First Bike Thread #4534

Discussion in 'UK Motorcycles' started by Sean Hamerton, Oct 1, 2005.

  1. Hello.

    I'm Sean and I'm from Brighton. Feel the POWAR.

    CBT tomorrow (Sunday), DA to follow. Thinking of getting a BROS 400, as they
    seem cheap and reasonable to look at. Bear it in mind I am slightly broke,
    any advice on alternatives? BGN seems to have troubles with Mr ER-5, and the
    CB500 looks a bit boring.
     
    Sean Hamerton, Oct 1, 2005
    #1
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  2. Sean Hamerton

    BGN Guest

    I've never used that machine, but an unfaired bike will look better
    after you've thrown it across a road, or dropped it at traffic lights,
    or forget to put it on its side stand and it will also be cheaper to
    fix.
    They all look the same after you've parked them in a ditch. I like my
    ER-5, it's very forgiving and has been cheap to repair. I'm ham
    fisted when it comes to engines and other things like that, but even
    I've managed to carry out some basic repairs on it without too much
    trouble. Anyone who has clues in the area of taking things apart and
    putting them back together should be able to get away with doing their
    own fixing quite cheaply.

    I've never used a CB500 so can't compare the two, but my local riding
    school is getting rid of all of their CB500s and replacing them all
    with any-age ER-5s and have even offered to buy my ER-5 off of me
    should I wish to get a new bike. This must mean something.

    It goes: dash dash space return.
     
    BGN, Oct 1, 2005
    #2
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  3. They are, but as they're unofficial imports only, parts availability can
    be a problem.
    All the 500 twins are much of a muchness. Also consider Yamaha 600
    Diversion (*not* the unfaired version) and Suzuki 600 Bandit, but you'd
    be better off learning your skills on something like a 250 first, on the
    basis that the first bike *always* gets pranged.
     
    The Older Gentleman, Oct 1, 2005
    #3
  4. The Older Gentleman wrote
    Oh no they fucking ain't.
     
    steve auvache, Oct 1, 2005
    #4
  5. Well, OK, the GS500 is shite....
     
    The Older Gentleman, Oct 1, 2005
    #5
  6. The Older Gentleman wrote
    Not all of them. I think you are prejudiced by some of the god awful
    colour schemes they have come up with and rightly so.

    Granted the GS500EW is shite and for some reason I don't understand all
    the bits for them are vastly overpriced for what it is. You would have
    thought that given it's very long production run of some very basic
    components they would have got the costs down by now. My recommendation
    would be for folks to stop buying them until the costs drop a lot.
     
    steve auvache, Oct 1, 2005
    #6
  7. Sean Hamerton

    David Mahon Guest

    Seemed pretty great to me yesterday. OK, so it was only my second ever
    time on a bike (the first being on a GS125 doing the CBT last week). I
    guess I'm in for a treat when I try a "good" bike then. So, if I had,
    for example, 3.5k cash in my wallet, what would you recommend then (need
    to get helmet and clothing - but not insurance - out of that too)?
    SV650S / Bandit / Fazer / Hornet, like everyone else?
     
    David Mahon, Oct 1, 2005
    #7
  8. Sean Hamerton

    JackH Guest

    Yes, *all* of them.

    Especially when you compare them to what else you could have bought in that
    particular market sector - a CB500 farts in its general direction, and then
    some... and doesn't need the valve clearances done every 4k or some such
    other pitiful interval.

    Their only saving grace in old age, is they tend to be worth slightly less
    than **** all... which is why they appeal to those of a slightly musty
    odour.
     
    JackH, Oct 1, 2005
    #8
  9. David Mahon wrote
    Not suitable for people over 5'8".

    Put as much as you can back in the bank towards your next bike.

    Opinions vary slightly but 500 is about the minimum you can spend for 4
    season biking and halfway decent armour.


    Unfaired, no compromise and make a point of budgeting for engine
    protection bars/bobbins before you buy the alarm. The chances of you
    dropping it in the first six months are extraordinarily high and plastic
    is a ridiculous price.
     
    steve auvache, Oct 1, 2005
    #9
  10. Sean Hamerton

    wessie Guest

    Sean Hamerton emerged from their own little world to say

    Good luck
    mostly self inflicted
    It is dull.

