Well it’s typical isn’t it, I save up for ages for a new bike putting away money in a big jar (yes some people are that stupid) and saved up a few thousand which was supposed to be going on a new Ninja 250. Now after having put a deposit on a new one which I’ve never seen in real life far less actually sat on (none available till well past October) I’ve gone right off the damn thing!

I was in a bike breakers on Saturday looking at their second hand bikes for sale and thinking to myself it would be much more sensible just to buy a second hand bike rather than new since all I’ll do is bash it, drop it and generally just smash into things plus the used bikes are sooo cheap!

Could anyone recommend a good sports bike (that they have owned) that is free from problems, reasonable sized engine i.e 400-600cc and has good handling. I’m not a fast rider, I grew out of that years ago and am just looking for something to move up to from my little phut phut 125.

Gpz500s

Sv650s - lovely motor, handles well (took a few r1's at oulton) but doesn;t stop too well - can be improved with brake upgrades.

zzr600 - bit old, quick, handles ok but all day comfy.

CBR400rr - quality bike, handles really well, stops very well but very cramped if your a bigger bloke.

Bandit 650 s - bit budget, planted slow speed feel, nice riding position, not much in the way of uuumph

You could get a supermoto, they are GREAT fun! Smallish capacity, single cylinder, oddles of stomp, but no top end. Great fun with no high speed speeding fines - but a lot of fines for wheelying off the lights and jumping kerbs

Thats the bikes I'd recommend after owning them.

There are few I plan on getting at some point, like an rs250 but I can't vouch for them.

Just don;t ever buy a cruiser/harley look a like - they are terrible things, grind out all over the place in the corners.

Bandit 600 naked loads of fun

I picked mine up for £900

Honda CBR 600. Any model from 91 on. Brilliant bike, will do whatever you want, tour, going to work, track days.... Unbreakable motor. Fast enough to be fun but easy to ride. Nice riding position.

ETA Go on Whippy get a proper bike. As Barry Sheene would have said, "Those little Jap 250s wouldn't pull the c$ck off a chocolate mouse".

[Edited on 28/7/08 by MikeCapon]

thanks for that

kind of what I suspected, that the CBR's would be the ones most liked, especially when the riding schools round here seem to have plenty rather like the cg125's. Right now I know what to look at.

cheers.

Husaberg 650 Supermoto... absolute scream to drive all over the place on the back wheel

quote:

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Originally posted by coozer
Husaberg 650 Supermoto... absolute scream to drive all over the place on the back wheel

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For first 'big bikes'..

Kawasaki ZXR400 - great fun, if not a little small.

LIBRARY PIC HERE

Yamaha TRX850 - physically bigger bike, but not much more power. Looks a little dull in standard, but if you put a bellypan on it and give it a nice paint job (as i did when I had mine) then they look great! Very cheap to buy and run.

PIC HERE OF MY OLD ONE

Sorry... I have to (just one more time... please!)...

This one...



Displacement: 50.00 ccm (3.05 cubic inches)
Engine type: Single cylinder
Stroke: 2
Power: 5.48 HP (4.0 kW)) @ 8000 RPM
Max RPM: 8000
Compression: 11.0:1
Fuel system: Carburettor
Cooling system: Air
Gearbox: 3-speed

LOOK AT ONE GO!

drool I'm in love...I want a moped!!

that ZXR400 looks nice, the TRX850 looks very fancy, I'm 5ft 5in so not after a big bike. I sat on my friends CBR600 (before he crashed it) and it felt not to bad, alot heavier than my CG but I could manage it

I second the sv650s. Owned one of the earlier pre-injection models for a couple of years and had no problems whatsoever. Comfy (even 2's up), effortless to ride and torque from the v-twin engine makes riding round town easy as power is there in all gears/rev range. They also sound very throaty with a decent can.

Oh and cheap insurance beacuse semi-faired. Linky to my old one. (I also added an aftermarket bellypan and rear hugger).

[Edited on 28/7/08 by Nosbod]

You'll not go far wrong with one of these...

Simple to maintain, excellent street cred and an appreciating classic. Not noted for it's high speed stability, but then you did say you're over the whole speed thing.

Kawasaki ZX636 seems to do all one of may mates wants, apart from keeping up with R1's

Scootz - that's your lot!!!


Whippy - this is a great all rounder and a bit different to the more common Bandit. The Honda Hornet 600

Also comes with Honda reliability...

Steve




[Edited on 28/7/08 by worX]

I loved my ZX7R.

Not the lightest or fastest thing around and not the best comfortwise for long journeys, but not that uncomfortable - would probably stop twice on a 250 mile drive...

For me all this was outweighed by the looks

Should you decide to upgrade it, then a ZX9R Engine will fit...




[Edited on 28/7/08 by stevebubs]

[Edited on 28/7/08 by stevebubs]

PS Went straight from an NS125R to the ZX7R and found it easier to ride....

Ahhh... the ZX7R - always wanted to, but never got round to that one!

quote:

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Originally posted by worX
Scootz - that's your lot!!!

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I always wanted too and never got round to it aswell!
They just looked a thousand times more aggressive than anything else in it's day, plus was obvioulsy built to race...

I'm just about to buy something else that I've always wanted, but having last minute nerves since I'm meant to be skinting myself for my wedding in four weeks time...

Steve

quote:

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Originally posted by scootz
Ahhh... the ZX7R - always wanted to, but never got round to that one!

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quote:

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Originally posted by scootz
Ahhh... the ZX7R - always wanted to, but never got round to that one!

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Had both.................
ZX7R & the Duke 748.
ZX7R was superb, more of a man's 600 thats what I used to tell my mates.
The duke 748..........aahhhh........ the duke. Its like the old topgear cliche' with Alfa's. You aint been a real biker unless you've had a piece of Italian artwork
What a bike !!!! Handling, looks, sounds, smells. Just got that all Italian will it won't it thing going on though.
My 748 engine lunched itself after 5K, but I still loved it.
Go with previous opinon and get a supermoto type. Cheap to buy, great fun, good visibility and cheapish running costs.
Currently hooning around on an XR400 at the mo. Great fun on & off-road

quote:

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Originally posted by clanger
Go with previous opinon and get a supermoto type. Cheap to buy, great fun, good visibility and cheapish running costs.
Currently hooning around on an XR400 at the mo. Great fun on & off-road

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the super moto things look very high and a right handful tbo, I've never done a wheely in my life not do I want too

Just been to pick a Suzuki SV650 up, the poor guy bought it last week and came off it today, only done 50 miles. He's made a mess of his knee as well.

I'd have to recommend the ZX6R - lovely bike, well reliable, smooth and has the power there if you want to play. I've got a J1 (X plate) and it hasn't let me down (except for the magnetic tyres - they seem to attract all the sharp sh!t on the road )

Other than that - go for the Honda CBR600

Joking aside... I think your best bet in terms of a sports bike is probably a ZXR400 or an RVF400 - both are perfect for your height, look great and are an absolute riot to ride!

RVF's are (still) a little pricey mind!

Ducati Monster if it's just for local riding, all the lovely Ducati sound, but relatively low maintance, and you can say you owned a Ducati! I have one in London for a couple of years and loved it.