So i done my cbt about 2 months ago and I’m soon gonna have enough money to buy my bike, so the dealership close to me (metropolis) do the yamaha yzf r125 for 4k. But they also have the kawasaki B1H for 3.5, im going to do my full test on a 500cc in about 2weeks. Any thoughts on what i should do?
thanks in advance
Welcome to LB, by all means say hello etc in the New Members forum - http://londonbikers.com/forums/Forum59-1.aspx.
I found that there is a lot to learn about riding a powered two wheeler on the roads, especially with all the cars and associated nutters you have to deal with, and to be honest, it doesn’t really matter what bike you learn those important lessons on.
If you already drive, you might have some of that knowledge already, although there are differences.
Don’t let the urge to get on two wheelsand the £s burning a hole in your pocket make you rush into making a hasty purchase.
Enjoy the freedom and power in steps and it tastes a little sweeter IMO 
Good luck!
thanks, its just ive seen people mock the yamaha 125 so i dont want to be the slowest off the traffic lights hehe. And if i do get the 636 ill be keeping it slow ish till i get the hang of handling it.
That Yam 125 is a good looking bike (although a bit too angular for me), I often do a double take when I see one in the traffic - “Is that a 125? Oh yea!”.
Don’t worry too much about being first off the lights, it’s often a scoot rider anyway. However, if you can ‘read’ the traffic, observe and can plan ahead well, that usually counts for a lot even if you’re not in pole position.
Remember to budget for insurance and equipment… Depending on your age and where you are parking, then insurance can be pretty expensive…
Also a good helemet, jacket, trousers, gloves, boots and waterproofs (depending on how much you are riding the bike) can be £500+
Security needs to be 10% of the bike as well, Almax chain, disklock and possibly ground anchor, so looking around 300-400 quid there as well…
Get a cheaper 125 for now, all the equipment will transfer onto a bigger bike…ride that for a year and then get a bigger one 
I’ve got it (the yzf-r125). It’s a lovely bike, but be under no illusions - its not very quick. Not dangerously slow, but if you are doing your full test you might want to get something like the kawasaki 250R instead, which is about the same price I think. I bought the r125 to learn on and pass my test (I didn’t have any lessons), but I am now waiting for my 33bhp restriction to run off.
Having said all that, I do love it. So if you are not too fussed about being a little bit slow, go for it!
+1 Also, don’t fall in to the trap of thinking a bigger bike will make you a better rider, I won’t. Get some extra training on road craft this will make you a better and safer rider which as a side effect will make you a faster rider. Good luck with the full test.
Seriously dont blow 4k on a 125, you’ll never see that money again mate. Get something far cheaper, around 1-1.5k… Get some roadcraft and do your test. Then blow your money on a nice big bike.
I must admit those Yamaha’s look fantastic but they’ll still be utterly caned by any decent “big bike”… and four grand will buy you some very nice big bikes. If you’re into super sports, R6’s, CBR600s, GSXRs etc…
It depends on your age.
If your 21+ do your DAS get the 600.
if your under 21, do A2… and get the 600.
yzf’s are a real waste of money… 4K for a 125? c’mon.
either way i would get the 636.
I have a B1h Zx6r, and I struggle to say a bad word about it, though if I am honest, I have been riding for 6 years now, and it still catches me out every now and again, very twitchy and not overly forgiving. Also parts are quite hard to find as they only made it for two years and most of them get used as track bikes.
I would get a bandit or something a bit tatty for 6 months first as you will more than likely drop it, and a B1H will just disintegrate!
But in summary, B1H rules, best 600 (636) I have ridden, proper headbangers bike!
hey people, thanks for all the comments. I’m not getting a 125 no more, but metropolis just got a Kawasaki r250 in, and i am considering getting that, just abit worried about the power the 636 has and im a slim guy, if i drop that its going to be an embarrassing struggle to get it off the floor.
So atm im leaning towards getting the 250, anyone would pick otherwise… All the experience i have is from doing my cbt lol
Get crash bungs fitted for when you drop it. I don’t want to be defeatist but you will drop it. I had my CB500 for a year and I was getting all smug because I hadn’t dropped it, thinking I was the exception to the rule having not had a “no speed / low speed drop.” Then one rideout when I was parking down it went, the rule stands.
