Retro ish Bike, beginners question, what to choose

In my totally unbiased opinion you could do a lot worse than one of these puppies.

Enough poke for a long journey but not so much you will be scared to open it up, maybe not the most comfortable if I'm honest but reliable & they sound great with a decent exhaust system fitted.
Didn't like the headlight on mine so fitted FZR unit & modified a spare fairing to suit... . & changed the exhaust, brakes, wheels & front forks.

A bit different ?

wow too many options!!!

got my lessons on one of these...


they also have some of these

at the traffic school.. easy to ride... Honda CBF600

cb1's are quite nice, jewel of an engine

The only thing I would say against a VFR400 is that it's quite complex for a newbie to bikes.

I agree with the opinion of an upright, retro style bike re: control and building confidence.

The TRX850 is a brilliant machine. Under rated which keeps the prices sensible. High bar conversions are easily available and fitted which makes it even more versatile- almost like having two bikes. A mate went on a 3 week tour of europe on a TRX. It never missed a beat and was surprisingly comfortable.

I returned to bikes on a 600 Bandit. I was told I would get bored quicky and would want something bigger within 3 months. I kept it for two years. Fantastic all rounder, cheap to run (and drop!), cult following which means plenty of brains to pick for advice, easily modified to suit your tastes.


ZXR/VFR/GSXR 400's put out around 60bhp which is fine for a newbie but they rev to about 16,000rpm and all the power is higher up the rev range.

Early Bandit/Fazer 600's motors come from bikes with around 100bhp but, as mentioned above, are 'de-tuned' to around 85bhp with the majority of power being lower down the rev range making it less frantic and easier to ride quickly.

With 600cc and above, 120bhp up to nearly 200bhp isn't uncommon, but, you'd be surprised how much fun you can have with even 30bhp.

Put it this way-

Why have a bike that has nearly 200bhp and does almost 200mph when you can only, realistically, use about half that performance on UK roads? The bikes ambition will far outstrip most road rider's abilities.

I find it more rewarding to ride a smaller bike like a 30bhp 125 as mentioned before, or a CB500/GS500.

I have a 93 ZZR1100 and it's the blandest bike I've ever had! 145bph and 180mph? It's so sanitised, it's boring. You go out for a days run of about 200miles and feel pretty unmoved. Go out on the 81' Z750 with about 60bhp and 120mph, 80's technology and handling for 200 miles and you come back with a big grin because you've been more involved and you've been able to 'smell the roses' so to speak. That's why the ZZR is being sold and the Z750 is staying.

Above all, be honest with yourself regarding how much bike you can handle and you won't go far wrong and remember, demonstrator bikes at dealers are there to be used so don't be shy about asking for a test ride on a new or even a used bike in order to help you choose the right bike for you.

BTW, loving the Honda 750 Phil Read replica shown above ;D

Ian

I really rather wanted a cb1, but how big are you? its really, really tiny (suits me, I'm short!) but my dad told me to get a 600 as I'd have more respect for it. I hunted for a gpz600r-


but there very few about and everyone I rang about was sold quickly. so I started searching others, I really wanted an 80's bike. I bought a gpx750r-

parts prices on service stuff is cheap (discs are half the price of a 90's yzr) its comfy as its got flater bars than a gpz600r and its got lower foot pegs. you can duck behind the screen but its not meant for out and out hooliganism. thats not to say it ain't quick! 106bhp from the engine that went on to become the mighty zx750 ninja engine of the 90's. it has got the 16"/18" combo wheels, but its has a lot of low down weight so is slow to start turning in. if you add a lot of coutersteer you can scare your self but it always seem slow to turn at first but once your on the side it quickens up if you let it. like all things, you need to learn it, you can't just get on it and thrash it like a 250 or 400. I love it to bits, I mean it'll do 155, 60 in 3 seconds, never less than 40mpg and a high of 65mpg. it was super chaep too, its been dropped but it was £600 with 12months mot.
and the wobbly frame- I haven't felt it but tony foale made a brace kit for them back in the 80's for a race series in japan. I do have pics of the frame mods too, so IF I get brave....

are there any websites with local ads for bikes in the UK?

prefferably southern part?

ZZR's ZXR's and also the naked bikes are pretty expensive in Holland (think 1500-3000E) below a 1000E it's mostly breakers or 80's stuff. you say 700 quid for a ZXR.. where are these to be found..

ebay is not the best option, I want to see a bike before I buy it.. maybe for the spare engine but that's the same price from the breakers here..

i don't know exactly where i've seen zxr400's for 7-800 quid but they are definately out there cos when i see them i think...ooo, that's a good price..

bike trader, freeads are examples

the zzr lump in a zxr has been done a few times and i think would make a great bike on a budget to have a hoot on and surprise bigger and flasher bikes out there....

i'd love to have the zzr6/zxr4 hybrid.....

ooo that gpx is very nice........

ive been trying to find the build thread i read on the zzr6 into zxr4 and cant at mo...all i can find is info on a zx 6r into 4 which isnt a straight fit and people are sayin is a bit too much hassle.

i have a pic of a zzr6 with a zx9r back wheel and tail piece...that looks nice

the ducati hypermotad thing is the shizzz but let down with a 12l fuel tank