shark_90 Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 Passed my bike test today! Now I need some gear and a bike! With the summer bike season ending, do shops etc do discounts etc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuprabob Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 Congratulatons on passing your test. Most bike shops have big sales during the winter months because motorcycle manufacturers release new colour schemes every year so bargains can be had. Shops like J&S and Hein Gericke are pretty good for gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamD Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 Shops like J&S and Hein Gericke are pretty good for gear. Congratulations Shark I would second the above, I have used HG recently and had superb service at 2 of their branches - and they seem to do some very good value stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mb Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 Well done, Bike shows are also a good place to buy kit as lots of bargains + competing with each other + have all had a hard Xmas by then too. If its an "in-demand" colour etc. then discount hard to come by but "last years" colours can be very good value - helmets especially so as should really be used only for 5 years since manuf so good deals on an old scheme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busby Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 Congratulations Shark. How was the U turn?!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark_90 Posted September 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 Congratulations Shark. How was the U turn?!! You know too much If I was going to fail on anything, it was the U turn.. I very, very nearly lost balance but somehow managed to control it and thank feck that I did! It was really playing on my mind to be honest, but I'm sure it plays on everyone's mind! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avus_Bub Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 Well done Mate! So, what's the plan? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ritey Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 Well done fella, welcome to the club Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuprabob Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 Everyone hates the U Turn, even with over 15 years riding experience post test I avoid it at all costs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark_90 Posted September 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 Well done Mate! So, what's the plan? Good question! I'm in no massive rush to buy a bike, but I don't want to hang around forever, money permitting. I'm guessing I want something between 400 and 600cc, and I want something pretty comfortable for longish rides on the motorway and I figure it could be a good tool to get me around the country which will be quicker and probably more fun and more rewarding than the car. Looking for pointers in the right direction to be honest! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ritey Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 What did you do your test on, how did you find that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark_90 Posted September 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 Did my test on a '96 CB500. To be honest I thought I'd find it to be faster. I'm not a speed demon but I found it quite easy to handle where I thought I'd totally sh*t myself! To be honest it didn't really appeal to me as a bike. My instructor had a VFR600 (I think it was a 600) which I did quite like. Sounds daft but I liked the fact that it had a fuel gauge.. very handy for me as I plan to do a fair few miles if/when I do use it for work. Money's an issue at the moment as I'm about to move house (fingers crossed) so everything I have is pretty much going into that. So I'm not going to be buying a particularly new bike, and I don't want to get something too nice or expensive, because I'm bound to drop it or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 Many congrats!! :-D If you're in no rush to buy (i.e. you want a bike for summer) then you've got the bike show to check them all out. This weekend is the BMF Tailender at Peterborough. I may be popping along to check out the end of season gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mort Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 Congrats Mr Shark - One more of us - one less of them. I can recommend the VFR800 or the 750 - great bike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danksy Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 congrats fella Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brabus Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 Well done mate! A great feeling, isn't it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark_90 Posted September 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 I'm very glad I passed.. now just got to decide on where I want to be and also learn how to maintain a bike! I've never really been a big bike fan, so I have a lot of learning to do! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuprabob Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 I would recommend something like a Bandit 600. Fast enough to have fun on but if you drop it not so much expensive plastic to fix. No matter how careful you are you will drop your first bike, hopefully not at speed. Most people drop them at low speed while moving it around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiAudiSline Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 Well done on passing your test! I dont think you can go wrong with any recent 600cc road bikes (ok maybe not a yamaha divvy). Suzuki Bandit 600, Yamaha Fazer 600, Honda Hornet 600 or Suzuki SV650 (smaller bike) would all be an excellent choice to learn your trade on for 12 months....I would probably favour the Fazer - good power, good build quality, small fairing on some, close second the SV650 as it gets rave reviews but it is a slightly smaller bike. The Honda VFR800 or 750 would be a great bike, and maybe have a bit more longevity about them for keeping you interested. fantasic build quality just dont drop it. Also avoid a VFR made after 2001 as they changed the engine valve system to VTEC and ruined the bike imo, they really did cock it up that bad! The honda would probably cost you a fair chunk more to run on servicing and fuel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mb Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 Sounds daft but I liked the fact that it had a fuel gauge.. very handy for me as I plan to do a fair few miles if/when I do use it for work. Don't forget you get a "reserve" on the bike & often a fuel warning light if no fuel gauge so its not as risky as it may first sound - eg my Pegaso has about a gal after the fuel light comes on then another gallon when you switch to reserve so about 100 miles after the light comes on to find fuel... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark_90 Posted September 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 Good advice, cheers Been looking around for VFR's, I few people have pointed me in the direction of them. Not in a massive rush to buy so I'm looking for a winter bargain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuprabob Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 Plus you learn to use the trip meter to monitor the number of miles you've done since topping up. My GSXR even has a seperate trip that starts when the fuel light comes on to tell you number of miles you've run on reserve. Been easier fitting a fuel gauge but every gram counts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark_90 Posted September 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 Better get down the gym then.. I'm not exactly skinny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mb Posted September 18, 2008 Report Share Posted September 18, 2008 Good advice, cheers Been looking around for VFR's, I few people have pointed me in the direction of them. Not in a massive rush to buy so I'm looking for a winter bargain Yes VFRs are great all-rounders and what I ought to buy really but my mileage is low enough to get something less practical Watch the old ones especially VFs as they had a reputation for cam issues (gear driven) but I think any VFR is good as Honda sorted them out for new model do check buyer guides though ! + You'll probably get your fuel gauge... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark_90 Posted September 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2008 So apart from the obvious 50cc's, what are the main differences between the VFR750 and VFR800? Anything I should know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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