enough to position my legs and knees appropriately. Hopefully they accept my reasoning in the accompanying letter, and if not, for $22.20 its worth a shot even if I dont get the result Im after.

Yamaha Virago, Yamaha Star.. Bigger 250's

[zuum]

How does Ducati Monster 400 fit here, I can see DM 600 on list but not 400?
I tried sitting in CB's, Ninja, FZR, Hornet etc... and these feel quite small also quite light compared to Monster (I took my mates Monster for quick spin round Unitec and it felt much more comfy). Im 185cm weight over 100 Kg, add all gear and it will be 110 - 115 kg at least.