First bikes after passing full license??

gavuk · Jul 30, 2013

I've decided to take my bike test,as I'm over 21 :whistle:

it will allow me to ride any size bike .

Many years ago I rode 50cc 100cc and 125cc bikes to work,so I'm not a complete stranger also rode mates bikes off road etc ,I always liked trail/enduro bikes ,xt250-660,xl's...xr's.IT's....etc.

I don't need anything capable of over 100mph :whistle:

I would like something capable of going off road ideally...but not too high a saddle as I'm a massive 5'7"...budget is about £1.5k...

I like 80's and 90's bikes,but should I be looking at more modern alternatives?,I think I'd prefer a 4stroke, reliability is at the top of the wish list,followed by availability of reasonable parts..

What bikes should I be looking at?......would love to hear what was your first/fav bike after passing your test?...

julianthegypsy · Jul 30, 2013

Bmw f650 gs should do you nicely, but don't get the dakar. It's a stunning bike but I'm 5'10" and could barely get my feet down even with the "low" seat option. It's not actually lower, its narrower to make it easier to get your feet down.

Robotstar5 · Jul 30, 2013

A lot of the enduro/tourer style bikes are very tall, I tried a Kawasaki KL500 and at 5'10" could only touch down with one foot!, my VStrom is lower but not sure what it would be like off road?

gavuk · Jul 30, 2013

The bmw and vstrom look like nice bikes,not as offroad as I was thinking and a bit more than £1.5k budget,....I was thinking something a bit rougher :laughing:

...at least for a first bike....

Fazerruss · Jul 30, 2013

Bare in mind if you want an of road bike then first get an insurance quote.you will be surprised. I was looking at an xt a while ago and some companies wouldn't even insure me. Trail bikes are a prime target for theft.
I thought the same as you when passed my test so I got an slr 650. I soon found out that singles are no good for any distance. (severe numb nuts!)

gavuk · Jul 30, 2013

Fazerruss said:
Bare in mind if you want an of road bike then first get an insurance quote.you will be surprised. I was looking at an xt a while ago and some companies wouldn't even insure me. Trail bikes are a prime target for theft.
I thought the same as you when passed my test so I got an slr 650. I soon found out that singles are no good for any distance. (severe numb nuts!)

Duly noted... :clapping:

.....I will run the insurances,a mate from work just passed and bought a gsx1400..16years younger than me and pays £500 insurance,another just insured a 600 bandit £175 6 years younger than me but held a license for a while...I'll get on the comparison sites

Robotstar5 · Jul 30, 2013

I'd be upset if I had to pay more than £100 Fully comp for a 650, I suspect holding a bike licence for nearly 40 years may have something to do with it? :laughing:

gavuk · Jul 30, 2013

I would have been 6 when you passed then :laughing:

....I was hoping my age will help with insurance :whistle:

Robotstar5 · Jul 30, 2013

It's worth doing the comparison sites but for a common bike most of them will point you to Bennetts

Dave Sherwood · Jul 30, 2013

I have been riding bikes for 49 years this year and have the Honda ST1300 pan European. Until I retired I paid £144 approx. As soon as I reached 65 I was No longer insurable with the company I have been with for 10 years. I tried various companies and they started talking in telephone numbers. Finally found a company through Local bike shop with a company quoting £303.70. Took it, but next year bike might be for sale when first MOT due.

zx9 · Jul 31, 2013

Robotstar5 said:
A lot of the enduro/tourer style bikes are very tall, I tried a Kawasaki KL500 and at 5'10" could only touch down with one foot!, my VStrom is lower but not sure what it would be like off road?

With a bit of experience you only need to get one foot down. I have only have a 32" inside leg, used to ride a KLR600 with the rear suspension set quite high to cope with wife and camping gear on the back at week ends and could never be bothered soften it up for the week day commute into London.

Robotstar5 · Jul 31, 2013

zx9 said:
With a bit of experience you only need to get one foot down. I have only have a 32" inside leg, used to ride a KLR600 with the rear suspension set quite high to cope with wife and camping gear on the back at week ends and could never be bothered soften it up for the week day commute into London.

I've got a slightly shorter leg and could only get toes down, it would make it quite a performance carrying out the "Hendon shuffle" on traffic lights, hill starts etc. :laughing:

Bede · Jul 31, 2013

I used to be a huge motorbike fan when I was young and grew up on field bikes in my teens.

Every year I've been saying ill do my bike test. I'm now 35 and still not got round to it.

I lost a good friend on Friday to a motorbike accident. Absolutely devastating but it's not put me off wanting one still.

I will get round to it one day. My lifestyle doesn't allow for me to run a sporty car as I drive a defender for my camping gear, two dogs and pulling my trailer for work so Id like a bike for summer runs out.

F.J. · Jul 31, 2013

If you like 80's-90's bikes you could look for a Honda XL 650. You will get a nice model for you budget. I've just bought a crf450 with the intentions of getting it road registered. I just don't feel like I can enjoy a sports bike on our roads anymore and keeping one just to tear **** around the Isle of Man once a year just doesn't make sense when I can get more use out of an enduro

zx9 · Jul 31, 2013

Robotstar5 said:
I've got a slightly shorter leg and could only get toes down, it would make it quite a performance carrying out the "Hendon shuffle" on traffic lights, hill starts etc.

I did say 'With a bit of experience' I got very good at riding very slowly balancing on the clutch and back brake, that and avoiding certain junctions.

Around that time I borrowed a mates BMW R80 GS and could not believe how much easier it was to ride through slow traffic, perfect slow speed control just on the throttle, I did not want to give it back.

strada · Jul 31, 2013

I used to have a crf 450 on the road,super moto wheels. All though it was great fun to ride it was a bit much commuting in winter,lol :whistle:

My first bike after passing my test was a ccm r30, 650cc single,great bike plenty of power for a novice and you can swap wheels, road/off road.

gavuk · Jul 31, 2013

Dave Sherwood,I'm genuinely shocked that they can bump your insurance for being retired/over 65,thats disgraceful,but typical of the insurance industry unfortunatley

XL650 was already in the wish list ,but nice to hear you would recommend them F.J..........and I need my license so sports bikes are not being considered :whistle:

zx9 you don't think a KLR600 is suitable?....had considered them too

No fans of the xt600e?...slightly lower saddle height,i'm told?

Robotstar5 · Jul 31, 2013

gavuk said:
No fans of the xt600e?...slightly lower saddle height,i'm told?

Had an XT350 as a winter bike, no complaints

gavuk · Jul 31, 2013

What sort of top speed does the xt350 have Stu?...winter bike /work bike is a good description of what I want for my first bike ...something I can powerwash ...no chrome...something cheap,reliable and easy to repair if I run out of talent on grass and break something :whistle:

grandads_shed · Jul 31, 2013

arr now wen i was a wee lad i had the XT500, not fast on the top end (80mph), but a great bike, 500cc single cylinder ,dry sump system where the engine oil was put in the frame,

you just had to watch that you put the piston to the top of the cylinder before kick starting or you nearly break a leg when it kicked back,

First bikes after passing full license??

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