First bike.....thinking outside of the box - advice sought!

[quickquack]

Hi all,

Thank you all very much for your well wishes for this wednesday  .  Fingers crossed and I'll get through  and then....comes my first bike.

Browsing this site (as well as other online blogs/sites/forums) the usual route post DAS is to get a 500-600cc bike along the lines of an ER6n/f or XJ6/Divvy etc...  Certainly this is the sort of bike I would go for in an ideal world but I have a particular set of circumstances....

In a nutshell I'm being allowed to bike under special dispensation from my wife .  She's a life-long bike-o-phobe and quitting riding my CB125 when I was at Uni was one of the consequences of our relationship beginning (believe me, she's worth it....!!).  Several years down the line and a mini mid-life crisis later we've come to a (after a heck of a storm) 'agreement'.  I can do my test and ride BUT:

1) I can't get rid of my car (it's a small 'second' car which I use to commute) in case we/I have urgent need of a second car
2) The cost of biking can't majorly increase our outgoings on 'transport' (e.g. finance/tax/insurance/MOT/servicing/parts/petrol)

Because my car is basically going to sit on the drive 10-11 months of the year I can SORN it and avoid having to service/insure/MOT it unless necessary which frees up capital for biking.  Also the car does around 35 mpg so any increase in fuel efficiency from the bike will free up 'petrol money' which can - in turn - fund biking.

Thus....I need to find a bike which is relatively cheap to buy/finance, cheap to insure/tax, cheap to service/maintain and fuel efficient BUT.....I want to have fun on this bike, to learn advanced skills on it and basically be able to push to it's limits within my beginner skills for the next year until I'll be in a better position to upsize/spend more on biking.

My daily commute is max 18 miles there through country A and B roads and occasionally I'll use motorways/dual carriage ways to visit family/friends up to 2 hours away (no rush to get there, though, and this will only be 3-4 times per year).

I'm 93 kgs and 6'2''.  Instinctively I like sporty looking, faired, bikes and ultimately want to own a 2011- CBR600F for general commuting/fun and might even (once skills and training allow) buy a racing hack for track days.

Having explored the options I'm looking at the Honda CBR250R and sat on one last week.  It's certainly a small bike for me but my legs weren't too cramped on the pegs and I like the styling.  However, being a GP, I'll need storage to regularly lug my medical equipment around so am looking at panners/top boxes/tank bags.  Sporty looking bikes are spoiled by top boxes so preferably I'd go for saddle bags or a tank bag.  I've also checked out the Ninja 250R but it's fuel efficiency isn't as good as the CBR250R.

Finally, if I DID go with the CBR250R, does any one think it's suitable to do IAM training on?  Do advanced skills require a certain 'minimum' power of bike?

Thanks in advance for any/all advice!!

QQ

[P.B.]

"being a GP, I'll need storage to regularly lug my medical equipment around so am looking at panners/top boxes/tank bags.  Sporty looking bikes are spoiled by top boxes so preferably I'd go for saddle bags or a tank bag. "

I can't see a 250 sports suiting you for long. I'd be looking at bikes that take hard panniers better. You don't want to lug saddlebags into every visit you do, nor worry about someone rooting through them whilst your on a job. Hard panniers FTW.

[quickquack]

That's a very, very good point.  I think the hard Givi panniers which I saw on the ER6 were perfect.  Ideal for what I need...

Thanks for the advice!

QQ

[notoriusb.e.n]

Deauville.

[MarkShelley]

You don`t say what your budget is, but I would say one of these would be perfect.
http://www.mslmagazine.co.uk/news/bmw-s-g650gs-70mpg-good-fun-great-looks

[Jason500]

If things flan out I may be selling a zzr250, in good condition and I won't be asking shop price if that helps

[shonajoy]

Height wise, my husband is 6 2 and loves his versys good fuel economy and they did a deal a couple of years ago complete with hard panniers and cases, sure they were lockable too. Great bike, it's a 650 but not a sports, and great fun too, he loves my triple but has more fun on the versys he says, maybe worth a look.

[shonajoy]

Height wise, my husband is 6 2 and loves his versys good fuel economy and they did a deal a couple of years ago complete with hard panniers and cases, sure they were lockable too. Great bike, it's a 650 but not a sports, and great fun too, he loves my triple but has more fun on the versys he says, maybe worth a look.

one on eBay for 2999 -400269437936  item number.

