First big bike

[Kyle2495]

Hey guys, thought I would seek some advice! 

So I've been riding my YBR 125 for nearly 2 years now. My CBT is up in August and I am going to hopefully book my mod 1 and mod 2 as long as covid round 3 doesn't come along.. 

 

My bike is my only form of transport and I've ridden everyday bar a few Sundays, wind rain hail or snow and I feel like I'm ready to step up to a bigger bike. 

 

What would be a decent big bike to get started, any advice would be appreciated. 

Thanks, Kyle. 

[Bender]

What ever is practical and puts a smile on your face.

 

Something shafts or belt drive is less maintenance, or should be  

 

What you been looking at? 

[Steve_M]

There are too many variables to make a recommendation. 
 

Go try a few - just sitting on them in a showroom can give you some idea of what might suit you.

 

I found this tool handy to understand riding position. I like a high, upright seating position, and my knees not too bent. I also have to take into account my pillion. This saved me trying bikes I knew wouldn’t meet the criteria.Ergonomics tool

[Kyle2495]

15 minutes ago, Bender said:

What ever is practical and puts a smile on your face.

 

Something shafts or belt drive is less maintenance, or should be  

 

What you been looking at? 

Been looking at GSXR 600's, R6.. all the bikes I know are unforgiving and should probably avoid for my first hahah

[Bender]

16 minutes ago, Kyle2495 said:

Been looking at GSXR 600's, R6.. all the bikes I know are unforgiving and should probably avoid for my first hahah

Makes no odds, if you like it, you get it, you have to live with it  

[James in Brum]

Zzr600 

it does everything except off road, is comfy, will accelerate to licence losing speeds if you want and even if you have the mechanical skills of a sea anemone with the help of this lot you can mend it and keep it going with cheap second hand parts.

[onesea]

Lots of choices TDM900 is one of mine, it’s a gentle 900 more so than my fazer600.

 

Tall so good in traffic at 180kg it’s no heavy weight.

 

Good fuel consumption. 

[jedibiker]

As a first big bike and not knowing your age etc, I can say that the cheapest insurance is Bandit 600 and 650, zzr600 with which you also get more power, fazer 600 are also cheap insurance and nippy.

I ran loads of quotes when I first went looking, and CBR600F was 3 times that of the bandit and zzr600. These bikes will all be cheaper for the same year than a R6 etc.

But if money isnt really any issue forget my advice lol

Just be careful with a powerful bike after riding about on a 125,  more so applying power coming out of bends etc.

[fastbob]

The Kawasaki ER5 would be an ideal upgrade from a 125 . Scruffy ones start at £400 and good ones go for £800 - £1200 . They are not particularly exciting but they can do anything a motorcycle is meant to do . I'm on my second one . 

[geofferz]

Budget? 

[daveinlim]

I think you need to supply more info for people to give their suggestions.

 

Max Budget?

What will it be used for? 

Your own ability,  probably don't want a crazy rocket as a first big bike

Do you drive in ULEZ zones?

Particular style of bike that interests you?

Age and if you are quite tall, short etc? 

 

 

[husoi]

When I hear people talking about getting a big bike I start thinking about St1300, Goldwing, FJR1300 beemer +1200.

 

But for some a big bike is anything above 400cc

 

So, as @daveinlim says, you need to give some more details so we can discuss it properly for at least 5 weeks from which 3 will be spend in some being silly, others taking it very seriously and being wind up by the silly ones getting involved in heated arguments while most of us will just follow the thread developing while having a nice cuppa  

[bonio]

... and BISCUITS

[husoi]

1 minute ago, bonio said:

... and BISCUITS

What was I thinking...

 

[dynax]

Depends on what definition of BIG you mean, some Big bikes have small engines and some small bikes have Big engines

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

As said, there are many variables about what makes a bike right for an individual.

 

However I notice you say you ride in all weathers and it is your only means of transport. In which case for me that rules out a lot of modern pocket rockets that are great sunny day toys but hopeless at plugging through winter weather without falling to bits.

 

I'd go with @fastbob and suggest an older bike because the build quality is way better than most modern stuff when it comes to riding in all weathers. Salt and wet weather will eat many new bikes alive.

 

My workhorse is just the Honda version - a CBF500, very similar to the previous and unkillable CB500. The 2005-7 CBF comes with ABS, reasonable handling and performance, but won't spit you off on a greasy roundabout unless you're really careless. Easy to ride, easy to maintain and rarely go wrong. People know this which is why good ones are going up in price and are currently above £2k for a decent one. 

 

 

[Mickly]

It’s obvious...

You want a bored out Hayabusa with twin turbo’s & Nitrous, anything else would be frankly embarrassing