Advice on bike for a total beginner...

[jampott]

A bit of background first, since I think it is probably quite important to the decision!

I've pretty much decided, along with a slightly younger mate (I'm 34) to join the world of biking. I've been a car driver since 17, and have had a few interesting cars, including my current one, and I will always be a car driver I would imagine!

My current (car) commute is about a 40 mile roundtrip, which takes in either mostly motorway or some average A-roads, depending on whether the motorway is backed up - but I'm finding the 20 minute drive to work invariably takes twice as long as it would if there was no traffic.

So, along with a nagging curiosity to try biking, combined with perhaps a quicker journey time, a bike seems to be a good prospect at least some days in the week, and at least some weeks in the year. I should also add that cost is also a slight factor... the 200+ commuting miles are being done at certainly no higher than 20mpg, often more like 15 or 16.

So... if I'm being honest, I probably don't want to ride much (if at all) in the wet. I also don't have a hankering for an out-and-out speed machine. I want something I can be comfortable on, which is reliable and relatively easily to handle, yet is also appealing and good fun enough to want to take it out on a Sunday in preference (sometimes!) to my car.

I'm thinking some sort of Cruiser?

But I'm more interested in hearing some ideas from everyone else.

Whatever I buy, remember it is my first bike, and will be my first introduction (apart from the machine I do my CBT and DAS on) to biking. I'm not a small guy (6'4" and 18stone) so I don't want anything I'm going to be squashed onto.

I've not really thought too much about budget - I'm going to part-fund it from reducing the mileage (depreciation) and petrol costs of commuting 100% in my car, but I guess by the time I've bought all the gear, paid for the CBT and DAS, paid for a year's insurance etc, there's still going to be an outlay...

Really interested in opinions and ideas though... so keep 'em coming!

[Spree]

Hi Jampott and welcome to the biker forum.

If the bike is to be used mainly for commuting then decent weather protection is a must. Some sort of fairing needs to be on the bike otherwise, if you get caught out in bad weather you will get soaked. Maybe a CBR600 or similar?

The other option would be a large scooter but at the end of the day the choice is yours.

If you are looking at commuting all year round then a cruiser type of bike is probably the wrong choice as you will get soaked if it rains and they take a lot of cleaning to look presentable.

Hope this helps

[jampott]

It will be used for commuting - that is certainly the primary goal - but hopefully it'll also offer me something a bit different to getting into a car, so will be something I would like to use 'for fun' as well.

I hadn't even considered that different bikes offer different amounts of protection against the weather, but it makes sense when you put it like that.

Someone (at work) said to me - "be honest with yourself, how much would you ride (or want to ride) in the wet..." - and I guess that is a good question... The answer is probably "as little as possible..." which might not be a good answer, considering our very British climate.

What I'd like to do, is be able to make the decision when getting ready in the morning - "bike or car?" but would also appreciate input from anyone who has tried this, as I'm aware it might not work... On days when it looks like rain, I can take the car... the bike purchase is always going to be something to sit alongside the car in the garage, not to replace it... but instead, I will replace it on a journey-by-journey basis... or is this a bit too simplistic a way of thinking?

I'm pretty open minded about what to go for, so appreciate opinions and ideas from all over the spectrum. It is probably fair to say I am more likely to go "Wow" at a Fatboy (to look at and to hear) than a race-replica (to give you some idea of where I stand at the extremes) but I'm trying to be a bit more circumspect than simply leaning towards what I think *looks* good, since obviously comfort, handling and general suitability are probably more important, particularly in the long run, and certainly if I'm not going to end up with something that sits in the garage until I sell it at a loss...

I will check out the CBR600. Sounds like as good a place as any to start...

[jampott]

BTW... "Large Scooter?

[Spree]

Originally Posted by jampott

BTW... "Large Scooter?

Possibly the best option for out and out commuting but if as you say, it would be used for leisure too then for me the best option would be the Honda VFR800 (not the V-Tech version).

This bike has been voted the "best all rounder" so many times its impossible not to take it into consideration. Good economy, unburstable motor and decent weather protection.

[Bill CBF1000]

CBF6000 or CBF1000 are fantastic all rounders as well

[grotbag]

Greetings jampott and welcome to the bikerforum

Originally Posted by jampott

I've pretty much decided to join the world of biking.

along with a nagging curiosity to try biking

So... if I'm being honest, I probably don't want to ride much (if at all) in the wet.

Whatever I buy, remember it is my first bike, and will be my first introduction to biking.

Don't you think the first thing to do is find out if you're able to ride and pass the test? If your going to use it for commuting along motorways you can't do that on 'L' plates.

My advice is to go and do your CBT and then take it from there

[druidsam]

hello jampot,welcome to the forum the list of decent first bikes is endless because everyone starts on what they believe will be best suited to them.. the best thing is to go round the dealers and sit on as many bikes as you can and find out what suits YOU best. apart fron that .cbr,vfr,hornet, thundercat.er6 are all good bikes to start with



...................................Sam

[indie]

hi and welcome, i would go down the vfr800 route, not the cheapest option but a great allround bike and even at your size you will not be cramped

[BLACKPANTHER]

Hi Jampot. You sound very unsure about even what style of bike you'd like. I'd advise that you start reading reviews, Bike, Ride Mag etc to get an idea of what you want. A decent all rounder is as mentioned above the ever friendly CBR600. It is a fast bike though, so maybe a more comfortable, less extreme Fazer 600 or similar would be up your street. You may even fancy a big Scooter, Burgman, Silverwing, X9 etc. Once you've done your DAS you'll have a bit of a feel for a big bike. You say you won't do much wet weather riding, but bear in mind that once you've filtered through traffic in 1/2 the time on a few days, you prob won't want to go back to your metal box. There's plenty of water/weather proof clothing out there, and a bit of rain is nothing to be scared of. Whatever you choose, I'm sure you'll wish you came to biking years ago, there's nothing like it.