Hey London Bikers, long term reader, first time poster.I’m 23, I’ve been riding a Gilera Runner VX125 since late November 2007 and I’ve passed my full motorcycle licence last month
I now think it’s time for me to buy my first big bike. The three bikes I’m looking at are:
1 - Suzuki SV650sport
2 - Suzuki GSX650F
3 - Yamaha FZ6 Fazer S2
I like the 0% finance deals that Yamaha are promoting right now. All the bikes seem to have similar insurance quotes, they want loads of ££ I’ll be using the bike for everything all year round. Just wondering if you guys have any advice on the bikes and when the best time to buy would be ect.
Another thing that’s going through my mind is my current insurance from MCE for my scooter, my first year no claims bonus will be from the 28th November do you think it would be a good move to wait until closer to this date to buy a new bike?
i am a lil biased…BUT i say SV650S everytime, i’ve had mine for a year now,i love it! tho i am soon gonna go bigger!
very forgiving bike i found, good solid engine, you can forget your in second and not first and still pull away cleanly, brakes are ok not to harsh, tho you can beef them up if you wish, ditch the stock tyres that come with the bike and fit some michelin pilot power 2cts and your away!
SV’s also sound awesome with a decent pipe, and unlike say…the newer fazers, you dont have to rev them high to get a shift on, power comes in from low down the revs thanks to the v-twin engine and a good dollop of tourque!!
they also are in a low insurance group, group 10 i think.
not sure if suzuki are still doing 0% finance deals or no tho.
Let’s try my last (cropped by Google failure) post again.
Unless you have a shed load of cash you sometime have to be pragmatic.
No.1 son bought a 650 Bandit as his first bike after his DAS. Not the first choice but a solid enough machine. The reasons?
0% finance over 2 years and a years free insurance. A package worth almost £3,000 to him on a £4,000 bike.
If there is a similar deal going right now, grab it. Your first years F.C. insurance is going to be an arm and both legs. If you can get it for £0 or £99, go for it.
Once you have your NCB, you have the luxury of choice. Right now, your wallet dictates.
Unless you have the shed load of cash, in which case, why are you asking?
Thanks for the advice guys.Yeah I havn’t got money coming out my ass
I’m being quoted £909 TPFT for a spanking new sv650s with H&R insurance fully comp was £1300, this is going on the basis that I have 0 NCB years and that it’s left on the road round my area. When I put 1 years NCB the cost droped around £300-£400! MCE was asking for Thousands of £’s but thats all online quotes. ‘Pay up and sob’ hahaha.
dude try ringing up suzuki insurance, google the number, thats who im with they are pretty good,1 years ridding on full licence 1 years NCB, garage, £550 fully comp breakdown recovery etc
Look at the whole package, not just the bike/price.
One of the girls at my work found she could get the Highly Dangerous of her dreams for less than the “sensible” option once the finance and insurance package was factored in.
Don’t have the heart to tell her she’s going to drop a bundle on depreciation on the 2011 trade in. Her fault for buying and HD. That said, once the above is considered, she’ll not do that bad.
If you can afford it then go fully comp, as a new rider there’s a chance you could drop the bike in the first year. It would be worth waiting until November, your NCB will kick in, prices will be lower, the weather will be worse and dealers are keener to do a deal (Wait until just before the end of the month when they have a target to hit).
Have you considered going secondhand and that way you don’t have the depreciation of buying a new bike. Although I understand the 0% finance and insurance deals can offset that sometimes.
I was just about to pose that question - Why are you looking to buy new? Peace of mind?
I haven’t been around on this forum much and don’t know anyone here but on other forums, there is always someone willing to go along and look at the bike with you, to ensure what you’re buying isn’t a complete shed! I’ll always advise on buying 2nd hand for a first small bike and first big bike. I’ve heard the story too many times of making enwbie mistakes and causing damage to a brand spanking new bike which is still being paid off!
If need be, I would happily go and look at 2nd bikes to give you a hand. I have an sv650s, I have had 4 of them, fantastic little bikes, mire character than the blandit and cheaper and more efficient that the fazer albeit perhaps a little slower.
Insurance wise, I’ve never paid over £600 TPFT. I’m only 23 years old and had a gsxr-1000, fireblade, firestorm, ninjas, gsxr srads etc. Shop around and then shop around some more. Pick a figure you’re happy to pay and tell the insurance company, when asked, that you have been quoted £xxx from XXX insurance company. Don’t make it unreliastic of course. I wouldn’t expect to pay more than £500 tpft at your age. I wouldn’t expect it and I plain wouldn’t pay it.
Hi,I think your 125 No Claims Bonus won’t count for the big bike I’m afraid :(. Apparently, they only count your post-DAS months in the saddle.)I went for a new bike and I’m glad I did. Yes there is a chance you could drop it but the repair bills aren’t that much different for a new or secondhand bike and the bits cost the same (unless you get a sportsbike with expensive fairings). With new you get the advantage of warranty and peace of mind that the bike is ‘out of the box’ (or should be), not to mention the kudos. Personally think TPFT is fine as fully comp insurance is a bit pricey for what it covers you for and bear in mind that if you claim on it your premium will rocket. Try as many bikes as you can- you’ll fall for one of them and there’ll be no looking back!
I think your 125 No Claims Bonus won’t count for the big bike I’m afraid :(. Apparently, they only count your post-DAS months in the saddle.)
I went for a new bike and I’m glad I did. Yes there is a chance you could drop it but the repair bills aren’t that much different for a new or secondhand bike and the bits cost the same (unless you get a sportsbike with expensive fairings). With new you get the advantage of warranty and peace of mind that the bike is ‘out of the box’ (or should be), not to mention the kudos. Personally think TPFT is fine as fully comp insurance is a bit pricey for what it covers you for and bear in mind that if you claim on it your premium will rocket.
Try as many bikes as you can- you’ll fall for one of them and there’llbe no looking back!
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Mine certainly did when I moved on to the larger bike, no claims is no claims, they will take into account how long you have had the full license.
If insurance is going to be a killer, look at a second hand 500. There are quite a few to choose from:
Maybe you are right (?) but unfortunately I found that the value of no claims on a scooter was inconsequential compared to the penalty for having no experience on a full licence so the scooter no claims was pretty much worthless in reality. On the other hand, if you keep the scooter and add the new bike as a second bike to the same policy then it will work out cheaper to insure as you won’t be taking out a brand new policy.
lot people say SV’s are a girls bike…funny how they are alwasy left behind it tho…
plus a GSXF just doesnt have the roar of the vee as you fire out of the corner…or the rumble and thunder when you shut the throttle…overrun…love it…plus i think the sv handles much better?
and it looks MUCH better than most if not all of the middlewieght 600’s:D
Now now Ratty and Steve, I think the SV looks better then the gsx650f but the gsx does seem more practical, the one seat, high handlebars ect. But I am only 23 so I don’t want to be to practical, I’ll do that in my later years :PI’ll think of both options to buy new and 2nd hand.
Thanks for the offer CG, I’ll keep that in mind when I decide what I’m gonna do.
I hope I can carry my NCB over. I’ll have to call my insurance company.
I’m going on a little holiday to Turkey tomo for 2 weeks so I’ll be picking this back up when I get back.
Thanks everyone for their help. It’s gonna be on my mind all holiday! :w00t:
Mate, buy a cheap secondhand (600cc?) bike to improve your skills … no doubt you’ll bin it a few times, so why wreck a new bike and waste money?Once your skills have improved, and are more confident, upgrade to a newer machine.