which bike to buy?

lmpulse · 08-02-2014 11:46pm #1

minidazzler · 09-02-2014 4:34am

If you could get the KTM restricted and insured on it, I'd go for that.... but you're really limiting yourself by going for only 2 choices especially 2 choices which are vastly different styles.

If you don't have your licence yet, then wait out until you've done IBT and then go and test ride a LOT of bikes before picking one to buy.

Wonda-Boy · 09-02-2014 9:37am

Hundreds of these threads on different forums now have a look around and read them, 1st thing I did was get my gear. Bought the best helmet I could afford and then decent armoured textiles and good boots and gloves. I did that so I would not buy a really dear bike and end up with cheap gear protecting my head.

Next step is to GO TO as many dealers as possible and get a feel for the bikes you will narrow down what feels "right" very quickly. I would stay away from race style bikes in favour of a more upright position starting off, the view will be of far more benefit and comfort too. Try to get a semi faired bike with a bit of wind protection too if you are commuting on the bike.

Have a look at some of the following: don't know what you like so a bit of everything.

Suzuki V Strom 650
Honda CB500
Yamaha FZ6 (my pick)
Honda Hornet
SV 650
Suzuki bandit 650

lmpulse · 09-02-2014 9:38am

Wonda-Boy wrote: »

Hundreds of these threads on different forums now have a look around and read them, 1st thing I did was get my gear. Bought the best helmet I could afford and then decent armoured textiles and good boots and gloves. I did that so I would not buy a really dear bike and end up with cheap gear protecting my head.

Next step is to GO TO as many dealers as possible and get a feel for the bikes you will narrow down what feels "right" very quickly. I would stay away from race style bikes in favour of a more upright position starting off, the view will be of far more benefit and comfort too. Try to get a semi faired bike with a bit of wind protection too if you are commuting on the bike.

Have a look at some of the following: don't know what you like so a bit of everything.

Suzuki V Strom 650
Honda CB500
Yamaha FZ6 (my pick)
Honda Hornet
SV 650
Suzuki bandit 650

i have already bought some gear, as far as to bikes I'm really going towards either the ninja or the ktm.

Wonda-Boy · 09-02-2014 10:58am

Hell of a difference between a Ninja 250cc and a KTM 690. How did you arrive at that scenario? Is it looks or what....

Plus if you get the 250cc you cant even do your full test on it as you will only get an A2 license, and people are FULLY AWARE that you need a minimum 300cc or higher to do the full test so they are really hard to sell on WHEN you get bored of it in 3mths time.

If it has to be one of them....KTM

lmpulse · 09-02-2014 11:11am

Wonda-Boy wrote: »

Hell of a difference between a Ninja 250cc and a KTM 690. How did you arrive at that scenario? Is it looks or what....

Plus if you get the 250cc you cant even do your full test on it as you will only get an A2 license, and people are FULLY AWARE that you need a minimum 300cc or higher to do the full test so they are really hard to sell on WHEN you get bored of it in 3mths time.

i've been riding dirt bikes for approx 1-2 months now,thats why i went towards the 690, however you think it's possible to get insured on the ktm?

fatbast · 09-02-2014 12:20pm

lmpulse wrote: »

i've been riding dirt bikes for approx 1-2 months now,thats why i went towards the 690, however you think it's possible to get insured on the ktm?

reckon it will be difficult/expensive to insure a 690. There is a ktm 390 which is a2 friendly.....I'd get a fazer 600 myself.

Zascar · 09-02-2014 12:25pm

Yeah look into insurance first it might be very tricky on the ktm, that thing is a licence loser. Ninja is the perfect first bike! Most people if they catch the bug end up wanting something better after a short while anyway so just get something decent and see what happens. Get your IBT done and try to get the higher level so you don't have the restriction to worry about

Roadcraft · 09-02-2014 12:30pm

fatbast wrote: »

reckon it will be difficult/expensive to insure a 690. There is a ktm 390 which is a2 friendly.....I'd get a fazer 600 myself.

Some of the FZ6 / Fazers are 72kw so not suitable for restriction to the 'A2' category.

lmpulse · 09-02-2014 12:40pm

fatbast wrote: »

reckon it will be difficult/expensive to insure a 690. There is a ktm 390 which is a2 friendly.....I'd get a fazer 600 myself.

the KTM rc390 and the KTM duke 390 are both not available in ireland, and getting them from the uk would be too expensive as most of them are new, the 690 is also A2 friendly as it doesn't exceed the 0.2 ratio according to them Link to information

Zascar wrote: »

