Which Motorbike for 18 Year Old

redbull5

Hi Guys, some may have read the other thread i posted earlier.

Im after a 125cc motorbike. Im planning to do my cbt test soon and will hopefully be road legal to ride a 125cc motorbike with L Plates.

Im not sure if this helps but i have a full uk car licence.

Factors.

Something under £2500
Something relatively cheap on insurance (under 750) for a 18 year old.
Something ok with fuel consumption.
Something which isnt the slowest or the fastest ever
Im 6 foot 1 and weight 13.5 stone so something which isnt too small

I really like this http://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/offers/cbf125/

I can afford it and the finance suits me to be honest.

If anyone has any other suggestions can you explain why.

Many thanks for any replies

Redbull5

oldtoolie

Forty years on bikes, here's what I think.
With a 125cc, there isn't much difference between slowest and fastest. All will have low fuel consumption.
Stick to the big four Japanese brands.

The Honda is nice enough, so try it and if you like it go for it. Is it big enough for you? However it will suffer notable depreciation.

If you find you really like motorcycling, you will want to go on to a bigger bike so you will want to sell your 125 in a few years.

It is likely that you will drop it at some point -- not necessarily in a road accident. More depreciation.

You are a big guy. Why not look at a off road styled bike? Roomy and grownup looking. You can see over the cars better. You can find a nice one one for less than £1500 second hand and will suffer little depreciation.

lad81

I am not a fan of Honda's but since your a big lad then i would go for the Varadero 125, big roomy bike for a 125 and good weather protection, high riding position and pretty tourable too.

Hold their prices quite well too for selling it on.

redbull5

oldtoolie wrote: »

Forty years on bikes, here's what I think.
With a 125cc, there isn't much difference between slowest and fastest. All will have low fuel consumption.
Stick to the big four Japanese brands. (What are the 4?

The Honda is nice enough, so try it and if you like it go for it. Is it big enough for you? However it will suffer notable depreciation. (i now think i will buy second hand to save some money.

If you find you really like motorcycling, you will want to go on to a bigger bike so you will want to sell your 125 in a few years.

yes that is true, i would expect to pass my test and upgrade

It is likely that you will drop it at some point -- not necessarily in a road accident. More depreciation.

You are a big guy. Why not look at a off road styled bike? Roomy and grownup looking. You can see over the cars better. You can find a nice one one for less than £1500 second hand and will suffer little depreciation.

Ok thanks, obviously i dont know which bikes suit big riders. Do you think the bike above would be ok for me. ie. it would look to small for me.

lad81 wrote: »

I am not a fan of Honda's but since your a big lad then i would go for the Varadero 125, big roomy bike for a 125 and good weather protection, high riding position and pretty tourable too.

Hold their prices quite well too for selling it on.

Thanks for the information, i was idealy trying to stick to bondas or yahama because of the life of the bike But i will think about that one.


Also i have thought about this one. No brand new so doesnt cost that much. Looks stunning.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2007-HONDA-CBR-125-RW-7-WHITE-/110683777987?pt=UK_Motorcycles#ht_500wt_1156

Does anyone have a rough price for insurance for these babies.

Many Thanks

fivetide

lad81 wrote: »

I am not a fan of Honda's but since your a big lad then i would go for the Varadero 125, big roomy bike for a 125 and good weather protection, high riding position and pretty tourable too.

Hold their prices quite well too for selling it on.

I would agree. The Honda Varadero is a good looking machine and will be ok with your height. The cbf is nice but is a bit skinny!

5t.

Billy-no-Money

There was a similar thread a couple of days ago where an 18-year-old was looking at a Yamaha YZF125 - until finding the insurance was very steep.

I suspect the CBR would be the same - sportsbike style, lots of plastic to break, no more performance.

The Varadero is one of the few 125s that's near full-size - you won't look too big on that.

redbull5

fivetide wrote: »

I would agree. The Honda Varadero is a good looking machine and will be ok with your height. The cbf is nice but is a bit skinny!

5t.

Thanks for the info, didnt even know that kind existed.

Ive read this
http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-top-10s/top-10-learner-125cc-motorcycles/13342-6.html#historysub

This looks nice, will be good for my height etc, its defo between this and the cbr and cbf. Still undecieded. But the think the varadero is just at the top.

Redbull5

martinthebandit

lad81 wrote: »

I am not a fan of Honda's but since your a big lad then i would go for the Varadero 125, big roomy bike for a 125 and good weather protection, high riding position and pretty tourable too.

Hold their prices quite well too for selling it on.

Wot 'e said


plus have a look here, its the best biker forum around http://www.therevcounter.com/

fivetide

redbull5 wrote: »

Thanks for the info, didnt even know that kind existed.

Ive read this
http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-top-10s/top-10-learner-125cc-motorcycles/13342-6.html#historysub

This looks nice, will be good for my height etc, its defo between this and the cbr and cbf. Still undecieded. But the think the varadero is just at the top.

Redbull5

The benefit with the Varadero is that it looks like a big bike, I know people who have the full sized version having been accused of riding a 125! Plus side is plenty of road presence which is important.

I'd go have a sit on a few and if you have bike kit already, take that with you. The seating comfort can change a lot when you have bulky kit on!

5t.

redbull5

Thanks all again for your replies. Yes i do like the varedero 125, its a nice big bike but lacks the sports look of the cbr and Aprilla 125.

Ive got 5 bikes to choose from in the upcoming months.

Honda Varadero 125 - Looks nice, fits my size
Honda CBRR125 - Looks stunning, very economical but will it fit my 6"1 frame
Yahama YZF125R - Looks like a proper sports bike but insurance will be high
Aprilla RS125 - Looks the best bike In my opinion, but will it be to costly on insurance?
Honda CBF125 - Can buy brand new - have heard its pretty slow and wont fit my 6"1 frame

If anyone can give you opinions on all 5 and which one you think suits me. Thanks very much

fivetide

redbull5 wrote: »

Thanks all again for your replies. Yes i do like the varedero 125, its a nice big bike but lacks the sports look of the cbr and Aprilla 125.

Ive got 5 bikes to choose from in the upcoming months.

Honda Varadero 125 - Looks nice, fits my size

Nice bike. Comfort is important. you don't want to be distracted by being uncomfy and I know these bikes don't look sporty but on UK roads and in the right hands the big trailie looking machines can really shift.

Honda CBRR125 - Looks stunning, very economical but will it fit my 6"1 frame

Gorgeous wee thing. Might be a bit on the small side and you'll pay a premium over the CBF for no performance gain really.

[quote[
Yahama YZF125R - Looks like a proper sports bike but insurance will be high [/quote]

Nail on head. Lovely looking, big chap like you might have a bit of a frog on a pebble image going on though.

Aprilla RS125 - Looks the best bike In my opinion, but will it be to costly on insurance?

Not changed in years as it is the 125 performance machine. Derectricted it can proper fly but it is very highly strung and very nickable. Get a big dog.

Honda CBF125 - Can buy brand new - have heard its pretty slow and wont fit my 6"1 frame

Perfoamce between this and the CBR might not be that much different. They'll all hit 70 mph in theory but getting there is still going to be a lengthy process compared to anything with any grunt. Like driving a small car, key to rapid progress is being smooth and looking ahead and I say that as a Blackbird rider who still does that today.

5t