I've ridden the older CB600f which was small and not very sporty. The newer CB650F is still small but supposed to be a bit sportier. It's quite an old design that just keeps getting revamped although to keep within costs this a Thai built model not Japanese. Not sure if this has any negative effects on the Honda build quality.

Not really the Adventure type bike you were looking for. For a bit more money I'd go have look at the NC750x DCT they have at the same dealer. The DCT gearbox is great to use once you get used to not reaching for the clutch lever. 

your right, it isnt the adventure type i was thinking off, but different things catch my eye on different days.

 

As i think i said in my first post, no 100% exactly what i want!! knowing me i could end up on something totally left field!

 

i keep thinking about the NC750, but people seem to describe them as dull (not saying thats a bad thing), and i dunno weather to go for something less powerfull as a first bike and be sensible for 12 months, or go with something a bit more like what i have been learning on (CB600F, hornet i think) and learn to use it.

Edited 4 May, 20179 yr by Pessimal

48 minutes ago, Pessimal said:

your right, it isnt the adventure type i was thinking off, but different things catch my eye on different days.

 

As i think i said in my first post, no 100% exactly what i want!! knowing me i could end up on something totally left field!

 

i keep thinking about the NC750, but people seem to describe them as dull (not saying thats a bad thing), and i dunno weather to go for something less powerfull as a first bike and be sensible for 12 months, or go with something a bit more like what i have been learning on (CB600F, hornet i think) and learn to use it.

 

Nothing wrong with a "gentle" start, my first big bike was a Yamaha Diversion 900 which I rode for a while before I swapped it for a Suzuki RF900 that I rode for a while before swapping it for a Honda Blackbird (Carb model), although that isn't the cheapest way of going about things ;). If you are looking Honda, take a look at Dobles (they will also deliver) as they often have good deals on new and great deals on previous model bikes

 

Edited 4 May, 20179 yr by Prykey

You need to ask yourself what you will be using the bike for and buy towards that criteria. If you wanting a toy go for something that is going to be fun. Commuting then something easy to handle and cheap to run. Touring then it's a mix of comfort, fun and cost. Get the wrong bike for the intended purpose and you will soon for out love with it.

You'll be fine on a 100bhp inline 4. The power delivery is generally smooth and progressive on those. 

 

Not like itll rip your arms out of their sockets at 5000rpm at all. 

Maybe look at the Yam mt07 tracer. 

 

About 75bhp i think they are. Theyre a twin and will be light as a feather. 

 

Seem to get good reviews but ive never ridden one. 

 

Im liking the 09 though! 

commuting most of the time (15 miles, mix of 30/40 limits and dual carriageway), and the odd ride out over a weekend or when its nice!

 

i like the idea of the mt07 tracer, but there isnt any within 50 miles of me for sale!

 

test is on tuesday, so hopefully get test passed, and then go test ride as many as possible before buying

I would still be tempted with NC750 X with under tank storage for your helmet, any panniers or topbox you add won't look out of place on it like they do on naked bikes and the DCT gearbox again is great for commuting. A nice torquey engine will be fun down the twisties when you're not commuting too. If you want to go touring it will have the comfort and speed to cover large distances without needing a chiropractor when you get there. 

Any Honda you buy now are very linear in their power delivery with no mad surges of power, my brothers previous Fireblade was the same making it effortless to ride but needing to keep in mind how fast you where actually travelling.

 

20 hours ago, CWARD said:

I would still be tempted with NC750 X with under tank storage for your helmet, any panniers or topbox you add won't look out of place on it like they do on naked bikes and the DCT gearbox again is great for commuting. A nice torquey engine will be fun down the twisties when you're not commuting too. If you want to go touring it will have the comfort and speed to cover large distances without needing a chiropractor when you get there. 

Any Honda you buy now are very linear in their power delivery with no mad surges of power, my brothers previous Fireblade was the same making it effortless to ride but needing to keep in mind how fast you where actually travelling.

 

 

Not sure id want a DCT box if i was just starting out biking though. 

 

Id want to learn to ride a manual bike properly, then maybe try a dct later on. 

 

That way manual riding shouldnt seem to alien after a few years on the auto. If you get me? 

21 hours ago, Pessimal said:

commuting most of the time (15 miles, mix of 30/40 limits and dual carriageway), and the odd ride out over a weekend or when its nice!

 

i like the idea of the mt07 tracer, but there isnt any within 50 miles of me for sale!

 

test is on tuesday, so hopefully get test passed, and then go test ride as many as possible before buying

 

Fuel economy should be good for commuting id of thought. My 09 Tracer does 60-63mpg easily without even trying, so the 07 should only be better? 

 

Bit of a bugger that there isnt any closer to look at though!

 

good luck for tuesday! 

 

 

8 minutes ago, fabiamk2SE said:

 

Not sure id want a DCT box if i was just starting out biking though. 

 

Id want to learn to ride a manual bike properly, then maybe try a dct later on. 

 

That way manual riding shouldnt seem to alien after a few years on the auto. If you get me? 

 

No different either way round. Manual to auto you end grabbing for non existent clutches or gear levers. Auto to manual you forget about clutch and gear levers under you feel the judder then suddenly remember. Within a short time your brain switches back to either.

On 20 April 2017 at 22:22, jerbear said:

Wow... I passed my test in 2015 and bought a Fazer 1000. £170 first year insurance , fully comp and just changed to Kawasaki Z1000sx and this years insurance hardly changed.

