What first bike?

[Gemini]

My wife has always been into bikes, and always said she wanted to ride

two years ago a very good mate died suddenly and being that he was the same age then as she is now, she has finally come to realise that life is very very short

So she has asked me to help her get her license and then a bike

Last year she said she wanted a cbr600rr as first bike, i managed to shoot that idea outta the sky

So she is now interested in a 400. But i think it may b better for her to ride a 125.

I have never been a fan of direct access, i think they train you too fast, the restricted license imo is a much better way to do it

So i put it to you lot for suggestions and advice

Gem

[masterofinsanity]

i'd go for the 400 and preferably a zxr, not that i'm biased but 1 you could buy mine or 2 you could buy all my spares and build her one which we know would be top notch, even a zxr400 streetfighter? 3 we know what we're talking about with the zxr.

but then again do you want her to join here and keep an eye on you? sod it get her a 125!

[Gemini]

my biggest worry is that she turns out to b a faster rider than me!

nah, im concerned cuz she is a fookin loon behind the wheel, and always getting into some sort of road rage. i keep tellin her that wont wash when riding a bike

well we wont get her a bike till the winter anyway, i aint paying a £500+ premium just for buyin in the good weather.

building her one was in the back of my mind, will keep my eyes peeled,

oh and apparently the new bike test may b scrapped

gem

[RedexRobB]

Ive heard they have had some issues changing over and alot of the instructors arent happy about it.

Get a cheap 125 mate, a 400 can still be quite peaky to a newbie and its also a chance for you to weigh up how she rides without being on a bike thats beyond her ability. A 400 is a good place to start for most, but only after some time served on a smaller bike imo.

[Gemini]

yeah that was my thinking

what i may suggest is she does her cdt, then borrow a 125 for a little bit and get her to ride round on L plates and c if she enjoys it,

if she does then get her a 400 and put her thru the test

gem

[zimm]

I agree with your concerns over DAS, but it doesnt mean her own 1st bike has to be a big one just because she can legally ride one,

i'd say get her a 125, something old and a bit unstable.. or even a trail bike ..

has she ever ridden before ? if not get her on a field bike, she'll learn more about bike control in a field at 40mph than she will on a DAS course.

I've had 2 mates do DAS and jump straight on big bikes, one a gsxr600 the other a 999..

both of them have been hospitalised with broken collar bones and road rash in the first year or so of riding. not because of the speed the bikes were capable of, but because in both cases their only experience of bikes was of uber-competent sportsbikes, and they had no real appreciation of just how hard they were pushing it.

[Gemini]

shes never ridden a motorbike but has ridden and competed horses all her life, so her balance on a bike should b better than mine

gem

[Scott221]

You and I both know what the rvf/vfr range is like. Either one of those or a zxr restricted to 33bbhp will be much better than a 125 imo, then when she feels more confident, take the restrictors out. She will learn the very basics of riding on the DAS (which ill imagine is what she is going to do) I think going from a 500 back down to a 125 will give her a false sense of security.

[Gemini]

tbh i would rather her have a vfr/rvf if she goes for a 400 as the v4 engine is so easy to use

i think the zxr needs a bit more know how

gem

[will#224]

What ever you choose my suggestion would be to maybe book her on an offroad training day. Bit of falling off in some fields and a bit of slip sliding in the mud.
Its good fun and stops you grabbing handfuls of brake at the wrong time and gets you used to the bike moving around.

The weather is always crap in this country and even the one week that its good you've gotta contend with the crap mud, diesel and rubbish left on the road and thats without the blind idiots in cars.

I guess the 125 wont be a 2t so it'll be gutless and a fair step from a 15hp to 60+hp of a 400.

[Scott221]

tbh i would rather her have a vfr/rvf if she goes for a 400 as the v4 engine is so easy to use

i think the zxr needs a bit more know how

gem

Gotta love them V4's, I want one. Every time im out with my mate on his rvf I think I wanna swap the zxr for it. Get her a mint one then you can get all nostalgic with it!

[Gemini]

nah, if i buy her an rvf then i could treat myself to its big bro, the rc45

my all time fave bike!!



so they match!

if i bought her a 125 then i would prolly get her a 2 smoke, i believe everyone should have experience on a smoker

gem

[superman]

i think you is bein over protective cos its your mrs, id say a 400 aint a bad starter cos the 125 she will be bord of in about a month i think if you say shes mad behind the wheel.
dont rule out an SV or maybe even a cbr 600F they are supposed to be real good first bikes,

failing that just buy her a busa.

[Scott221]

nah, if i buy her an rvf then i could treat myself to its big bro, the rc45

my all time fave bike!!



so they match!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Collectors-Honda- ... 911.c0.m14

Hows that one for size?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Collectors-1997-H ... 911.c0.m14

Better get onto your accountant aye?

[Jamz]

125cc but HAS to be a 2-stroke.

I rode one for a year, and think everyone should have to to get the experience in. BUT I am talking sportsbikes, and possibly offroaders/supermoto's. The cruisers and raised bar brigade are a bit too laid back...

A 90s 125cc sportsbike is faster than most cars on the road, cheap as a Gary Glitter return flight pass to buy and even cheaper to insure. A year on one may be too much - I don't think 6 months will be.