[Paul the 6th]

Originally Posted by timwilky

Ok, you buy a new bike. You then spend another fortune either fixing the stuff the stealer should have done on the PDI, or so called trick bits that serve no purpose beyond cosmetics. (Thinks of neighbour who has carbon fibre wheels, speed changer, M4 system, £3000 spent on the engine, a futher £600 on a Winston paint job etc.) Fast as feck. but does less than 2000 miles a year. Nice blade to buy second hand as all those extras never recoup there value.

Next, your a newbie. Those finely honed skills you got passing your test. Mean Zip. You are going to overcook it. You are going to misread the car at a junction that looked straight through you etc. Now this is where you find the bike has depreciated quicker that you are paying off a finance agreement.

My advice. Buy a good 1-2 year old bike that has been cared for. Take an experienced guy to look at it with you and pay the right price. The money you save, invest in decent leathers, a good helmet/boots. pucker insurance and advanced training.

Or do as I did, stick a old Bell open face helmet on my head, a pair of doc martin boots and learn to ride by falling off at increasing speed (ouch)

that sums it up for me - especially when buying as a new rider