Any bikers out there UK or World Wide? Advice?

[Risco]

Well first off, you won't want a full on sports bike like a GSXR or Ninja if you are commuting on a regular basis otherwise within a month your back will be crying out for a rest! Not only that, but you will get a new ******** ripped in terms of insurance! What you need is something that does not require to lay over the tank, or want to run @ 10,000 revs all the time. I sell bike insurance for a living, and ride as well. Ideally you want something between 500 - 650cc which gives you power as well as fuel efficiency.

So some suggestions:

1. Kawasaki ER5 6- F
2. Honda CB 600F
3. Suzuki Gladius
4. Suzuki Bandit
5. Yamaha XJ6 Diversion
6. Kawasaki Er 5
7. Kawsaki GPZ 500

All of the above are cheap as chips to insure, have a good range of power, good fuel economy and a sensible first bike. Oh and forget the Ninja 250, I only ever sell insurance on them to girls under 25 [rofl]

[Gordo]

From that, you may want to consider one of the Motard style bikes - they're quite popular here with people looking for a similar ride to you.
They can also be very effective back road weapons, from what those I know who ride them say.

Something like this as a commuter biased bike - http://powersports.honda.com/2009/cr...fications.aspx (BTW, 83mp(US)g is more than 100mp(UK)g.
For faster unning, something like - http://powersports.honda.com/2009/xr...fications.aspx.

All the main bike manufacturers make them and there would have to be one to suit your needs - just make sure they swap out the compromised 'motard' tyres for some decent road ones first.

You'll be doing this before you know it - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7fn1...eature=related

[twonha]

Waits for-FuryX-,to reply..[popcorn]

I'm a little late to the party, I think. And apparently, British motorcycle tastes and habits differ greatly from the Dutch ways! I started out on an FZR600, an old sports bike that would barely even be considered sporty anymore over here, but its racing genes are undeniable. Nothing wrong with power, it's all about your own wrist and control. Basically, any bike of 600cc or more should suit anyone just fine, and which type of bike you pick depends on personal taste.

Got an YZF750 now, though it's at the workshop for repairs...

[pugheaven]

Ok cheers everyone, did some insurance quotes and couldn't believe how cheap it was, a Suzuki SV650S 2002 model worth £2000 was £140 fully comp... not bad that was expecting alot more for a 650cc bike... so...

Well week tomorrow and it'll be the CBT... then start of proper lessons.

[DuranXL]

I've been riding a 400cc bandit for 2 years now. I've considered buying something bigger and faster, but everytime I realize a 400cc is so much fun. Basically it depends on what you want from a bike. I like riding twisties and the 400 is perfect for that, so agile. It doesn't have a lot of power but the gearing is very short and it has non-linear power band so it's still OK. In fact i think it's a lot better than having a R1 which does 150km/h in 1st gear.

However if you're gonna do lots of highway or long miles something more than a 400cc would be better.
It comes down to:
1) fairing/no fairing
2) (v-)twin/4-cil (or maybe even 1 or 3 cilinder but less common)
3) budget
4) purpose

Fill it in ;)

[Risco]

Ok cheers everyone, did some insurance quotes and couldn't believe how cheap it was, a Suzuki SV650S 2002 model worth £2000 was £140 fully comp... not bad that was expecting alot more for a 650cc bike... so...

Well week tomorrow and it'll be the CBT... then start of proper lessons.

Yup, very cheap to insure ( all the ones I listed are mainly in that range too ) and a twin like my old ER5. However it has a bit of a reputation as a girls bike, and I mean that literally. If you are going to do a lot of motorway riding, you are defo going to want a screen and some fairing. Doing long distance without those on the motorway is not much fun!

[Raptor156]

So, my question really is, once people had their full licence, what do they recommend, something powerful enough to be safe, look decent BUT not throw me off because it's too powerful for what will be little expereince?? How did they work their way up the power ladder etc? Also, any additional advice etc, go for it. Also, I'm 6ft 1" tall and normally weigh around 12st 2lbs... with a 32" inside leg... not sure if that would have any effect on bikes people may or maynot reccomend?

My first bike was a '96 Suzuki Bandit 600. Personally, I'd never go anything less than a 500cc, but I weigh ~220lbs. If I were planning to have a passenger too, I'd definitely want ~750+. For a new rider a 500-600cc bike should be fine as long as you're careful, and be sure to let the engine warm up if it's carbuerated.

Trying to find a decent used sv650, sv1000, fz6, fz1 or something similar now. Found a 2001 Ducati Monster 750 Dark. Poster's asking $5000, but KBB retail is $3000... If I could get it for $2500-3000 I definitely would.

[DuranXL]

and be sure to let the engine warm up if it's carbuerated.

Also if it has injection

[pugheaven]

Well, I've made my choice, as in the one I want (although this could change once I ride one next month assuming I pass my bigboy test lol).... and it's a Honda CBR600F Sport from around the 2001 era (as it was the change in shape to a more angular look) in RED/BLACK... cost around £2200 for a good one... infact something along these lines will do me fine as in below... although for some reason this looks orange, it's actually red... think this guys done a few things to this one... powder coated the wheels, nice can etc... however this will be mine... oh yes.. it shall be mine...



So, Monday marks the 4rd session of the Direct Access course... I've done around 350 miles on the CBR125 now, so feeling decent. Monday is the first time on the bigboy 600cc jobbies... think they're around the 65-70bhp mark, not massive BUT enough of an upgrade from what I've been riding lol... so session on Monday, then another 4 hour session on Wednesday... then it could be time for the tests?!?!

Cheers for the all help and possibles fellas... much appreciated... spent alot of time thinking of ones... came down to a few actually the Kawasaki ER6's, Suzuki SV650's... Yamaha XJ6... but think from what alot of "bike" people say the CBR600 is a bike that you could well keep for years... and isn't quite as insane as the RR, the R1's etc etc... performance when you want it but can be a little more subtle... sure it'd still kill me in a second though with 108bhp lol

[Risco]

MMm, bike is nice but the paintwork is horrible lol, but hey it is personal taste. Be careful with modded bikes, the things you have listed are classed as modifications and you HAVE to declare them when taking out insurance otherwise it is invalid. I would advised against taking one out on the net if modded, best to call someone and declare over the phone.

Oh and white rimmed wheels, are you sure lol.