 

Must be my age....50 something

 

Hereford must be a low insurance area. What company is that? Is your Sx1000 fairly new ...and on a side note, what tyres have got and are you pleased with them. 

 

 I am the same as you, passed DAS in 2015, 50+. Just buying a new SX1000 Performance Tourer version and my phone quote from Bennetts went from £110 fully comp to £600+. Confused.com took it down to £400. Just waiting for the performance kit to arrive as the bike is at the dealers . 

2 hours ago, CWARD said:

 

No different either way round. Manual to auto you end grabbing for non existent clutches or gear levers. Auto to manual you forget about clutch and gear levers under you feel the judder then suddenly remember. Within a short time your brain switches back to either.

 

Theres abit more to clutch control than just a judder isnt there. Especially when first starting out. 

The judder I meant as you approached a junction and forget to change down with manual gearbox. If anything an auto keeps you in good habit such as slow riding skills trailing the rear brake and blipping the throttle instead of like most people end up doing in slipping the clutch to remove power. Setting off with a manual using your clutch is pretty basic and most riders will have more difficulty with feel from hydraulic to cable clutches which are more grabby. On a bigger bike with an auto box your brain and right hand are in control so a little easier to ride safely as a novice than having to worry about too much revs and clutch at junctions, bad gear changes coming into a corner creating rear wheel hop or missed gears and false neutrals. 

Reading through this makes for some grim reading! I'm in the funny situation where it cost more to tax my bike than it is to insure?? 2010 modified Sprint st, and plus I'm old and live in Lincolnshire? did ask for a quote based on  where I used to live (Fulham) and they wanted over 1.5k for the same thing ?

On 22 April 2017 at 19:09, fabiamk2SE said:

 

I think the 700 one was. 

 

But the 750 isnt. Iirc. 

 

Never ridden one though

 

A colleague has a NC700 DCT ...... In the dealers for an exyended period as it has drive problems. A Yamaha 600 Fazer/ Diversion might be a decent commuter for a newbie, light, cheap-ish. 

3 hours ago, Redboy said:

 

A colleague has a NC700 DCT ...... In the dealers for an exyended period as it has drive problems. A Yamaha 600 Fazer/ Diversion might be a decent commuter for a newbie, light, cheap-ish. 

 

I guess its abit like VW's DSG. As time goes on, it gets better. Hopefully..

11 hours ago, Redboy said:

 

Hereford must be a low insurance area. What company is that? Is your Sx1000 fairly new ...and on a side note, what tyres have got and are you pleased with them. 

 

 I am the same as you, passed DAS in 2015, 50+. Just buying a new SX1000 Performance Tourer version and my phone quote from Bennetts went from £110 fully comp to £600+. Confused.com took it down to £400. Just waiting for the performance kit to arrive as the bike is at the dealers . 

In with MCE, they wanted another £40 to change but 25 of that was administration charges!!!

Love the SX , it's a 14 plate and  just taken the Bridgestone 020's off, front badly worn and uneven and put some Michelin Pilot Road 4 on and its transformed the bike, ( although in fairness riding on any new tyre would improve it ! )Pop some pics on when you get it 

10 hours ago, jerbear said:

In with MCE, they wanted another £40 to change but 25 of that was administration charges!!!

Love the SX , it's a 14 plate and  just taken the Bridgestone 020's off, front badly worn and uneven and put some Michelin Pilot Road 4 on and its transformed the bike, ( although in fairness riding on any new tyre would improve it ! )Pop some pics on when you get it 

 

Cheers. I will ask them for a quote. Bennetts said I had £36 credit from my remaining 4 months as I had to cancel my policy when I sold my VFR. However then said I owed them money for the cancellation fee. The phone rep then magnanimously wrote off the 'debt' and sent me a £25 voucher for the next insurance. All the extras and Performance kit bits are arriving by mid next week so I will hopefully stick a photo in the Bike section next Fri-Sat. I saw it on Thursday at the dealers after it was uncrated. I am going to use the S20 for a bit then fit Pilot Road 4 as they get great reviews. 

33 minutes ago, Redboy said:

 

Cheers. I will ask them for a quote. Bennetts said I had £36 credit from my remaining 4 months as I had to cancel my policy when I sold my VFR. However then said I owed them money for the cancellation fee. The phone rep then magnanimously wrote off the 'debt' and sent me a £25 voucher for the next insurance. All the extras and Performance kit bits are arriving by mid next week so I will hopefully stick a photo in the Bike section next Fri-Sat. I saw it on Thursday at the dealers after it was uncrated. I am going to use the S20 for a bit then fit Pilot Road 4 as they get great reviews. 

Lots people like the Bridgestone's, I'd b tempted to use them, they only did around 3500 on mine anyway and change then. Previous owner had changed the rear due to a puncture so now have a part worn rear sat in the garage but the front was the worst, the sides well worn. 

As for insurance, there a law unto themselves, sure your get it sorted and be on the road soon.

Mod 2 . . . . . . . . . . . Passed!

Edited 9 May, 20179 yr by Pessimal

Wooo! well done bud! Good work. Bet you're well chuffed. 

 

So now the bike hunt is really on? 

24 minutes ago, Pessimal said:

Mod 2 . . . . . . . . . . . Passed!

Well done that man....good timing too, summers coming

Nice one but no use without a bike. 

Just pulled my L plates off my scooter for the morning!

 

I can now cut 5 mins off my time to get in and out of work by being able to use 200 yards of motorway