Advice on bike

[fabianau]

Greeting guys,

 

I would be having my TP on 14th April, hopefully pass and must pass! Therefore, need some advice from you guys on bike as I would like to buy a second hand bike.

 

I want to get a second hand bike with remaining around 3 years plus minus. Don't really have what bike in mind. I'm in army, so budget wise for maintence wise kinda low. I don't really go for speed and performance. Perhaps some cheap and nice would be good.

 

Suggestions and advices please!

 

Thanks! =D

[tionghan]

any kup will do ..cheap and easy to maintance

[fabianau]

Any kups that more popular? Like Spark, X1R etc?

 

One more things, comparing the kup and a sports bike like krr or sp. The maintenence is alot higher? I heard for sp you need to like spend $200 on servicing every 2mths? Is it true?

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

The possible upkeep of a sports bike is much higher for this reason

 

Consider that many of the KRRs and NSR SPs on the road for 7-12 years, and taking over a used bike entails fixing the problems the previous owner left behind.

 

A mechanically pristine example will cost you a lot, if you bought from a reputable shop that actually services their bikes before selling and even so for a new rider, it's not worth the risk. How much of the SP's potential could a new rider enjoy without any actual road and track racing experience?

 

Spark, X1R on the other hand make great learner bikes because Yamaha is renown for making low cost, sporty and yet easy to handle 'sports commuters'. If you say, overspeed while taking a corner, the cubs have much more traction in reserve for you to get out of the trouble spot, than a sportsbike which is designed for the quickest lap times and may not be as forgiving as the cub.

 

That said, for an inexperienced rider, the cub will probably give you better "lap times" to and from school or work simply because the bike is easier to handle, giving you more confidence and thus allowing you to maneuver in traffic more instinctively. New, trouble-free bike with easy handling gives a safe learning environment.

 

Inheriting a used sportsbike may be what you'd like to do in future - get a beat up SP and then DIY restore it to get it to safe and roadworthy condition. It's with experience that you will know the risks, appreciate the machine's potential, and can be responsible to purchase and maintain the machine in roadworthy condition. And you will also know and appreciate the cost of owning a veteran sportsbike.

 

On a tight budget, Spark/X1R is a good choice. If you ever can secure financing for something more hi-end like a FZ150i, do it, because that thing is really smooth, powerful and the controls are so well designed, you literally "wear" the bike :3 Ditto for other sporty models like R15.

 

For other "low cost secondhand" models like Phantom, I personally will not recommend as some mechanical knowledge is needed when purchasing, to make sure you have a roadworthy machine to learn on, otherwise, like the older sportsbikes, they will cause headaches and repeated trips to the mechanic.

 

Just a personal view, feel free to explore the bike world on your own. It's fun and games all the way, just avoid trouble where possible :3

[fabianau]

Hm.. between a x1r and spark, which is cheaper to purchase as in plus insurance and machine price. maintencene wise i guess it would be the same.

[Guest sseba2012]

The charts say use 2010 for a 1.5 inch and 2023 for a 1.75. That is 13 mm difference so add 6 mm and use 2016. The chart on the Sheldon Brown link claims 1.5 in tire is 1985 mm in circumference. The most accurate way is to check your tire pressures and do a roll out test with you weight on the bike. Tire ratings can vary I have a county mile marker in my front yard so I use that to check the accuracy.

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