Yeah look into insurance first it might be very tricky on the ktm, that thing is a licence loser. Ninja is the perfect first bike! Most people if they catch the bug end up wanting something better after a short while anyway so just get something decent and see what happens. Get your IBT done and try to get the higher level so you don't have the restriction to worry about

as wonda-boy mentioned earlier, the ninja wouldn't be sufficient to get me the full A2 license, and only way i would get rid of the restrictions is via the progressive thingy since I'm young. any idea about insurance companies that are more likely to insure young drivers?

lmpulse · 09-02-2014 12:44pm

i also came across this KTM duke 690, not very found of it's look but it seems like a decent bike, what do you think? ktm duke

fatbast · 09-02-2014 12:46pm

lmpulse wrote: »

the KTM rc390 and the KTM duke 390 are both not available in ireland, and getting them from the uk would be too expensive as most of them are new, the 690 is also A2 friendly as it doesn't exceed the 0.2 ratio according to them Link to information

as wonda-boy mentioned earlier, the ninja wouldn't be sufficient to get me the full A2 license, and only way i would get rid of the restrictions is via the progressive thingy since I'm young. any idea about insurance companies that are more likely to insure young drivers?

think m50 ktm have a 390 in stock....think the 690 is in a high insurance group....maybe the ninja would be the best bet

Roadcraft · 09-02-2014 1:05pm

lmpulse wrote: »

the KTM rc390 and the KTM duke 390 are both not available in ireland, and getting them from the uk would be too expensive as most of them are new, the 690 is also A2 friendly as it doesn't exceed the 0.2 ratio according to them Link to information

as wonda-boy mentioned earlier, the ninja wouldn't be sufficient to get me the full A2 license, and only way i would get rid of the restrictions is via the progressive thingy since I'm young. any idea about insurance companies that are more likely to insure young drivers?

Liberty or AXA with a grade 2 insurance skills assessment

Best to give them a call & ask

lmpulse · 09-02-2014 1:05pm

fatbast wrote: »

think m50 ktm have a 390 in stock....think the 690 is in a high insurance group....maybe the ninja would be the best bet

last time i checked they only had the duke 200, don't think they stocked on the new ones yet, i'm going to leave the ninja as a last resort ;d

lmpulse · 09-02-2014 1:10pm

Roadcraft wrote: »

Liberty or AXA with a grade 2 insurance skills assessment

Best to give them a call & ask

thank you for the input, i'll be sure to start on these once im done with my ibt. on a side note do you think it would be a good idea to buy the bike before getting the learner permit or should i wait?

Roadcraft · 09-02-2014 1:17pm

lmpulse wrote: »

thank you for the input, i'll be sure to start on these once im done with my ibt. on a side note do you think it would be a good idea to buy the bike before getting the learner permit or should i wait?

Don't buy a bike until you are sure you can get insured on it.
Most instructors will provide an insurance skills assessment with your IBT course, ask your instructor if he/she can do this for you.

Zascar · 09-02-2014 1:19pm

SV650 is always a good choice. Really good bike, you can easily restrict it and take it off when necessary. Loads of them around for decent money. Great twin engine, good riding position, looks nice - a Great all rounder bike

minidazzler · 09-02-2014 1:57pm

lmpulse wrote: »

thank you for the input, i'll be sure to start on these once im done with my ibt. on a side note do you think it would be a good idea to buy the bike before getting the learner permit or should i wait?

Don't even touch a bike until you do IBT. You'll get tunnel vision very quickly when you can't properly test ride properly on a road.

Roadcraft · 09-02-2014 2:17pm

minidazzler wrote: »

Don't even touch a bike until you do IBT. You'll get tunnel vision very quickly when you can't properly test ride properly on a road.

No really true - might want to learn about his own bike & use his it for IBT?

lmpulse · 09-02-2014 2:18pm

minidazzler wrote: »

Don't even touch a bike until you do IBT. You'll get tunnel vision very quickly when you can't properly test ride properly on a road.

i don't think tunnel vision would be a problem as i have been riding 4 wheelers for 7+ years.

lmpulse · 09-02-2014 2:19pm

Roadcraft wrote: »

No really true - might want to learn about his own bike & use his it for IBT?

i think using it for the IBT would be a hassle, to transport it etc etc...

Roadcraft · 09-02-2014 2:24pm

lmpulse wrote: »

i think using it for the IBT would be a hassle, to transport it etc etc...

Some people want to learn about & learn how to ride there own bike so they will get it transported or get someone to ride it there for them.

lmpulse · 09-02-2014 3:14pm

Roadcraft wrote: »

Some people want to learn about & learn how to ride there own bike so they will get it transported or get someone to ride it there for them.

