Good starter racing bike

rowanh

Hi I just found out quinn direct are insuring bikes. I had a quick look on buy and sell and then asked for a quote on a honda nsr 250 but they said i need a full license so im waiting on a quote for a nsr 125. Im assuming its going to be around a grand, not sure why. My current insurance with quinn direct is somewhere just over 600 on a 1.3 lancer and doesn't get much more expensive with fast cars, like a 2L turbo skyline would have been 1100 this year.

Anyway, basically i want to know what the best bike to start with is. I want something fun and fast and easy to drive. I like the look of nsr, people have told me in the past not to get a 125 and also stuff about 2 stroke and four stroke, i cant remeber any of these details. So bearing in mind that they wont insure me on a 250 nsr would anyone recommend anything?

Thanks

babybundy

nsr 250 I thought they were only track bikes

Bradidup

Id be very slow to start off with a stroker, (A stink wheel we used to call them), replacing plugs, rings, pistons regularly etc etc, a lott more maintenance and tempermental than a four stroke.

Idleater

What about a Factory Restricted Kawasaki zx636?

L.

electricheadx

Started off on a NSR125..... Nice fun bike alright......but your gonna be boared with it afer about 3-4 months.

Get something bigger that will last you longer and you can do your test on.....
Driving a CBR250RR at the minute. Great bike

Insurance is gonna be more pricey on it though. Your going from the NSR which is Group 2 to Group 5.

CN quoted me cheaper than AON for fully comp on it. Other way around for the 3rd party only strangly enough........

Hotblack Desiato

rowanh wrote:

I had a quick look on buy and sell and then asked for a quote on a honda nsr 250 but they said i need a full license

There was an NSR250 years ago, Jap import, rare as hen's teeth, collectors item now if you could find one. Next!

so im waiting on a quote for a nsr 125.

You'll be lucky if your first bike is the one you want. Usually it's the one you can insure. I wanted a 600 started on a 100!

My current insurance with quinn direct is somewhere just over 600 on a 1.3 lancer and doesn't get much more expensive with fast cars, like a 2L turbo skyline would have been 1100 this year.

At the end of the day it's still got four wheels and doesn't fall over when you stop. Bikes and especially fast bikes are very different animals and a LOT more demanding to ride and keep under control.

Your age is a HUGE factor with insurance. Good starter bikes are ones like CB400, Bros, Bandit 600, CB500, SV650. None of them are that racy (as bikes go) but all are pretty quick as cars go. Learn to walk before you run.

Bradidup

I would personally go for something with a bit more weight if the insurance was right, you cant beat the Bros, they might look waterley compaired to the the lighter sportier bikes but they are practical, reliable, no trouble getting bits, no plastics to worry about, and are fast enough. More importantly they are discrete ie every 2nd courier has one. If your flying around on loud stroker it wont be long before da cops find out!

On failing the Bros ie insuranse, the CG125 is another good practical alternative for starting off on.

steveone

hey man,
cbr 250rr is a great starter bike

Wossack

age/location?

might be in for a shock at the cost of motorbike insurance...

Bradidup

steveone wrote:

hey man,
cbr 250rr is a great starter bike

They are a great bike if you can get a fresh one but if something goes wrong with the engine they are big hassle, ie its like looking into the inside of a watch, ie 16 tiny valves, four pistons, etc not many mechanics will touch them and if they do the labour would probably be the same or more than any big multi.

velvitjester

if you want to go for a 125 theres not really much choises if you want a sportsbike type as you have the honda nsr 125r or the aprilia rs125 .the honda is group 2 and the aprilia is group 9 or something stupid,im 19 with a full licence and got a quote last year on an rs125 for 10,000 euro.theres no point in going for a 4 stroke 125 aas there slower than a 50cc moped,so stay away from the new 4 stroke 125's and get an older 2 stroke.

Wossack

aprilia rs125 is group 7, unrestricted, unsure of factory restricted
nsr, factory restricted (down to 12hp), is group 2
tzr 125, group 3
cbr125 group 3

ive never rode a 50cc scoot, but I'd be impressed if it could get to 50mph quicker then my cbr125

theres others, including cagiva mito, suzuki rg125, gilera sp01/2, sachs xtc125, but no group info on them sorry.

if you're looking at nsr vs rs, go the nsr... italian + 2 stroke = money pit imo

Conor_1978

I'd say CBR250RR, if you know your engines they are handy enough, you can get all the older manuals online translated from japanese.

The main problem with them is the carbs, most are shipped over without having been drained, so the carbs can be pitted. Getting clean carbs for them is hard as any you find here will be pretty much the same. Unless you know someone who imports and wouldn't mind tossing a new one in a container from Japan (for example) for you.

The power is nice, they don't have too much, so it's easier to get used to coming in and out of corners on the track. And parts can be pretty easy to get these says from the amount of them that end in breakers. That said it took me 3 months to find an original can for mine back 2 years ago. (It then got stolen by some scumbag in Knocka in Cork, never saw it again, not that I'm bitter. Bastards!)