[Closed] First motorbike?

Fabulous bike though, just brilliant

Shame it hit every branch falling out of the ugly tree.
That Z900 up there though, my, my that's pretty!!

That Z900 up there though, my, my that’s pretty!!

I have the standard z900rs in total black

Best looking bike I’ve ever owned and draws comments every time I’m out on it
Love it.

Full Nitron suspension next though.

That z is nice. Like to see a good Lawson replica paint job on one, I always had a hankering for a big green z. Cheeky edit, like the one on the previous page!!!!

The Lawson rep is for the zrx1100
Looks awesome in those colours.

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-reviews/honda/rvf400/1994/

I always wanted one. Perhaps not a sane choice and a bit rare.

Brad's, yours is nice but the one above just reminds me of being 10 and seeing my uncles old bike!!

They do it in a blue and bronze now, same as the old 79 Z650

Boyfriend reckons I should try the Kawasaki Z900RS from a point of view of the inline 4 rather than a twin so I can see and experience the difference.

Absolutely, also try an mt07 or xsr700 and a triumph 765/675. All bikes ride differently.

KTM 690 again is a single but a bit marmite, I loved mine though

I've demod and blagged rides on loads of bikes over the past few years.

I want a T-Max.
No, I'm not proud, but my word, I really think they are fantastic. If they didn't cost so much I'd have one.

Whoever decided to put the silver radiator ends and undertank infill panels on the black Z900RS deserves to be horribly maimed in a chip pan fire tbh. They even make black ones and put them on the green bike. Mental.

Good advice on here as always.

Absolutely, also try an mt07

Which is my current bike. The engine is a peach, with oodles of torque at low revs.

But, I do have an itch to buy an IL4. So maybe I'll compromise and go for a triple 🤣

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-reviews/honda/rvf400/1994/

I always wanted one. Perhaps not a sane choice and a bit rare.

That was my very first bike... Brings back some memories of 20yrs ago! What an awesome machine, but honestly, even when I was 65kg back then I was still too big and heavy for it and it was simply the worst motorbike in the world to actually work on yourself as everything was so tightly packaged and difficult to access! They're super rare now too, and have appreciated somewhat since I owned mine.

Boyfriend reckons I should try the Kawasaki Z900RS from a point of view of the inline 4 rather than a twin so I can see and experience the difference.

He speaks a lot of sense... Most riders are either Twin or IL4 lovers (with triples providing a good compromise), not many get on well with both. You'll know very quickly once you've ridden an IL4 bike whether it's for you or not compared to the Twins you've already tried. There's good and bad examples of all engine configurations too of course, but generally speaking, I prefer a V-Twin on the road because they have more low down torque and more engine braking for a given output, but then the CP4 engine that was in my Yamaha MT-10 was something else character wise, and the Honda Blackbird I had the engine itself is the real legend of that bike, pulling from almost nothing and revving round to almost 12k (whilst producing 160 odd bhp), but incredibly smooth the entire time... 👌🏻

Biggest thing that annoys me about that Z900RS though is that compared to the (transformer styled) Z900 it loses out on about 15bhp with an otherwise identical engine! This annoys me perhaps way more than it should, because arguably it's the only Kawasaki in decades that has actually looked good enough to lust after!

Absolutely, also try an mt07 or xsr700 and a triumph 765/675. All bikes ride differently.

KTM 690 again is a single but a bit marmite, I loved mine though

Tenner says you buy an XSR700 or possibly XSR900... Superb bikes, all the brilliance of the MT series bikes but with a bit more retro/conserviative styling. The CP3 and CP2 engines are absolute peaches. The budget suspension is more of an issue for heavier and more experienced riders or those looking to ride on track, but for a lighter rider on the road, especially a newer rider, it poses less of a problem.

I have already suggested a Duke 790 privately to the OP, it was shot down in flames because of its "transformer styling"... A real shame, as arguably the 1hr test ride I had on one was the most fun I've had on a motorbike in years! If I never carried a pillion, I'd buy a Duke 890 R in a heartbeat! But honestly, for about 60% of the price, a 2yr old Duke 790 will provide about 98% of the thrills and arguably it will be slightly more practical. I actually like the way it looks too, but I can understand why others might not.

But, I do have an itch to buy an IL4. So maybe I’ll compromise and go for a triple

Try an MT-09... Honestly, that engine is hilarious, especially when fitted with the optional Akrapovic exhaust system! There's good and bad examples of all engine configurations, but the Yamaha CP3 engine really is as good as triples come...