I'm very tempted to get one right now and ride it around my complex, just hate to think about crashing it without insurance >.>

Wonda-Boy · 09-02-2014 3:18pm

Zascar wrote: »

SV650 is always a good choice. Really good bike, you can easily restrict it and take it off when necessary. Loads of them around for decent money. Great twin engine, good riding position, looks nice - a Great all rounder bike

Would not agree with you on the riding position, I found them very hard on the wrists and not very comfortable. But everything else I would agree on.....just my 2 cents.

lmpulse · 09-02-2014 3:55pm

what are other checks on a ninja 250 incase i went down that road

i know to check the chain, sprockets, brake pads, engine sound, oil, mileage, frame+ chassis for any signs of crash/abuse/wear etc..

Wonda-Boy · 09-02-2014 5:15pm

lmpulse wrote: »

what are other checks on a ninja 250 incase i went down that road

i know to check the chain, sprockets, brake pads, engine sound, oil, mileage, frame+ chassis for any signs of crash/abuse/wear etc..

Finance history if any, service history would be nice. You will get the best information from a spirited test drive.

lmpulse · 09-02-2014 6:23pm

Wonda-Boy wrote: »

Finance history if any, service history would be nice. You will get the best information from a spirited test drive.

any idea how to change the ownership of bike upon purchase?

Wonda-Boy · 09-02-2014 6:26pm

When you buy the bike the dealer or seller sends the log book off (down to shannon I think) and it will be re-issued in your name, takes about 2 weeks. If its a english or NI bike then you must get the cert (C5/V5) and have it for when you get the bike re registered.

If you are about to bite the bullet and bike a bike (any bike) and are not 100% what to look for stick up a thread on here. Many a good lad on here would not see you stuck....;) and go take a look at the bike with you for a 2nd opinion.

minidazzler · 09-02-2014 6:27pm

lmpulse wrote: »

any idea how to change the ownership of bike upon purchase?

when you buy it the dealer or seller should fill out a change of ownershiip form on the log book with your details, they send it off to Shannon and around 2 weeks later you receive a new log book with all your details and a change of ownership form attached.

lmpulse · 09-02-2014 6:49pm

damn, you guys got me so pumped up for this, problem is too many ninjas to choose and only one KTM ;p

dunner515 · 09-02-2014 7:04pm

Go onto the Liberty website and they should be able to give you a quote online. That would be one step towards seeing if they will insure you or not https://quotes.libertyinsurance.ie/QMP/publicviewquestions.do?productcode=QMB&corpunit=GEI

lmpulse · 09-02-2014 7:28pm

dunner515 wrote: »

Go onto the Liberty website and they should be able to give you a quote online. That would be one step towards seeing if they will insure you or not https://quotes.libertyinsurance.ie/QMP/publicviewquestions.do?productcode=QMB&corpunit=GEI

i would need the registration number for the online quote thing, tried it before.

dunner515 · 09-02-2014 7:44pm

If you just want to mess around with online quotes and NOT purchase insurance just to give you a rough idea on cost, take the Ktm that you are looking at for example enter the year of the bike (2008 for the Ktm which you are looking at) followed by a random county where it was registered (Dublin for example, so you would enter the letter D) This will allow you to continue on with the quote. I have done it that way many times myself when I did not know the full registration of a vehicle that I was interested in

Wonda-Boy · 09-02-2014 8:08pm

lmpulse wrote: »

damn, you guys got me so pumped up for this, problem is too many ninjas to choose and only one KTM ;p

Ask yourself why so many 250cc ninja's???? They are like orphans now......nobody wants them.

lmpulse · 09-02-2014 8:36pm

Wonda-Boy wrote: »

Ask yourself why so many 250cc ninja's???? They are like orphans now......nobody wants them.

i dont want it either lol, it's just that what other choices do i have now >.>

lmpulse · 09-02-2014 8:45pm

dunner515 wrote: »

If you just want to mess around with online quotes and NOT purchase insurance just to give you a rough idea on cost, take the Ktm that you are looking at for example enter the year of the bike (2008 for the Ktm which you are looking at) followed by a random county where it was registered (Dublin for example, so you would enter the letter D) This will allow you to continue on with the quote. I have done it that way many times myself when I did not know the full registration of a vehicle that I was interested in

i also tried that but it kept giving me an error, stating that their system couldn't give me a quote bs.

Wonda-Boy · 09-02-2014 8:51pm

lmpulse wrote: »

i dont want it either lol, it's just that what other choices do i have now >.>

If you have €4000 grand or so to spend on that KTM you have so so many choices.

Cienciano · 09-02-2014 8:58pm

If it was me, I'd get that KTM. Savage bike, I'd love one myself.
But for you, insurance might be a problem. Where do you live and do you have somewhere safe to store it? If you're fairly confident you have somewhere safe to store it, get some insurance quotes for 3rd party only.

