She's just passed!

Our daughter and her A2 that is. ;-)

Now she's talking about a Ninja 250R, not *any* semi fared sports
tourer, just the 250R <shrug>.

(Before we starting filling in loads of online quote screens, anyone
know roughly what it's likely to cost a 17 yr old with 1 years NCB to
insure please?)

Also, if not the 250R, is there a particularly light[1] / reliable /
cheap (sub 33hp, directly or restricted) alternative [2] out there
that she could have over the winter or till she can get the 250R
(assuming she still want's one after whatever)?

All the best ..

T i m

[1] I know "weight isn't an issue once it's moving" etc etc and whilst
I agree (because I'm 6'2", a big fat bastard and most bikes feel like
mopeds under me) she's quite lightly built and medium height (for a
girly) so something manageable when parking / maneuvering might just
be better for her, given the choice, at least as her first 'big bike'.

[2] Preferably a basic, naked bike. No rockets, crossers, motard,
scooters, outfits or cruisers please. ;-)

p.s. She is interested in doing some advanced training (once she get's
her licence updated) and apparently she needs something that will do
70 mph .. so my CB Two Fifty is out. :-(

 

**** that, get her a derestricted Aprillia RS125 for winter...

 

Why not just do the test again on a real bike and get the full cat A
Most of the cheapy 5/600s are cheaper than the cack 125s because there
are fewer children chasing after them.

 

They are on a long waiting list at the moment, the Bristol Kwak dealer
is quoting 3 months+, so get her name on the list.
Nice bike though, and selling much faster than they expected.

Well she could have the Jawa 350 ......
Maybe a bit high though, my 29 inch inside legs are only just tall
enough.

 

May not be possible, depending on age.

I'm glad I got my test out of the way before all this DAS bollocks came along.

 

Maybe madam would like a FZR250RR, they're tough and handle lovely.

 

I should add, bloody well done her. I'd tell her myself if she posted.

 

Indeed ".. anyone know roughly what it's likely to cost a 17 yr old
...".

Likewise and in any case she will be able to get on a 33+ hp bike
before she could if she waited till she was 21.

All the best ..

T i m

 

Cheers Cat.

Ok, well I'll mention that and I'm more than happy for her to.

All the best ..

T i m

 

Yeah, I read something along those likes on one that was up on eBay
recently.

They gave her a mag at the test centre, guess what bike it features on
the front and inside ...? "Look Dad, this is what my examiner said I
should get ... my examiner!".

IF we had that sorta money to just chuck away (+ insurance) I'd get
her one tomorrow, but knowing her as I do I'm holding back for a while
(especially with the waiting list and winter coming up etc) and will
probably just get her covered on the CB 250, just to keep her rolling
(as the long term loaned Wuyang is going back). The Mrs was talking me
about getting her XV750 out n MOT'd so I guess I can ride that if
daughter want's some company.

Yeah, funny you should mention that ... I've got an MZ ETZ 250 at a
mates (kit form) and my old 251 Saxon tour might be available (even as
a loan) now my mate has his Versys for commuting.

Good point. She seems pretty comfortable on anything 'standard' and
flat foots most of the smaller commuters CG/YB/ this Wuyang 125.
Funnily, her Piaggio Skipper 125ST is a bit more of a stretch for her.

A question on the 2008 250R though. How much is it (engine wise) from
the older GPZ250R do you know please (if at all)? I ask because a bike
mechanic mate didn't seem too impressed with the older lump (from a
reliability / issues POV) and he's not let me down with his
"unbustable" list yet?

All the best ..

T i m

 

Are there many about Muck?

All the best ..

T i m

 

Your mate must be a very lucky man. I've been working in the bike trade
for the last god knows how long on and off, and I've only ever seen 3
GPZ250Rs. You can't judge a 2008 model by what a mate of a mate saw
happen with one or two 1988 bikes. In all honesty, Kawasaki make the
most unburstable engines, so I don't know what your mechanic mate is
smoking, but tell him to give it up.

