Learner bikes under $1,500?

[Alexofbbulgaria]

Ok I've decided I don't need the best or even the most powerful as my first Bike. I Spent all last night looking through this forum and realised the likelihood of me getting a 250cc bike in this range was going to prove to be a long uphill struggle that takes too much time.

New Approach to this is I want anything that will suit me to be mostly travelling round town but be able to reach motorway speeds and be averagely comfortable to go from Auckland to browns bay on weekends and the odd week day. I am 110kg and 185cm tall and will be travelling to the university of Auckland weekday, since Auckland is very hilly I feel I need a 250cc but can anyone suggest another bike that will do the job?

I really just want to start riding I have my learners and am rearing to go, please someone help me find my first bike

If you need any more info from me that will help with finding a good bike match for me just ask.

[FJRider]

Just get a 250 ... untill LAM's comes into effect. Forget about "highway speeds" capable. Get basic road (learning) experience with the 250 ... then move up after October.

Troll Trademe and all the classifieds in all the papers ...

[haydes55]

please someone help me find my first bike

The problem is once you get a cheap bike you'll love it so much you'll want a newer, faster sexier bike in no time haha.

For now check out GN250's such as the one linked. Millions of spares available, most people can say they started on one or have ridden one. very reliable aswell.

[GTRMAN]

something like this might be good for you, 'full' size frame is good for taller guys and they handle bigger riders ok. just a bit over your budget

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-481754032.htm

[Alexofbbulgaria]

something like this might be good for you, 'full' size frame is good for taller guys and they handle bigger riders ok. just a bit over your budget

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-481754032.htm

Man that does look good and yer it is a little bit out of my price range. I have my eye on a few cheaper auctions, I am waiting to see how much they go for before I start bidding. Plus at the moment im going round as many people as I Know that rides a bike trying them out.

Thanks

[akkadian]

Yeah wait a few months and get a 400. No worries with hills then. If you cant wait then a GN would do ya. Mrs GN125 is great. Hills...not so great

[Old Steve]

Just look at the ubiquitous Suzuki GN250. Older, original ones, might be down close to your budget. They'd be a good round town commuter and OK for a trip across the bridge to see your g/f.

[Alexofbbulgaria]

While looking on TM i found this and it seems pretty amazing but I am wondering how much would all the lil repairs usually cost to make it good enough to be re-registered?

[ducatilover]

Found what? There's no link.

[neels]

If it was me, I'd be saving my pennies and waiting until 1st October. I suspect there may be a bunch of 250's for sale by people who are living in caves and don't realise the rules are changing, and some newly legal bikes the turn up because there is suddenly a market for the largely ignored middleweights.

The more you rush something, the more likely it is you will make a bad decision. Unless it's deciding in 30 seconds that you should buy a ducati.

[Glowerss]

While looking on TM i found this and it seems pretty amazing but I am wondering how much would all the lil repairs usually cost to make it good enough to be re-registered?

Without actually seeing the bike...

If the bike has been de-registered, not on hold but actually de-registered, you're looking at a minimum 4-500$ to get it back road legal. That's without any repairs being made. You'll need a heap of shit such as the brakes being re certified, as well as taking it in for a very thorough examination. Then you have to buy a minimum of 6 months rego and some other rubbish. It's a 450-500$ endeavor. And that's assuming everything passes first time.

I wouldn't touch anything that's been dereg'd with a 10 foot pole unless you're CERTAIN of its road worthiness and all the components being absolutely sound. For a bike that costs, im guessing, less then $1500. I would avoid.


*edit, as far as LAMS compliant bikes goes. I've been poking around 400s for awhile now. There's some bargains to be found here and there. But largely there's just nothing. Bikes in the sort of 300-600 range are few and far between. There hasn't been a market for them in awhile, and not many of them are still being produced. Most of the 400s on TM are either non LAMS compliant (FZRs and the VFRs and CBRs and what have you) or old and fucked. Or just fucking old Lotta late 80s early 90s bikes. If you're mechanically minded, they're pretty cool to have. If you do decide to snap one up, be sure to get it checked out thoroughly.

[neels]

Or just fucking old Lotta late 80s early 90s bikes.

You mean like the 250 IL4's people have been paying stupid money for? Hell, I bought a low mileage 10 year old ducati for less than the usual asking price for a 20 year old CBR250, something wrong with that picture.

As for deregistered bikes, I agree if it's not stupidly cheap and you don't know exactly what you need to be looking for, stay away.

[Glowerss]

You mean like the 250 IL4's people have been paying stupid money for? Hell, I bought a low mileage 10 year old ducati for less than the usual asking price for a 20 year old CBR250, something wrong with that picture.

As for deregistered bikes, I agree if it's not stupidly cheap and you don't know exactly what you need to be looking for, stay away.

Exactly :P except the 400s aren't actually any more powerful then the stupid overpriced 250 IL4s. Don't rev half as high either! My current bike is an XJ400 diversion. It *JUST* falls into LAMS compliance. Its like 178kg with 53HP at the crank. Factor in Age and the like, I'd be amazed if its putting out more then 40 at the wheel.

Anyway, point being, LAMS in theory opens up more bikes to people on their L and Rs, but in practice I think the lack of any of em actually being around wont change much.

Although, some industrious importers have already started bringing in the restricted aussie LAMS compliant models. I saw a GSX 650 FU (restricted version) on trademe. Could be yours now for only 14,999$ + ORC! Which is a RIDICULOUS price for a bike that cannot be de restricted (that a word?) and you'll likely only use on your L and Rs. Granted, it would be a NICE bike to learn on but the price is still silly.

[nzspokes]

Exactly :P except the 400s aren't actually any more powerful then the stupid overpriced 250 IL4s. Don't rev half as high either! My current bike is an XJ400 diversion. It *JUST* falls into LAMS compliance. Its like 178kg with 53HP at the crank. Factor in Age and the like, I'd be amazed if its putting out more then 40 at the wheel.

My old GPZ 400 which I traded for my bandit is back on the market for $3900. Which is way more than I traded it for. My guess is they think it will be LAMS compliant. But at 170 kg and 60hp its way outside. Now that was a quick 400. But not legal.

Lams wont really make for faster learner bikes but bikes that fit bigger riders more safely.

[ducatilover]

I saw a GSX 650 FU (restricted version) on trademe. Could be yours now for only 14,999$ + ORC! Which is a RIDICULOUS price for a bike that cannot be de restricted (that a word?) and you'll likely only use on your L and Rs. Granted, it would be a NICE bike to learn on but the price is still silly.

I can derestrict it.