Suitable sports bike for newbie

daludo

Hi folks
I'm about to start my ibt and hopefully get my first bike in the coming months. I'm more into the sporty bike look than anything else. Has anyone got any suggestions regarding suitable bikes (sports) for complete newbie..??? Also insurance friendly would be useful!!!;-) thanks

listermint

Any reason sporty? My advice would be to check out a few first.

There is some lovely naked setups on the market recently MT range specifically

daludo

Just prefer the look really, is there a different type you'd recommend???

GBX

Kawasaki Ninja 300 perhaps?

Pugzilla

Ninja 300 isn't a real sportbike. It's a naked bike with a full fairing slapped on to it. None of the real sportbikes are suitable for beginners.

GBX

Pugzilla wrote: »

Ninja 300 isn't a real sportbike. It's a naked bike with a full fairing slapped on to it. None of the real sportbikes are suitable for beginners.

Why because it's not a 600/1000?

It's a small cc sport bike. Suited to those who want a sports bike at the start.

Pugzilla

GBX wrote: »

Why because it's not a 600/1000?

It's a small cc sport bike. Suited to those who want a sports bike at the start.

It has a fairly upright riding position and its rake angle isn't that steep.
Would you call a gsx650f a sportbike because it has a full fairing?

arybvtcw0eolkf

My suggestion for a sports bike for a noobie would be a Suzuki SV650s.

Lots of poke, not enough to tie you (a beginner) up in knots. Brilliant handling & riding position (even for plus 6 ft riders) and good fuel economy.

I love the clocks, the riding position and the engine on the old curvy SV650.. The newer pointy SV650 has a more refined engine, but IMO not as much fun however you might find less maintenance on the pointy.

hairyslug

Cbr500r, not to many selling over here but they are fairly cheap over in the UK

DMW22

Have to agree with Makikomi. I started out on a SV650s last year and loved it. Plenty of power and torque to learn with. Also lots of engine braking which is nice too.
It's a lovely handling bike and really enjoyed getting it onto some twisty roads. I will never forget the first trip I did to Kerry on it. That was the first taste of some proper twisty roads. Motorbike heaven!

BKtje

I learnt on the ninja 300 and i'd definitely class it towards a small cc sports bike. It handles like one, the engine feels like one and the sitting position while not fully sports bike has a lot more in common with a sportsbike than not. It's no slouch either for its displacement.

bladespin

GBX wrote: »

Why because it's not a 600/1000?

It's a small cc sport bike. Suited to those who want a sports bike at the start.

Agree, a CBR250/400, ZXR 400, GSXR400 etc are 'sports' bikes, just because a bike wears a full fairing does not make it a sports bike, it's all about power, handling and delivery.

Hotblack Desiato

OP should check with insurers first, depending on age anything remotely sporty with 0 NCB can be impossible to insure.

rat_race

Pugzilla wrote: »

Ninja 300 isn't a real sportbike. It's a naked bike with a full fairing slapped on to it. None of the real sportbikes are suitable for beginners.

Pugzilla wrote: »

It has a fairly upright riding position and its rake angle isn't that steep.
Would you call a gsx650f a sportbike because it has a full fairing?

bladespin wrote: »

Agree, a CBR250/400, ZXR 400, GSXR400 etc are 'sports' bikes, just because a bike wears a full fairing does not make it a sports bike, it's all about power, handling and delivery.

He said very clearly, twice, that, he prefers the *look* of sportsbikes; who cares on the definition of a "real" sports bike!!

OP: I started out on a Ninja 250, and I have to say, I loved it, and I never got rid of it. Definitely learned a heck of a lot more on it, than I would have if I'd started on a bigger/faster bike. Plenty of poke, easy to run and maintain.

Super reliable too.

arybvtcw0eolkf

rat_race wrote: »

OP: I started out on a Ninja 250, and I have to say, I loved it, and I never got rid of it. Definitely learned a heck of a lot more on it, than I would have if I'd started on a bigger/faster bike. Plenty of poke, easy to run and maintain.

Super reliable too.

On that, I often tell beginners that you'll learn more on a slower bike at the start than a bigger faster bike.

