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

[P.B.]

I *knew* you weren't lost Mikiboy!

[GaryJM]

Sensible choice a bandit ..... not to every ones taste but I like them. On my second bandit 600 now (full licence about 4 years),
Ridden others but I like bandits

Easy to put hard luggage on and meet your requirements from your earlier posting, unless you want a sports bike of course.

[quickquack]

Had a look at a bandit.  Okay looking bike (to my untrained eye right now).  Would need some fairing.  Also saw a 2004 SV650S near to me.  That looked very nice....

QQ

[P.B.]

SV every time

[bonio]

so I would play tunes on it using the gears.

 

[qwakers]

Had a look at a bandit.  Okay looking bike (to my untrained eye right now).  Would need some fairing.  Also saw a 2004 SV650S near to me.  That looked very nice....

QQ

if you like the bandit but are wanting fairing, buy the bandit 600 (or 650 for the later ones) S.

[GaryJM]

if you like the bandit but are wanting fairing, buy the bandit 600 (or 650 for the later ones) S.

Yep just like mine. I have the 600s mark2 04 model.
See my avatar

[SnapDragon]

  Initially I'd recommend test riding a four pot, and test riding a twin, see which engine type feels right to you,  triples are outside your stated engine size, and singles are rare but test them too if you can.

Then look at bikes within that engine form range .  It'll shorten your list and make the choice easier.
Unless you fall for a specific bike of course.


but I still think, with your forum nic., you need a Kawasaki

[GaryJM]

No matter which bike you buy I would say, test rideing is  the most important aspect.
Get yourself round a dealer or two and arrange a test ride or six

[quickquack]

Cheers guys. Will definitely do that this weekend!! :-)

[motobiker]

Is it usual for dealerships to allow newly qualified riders to road test bikes?

I thought.. for insurance purposes there was a limit. 1 or maybe 2 years.

[P.B.]

I didn't struggle. I think it's more to do with perceived social mobility. With a decent dealer.

[shonajoy]

I was restricted so couldn't test ride. Check out their policy too and make sure you're not liable for a huge excess.

[Bias]

The wife couldnt test ride any of her bikes within the 2 years of passing her test, although you may get a dealer who's prepared to let you have a go around the car park/garage if they've got enough room and can smell a potential sale.

I'll say go for a Bandit as well as Ive got one and it does everything I'll ever need from a bike. They get slated for being "bland" but we dont all want a super fast crotch rockets that cost a fortune to repair if someone so much as looks at it
Mine's the last of the oil cooled ones with a half fairing and it does what it says on the tin.

[DoktorMandrake]

Depends on the dealer. I tested a brand new ZX6 the day after my test and I doubt I looked upwardly mobile when I walked into the dealership. I probably looked somewhere between a homeless man and a particularly down-at-heel refugee. One that had crashed a few motorcycles judging by my kit. Either that or was in the process of inventing the new sport of supine tarmac sliding. Yet I was handed the keys, patted on the back and sent on my way. Most dealerships have a healthy excess to deter heroics - mine was £700 and that was a few years back. I have never heard of anyone being refused a test ride, long as the dealer believes they are genuine/there might be a sale in it. I filled out forms to get finance on the ZX6, but was turned down

[motobiker]

As has been said.. it depends on the dealer. It wouldn't be nice if QQ were to turn up at one and then be refused.. because that particular dealer had a rigid policy.

Its been many moons since I road tested a bike. 1994 if memory serves. I was offered extra insurance for £10 to fully cover me in case of a mishap. I paid that quite happily. This was at a triumph dealership

[madmic]

I went to a Kawak dealer near me and they flatly resfused to allow me to test ride any bike... I even asked if I could arrange insurrance myself, but no....

So I went to someone who did have insurrance and spent the afternoon

[Skunkmonk]

yeah  i  have  had  dealers refuse test rides to  me  before even  on a 125 and i rode the 600 in i was looking  at a 2nd  hand road  legal  crosser apparently  i  needed  to  have  the expierence  on a similar  bike a 125 ??? oh  welll  their  loss

[DoktorMandrake]

As has been said.. it depends on the dealer. It wouldn't be nice if QQ were to turn up at one and then be refused.. because that particular dealer had a rigid policy.

Its been many moons since I road tested a bike. 1994 if memory serves. I was offered extra insurance for £10 to fully cover me in case of a mishap. I paid that quite happily. This was at a triumph dealership

Fair point, old son. It is certainly worth checking

Did you buy the bike?

[quickquack]

I'll understand if they decline my request to test ride.  The risk of damage to the bike is greater with a new rider.  My Dad's had his license since the 60's (back then the testing was a little 'less' rigorous he tells me!!) so I'll bring him along and get him to test it out for me :-)

[P.B.]

I'll understand if they decline my request to test ride.  The risk of damage to the bike is greater with a new rider.  My Dad's had his license since the 60's (back then the testing was a little 'less' rigorous he tells me!!) so I'll bring him along and get him to test it out for me :-)

You're generous; no test ride? no sale, that's it IMHO. Let's not forget, they're not doing you a favour.

[martin79]

Pretty pointless having someone else test ride for you, aside the mechanical aspect, you need to see if the bike suits you.

[madmic]

I'll understand if they decline my request to test ride.  The risk of damage to the bike is greater with a new rider.  My Dad's had his license since the 60's (back then the testing was a little 'less' rigorous he tells me!!) so I'll bring him along and get him to test it out for me :-)

Ah I see - take the 'bank of Dad' with you.. a fellow biker who will long to re-live his biking days through his son... sweet move dude er, I mean, yes, take someone exerienced with you 

Pretty pointless having someone else test ride for you, aside the mechanical aspect, you need to see if the bike suits you.

+1 - my mate loves his fazer, but I can't stand it!!! Each to their own...

You're generous; no test ride? no sale, that's it IMHO. Let's not forget, they're not doing you a favour.

Definitely! If they were serious about selling bikes to to new passers they would have the insurrance - my feeling is what else are they scrimping on???

Enjoy the experience mate, its the only time I have ever loved shopping, best bit is I dragged the Missus around and wouldn't let her try the bikes as this was "my" toy