Advice?

Currently I own a Yamaha SR125 and it'll be time for me soon to be doing my modules.

But now that the law is changing in January if I'm correct I'm going to be struggling to find my first proper bike.
Any advice or suggestions to what a good 'first learner bike' is I don't want anything over 650cc and preferably a Suzuki.

I want to be leading up to a SV1000 but that wont be till a couple of years.

P.S. I'm VERY small (5ft 2" and I'm very thin so heavy is out of the equation!)

[johnnyrod]

The first question is what sort of bike do you want? there are many styles - custom, race rep, tourer etc. - and you won't like them all. Unlike driving a car, riding a bike is (as I'm sure you've found) a very tactile sort of thing so one size will never fit all. Your height might be a bit of a problem so I'd say go to a big dealer with loads of bikes and sit on as may as you can, as a first step. Finally don't assume that going up in cc is like graduating at college, bigger only means bigger, not necessarily better; the right bike can be any size.

Originally Posted by johnnyrod

The first question is what sort of bike do you want? there are many styles - custom, race rep, tourer etc. - and you won't like them all. Unlike driving a car, riding a bike is (as I'm sure you've found) a very tactile sort of thing so one size will never fit all. Your height might be a bit of a problem so I'd say go to a big dealer with loads of bikes and sit on as may as you can, as a first step. Finally don't assume that going up in cc is like graduating at college, bigger only means bigger, not necessarily better; the right bike can be any size.

Hmm, preferably i'd have a custom or tourer, i like to travel on bikes so I'd have something that's practical for doing long mileage.

[BoltonSte]

Neighbour is in a similar position, he has no idea what he wants, if you wanted new (or newish) the Robinsons (Rochdale), Youles (Manc, Blackburn), Rocket Centre (Blackburn), ESB (Bolton) cover pretty much all manufacturers I think and are pretty close so worth a visit and having a sit on.

As for older used, have a look in Bike trader at least for the type that floats your boat and go from there.

Like johnnyrod said (and I told the wife) Bigger doesn't always mean better, it's all about the fit

Ste

[BoltonSte]

Originally Posted by femaleacid

Hmm, preferably i'd have a custom or tourer, i like to travel on bikes so I'd have something that's practical for doing long mileage.

Some of the older sportsbikes are pretty good tourers as well (and tourers by todays standards), so don't try and focus too much based on sales pitch.

Originally Posted by BoltonSte

Some of the older sportsbikes are pretty good tourers as well (and tourers by todays standards), so don't try and focus too much based on sales pitch.

Yeah that's true.

We have a few friends who live up breightmet and they have a GSXR that's 20 year old and they go EVERYWHERE on that bike and they say it's comfortable.
I just have to think practical for my height and weight and one less thing I have to think about is I wont be carrying a pillion.

[dyzio]

Kawasaki er6?
I had a sit on a few "first big bikes" a while ago, and the Kwak felt the lowest.

[Dipper]

Originally Posted by femaleacid

Hmm, preferably i'd have a custom or tourer, i like to travel on bikes so I'd have something that's practical for doing long mileage.

Just done 2000 miles on a curvy SV650S in 9 days, comfortable enough and returned over 60 mpg loaded with camping gear etc.

[flymo]

I know a few might chuckle at this given my recent efforts, but take a look at the Ducati Monster. The riding position is superb, very confidence inspiring.

Originally Posted by Dipper

Just done 2000 miles on a curvy SV650S in 9 days, comfortable enough and returned over 60 mpg loaded with camping gear etc.

Yeah me and my boyfriend like to go on long journeys we did 330 the other day up to Penrith it's amazing the only drawback is the passenger seat is very slim and stiff when you've parked your bum on it longer than 2 hours