What is a good learner bike to get?

**Spoilt** · 29th March 2015, 14:22

Hi All, new to the kiwibiker forums and new to biking! Been lurking for a bit and am glad to finally join the community.

I have just recently passed my learners class 6 and am looking for a bike to purchase and was wondering what you think would be best to go for.
Currently I've been looking at the Suzuki GN125/250 and the Honda VT250 Spada (there is a 1989 one on trademe).
If I wer to go for a GN it would also be new from coleman suzuki as I can't find many on trademe, particularly second hand gn250s, although one issue is that being a learner biker I am expecting to drop the bike at some point or make mistakes...and I'm not sure getting a new bike for my first bike is a good idea. Although with the spada i'm worried that it is a bit too old?
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-864613972.htm

From reading around apparently the GN are good for going point a - b however they will struggle up on hills, which will be an issue seeing as I live around Piha hahaha and also I don't want to get a bike that will leave me craving for more after a few weeks/6 weeks, granted there is still a lot I have to learn. I would like to get something I could enjoy or utilize up till my full/restricted.

I've been asking around and some people have been saying to get bikes such a the mc22? something which will keep you learning and has a bit more power? So pretty much I've been really lost about what bike would suit.

I'm also in the process of getting gear so any recommendations with anything is welcome!

thanks

**mossy1200** · 29th March 2015, 14:31

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-824245618.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-848620981.htm Offer a bit less than asking price.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-864616243.htm Maybe 3200 would purchase.

Not sure I would buy a new gn250 personaly butsaying that I am tall.

**jellywrestler** · 29th March 2015, 15:29

Originally Posted by Spoilt

Hi All, new to the kiwibiker forums and new to biking! Been lurking for a bit and am glad to finally join the community.

I have just recently passed my learners class 6 and am looking for a bike to purchase and was wondering what you think would be best to go for.
Currently I've been looking at the Suzuki GN125/250 and the Honda VT250 Spada (there is a 1989 one on trademe).
If I wer to go for a GN it would also be new from coleman suzuki as I can't find many on trademe, particularly second hand gn250s, although one issue is that being a learner biker I am expecting to drop the bike at some point or make mistakes...and I'm not sure getting a new bike for my first bike is a good idea. Although with the spada i'm worried that it is a bit too old?
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-864613972.htm

From reading around apparently the GN are good for going point a - b however they will struggle up on hills, which will be an issue seeing as I live around Piha hahaha and also I don't want to get a bike that will leave me craving for more after a few weeks/6 weeks, granted there is still a lot I have to learn. I would like to get something I could enjoy or utilize up till my full/restricted.

I've been asking around and some people have been saying to get bikes such a the mc22? something which will keep you learning and has a bit more power? So pretty much I've been really lost about what bike would suit.

I'm also in the process of getting gear so any recommendations with anything is welcome!

thanks

get one that you can put both feet on the ground at the same time, ie not something too tall to manage, leave that till later in life

**FJRider** · 29th March 2015, 15:43

Originally Posted by Spoilt

Hi All, new to the kiwibiker forums and new to biking! Been lurking for a bit and am glad to finally join the community.

Welcome to the site ...

I wouldn't spend too much on your first learner bike ... legal but cheap. It will get a few scratches / dents ... and it will be hard to avoid the occasional drop. (low speed or stopped) If you have little money invested in it ... it wont devalue it that much with a few (extra) dents in it. And ... less stress and worry in your learning stage.

**kiwi-on-wheels** · 29th March 2015, 16:17

dont limit yourself to the 250's either, there are a few bikes on the LAMS list that are along the lines of your target bike, but a bigger engine so will actually get up hills...

**Grashopper** · 29th March 2015, 18:14

The Spada is brilliant as long as you're not too tall. It's one of the more powerful 250s like the old CBRs and is a lot of fun to ride.

I wouldn't recommend the GN125 at all. The GN250 only if you're a light weight. And yes, you probably won't keep it for an entire year...

I would go for the Spada (haha, actually, I did) or this one seems to be the perfect beginners bike: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-860702903.htm Newish technology, but high mileage, with what is likely to be a good service history, and the bike will likely go cheap.

You won't have to be worried that you'll drop it or scratch it, because it is not new, but you'll get a lot of bike for cheap. It sounds like it has been well taken care of, so I wouldn't be to worried about the high mileage.

**nzspokes** · 29th March 2015, 19:36

Originally Posted by mossy1200

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-824245618.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-848620981.htm Offer a bit less than asking price.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-864616243.htm Maybe 3200 would purchase.

Not sure I would buy a new gn250 personaly butsaying that I am tall.

I would go for the VTR.

I didnt realize 250s were still so expensive. My 1200 Bandit was 2k.

Being out at Piha you dont want a 125. The traffic is brisk out there and you will be a target on a small bike. And you have a good number of hills to go over.

**Quest Item** · 7th April 2015, 14:58

I've got a GN250 that I'm looking to sell if you're interested. It was my first bike and I had a great time learning to ride on it, but after a couple of months you do feel as if you want something with more power

**f2dz** · 7th April 2015, 15:05

See if you can test ride a couple. If I were on a learner license I would go for either a Kawasaki Ninja EX250 or a Honda VTR 250. I've had both and they were great.

I would stay away from the older four cylinder bikes unless you find one in really good nick or unless you're prepared for it to break down/fall apart as a lot of them are getting long in the tooth now.

Depending on your budget, the larger capacity LAMS bikes are also good options: Suzuki and Kawasaki 650s, DRZ400SM, Hyosung 650, Yamaha MT07, etc.

I'd still suggest the 250 Kawi or Honda out of all of these though. Unless you're an absolute fat ass/6ft+ giant. Mainly for the reason that they're cheap to buy, cheap to run and easy to learn on.

**PrincessBandit** · 7th April 2015, 16:02

Ginny is great to start on - a real little work horse but you may find you "outgrow" it fairly quickly.
GS 500 is a nice height bike with zip; avoid farings (just my opinion) for now as they are a bugger for damage when (yes, I did say 'when') you drop your bike.

**Akzle** · 7th April 2015, 16:46

tlr thou.
Or shoot yourself in the face.

**NZM0NK3Y** · 7th April 2015, 17:59

Hi,
I'm probably going to be selling my KTM Duke 390 (2013, 6658 kms, 3 months rego, WOF till Oct 2016, still under warranty until Oct 2015) if you'd be interested. Would be perfect round Piha !

Cheers

**Laava** · 7th April 2015, 18:01

A GN is a great bike to learn on or for around town but that is about it. How big are you? If you are 180cm or more and upwards of 70kg you should maybe think about getting something bigger, say a gs500 suzuki or similar.
Oh and ignore axehole, he has neither a bike or a life outside KB.