h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Right, just passed my test - woohoo!

So what sort of thinsg should I bear in mind when chosing a bike? I'm 45, female, short legs, and much more interested in comfort than speed. Journies will be a mixture of short commuter stuff, with occasional longer weekend trips.

Well. First I'll give the advice I always give.
And then you can ignore it, just like everyone else does.

Buy something small as a hack. Say 250-400. Small, light, cheap. You *will* drop it. And it's better to drop an old cheap hack than your new pride and joy (even if that isn;t pristine, you'll still hate yourself for adding dents). Plus you'll get make all your mistakes on it. And if it is cheap it don;t matter as much if you drop it in a lake or something.

Right, sensibleness out the way and assuming the above is forgotten.

What you mention above sounds very much like a mid range factory custom (oh, not allowed to spit) - something like a Viagra or EN450 type thingy. The big 4 do them. Depending on rake of forks and so forth they may not be as ideal for filtering through traffic. But supposedly comfortable and have a low seat height. And can be had with normal bars on them. Depending on age depends on what is available. Shadows were ok and I think they did an import magna 450 or 500 yonks ago.

But there's also stuff like the ER-5 and GTs and stuff. Forgot to ask - you thinking new, second hand, clapped out banger?

Well, I don't know! Unlikely to be brand new, to be honest.

I agree with you about the size and state - I really need to get a few miles under me, and start learning properly, which will doubtless include mistakes. Dai's trying to get me on a 650GS, but I think they're a bit big..


Going to throw my leg over a Bandit this weekend.

sounds like a plan. Just remember that anything with 4 cylinders is going to be heavy. Not sure of your skill in handling a bike at standstill/walking speeds but it does take some getting used to, especially if you aren't 6'5 and weigh 20stone! Took me a while with my current bike.

Thinking about it you are taking the right approach. Ride as many different bikes as you can. There's nowt stopping you going down the local small ads and taking a selectiopn out for a ride. Or from your local dealer. That way you can find out which sort of bike best suits you.

Comgrats on passing!!

If you're looking at 600s try out a Suzuki SV650 They're a bit lighter than the bandit being a 2 pot and though they're not a complete out and out screamer like some of the 4 pot 600s out there they are still a lot of fun to ride.

The Kwak ER6 is also in that same area.

Take it easy with a 600 though as they are much more powerful than the 500 you took your test on, I went straight to a Yam Fazer 600 as a first bike and boy was that an eye opener

I should clarify something:

Here in Norn Irn we don't have Direct Access. I did my test on a 125, and am restricted in terms of power to 33 bhp (25 kw) for 2 years.

But I haven't ridden anything bigger than that, so am wary of too big a leap in terms of ccs.

In that case you might be better off with a cruiser, most of the jap makes make a 125 cruiser and the 125 street/racing/off-road type bikes are too nickable (those teens can't keep their hands off 'em).

most bikes these days come with optional 33BHP restrictors (usually the equivalent of a couple of washers in the outlet manifold). You can even get a 33BHP kit for a honda Goldwing, although I doubt it would actually be able to move!

Get a Honda WetDream Everyone should own one at least once, just so you can appreciate modern bikes

I believe you can restrict any bike, although with very powerful ones you're dropping a lot of the bike's performance.

I was thinking of something between 250-400. And I decided this evening that I want a bike I can play on for 2 years while I find my dream bike.

Hi Beatrice, congrats on passing your test!

Being a girl myself and not too tall I worked my way up gradually with my bikes after passing my test. After my 125 I got an old Jap import - Honda Bros 400 (or is it a 450?!). It was the perfect size for me ans very comfortable to ride no matter how long I was on it. I'm now up to a Hornet 600 which I have had for 7 years now and love it! I tried the Bandit because of the low seat height, but found the shape of the tank too wide, which puched my legs out, not allowing me to get my feet on the ground fully. The SV's are a similar style I seem to remember. The main thing to do is try a couple, and just make sure that you can get your feet down well enough so that you are happily balanced when at a standstill. Ride a few, have fun playing, and let us know what you decide on!

Have you meditated on getting a yogabike?

YB

LOL!
Or a (not sure if you can get them there) Hyosung 650 of some sort? They have a "learner legal" restrictor which is able to be easily removed to allow more power...and the engine is the sv650 engine, or was...they're very cheap, and aren't too bad. I own an sv650, and I've been riding for ..erm...more than ten...years now, and I'm quite fond of my little bike.

Otherwise, though, I agree with Ictoan - get something second-hand, low-powered, that you don't care about bashing around a bit.

what bike should you go for?

One of these!

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/i.m-batman/batmans-motorcycle-revealed-269852.php

(you may have to scroll down if the page looks blank)

Oooh, yes please!

I spent lunchtime kicking a few tyres at the local showroom.

Bandit's too big . Shame really, I already had a great name for it. (Bonnie, since you ask)

SV (?) too far forward riding position.

Custom bikes - well, since my surname is Harley, there is a certain cachet...plus they're low enough.. but I don't fancy the "legs and arms forward" positioning.

well, if I may mention it - BMW did make their bikes with adjustable seat heights for a while (maybe still do for all I know) - think they started that in the mid 90s.

GTs are also quite low - but maybe a bit wide.

Oh, I know Honda CB500 twin from the 90s - they were quite compact. And seem to be popular (plenty about) and 'normal' styled. Plus, being a twin, they ain't too wide

Actually, the 650 GS is looking more attractive: low centre of gravity, single cylinder - and yes, they can have their seats lowered.

*pores over MCN*

*listens to Dai going "low centre of gravity" on the phone*

As she's not here I shall mention Vicki's old bike. Get yourself an old XV550 and get it restricted. They're fairly cheap, midgets can fit on them and they're still ing good bikes. Or there is, I believe a 250cc one.

650 GS -
The BMW or the the Suzuki?

The BMW.

Had a look at a nice Dakar today, which will need considerable lowering - but possible.

Also, managed to fit on a Kawasaki ER 6n. Rather spiffing in the black with red frame. Can get toes on ground, but again, can shave another couple of inches off from seat and elsewhere.