Late starter (Spearfish)

**Spearfish** · 12th June 2009, 00:04

Hi
I'm a bit of a late starter and thought I could be having a mid life crises starting to learn to ride at 40 but that usually entails lots of chrome, horsepower and black leather, you know the image I'm painting, except I have a little blue Yamaha cv50 Jog with plastic parts, 10in wheelbarrow wheels and a full 1.8kws of power and just to keep all those ponies under control its restricted!
But then I realised its not a mid life crises, because I don't really have a bike yet, I have a scooter and a moped at that!
Over the last 6 months we have done about 7,000kms with 200km trips common and if you draw a circle of a day or twos moped ride in diameter from a home point it doesn't take long before it starts getting boring and becoming a bit more of a stunt to reach further out, Auckland to Hamilton using the cycle lanes is fun but takes a bit to syke me up for it now.
So I'm biting the bullet and looking for a bike that can explore NZ in a way only a bike can, it cant be over the learner size but still makes good time over a trip with more emphasis on "good" than "time".

**javawocky** · 12th June 2009, 07:37

I will say it again, because I am that impressed with it, Yamaha Scorpio is probably the easiest learner bike I have ridden that isn't a Scooter. enough power for even motorway (read legal) speeds and more than enough push for commuting. Also cheap as chips, light and low.

Ok, now everyone together - What ever you do, don't by a GN250

**The Baron** · 12th June 2009, 07:53

Welcome to KB. Sounds like it won't be long until you have a bigger bike.

Just do it. It will change your life.

**naphazoline** · 12th June 2009, 08:35

Welcome onboard KB Spearfish.

**The Stranger:Me** · 12th June 2009, 08:54

Originally Posted by javawocky

I will say it again, because I am that impressed with it, Yamaha Scorpio is probably the easiest learner bike I have ridden that isn't a Scooter. enough power for even motorway (read legal) speeds and more than enough push for commuting. Also cheap as chips, light and low.

Ok, now everyone together - What ever you do, don't by a GN250

Must agree with javawocky here - in bang for buck.
That said I would rate the Honda VT250 over the Scorpio but last time I looked they were at least 3k dearer.
If it is exploring you want to do, you could also look at one of the road legal off road bikes.

Henderson Motorcycles in View road and Millars Car Centre in Corban ave have both types of bikes.

**crazyhorse** · 12th June 2009, 09:06

Suzuki GSXR250 and Kawazaki 250 (can't remember the models), are good bikes to learn on - and will be comfortable enough to do long trips on. Good luck - and you are right - you are never too old to learn to ride, just get out there doing it.

**varminter** · 12th June 2009, 09:42

Late starter..pffttt. I started last year at 61, any advance on that??

**Sparrowhawk** · 12th June 2009, 09:46

Hey spearfish, welcome aboard. Go for it, get a 'real' bike, you'll love it. Go Scorpio over GN250, but if you like chrome, look at a Suzuki Intruder 250, or Yamaha does a 250 cruiser as well, but if you prefer sports have a look at a Ninja 250 (2nd hand you can get a gpx250 for about $2.5k) or similar. There's no right or wrong type of bike, it's what suits you best.

**p.dath** · 12th June 2009, 09:56

That's a lot of km's to do on a scooter. Very impressive.

**Spearfish** · 19th June 2009, 22:27

Thanks for the welcome and the information.
Whats the story with the gn 250?
It seems people either love them or hate them and they do either with a bit of passion, it seems to me with the ones who love em are often "camped" at one level of biking and usually say five things.
1-Its better than my scooter
2-its cheap to buy
3-it gets them to work (no ambition to go past learners or restricted licence)
4-easy to find parts
5-its better than my scooter

Those that hate them usually say
1-Don't get one.
2-(insert bike here)is the best
2-Get something that I won't grow bored with before getting my full licence maybe even beyond.
3-It will be better than a GN250
4-It will be way better than my damn scooter.

At this early stage of finding my first bike is kinda damn hard, I go for a short blat on any style of bike and it feels like the best one, for that moment, even a maxi scoot.

**frogamic** · 21st June 2009, 21:35

I had a GN and thought it was great, just a little uncomfortable to ride being quite tall. If you get a late model one though it will be chinese so watch out, mine had the diaphram installed incorectly, stopping it going past about 80km/h.