Purchasing a bike...

Chunks

Hi all,

I'm new to the motorbiking world. Got my provisional licence recently.

I'm in need of a bike for the commute to a new job and haven't the best insight into makes models etc...

Hopefully you can suggest some for me.

My budget is in and around 3k and i'm looking for something that would fit my licence limits.... usually a 125cc bike?

Are there any suggestions on makes and models out there for me? Pros and cons of each one would be great also.

Thanks in advance.

Reg'stoy

Chucks,

I too started using a bike to get to and from work (I cross the M50 twice a day), I use a Majesty 125 scooter.
I would ask you a few questions that might help me and others to better answer your query.

Do you plan on taking up biking as a way of life (sounds silly, but I view my bike as a means to an end).

How far, and thru what kind of traffic will you be travelling.

Do you mind being wet, cold and terrified on many occasions, no point beating around the bush here you will be all three (I have anyway).

Now I reckon by taking the bike to work I save in and around 1 to 2 hrs a day, I put it to you this way I leave Swords at ten to eight, I'm in Citywest for before half eight normally. When I took the car and no word of a lie I would queue to get onto the M1 then onto the M50, to get off the M50 and into citywest it took me sometimes over 2hrs.

Chunks

hey mate. Thanks for the reply.

I'm in a simialr situation to yourself. i've got to head out past blackrock from Sutton myself.

I don't think i'll be taking a bike as a way of life, I'll still hold onto my car aswell I reckon. Just the commute into and from work mainly. The traffic will usually be rush hour traffic so a bike would help me get to the top of the traffic lights queue etc...

The way I see it is anything more than an hour to get to work and you're slowly killing yourself. Life around job not the other way around in my view

I've kind of reserved myself to the fact that i'll get the usual scares aswell, just comes with the teeritory I suppose. I'll just have to learn how to be pro-active on the bike.

Reg'stoy

Hi again Chucks,

Considering your only going to be using the bike as a means of getting from A to B, I would recommend a scooter for the following reasons.

Completely automatic and seeing as you will be riding in traffic most of the time I see this as an advantage (I'm sure others will disagree).

Very comfortable ride and my yamaha majesty is also very stable at slower speeds.

Road tax of 51 euro :eek: yes 51 euro .

Space under your seat, enough to hold a small gym bag and runners or work clothes etc, you can also fit a box to the back of it.

Don't worry about speed, I've kept up with traffic on the M50, have gotten it to 130kph. Do you really need to go any faster.

10 euros will fill the tank and I normally do this once a week. It will do long journeys have taken it to Bray down the M50 from Swords and as far as Kildare town.

I drop it to the place where I bought it Leo O;Reilys (Declan who works there is a sound guy) for servicing. It has never given me a moments trouble and it's fast approaching 25,000k's after 2 years.


I see you have kept your car, fair enough but there's just the two of us at home, so I have the scooter she has the car (she does give it to me because as I keep pointing out I paid for it) this means I get driven .

Anyway I'm sure you get loads of advice, just bear in mind get lessons, get the proper gear as in Helmet don't save money here (no Aldi helmets Chucks) jacket and trousers good ones will keep you warm dry and unskinned should you come off (do not ride in a pair of slacks, Jeans maybe), remember falling off a scooter is just as painfull as falling off a normal bike.

Best of luck and safe riding sir.

bushy...

Reg'stoy wrote: »

terrified .

All due respect but why were you terrified ?

Quint

Scooter is fine if it's just for commuting. But you'll get zero street cred!
Seriously, I'd do everything Reg'stoy said, probably even buy in Leo O'Reillys too! Although blackrock to sutton, i'd avoid the m50 (sure you will anyway). I used to go from finglas to sandyford, through town took the exact same amount of time as the m50. But at least through town it's a better drive.

Chunks

Thanks for the replies guys,

right, so it's a toss up over a 125 scooter or a bike..... hmmm. Is there much of an overall price difference between the two?

Cionn

Guys,

I was in the same situation in may I had thought about a scooter either the yamaha X-Max(I think) 250 or buying a 2002 BMW C1. Then when I started to think about it I thought a full bike was better for me so I bought a 2004 BMW 650CS as my first bike. I have to admit that I love it now a great way to travel. Yes there are the odd scares but you soon pick up the ropes. I left Sutton today at 9:55 sitting at my desk at 10:25 in Sandyford Industrial Estate it's the only way to do a commute like that.
Now I wonder if I'll feel the same way after the winter.

by the way the 650 is a grand bike my one is restricted and insurance TPF&T was 900 not too bad for a first timer.