Thing about RVF400s (and other cool old 400s) is that most of them are shagged now- they're hard to look after. But also, people get a bit deluded about them. I really fancied one, test rode a few and the owners seemed genuinely convinced "this is an amazing handling bike", and then it turns out the suspension oil is 20 years old, the swingarm bearings are goosed... It's like they live their own legend and owners are so absolutely certain that they're brilliant, that that just can't perceive when they're not.

I'm getting back into biking after 8 years out.
Have moved out the city and my Leyland DAF camper isn't the best for heading into town!

Last bikes were a 1050 Speed Triple (incredible engine) and a Buell XB12 (a whole thread on its own).

Was going to get a VFR400, but they're a bit expensive and old.

Instead I've just put a deposit on a Ducati Monster S2R 800 with Termi pipes! Hell yeah!

As great as the Z900RS looks it's out of my budget really, second hand are higher than I want to pay, I think the seat height at 835mm is too high and 109bhp is also too high for my first bike. I'd rather start on something more sensible, even if it means only owning something for a couple of years before outgrowing it.

Whoever decided to put the silver radiator ends and undertank infill panels on the black Z900RS deserves to be

I’ve seen them black and the silver looks better.

Biggest thing that annoys me about that Z900RS though is that compared to the (transformer styled) Z900 it loses out on about 15bhp with an otherwise

Torque. It’s all about the bottom end. It’s not a screaming maniac (although it can be)
Would you notice a couple of bhp , no
But you notice the extra torque for sure.

I think they are being out a 650 twin version as well.

Honda CB 400? maybe getting a bit rare but there was one that was passed around the folk I know as a first proper bike bike. Really good finish, classic styling, plenty fast enough light enough, lowish seat

The small Ninjas are lovely wee thing as well. Proper little weapons that would make a good every day bike as well.

Anyone suggested a Kawasaki er6f? Never ridden one but did look at them for commuting duties a few years ago before settling on a Duke 390. They look just about perfect for a first "big" bike and the review sites seem to love them in that role.

This is the Ducati I've gone for:

[img] [/img]
Love my Street Triple,it's not overloaded with tech just ABS,no fly by wire or rider modes & that's all I want on a bike.
I'm an old fart now,got a moped in 1977 & riding bikes ever since.With all that experience I've owned & rode many types of bike & the Triple is a distinct motor.As a newly qualified rider I would Try & get a demo on a Trident,try Youles at Blackburn,even if you don't want to buy one at least you will have experienced a triple engine.
I would also be looking at the SV650 Suzuki & the Yamaha MT07,there's plenty of information & reviews on them on the web.
HTH

A lot of people on this thread seem to be recommending what was ideal back when they were learning, and conveniently ignore that the world has moved on.

I'd take a look at what's available locally - something around the 600cc mark, maybe 3 years old, around 30-40,000 miles max. Ideally Japanese. And get that. When you've got a few more miles under your belt change it for what you now know you'd like. Scratch that V2 itch. Get a proper RR bike. Go for the full "Blue Oyster"* look and get a Harley 🙂

(And please excuse the whiff of anti-gay about the Blue Oyster reference - I realise it's not the most politically correct reference to use, but I still crack up when I see the leather-clad Harley Warriors out and about, you'd never guess most of them were accountants or lawyers in their spare time 😀 )

Torque. It’s all about the bottom end. It’s not a screaming maniac (although it can be)

All things are relative, but a 900ish cc inline 4 isn't a torque monster by most stretches of the imagination. I understand the lower duration cams on the RS mean it pulls harder from lower down but then runs out of puff around 9000rpm... I'd rather the slightly bigger top end rush myself.

Thing about RVF400s (and other cool old 400s) is that most of them are shagged now- they’re hard to look after. But also, people get a bit deluded about them. I really fancied one, test rode a few and the owners seemed genuinely convinced “this is an amazing handling bike”, and then it turns out the suspension oil is 20 years old, the swingarm bearings are goosed… It’s like they live their own legend and owners are so absolutely certain that they’re brilliant, that that just can’t perceive when they’re not.