Wossack · 09-02-2014 9:17pm

Be very surprised if you get a quote.. 700cc single like

think you'd be mad spending so much on your first bike too, but sure tis your monies

lmpulse · 09-02-2014 10:07pm

Wossack wrote: »

Be very surprised if you get a quote.. 700cc single like think you'd be mad spending so much on your first bike too, but sure tis your monies

insurance is a bitch man.

lmpulse · 09-02-2014 10:07pm

Cienciano wrote: »

If it was me, I'd get that KTM. Savage bike, I'd love one myself.
But for you, insurance might be a problem. Where do you live and do you have somewhere safe to store it? If you're fairly confident you have somewhere safe to store it, get some insurance quotes for 3rd party only.

i have a parking space in a 24/7 CCTV monitored garage in an apartment complex.

lmpulse · 09-02-2014 10:15pm

what do you guys think about a Kawi Zx6r or a Suzuki gsxr 600?

Cienciano · 09-02-2014 10:17pm

lmpulse wrote: »

i have a parking space in a 24/7 CCTV monitored garage in an apartment complex.

Nah, not great tbh. Ask zascar about that! Assuming that's in a city.
IF you lived out in the bog arse of nowhere and had a secure garage, you'd be ok. But for that KTM is probably second only to a high powered scrambler for the scumbags. I'd even be tempted to steal it myself

Cienciano · 09-02-2014 10:20pm

lmpulse wrote: »

what do you guys think about a Kawi Zx6r or a Suzuki gsxr 600?

I reckon ring around and get insurance quotes. I wouldn't recommend getting a 600 sports bike for your first bike

minidazzler · 09-02-2014 10:26pm

lmpulse wrote: »

i have a parking space in a 24/7 CCTV monitored garage in an apartment complex.

unless you can put down a ground anchor, or anchor it onto a solid point somewhere that space isn't that safe. some of the lads here can attest to that.

as for other choices.... for how much you're willing to spend on the ktm you've loads of choices that are far more insurable.

i'd be looking at 400 cc bandits, vfr's, bros, or even the supermoto.

they're all a bit cheaper and infinitely more insurable than the ktm... there is no point in shelling out however much for the ktm then the same on insurance just because of love of a particular bike..... just give it a year or two when you have a ncb and maybe the unrestricted A Learner Permit. KTM's will still be great bikes then and you won't be after spending 4 grand on insurance.

lmpulse · 09-02-2014 10:44pm

minidazzler wrote: »

unless you can put down a ground anchor, or anchor it onto a solid point somewhere that space isn't that safe. some of the lads here can attest to that.

as for other choices.... for how much you're willing to spend on the ktm you've loads of choices that are far more insurable.

i'd be looking at 400 cc bandits, vfr's, bros, or even the supermoto.

they're all a bit cheaper and infinitely more insurable than the ktm... there is no point in shelling out however much for the ktm then the same on insurance just because of love of a particular bike..... just give it a year or two when you have a ncb and maybe the unrestricted A Learner Permit. KTM's will still be great bikes then and you won't be after spending 4 grand on insurance.

what about this bandit ? link it's a 600cc one, reckon it would be insurable? also is it possible to give a bandit that meaner naked look?
i'll ask the landlord if it's possible to lay an anchor down there.

AgileMyth · 09-02-2014 10:51pm

If they're the only two you'll consider then enjoy your ninja, because theres no way you're getting insured on the KTM.

ZXR's and GSXR's are also a no-no, just for the moment.

I've been where you are now. Eventually decided to go for a 125 for a year to build no claims, worked my way up for the next couple of years and was insured on my current 1150cc bike before I turned 23. Not as far off as it seems now, and you'll appreciate it all the more when you get it because you'll actually know how to use it.

AgileMyth · 09-02-2014 10:56pm

Bandits a fine bike and ideal for a beginner. Ring Liberty in the morning, if anyone will insure you it'll be them. Tell them you've already bought it, they'll just fob you off otherwise.

Not entirely sure the look you're after but have seen bandits customised in 100's of different ways.

That particular one seems a little high pricewise but that might just be me.

lmpulse · 09-02-2014 10:57pm

might settle with a ninja after all. one question tho do i really have to wear that silly florescent learner vest while riding? i know i should throw my ego at home but really?

lmpulse · 09-02-2014 10:58pm

AgileMyth wrote: »

Bandits a fine bike and ideal for a beginner. Ring Liberty in the morning, if anyone will insure you it'll be them. Tell them you've already bought it, they'll just fob you off otherwise.

Not entirely sure the look you're after but have seen bandits customised in 100's of different ways.

That particular one seems a little high pricewise but that might just be me.

I've no idea about the price range of bandits, so i can't really judge.

AgileMyth · 09-02-2014 11:05pm

You are supposed to wear it. I seem to remember having to borrow one for my test though..

which bike to buy?

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