tell me about motobikes

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bluekiwigrant
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tell me about motobikes

Post by bluekiwigrant »

first thanks to everybody who gave me advice about me getting old and wishing to do adventure biking - your a friendly bunch

I did mention that my knowledge of motor bikes was that they have 2 wheels and I wasn't joking I know nought.

I would like to get into a bit off road stuff but not full on so what sort of motorbike size etc would one buy that is good on the road and can be used off road?

I have never ridden a motorbike and don't have a licence yet but I have made enquiries about getting it
micksea
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Re: tell me about motobikes

Post by micksea »

How tall are you and how much do you weigh?
bluekiwigrant
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Re: tell me about motobikes

Post by bluekiwigrant »

I'm about 6 foot tall and bit too big 16ish stone but trying to be 14ish stone
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zimtim
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Re: tell me about motobikes

Post by zimtim »

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-XR400-/ ... OSw-itXs3T~

as a first bike for someone your size i would look for something around this size, should carry your weight, wont matter too much if you drop it, it can take the scars and the abuse.

if you ant more road then BMW 650GS but may be a bit cramped so look at the 700, BMW serato.
first bike rarely is a keeper it is a learning curve.
You'll kiss many frogs before you find your prince/princess :whistle:
Nyxlexica
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Re: tell me about motobikes

Post by Nyxlexica »

That XR is a gorgeous example, but keep in mind it's kickstart-only. Could be a PITA when you're still getting the hang of balance/biting point.

I'm not sure what your aims are on road and off. Generally speaking, the knobbly tyres of a great off-roader will team up with its long suspension and high fender to make it, hm, interesting on the road, while the larger, heavier engine and smooth tyres of a road bike can make it heavy and slippery in the dirt. Decide which realm matters more to you and weight your decision accordingly, is my advice!
SteveW
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Re: tell me about motobikes

Post by SteveW »

As you probably know you'd have to do your CBT before you could ride a 125cc on the road. So I'd advise you to book yourself a CBT and use their bike for the CBT.
That way at least you'll have ridden something with two wheels and an engine. At that point you'll probably have an idea if motorcycling is for you.
As mentioned above an electric start is essential for a learner, which is okay because pretty much all bikes since Coronation Street started have one.
There are a few folk on here that love 125's, certainally riding a 125cc has it's own charm and challenges but perversely I think they are harder to ride safely than say a 250/400. That's because the bigger bike will be able to keep up with the general flow of traffic more easily, riding a 125cc with only 10-12 bhp in busy "A" road traffic requires a bit of confidence and can be a little daunting to a novice.
So, unless you are desperate for transport and you don't want to go through the expense and hassle of your full bike licence I'd avoid purchasing a 125cc.
A Honda CRF250L is a pleasant, reliable all-road-capable starter bike, once your full licence is obtained. A competent rider can make excellent progress over trails and Tarmac. It's going to be cheap to buy, it won't scare you, it's cheap to run and it'll be dependable.
So I say.....CBT, training course, full licence, CRF250L. Ride that about for a while. You'll be building confidence and knowledge and your next bike purchase should be a balance of recieved information and your own personal experience. When (if) you sell on your CRF250L you shouldn't lose too much cash, because they are main-stream and there's always a buyer for one.
AndyB
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Re: tell me about motobikes

Post by AndyB »

Go to one of the off road riding schools and try it out before you potentially waste a lot of time and money.
SteveW
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Re: tell me about motobikes

Post by SteveW »

AndyB wrote:Go to one of the off road riding schools and try it out before you potentially waste a lot of time and money.
I think he needs to find out how a hand operated clutch and throttle work before he tries some off road stuff.
HarveyCamm
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Re: tell me about motobikes

Post by HarveyCamm »

Mick Extance's school used to be able to cater for people who'd never ridden before let alone got a license, taught 'em everything and got them riding easy trails in under a couple of hours - I'd agree it's worth a try before buying into anything further.

Harv
bluekiwigrant
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Re: tell me about motobikes

Post by bluekiwigrant »

can you tell with a Honda CRF250L be able to used on the motorway for long trips like driving to the South of France for example or would it be to uncomfortable or too slow etc??
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