Couldn't agree more, and the same was true even 20 years ago! Most had had a VERY hard life early on. My 93 bike I owned for a year from 2001-02, it hadn't covered a lot of miles under its previous owners (about 15k miles iirc when I bought it), but it really could have done with a suspension refresh by that time if nothing else!. A well sorted RVF400, suspension tweaked properly to suit the rider, engine properly tuned and setup, will be an absolute delight to ride. But by the same token, it will set you back as much if not more than a properly sorted 1000cc Superbike of much more recent vintage, which will give much more instant thrills to its rider...

I think the seat height at 835mm is too high and 109bhp is also too high for my first bike.

Don't worry too much about the power figure... Whatever you ride, you'll get used to it sooner or later. Not suggesting you should buy a 200bhp+ Superbike as your first big bike, but a Z900RS isn't going to be such a raucous animal that you won't be able to tame it.

The seat height surprises me though, that's pretty high for a bike that's obviously designed to have quite a broad appeal...

I wouldn't get too hung up on seat height though, it matters a lot if you're 5ft2 with a 28" inside leg, much less at your height.

As great as the Z900RS looks it’s out of my budget really, second hand are higher than I want to pay, I think the seat height at 835mm is too high and 109bhp is also too high for my first bike. I’d rather start on something more sensible, even if it means only owning something for a couple of years before outgrowing it.

With all this in mind i'm going

MT-07
XSR700
Triumph 675
Ducati Monster 695 (or whatever it is around that you can get in budget)

As my shortlist then 🙂

I’d probably suggest not worrying too much as most new riders change their bike within the first year of owning it.

Buy whatever you like the look of the most: half the pleasure in the first year is looking at it and cleaning it. You want to love how it looks and makes you feel every time you open the garage.

FWIW, I’ve got a real soft spot for the Street Scrambler. I’ve done a fair few miles on one and although not my current bike it’s the one I think I’ve enjoyed riding the most in the last few years.

Not remotely fast, but plenty fast enough for a new rider. Forgiving engine with plenty of torque, reassuringly slow handling (versus a Street Triple, for example) and a familiar riding position.

Welcome to the club, I am a self confessed motorbike nut and have had so much fun over the years on bikes and met so many great people.

I have just got back from a 2500mile trip to Scotland with my mate, I had excitement, great views and not to mention some nice food and a couple beers. This is biking for me and its what I love doing on a bike. So for me touring is one of the best things you can do on a bike. My other thing is Euro trackdays I love going off with my mates for a few days in Spain or Portugal etc setting up the bikes, not worrying about noise testing.

So my advice is to think about what you want to do on the bike rather than worry what it looks like (unless its going to the cafe and looking at it and thats OK too) I spent years on bike I thought were sexy but did not fit in with the type of riding I liked doing.

That said like others have mentioned you will probably change bikes so as long as you get something that inspires confidence and you like riding all will be good. There are some really good bikes out there now. Especially in the middle weight category, years ago the middle sized bikes tended to be a bit budget, thats not always the case now.

I am going to agree with TJ here (not something I often do 🙂 ) A slow bike "can" make you a faster rider, but a slow bike is not necessarily easier to ride or even saver than a faster one. You might not even want to become a faster rider either and you can be a very safe rider that is competent without really pushing the boundaries. But if you are trying to learn to ride fast a slow bike can help, I improved massively my technique on track going from a 180BHP RSV4 to a 82BHP European Junior cup bike.

Just have fun, don't get sucked into getting pulled too far out of your comfort zone on rides and meet some amazing people and have some great biking adventures 🙂

As for bike I always recommend a Triumph Street triple, either a 675 or a 765. They are light, not sill power and well equipped to go around corners and stop really well.

PS @anagallis_arvensis I really fancy a Husqvarna FE701 Enduro Single so I agree 🙂 Though not sure I would want it to be my only bike 🙂 I have a FE350 single at the moment and it rocks 🙂

I the vein of recommend what you ride I thoroughly don't recommend mine!!

I really fancy a Husqvarna FE701 Enduro Single so I agree 🙂 Though not sure I would want it to be my only bike 🙂 I have a FE350 single at the moment and it rocks 🙂

I traded my FE350 for the 701 supermoto two months ago.
Nowhere to use the FE and I ran supermoto for years before.
The 701 is incredible.

The Husky Nuda is a great bike, if you can find one. I blame Royal Jordanian for that!

Put some more miles on the Trident over the weekend. This weather is great, roads are bone dry and mostly gravel free at the moment. Although maybe a bit hot when sitting in traffic......