    Have a look for a Honda Transalp. A very worthy bike. Not too popular over
    here but sells well on the Continent. Much better than any of the 500 twins
    if you want to ride long distances. My mate has ridden his 1993 one to
    Italy & Slovenia.

    Other bikes I would recommend before the 500 twins are the other trailies
    like the BMW F650, Aprilia Pegaso & Suzuki DL650. Avoid the Honda SLR650 &
    Suzuki Freewind.
     
    wessie, Oct 1, 2005
    #10
  11. What he says. Great bikes.
     
    The Older Gentleman, Oct 1, 2005
    #11
  12. Sean Hamerton

    zymurgy Guest

    I looked at one of these as I fancied something 'off/on road' ish.

    The SLR is definitely a 'trials style' machine and nowhere near the
    league of the Suzuki DL650.

    Cheers

    Paul.
     
    zymurgy, Oct 1, 2005
    #12
  13. JackH wrote
    No, only the W model. Crap that is, people should not buy them.
    I wish. Have you seen the price of a rear shock? If the only bit to be
    scraped from the tarmac intact was the rear shock the bike would still
    be worth 300 quid.
     
    steve auvache, Oct 1, 2005
    #13
  14. Sean Hamerton

    JackH Guest

    I have no idea what model mine was, but colour scheme changes, and a
    superficial makeover in recent years aside, it's the same shit reheated,
    AFAIK.
    Afraid not... I sold mine over five years ago, having only owned it long
    enough to realise 'this... is utter shit'.
    Try a breakers... or Mr Hagon.

    Or... don't bother, and sell the poxy thing as is, on eBay - someone
    somewhere, will want to pay through the relative nose, in order to be able
    to then bestow plenty of much misguided TLC on it, I'm sure.

    YKIMS.
     
    JackH, Oct 1, 2005
    #14
  15. JackH wrote
    Mine is fine.

    That was Mr Hagon. Although his price is actually a pound less than the
    300 I quoted so I wasn't being totally honest. Mind you that does
    include VAT and UK shipping.
     
    steve auvache, Oct 1, 2005
    #15
  16. Sean Hamerton

    JackH Guest

    <thinks back to some of the fine machines you've had when I've passed by in
    the past>

    Hmm, it's all relative really, isn't it... ;-)

    What's the score with the Bandit, then... repairable / in your possession?
    Jesus.

    Try these:
    http://makeashorterlink.com/?R15F126EB
    http://makeashorterlink.com/?K16F326EB
    Obviously a plus, when you live within relative spitting distance of them,
    eh...
     
    JackH, Oct 1, 2005
    #16
  17. Sean Hamerton

    wessie Guest

    emerged from their own little world to say
    The SLR replaced the Honda Dominator[1] which was a very good bike in its
    time. Once the Aprilia & BMWs came out it was overpriced and dated in
    comparison.

    Honda switched production from Japan to their scooter factory in Italy
    using the same engine but everything else was built to a price. The
    resultant SLR was a truly horrible bike. They are still trying in that
    sector with the FMX which appears to be yet another parts bin abomination.

    [1] I had one in 1992, my first post test bike.
     
    wessie, Oct 1, 2005
    #17
  18. Sean Hamerton

    serf Guest

    Not above 7000 rpm it isn't. Nor when scraping the hero blobs at every
    opportunity.

    At 3500 and ridden like a bath chair around corners, it won't scare a
    maiden aunt.

    It's as dull as you want it to be.
     
    serf, Oct 1, 2005
    #18
  19. Thank you.
    So I've heard.
    I'm thinking along the lines of local commuting and B road blats in
    the glory of Sussex. I was also thinking of a VFR/ZXR 400, but they're
    a bit pricey will for a good one. Any more thoughts on the Bros 400? I
    think it looks good, and I know the problems associated with greys,
    but I've read that they're pretty bullet proof and that spares ARE
    available.
    I was hoping to avoid bigger engined bikes at my age/experience for
    insurance/scariness reasons. Though, I know they're common and thus
    reasonably cheap to buy, run and service.
     
    Sean Hamerton, Oct 1, 2005
    #19
  20. Sean Hamerton

    wessie Guest

    serf emerged from their own little world to say
    Another case of a current owner trying desperately to polish a turd.

    You are Auvache AICMFF orange madeira cakes.
     
    wessie, Oct 1, 2005
    #20
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