My first 'proper' sports bike was (you'll all laugh) was a Yamaha RD120YPVS & I thought I was the dogs bollox on it, I even fitted the first real 'sticky track day tires ~ Metzler ME22 'track formula' to it

It was also the first bike I owned which could hit the 100mph mark, if you were tucked down behind the little screen, with a tailwind and coming down a hill but fook man it never stopped me trying

I remember thinking that dumping the clutch from a stop/start and the front wheel jumping into the air (while both feet were still on the ground) was a wheelie lol.

bladespin

Anyone who rides one, no impersonators pleazzzze




RD was the first road bike I owned, micron, k&n, reeds etc, loved it to bits - literally, mate had an Aprillia and used to loose it when the yammy flew past.

daludo

Thanks for all the replies and various opinions. Just to let ye know an insurance company mentioned the following bikes amongst others as good starter bikes for insurance
Kawasaki er6f
Kawasaki er6n
Honda cb 500
Suzuki gsf 600
Suzuki sv 650
Yamaha xvs
Yamaha xv
Any opinions on these???
Thanks again

GBX

daludo wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies and various opinions. Just to let ye know an insurance company mentioned the following bikes amongst others as good starter bikes for insurance
Kawasaki er6f
Kawasaki er6n
Honda cb 500
Suzuki gsf 600
Suzuki sv 650
Yamaha xvs
Yamaha xv
Any opinions on these???
Thanks again

Some of them bikes would depend on which licence you have .. A1/2.

daludo

Just looking for something to get going on myself after a few lessons and ibt.as I said I'm a total newb, green as the grass :-S

daludo

Just looking for something to get going on myself after a few lessons and ibt.as I said I'm a total newb, green as the grass :-S

arybvtcw0eolkf

daludo wrote: »

Just looking for something to get going on myself after a few lessons and ibt.as I said I'm a total newb, green as the grass :-S

Another idea is to find out which of those bikes your IBT instructor uses for the students and see how that feels for you?.

What kind of riding are you doing, ie city commutes to work, motorway riding etc?.

Some sports bikes, even the little one's like the SV can be a handful in city traffic when you're trying to filter whilst bikes like the CB500 is a brilliant commuter.

corkgsxr

Dakota Loud Confetti wrote: »

Another idea is to find out which of those bikes your IBT instructor uses for the students and see how that feels for you?.

What kind of riding are you doing, ie city commutes to work, motorway riding etc?.

Some sports bikes, even the little one's like the SV can be a handful in city traffic when you're trying to filter whilst bikes like the CB500 is a brilliant commuter.

I'd go for the sv 650 or the er6. Both great bikes.

A sv would not be awkward in traffic. Abit of forward planning and any proper sports bike isn't either.

And a ninja 300 is a decent bike but nowhere near a sports bike.

macplaxton

SV650, well the old (non-S) ones at least, are very handy through traffic.


DSCF0001 by macplaxton, on Flickr

Ideal despatch tool, with Scotoiler + Keith Gold Size 5 topbox bolted onto a spare pillion seat (for quick removal for the weekends).

daludo

Dakota Loud Confetti wrote: »

daludo wrote: »

Just looking for something to get going on myself after a few lessons and ibt.as I said I'm a total newb, green as the grass :-S

Another idea is to find out which of those bikes your IBT instructor uses for the students and see how that feels for you?.

What kind of riding are you doing, ie city commutes to work, motorway riding etc?.

Some sports bikes, even the little one's like the SV can be a handful in city traffic when you're trying to filter whilst bikes like the CB500 is a brilliant commuter.

Mostly country roads. Sunday spins

arybvtcw0eolkf

daludo wrote: »

Mostly country roads. Sunday spins

The SV650s so, cheap as chips and bags of fun.

The 'S' has a fairing and clip-on bars. They're really fun and sound fantastic with an aftermarket slip on pipe.

daludo

Thanks Makikomi il check out that bike,seems to tick a lot of boxes on this forum...

bladespin

daludo wrote:

Mostly country roads. Sunday spins

SV would be made for this, pokey v twin.

amacca

Dakota Loud Confetti wrote: »

On that, I often tell beginners that you'll learn more on a slower bike at the start than a bigger faster bike.

I'm probably demonstrating ignorance here but what do the smaller bikes allow you to learn that a big bike wouldnt?

limits of grip, how to muscle it around corners...just overall better control?

I've only ever been on big bikes (1000cc - tho my second was a 750) and while I feel proficient and haven't had a proper accident yet (bar letting one tip over on me in the car park and losing front wheel at crawling pace in a driveway with deep gravel) I can't help feeling people who got used to flinging smaller machines around are better than me.

arybvtcw0eolkf

amacca wrote: »

I'm probably demonstrating ignorance here but what do the smaller bikes allow you to learn that a big bike wouldnt?

limits of grip, how to muscle it around corners...just overall better control?

I've only ever been on big bikes (1000cc - tho my second was a 750) and while I feel proficient and haven't had a proper accident yet (bar letting one tip over on me in the car park and losing front wheel at crawling pace in a driveway with deep gravel) I can't help feeling people who got used to flinging smaller machines around are better than me.