[motobiker]

Indeed.. cut out the middleman and get yourself a BMW. If you still have leanings towards a sports bike.. get one of those too.

Now... I best go and hide. I'm sure to get into big trouble for encouraging such blatant irresponsibility and profligacy in this age of austerity.  

[djkitchen]

Why not the R1100s Boxercup, looks awesome, and from what I hear is good to ride, I have been promised a go on one when the weather is better, and they look ok with panniers on!

[mikiboy]

1st bike and need a car and to keep costs down???????
Bikes do cost ESPECIALLY if you haven't a clue.
The initial outlay and ins on the 250 will be quite high.  They are pretty new.
You cabn get a mint GPZ500 for under a grand with service history and possibly inc panniers.
If you drop it you don't need to worry too much with ins claims.  Claim on the bike and it will effect your car NCD and vice versa.
You could get a bandit 600 reasonably priced.  Comfort and a crisp engine.  Maqke sure it's had its major srvice as i was quoted silly money to get mine done when I had one.  Tyre costs go up as do C&S so if you buy cheap then you could end up spending almost as much getting a bike that's not worth twice what you paid.
Divvy 600.  Cheap ins.  Dull motor compared to the GPZ but they go for ever.  Then again, my mechanic reckoned the GPZ was the same.
ER500.  Later than the GPZ but basically a redesigned version thats naked.
Personally, I wouldnt touch a BMW.  The F650 gets good reviews but I know people who had no end of probs with them.  How about a KL500 or a TDM850.  Nice bikes that may suit your size and not cost silly money

[quickquack]

Wow!! Fantastic advice, thankyou!

My budget is ideally in the £2-3K area (mainly to keep things sensible as a beginner!!).  Will check out the bikes recommended.  I'm already thinking I just need something to get me through a year when I will be 1 year older and (hopefully) accident/insurance claim free and wiser.  By then insurance premiums should be better and I'll have a better idea of my biking needs.

Personally I'd sell the car and be done with it (we still have another family car) but I can see some sense in keeping a spare around (especially as it's owned outright and is too knackered to raise much in the way of selling/PX!!).

QQ

[Wynne G Oldman]

I've got a 45L top box on my CBR 250R. It's not everyones cup of tea, but I don't think it looks too bad. If you want a cheap to run bike, you won't do better than one of these. The insurance won't be any cheaper than bigger bikes, but road tax is £33 a year, it's averaging 82 mpg so far, that's half 30 - 40 mph roads and half cruising at 70 mph on the motorway. Servicing is mega cheap too, with 8,000 miles service intervals, and it's built to be cheap and simple to service. Performance isn't too bad, it's not fast by any stretch of the imagination, but it's quicker off the lights than most cars, and has a nice broad power band, making it a pleasure to ride. It's nice and light too, making it really flickable, you can have a lot of good cheap fun on this bike. I do about 8,000 miles a year, mainly commuting, I've only done 600 miles on this so far, but I'm loving it. Cracking little bike. 
 

[Orlando Watt]

Divvy or 600 Fazer would be ideal for your situation. Full Kappa or Givi luggage, job done.

[quickquack]

Wynne, that's actually not too bad at all.  For work a detachable top box would be fine and the bike certainly looks very nice :-).

I like the low running costs and got a quote for fully comp at around £260/year (which was the same for older 600's I'd looked at).

The irony is that if I thought I'd have ended up on a 250 then I wouldn't have spent all this money on DAS and would have just done my CBT, got a CBF125, sat my A2 test and stuck with a <33 BHP bike for a couple of years!!!

QQ

[P.B.]

Why not the R1100s Boxercup, looks awesome, and from what I hear is good to ride, I have been promised a go on one when the weather is better, and they look ok with panniers on!

Save very little on fuel, nothing if your generous with the right hand.

[Wynne G Oldman]

Wynne, that's actually not too bad at all.  For work a detachable top box would be fine and the bike certainly looks very nice :-).

I like the low running costs and got a quote for fully comp at around £260/year (which was the same for older 600's I'd looked at).