Cionn

Fr Dougal

I went scooter first (Burgman 400) but very quickly found the ride uncomfortable. Although I'm not particularly tall, 5'9", I didn't like the riding position on the scooter, found I got cramp after only 7-8km.
Like you, I intended for the bike to be simply a commuting tool but soon found I wanted to go for spins at weekend.
Changed to a bike (Deauville 650) and no cramp problems since and it's well able for a long spin at weekends. I've been from Dublin to Galway, Newry, Newcastle Co Down and down to Meath a couple of times on it.

As most people will advise, get proper training and proper gear.

Chunks

Cionn wrote: »

by the way the 650 is a grand bike my one is restricted and insurance TPF&T was 900 not too bad for a first timer.
Cionn

How exactly does the restriction-ing of bikes work? is it worth it to get a larger engine but restrict it?

Pigeon Reaper

Cionn get some heated grips and bar muffs for winter. Lots of thermal underwear and good warm gear helps too. The first few frosty mornings will feel bad but you'll get used to it. Just watch for ice. The cold wet weather is worse but bar muffs stop the worst of the wet glove freezing finger syndrome. All gloves do eventually leak so buy some nice ones and bar muffs to keep dry.

Cionn

Cheers for that Pigeaon reaper, The bike I got has heated handles and ABS so its reasonably well kitted out. The mitts sound like a good idea. I got good gear to wear while I was at it. Its the one thing I would recommend to anybody getting a bike scooter or normal bike. I paid about 1500 for helmet and all the gear. There is no point in going cheap on your own protection. I will gladly throw the gear out in 10 years when it is knackered once its done its job. Too many scooter drivers in denim jackets and standard shoes out there for my liking. Its just as easy to come off a bike as it is a scooter.

Also its mainly the other road users you need to keep an eye out for to be safe. Do what you can to protect yourself you may need it even if it is once its maney well spent.

Chunks: as for restricting bikes most manufacturers offer the service it just brings the power to weight ratio down to an acceptable level so that provisional licence holders can use a big.
I wouldn't have thought there was much need to go over 650/700cc's for a provisional licence holder. But then there is a difference between "needs and wants" me "wants" a BMW F800ST my wife "needs" to keep me under control

Chunks

haha yeah, my girlfriend is going the same way Cionn. " You don't need a bike, you can walk for 45minutes from the dart! "

I think i'll give the other bikes a look then cos as far as i was concerned i was restricted to looking at 125's like the TDr and Varadero.... with a restricted 250 - 650 option now i have a lot more to choose from.

Thanks for the advice .

Hotblack Desiato

Chunks wrote: »

How exactly does the restriction-ing of bikes work? is it worth it to get a larger engine but restrict it?

It means reducing the power output so that it's legal to ride on a Class A provisional (and for the two year restriction period after passing the test)

How it's done doesn't really matter, can be washers restricting the air intake or throttle opening, different carburettors, different exhaust, different ignition control box.

If fitted by a dealer it's easily removed and gets you no insurance discount, you pay the same as a full power bike. If the restriction comes from the factory then it's usually quite difficult and expensive to remove, but some insurers will give you a substantial discount.

Advantage of restriction over getting a smaller bike:
- Larger bikes are statistically safer!
- More road presence, better lighting, braking, suspension etc.
- Taller/heavier riders will not be comfortable or safe on a machine that is physically too small for them.
- Heavier bikes are less affected by the wind
- Restricted bikes can still easily exceed the motorway speed limit, a 125 will be struggling with little or nothing left in reserve. This takes it out of both bike and rider

About the commuting vs. way of life question. I began as a commuter (and still am) but it soon became a way of life too bikes are highly addictive, people who have been off them for years are always coming back to them, you can't get it out of your system once you develop a liking for it.

You will need a Class A licence to go above 125cc, hope you're not stuck with just A1 as it's useless if you ever want to move above 125cc. Even if you only want to get a 125cc bike, I'd advise you to do the A test (i.e. rent a bike above 125cc with gears for the test, a few bike trainers do this) then you will be licensed for anything you might want in future.

Spades

[

bikes are highly addictive, people who have been off them for years are always coming back to them, you can't get it out of your system once you develop a liking for it.



Very true, twice i sold bikes because of house buying etc and as soon as all that was sorted, back looking for a bike again, and only as a hobbie now:)