I'm drunk.. I'll get back to you tomorrow if I can :P

amacca

Dakota Loud Confetti wrote: »

I'm drunk.. I'll get back to you tomorrow if I can :P

Fair enough.....I should really be drinking myself :pac::pac::pac:

Pugzilla

It's Easier to build confidence and skills on a bike that you know isn't going to rip your head off if you make a mistake.

CJhaughey

I like many older bikers on small machines, 50cc-80cc-175cc-250cc-650cc.
Offroad and then onroad once I was able to ride legally.
On small machines you can learn manoeuvres that transfer to larger heavier machines without fear of dropping a heavy machine.
Once a top heavy bike starts to go its difficult to keep it upright, a small light machine can be stabilised easily and build your confidence that way.
Riding offroad is probably the best for bike control, learning to control a bike in slippery, wet, off camber corners is a good example.

Lumen

Aren't modern bigger bikes close to the same weight as old small bikes? My naked 700 is 186kg full. What did old 250s weigh?

bladespin

Lumen wrote: »

Aren't modern bigger bikes close to the same weight as old small bikes? My naked 700 is 186kg full. What did old 250s weigh?

The old CBR250 was a claimed 143kg dry, 158 full.

CJhaughey

bladespin wrote: »

The old CBR250 was a claimed 143kg dry, 158 full.

X7 was 160kg wet, XL250S 132kg wet, IT 175 93kg dry, CR250R 93kg dry
RZ50 75kg MT5 83kg, TS100 92kg PE400 ~110kg NX650 180kg

bladespin

CJhaughey wrote: »

RZ50 75kg

:eek:

CJhaughey

bladespin wrote: »

:eek:

That was a really fun bike, superlight and fun to ride.

frozenfrozen

cheap, cheap to insure, light (190kg wet)

I don't know about what other bikes are like to learn on but I have no complaints about the sv

bladespin

CJhaughey wrote: »

That was a really fun bike, superlight and fun to ride.

Had an RD125LC, it's bigger (lol) brother, one of the best bikes ever regardless of size.

CJhaughey

bladespin wrote: »

Had an RD125LC, it's bigger (lol) brother, one of the best bikes ever regardless of size.

I'll say this for Yamaha, They build a good two stroke engine and they know how to make a nice handling bike.
Combine the two and the result is brilliant fun.
I'd imagine the 125 wasn't a whole pile heavier than the 50cc with a lot more power.

Pugzilla

This videos is a good example of how a small bike helps skill progression. The guy on the 250 is able to dominate 1000cc sportbikes in the corners.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Speaking of the RD125 ypvs.. Sometime in the mid/late 80's I rode down from Belfast with my pillion GF holding onto an Argos slide, and we'd three crates of cider bungee strapped to the tank.

Because of the border restrictions and customs we rode up towards Forkhill via some un-approved roads to by pass the Brit army/RUC check point at Newry and the customs check on the Irish side.

I'd some mad times on that bike

Hotblack Desiato

Pugzilla wrote: »

Ninja 300 isn't a real sportbike. It's a naked bike with a full fairing slapped on to it. None of the real sportbikes are suitable for beginners.

I was going to say 'you're wrong, watch Pugzilla's video down the page' but then you'd be arguing with yourself

If (with a good rider on board) it out-corners litre sportsbikes then it's a sportsbike.

rat_race

amacca wrote: »

I'm probably demonstrating ignorance here but what do the smaller bikes allow you to learn that a big bike wouldnt?

limits of grip, how to muscle it around corners...just overall better control?

I've only ever been on big bikes (1000cc - tho my second was a 750) and while I feel proficient and haven't had a proper accident yet (bar letting one tip over on me in the car park and losing front wheel at crawling pace in a driveway with deep gravel) I can't help feeling people who got used to flinging smaller machines around are better than me.

It's about a few things, really...

Here's how I'd summarize it:

• Lighter, less intimidating to move around
• Less scary & easier to get the knee down (shouldn't be any easier, but we instinctively think heavier things are more likely to fall over)
• Easier to filter (narrower than bigger bikes, and smaller wheelbase)
• Gives more cornering confidence (i.e., carrying speed into and out of your turns), a bigger bike would mean a lot more skill would be required to achieve the same
• Easier to brake and more importantly, emergency brake
• More forgiving WHEN you make mistakes (less power), with the throttle, braking, or gearing
• Cheaper to buy, maintain, and fix
• Good way to figure out what you want and don't want in a bike, before paying big money
• Easier to experiment/practice on (emergency braking, throttle control), without killing yourself
• If a smaller/cheaper first, you're more likely to learn how to tinker with it, maintain it -- it's simpler and handier to work on that a lot of larger bikes