FWIW, the new 250R is a completely different engine to the old one and
they are too new to be able to give accurate reliability feedback.

 

Maybe the case then.

They have one in a row of 'not sure what to do with' bikes (where my
CB 250 came from <g>). In fact I might even enquire about it again
tomorrow. I do know it's a 'shop bike' (not a customers) so it might
be worth an ask. The last time I saw him he's just cleared diesel from
a big Yam V 1700 thing and has nearly rebuilt a crash damaged Square
4.

It was my mate and that was part of my question (the is it the same
beast and apart from your assumption bit I mean. Don't get me wrong, I
don't actually know either how many of that design engine he worked on
(and was it used in different machine variations?) but *I* don't know
how many he didn't work on either [1]. What I do know is he's never
been wrong re what bikes we should or more importantly shouldn't get
by reliability reputation).

He won't. ;-)

Indeed and another slight concern of mine (for us) Lozzo. If it does
turn out to be a lemon (or get loads or recalls) it shouldn't be
*too* bad as I've known the shop owners for 35 years [2] so should get
looked after ok .

Plus, I don't think she will be using it to commute to work / college.

All the best ..

T i m

[1] They used to be Kawasaki dealers.

[2] Handy that as you can get a 2000 mile, 1 year old Wuyang 125 for a
few months for nothing (oh, and they re-Taxed it for us during the
period). They did borrow it back for one Saturday but collected and
returned it in their truck. ;-)

 

Shame they didn't put one in my 10R.

 

Be fair, it didn't burst. Just oozed a bit.

 

No evidence, but my feeling is that little engine is producing a lot of
horses for its size so the stresses must be high. Kawasaki have plenty
of experience in getting lots of HP/cc but I have that nagging feeling
that there is no substitute for cubic inches.
Just my gut feeling though.

 

<joins congratulations>
<minds age>
<removes "bikini pics" from posting suggerences>

May I suggest to get whatever shite olde 250 for next winter, and in
parallel get her some Mac (as in MacDonald's, not Apple) job so that she
realizes the relationship between effort and the money needed for the bike?

 

That might have been the case by 1950s norms. 33bhp out of a 250 is
nothing by today's standards - to put it into context, a 1000cc engine
tuned to that level would only make 132bhp. It's been a few year
since 1000s were that slow.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique,
typed

So, what you're saying is: you're wrong. Again.

Major fucking surprise there, then.

 

Relayed, thanks.

Ok .. so my CB Two Fifty then? :-(

No real problem there Domènec. She's currently working (for
experience) as an Arbory apprentice, mainly as a 'ground worker at the
moment, dragging brush / branches / logs from the tree to the chipper
/ truck etc. She also mans the petrol blower, re-fuels the chainsaws
when the climbers lower them down, uses the petrol hedge cutter,
sweeps / rakes up, loads / unloads the tools, etc etc. [1]

She has done some climbing / reducing work, last Wednesday, up a large
cherry tree in the pissing rain and a fair wind. "Still way better
than standing on a packed commuter train" she says. ;-)

To get into the Arb Apprenticeship course at the Horticultural college
in September she needs to be 'employed' in the field, but the guy /
team she's currently working with won't commit (in spite of requesting
her for work nearly every day). The course require their Apprentices
to be paid a minimum of £80 / week so she will soon find out how long
it will take to save for a new 250R! ;-)

However, tomorrow she's got part 2 of the 'interview' with a bigger
and more professional Tree Surgery Co, which involves a 7am meet with
a team going out on a job to 1) see how she works / gets on with the
team and 2) what she thinks of them.

I just hope they are ready to learn some new swear words!

All the best ...

T i m

[1] She also used one of these for half an hour ...

http://tinyurl.com/69ckfs

Well, she used to be sponsored to race RC electric cars (the Predator
is remote controlled) and uses my angle grinder so how difficult can
it be ... ;-)