The irony is that if I thought I'd have ended up on a 250 then I wouldn't have spent all this money on DAS and would have just done my CBT, got a CBF125, sat my A2 test and stuck with a <33 BHP bike for a couple of years!!!

QQ

The box is detachable and lockable. I have a Givi shoulder bag that fits inside perfectly, so if I want to go in a shop, I just leave my crash helmet and gloves in the box, and put my shopping in the bag. 

[Orlando Watt]

I have a Givi shoulder bag

You mean a handbag?

[Wynne G Oldman]

You mean a handbag?

MAN bag, if you please!  

http://www.givi.co.uk/soft-luggages/Soft-bags-complements/T468

[quickquack]

That inner bag looks like it'd hold my stuff.  Will have to investigate further....

[mikiboy]

You may be too tall for it.  It's a small bike, a 250

[quickquack]

You may be too tall for it.  It's a small bike, a 250

That's my worry.  I did sit on it and it felt 'slimline' beneath me but given my max regular ride distance is around 20 miles in one journey I wonder whether that will prove a major problem?  I had a CB125 at Uni which was even smaller and regularly rode that similar distances without too many problems (even rode it from London to Taunton down the A303 in November at a max speed of 55 mph in the cold without winter gear!!  Took hours and arrived in serious state of hypothermia....never again!!).

[louwild]

Fingers and toes crossed for Wednesday!! That came around quick! Just had a thought, your first post mentioned a divvy. My partner is 6'5" and previously sat on my bike (divvy) to move it, he dwarfed it! (then discovered the response difference between my bike and his Harley - don't think he'll go there again. LOL!). Nothing worse than having your knees by your ears on long trips. My ex had a ninja and I always felt like a jockey, with cramp and knee pain.

[Andy52]

quickquack, you mentioned wanting to join IAM - as long as your bike will hold 70mph on a motorway it should be suitable. That would rule out a 125, but a 250 should be ok. Personally I would go for something around 500cc, and you will have more choice of bike to suit your size.

Good luck on Wednesday!

[Wynne G Oldman]

You may be too tall for it.  It's a small bike, a 250

I'm 6'1" and weigh 12 1/2 stone, and I think people of shorter stature (trying to be as PC as possible here  ) would have problems with this bike. My inside leg measurement is 32" and my feet are comfortably flat on the ground, but I think people with much shorter legs would struggle on this bike. Fits me fine, and I don't feel oversized on it. It feels about the same size as a 600 sport bike, but lighter. The riding position is very good, and believe it or not, is more comfortable for distance than the BMW I traded it in for.

[jankers]

I would go for a ER5, very comfortable to ride and very cheap to run. Get a "C" model as they have a higher seat and stainless pipes.
They are ideal for commuting and can easily be fitted with a top box.
With the cash you save you can splash out on some good clothing /oversuit so you arrive in presentable condition. They are not sporty, but will be an ideal vehicle to 'learn the trade'.

However, as with all things, you need to try each model for size and fit, any of the above mentioned would be a good choice.

J.

[SnapDragon]

-/-(even rode it from London to Taunton down the A303 in November at a max speed of 55 mph in the cold without winter gear!!  Took hours and arrived in serious state of hypothermia....never again!!).

plonker !!   but I've done similar, those deeeeep shudders are scary ain't they?
+1 @Jankers - ER5 is a good all rounder

[DoktorMandrake]

It is your first bike so common.sense dictates you want something cheap. Er-5 fits the bill. I'd also consider an old VFR 750/800. And I'd get a few miles under your belt and some bungs/engine bars before you spend 3k on a bike.

[quickquack]

Just checking out a 2006 ER6f at a shop really local to me.  12-13K miles.  Tidy looking bike.  Asking £2500.  Checked that Givi panniers/rack fit with that model and R&G crash bungs can be fitted without cutting the fairing so I could install that lot myself.  If all goes well on wednesday might pop in there on friday.

QQ

[mikiboy]

You'll drop it and suddenly that bike will be worth a grand.  I am not say crash.  DROP.  from less than 5mph.  Buy something cheap and learn.  You may not like it for whatever reason and 2 months later, you have llost £700 (assuming you haven't dropped it) to get something else.
Bikes around £1500 or even £1000 to £1500 tend to hold their value as they are older.
Suggest you PASS the test 1st.