@brads I am lucky I have loads of lanes around here I can ride on the FE350. I am off to Wales at the weekend and me and a group of lads have a guide 🙂

I would probably keep the 350 I just like the idea of doing a bit of TET (Trans European trail) stuff and I think the 701 could be good at that, though I know a lot of people use 500s as they are a fair chunk lighter.

Thanks for the opinions all. I've got my eye on a triumph street twin for the right money but it's down in High Wycombe so I'm trying to arrange having it delivered without viewing it as it's so far away. As much as the Ducati was okay I didn't get on and immediately say 'I want one' like I did with the street twin and right now as others have stated I want something I look at and think yeahhhh let's go for a ride. I can always work out my next bike further down the line when I know more and am in a better position to judge the pro's and con's.

I wouldn’t get too hung up on seat height though, it matters a lot if you’re 5ft2 with a 28″ inside leg, much less at your height.

That's why is was important to me, 5ft 4" and an inside leg of 27.5" :-0

FWIW, I’ve got a real soft spot for the Street Scrambler. I’ve done a fair few miles on one and although not my current bike it’s the one I think I’ve enjoyed riding the most in the last few years.

Not remotely fast, but plenty fast enough for a new rider. Forgiving engine with plenty of torque, reassuringly slow handling (versus a Street Triple, for example) and a familiar riding position.

That's what I love about mine, 3 years on it so far and 10K miles, and I don't think of getting rid of it at all. (adding to it, yes, but not replacing) 😉

For myself I am thinking CB500X as a first bike. I've always loved Honda engines and gearboxes in cars, but never owned one. Although I do have a Honda lawnmower.

Now I just need to get on and get my licence, which I've been saying for the last 5 years or so.)

Small update after all the advice gratefully received. Passed my Mod2 this morning first time with flying colours and this is currently in my living room, just been taxed and insured!

[img] [/img]

Yes!! Congratulations. Great feeling isn't it!?

That's really nice looking.

Top top job! Congratulations!

This annoys me perhaps way more than it should, because arguably it’s the only Kawasaki in decades that has actually looked good enough to lust after!

Bollox.

zx9rc1

Thing about RVF400s (and other cool old 400s) is that most of them are shagged now- they’re hard to look after. But also, people get a bit deluded about them. I really fancied one, test rode a few and the owners seemed genuinely convinced “this is an amazing handling bike”, and then it turns out the suspension oil is 20 years old, the swingarm bearings are goosed… It’s like they live their own legend and owners are so absolutely certain that they’re brilliant, that that just can’t perceive when they’re not.

I had 2 new 350LC's and then a 350YPVS - about 10 years later I rode a friends well-used RD350LC - never meet your hero's...

Passed my Mod2 this morning first time with flying colours and this is currently in my living room, just been taxed and insured!

thats a big living room. Carpet needs mowing though.

Picked this up last year after being off bikes for 10 or more years - Not stupid powerful but lots of torque and easy to handle.

Nice one GolfChick, smart bike.

I've got my CBT on Saturday morning so I'm months and months away from needing a bike. Obviously I've got a shortlist of around 10 bikes.

I love the modern classic style scramblers and stuff but I'll find it very hard to look past a proper trail bike for my first bike. I'm dying to go exploring away from the tarmac.

Big congrats on passing Golfchick -

Well done and welcome to the Triumph Modern Classics, you will love it, they are great bikes

The fact we've done about 2k miles on my 125 definitely made a difference to my experience level, ease at which I passed and confidence. Examiner said to me after the test there's no way I'd only done just the mod2 training day.

Nice bike golfchick.

“Rvf400”
I rode one, it had been used to instruct at a race school, and was complete with race can and 20k rev limit (the standard bike is redlined at 16k)
It was a friggin beautiful machine, handled amazingly, and the noise, oh my. (Race exhaust and gear driven cams, utterly intoxicating)
It had a claimed extra 20bhp over standard.
I loved it.
I think it’s best kept as a happy memory though.
Also, i now weigh 20 stone, I’d look ridiculous on it.

The fact we’ve done about 2k miles on my 125 definitely made a difference to my experience level, ease at which I passed and confidence. Examiner said to me after the test there’s no way I’d only done just the mod2 training day.

I'm wondering about that now. I didn't want to spend any money on a 125 but I know the freedom to go out and practice any time I like would make a big difference to how fast I progress. Plus with work it'll be hard to fit lessons in anyway.

I've got a mate selling a Mutt Mongrel, I might go for a look at it.