buying a motorbike..where to go to get one?

glasgow guy · 20-06-2011, 19:54

I am thinking bout buying my first motorbike at the grand old age of 38!
now it will be nothing fast just a 125cc but not too sure on where to go to get a decent deal - can anyone offer on where to go?
dont wanna spend anything more than £2k..so if anyone can recommend a decent bike for the cash then let me know..

thanks..

entwisi · 20-06-2011, 20:55

Honda cg125 is probably the best annual bike for a new rider, they have made them for years so loads out there,

If you are a large bloke then hondas varadero is another superb learner machine but taller so fits the larger bloke a little better.

Imho avoid the korean/chinese stuff as they are a lot lower quality than the japanese makes and it shows when it comes to reliability.

Be way of the plastic fairing stuff as you are likely to drop it and it gets very expensive to replace,

Make sure you buy decent hear for yourself, a decent helmet should be about 100/150, a good jacket with body armour from 100. Hein gericke stuff is good stuff.

glasgow guy · 20-06-2011, 21:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by entwisi

Honda cg125 is probably the best annual bike for a new rider, they have made them for years so loads out there,

If you are a large bloke then hondas varadero is another superb learner machine but taller so fits the larger bloke a little better.

Imho avoid the korean/chinese stuff as they are a lot lower quality than the japanese makes and it shows when it comes to reliability.

Be way of the plastic fairing stuff as you are likely to drop it and it gets very expensive to replace,

Make sure you buy decent hear for yourself, a decent helmet should be about 100/150, a good jacket with body armour from 100. Hein gericke stuff is good stuff.

funn you should mention honda as someone else said that but it was the cbr125..whats your thoughts on that one..
I am thinking bout doing the cbt and having the 2 years to gain experience on the road and by then I will be timeserved and perhaps ready get something bigger..

duggie · 20-06-2011, 22:28

go and see Keith at Keith dixons on blackburn road, good honest dealer who will give you good advise etc. honda Valedero are 1000cc so I would gice them a miss

entwisi · 21-06-2011, 11:47

@duggie there is a 125 Varadero as well as the 1000 ( I have a 1000cc version myself as well as a 950cc Moto Guzzi )

CBR is Ok, try it for size though as they are quite small.

TBH if you are old enough do a direct access course which is where you do a concentrated training on 500cc bikes and when you pass that you have a full license. 500's are not that scary ( honest!) but do have enough power to actually enjoy riding whereas the smaller stuff ( and the restricted 33bhp limit stuff) really is only just enough to keep up with traffic. There is fun to be had in getting every ounce of power/speed out of a small bike but it requires the sort of experience that only people who have owned large bikes have gained over years.

phil8715 · 21-06-2011, 16:12

In my scooter days I bought 2 scooters from Philip Youles which was in Accrington and is now in Bottomgate, Blackburn.

glasgow guy · 22-06-2011, 08:56

to be honest I think doing the cbt will suit me fine, I dont want a fast bike, I can learn for the couple of years on the 125 and after that I should be 'timeserved'? and get a bigger one if I want..but I am happy to keep up with traffic
and I dont have a spare £5-700 to do the direct access one...
so all should work out well..I will bear in mind the size of the cbr when I go to look..
thanks for that..

entwisi · 22-06-2011, 09:36

not quite sure what you are saying by "time served"

basically, you need to do CBT before you can go on the road at all. You then have 2 years to pass your test or you have to either wait a year ( if you don't have a full car license) or resit your CBT if you do ( IIRC). Once you pass on a 125 you then are restricted to a bike of 33bhp or less for another 2 years, after that you are allowed to ride anything( no further test at this time but it has been mooted before)

good luck and welcome to the dark side!

JCB · 22-06-2011, 17:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by duggie

go and see Keith at Keith dixons on blackburn road, good honest dealer who will give you good advise

I'll second that .

phil8715 · 22-06-2011, 20:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by entwisi

not quite sure what you are saying by "time served"

basically, you need to do CBT before you can go on the road at all. You then have 2 years to pass your test or you have to either wait a year ( if you don't have a full car license) or resit your CBT if you do ( IIRC). Once you pass on a 125 you then are restricted to a bike of 33bhp or less for another 2 years, after that you are allowed to ride anything( no further test at this time but it has been mooted before)

good luck and welcome to the dark side!

That is correct you need to do the CBT which will take a day, You do off road stuff like going round cones and left, right turns, a few highway code questions, then an instructor will takes you out on the road if he thinks you're safe he will give you a CBT certificate.

campbellclan · 22-06-2011, 21:20

Hi, i have just bought a bike from Youles in Blackburn. it is a suzuki GZ 125. It is a cruiser and really comfortable. it was £2599 brand new and on the road. To save on initial outlay, they also do a clothing package and CBT that you can put on the finance deal.THey had some other 125s in which are different to the honda or yamaha which are the traditional learner bikes.
I did my CBT at west pennine in blackburn and they were excellant.

good luck