You've just passed your CBT or practical motorcycle tests, which bike do you choose? There's a huge variety of motorcycles available; this post will give you some advice on where your search for your first motorcycle should begin.
I’ve covered from 125cc bikes for those on a CBT or or A1 license, those in between on the A2 license being restricted to 47bhp, and those who can ride any bike through the Direct Access Scheme (DAS) or moving up from another licence. For more information on the regulations please see our blog post here.
YAMAHA YBR125 (CBT & above)
A bike many learn on is the Yamaha YBR125. Its low price, solid reliability along with unthreatening appearance and performance make it an ideal contender for your first bike if you’re on a CBT or A1 licence. It makes a great buy used as they’ve been around since 2005, with a significant styling change in recent years adding a small fairing. This lack of fairing is a crucial aspect of a first bike; it’ll make that inevitable first drop a bit less painful on the wallet.
HONDA CBF125/CB125F (CBT & above)
The Honda CBF125 and CB125F are other mainstays of the CBT and A1 stable. Priced similarly to the YBR125 it competes directly with it. What set the CBF125 apart was its inclusion of a bikini fairing to help you battle the elements, a feature that’ll appeal to commuters. The newer CB125F has no fairing, but this means it’ll be less costly if and when it gets dropped. Like the YBR125 it’s easy to ride, reliable and cheap, and with it being introduced in 2009 there are plenty of used examples to get a hold of.
KTM DUKE 390 (A2 & above)
One of the few bikes designed with the A2 licence 47bhp restriction in mind; the KTM Duke 390 is a superb example of a smaller bike. Released in 2015 it showed that small bikes needn’t be boring, with styling that gives a true big bike look and performance that will keep you interested even beyond an A2 licence. The restyling for 2017 took this a step further with it now looking just like a mini-Superduke, no mean feat. A low dry weight of 147kg alongside 43bhp means it handles superbly with plenty of acceleration on offer. The sister RC390 builds on this formula but adds a sporty flair.
KAWASKI NINJA 300 (A2 & above)
For those who want something a bit meaner looking and don’t want to restrict their bike to be A2 compliant, look no further than the Kawasaki Ninja 300. While it may have a sporty look, it’s actually relatively upright making it quite comfortable. The revvy little parallel twin will propel it to over 100mph, and sit happily on the motorway. The light weight gives it a nimbleness unique to small capacity bikes, meaning it can keep up with much larger machines in the right hands. The old Ninja 250 makes an excellent used buy but isn’t quite as powerful and looks more dated. There is also effectively a naked version of the Ninja 300 in the form of the Z300 which uses the same running gear.
YAMAHA MT-07 (A2 when restricted)
Arguably one of the best bikes available in terms of bang-for-buck, the Yamaha MT-07 is a superb middleweight bike. Its 689cc parallel twin gives plenty of grunt and sounds pretty decent too, especially with an aftermarket can. Its low price when new makes it attractive, and as a used buy it’s great too with a good reliability record. It looks like a ‘proper’ big bike and is able to be restricted for A2 compliance. If you’re looking for more of a retro look you also have the XSR700, and for touring you have the Tracer 700, both based around the eager twin and nimble, lightweight chassis.
TRIUMPH STREET TWIN (A2 when restricted)
With the resurgence of the retro bike there are a great many to choose from. One of the most authentic looking is the Triumph Street Twin but it’s resolutely modern. The engine may not have a huge top end, but it has piles of torque throughout the revs making it great for the road. It has a friendly character with a low seat height making it easy to control on the move and at a standstill. Its handling won’t match a sportbike’s but that’s not the point; it makes a lovely noise and creates more simple pleasure. The inclusion of both ABS and traction control is an unusual, but not unwelcome, addition, creating an additional safety net, especially in the wet. There are multiple versions of the bike, including the Street Cup and Street Scrambler with a multitude of accessories. The bike can also be made to be A2 compliant.
KAWASAKI Z650 (A2 when restricted)
What was once the ER-6 has become the Kawasaki Z650, revitalising the marque. Sharp new styling is a vast improvement over the slightly stale ER-6, but it retains a similar set of specifications. Just under 70bhp is the same, but the weight has gone down markedly making it a much more credible rival to the MT-07. A slipper clutch is included to reduce the risk of a lockup on hard downshifts, it also results in a remarkably light lever pull; ideal for urban environments. A2 restriction kits are available for the bike too.
USED OPTIONS
While everybody would love a brand new, shiny motorcycle in the garage, sometimes it’s not always the best idea. PCP deals may have brought the cost of ownership within the reach of many people, but some don’t like the idea of not owning the bike fully, and simply having a new bike means that the first scrape/drop/crash will be especially heartbreaking. As such, I’ve included a couple of used options that are cheap to buy and insure but remain credible options for A2 and Direct Access riders.
YAMAHA XJ6 (A2 when restricted)
I actually own one of these and it’s been brilliant for the six years I’ve had it. It’s got plenty of power for all environments, except maybe the track, and decent handling to match. It comes in three guises; the N, S and F, going from naked to fully faired, all are good bets with the same running gear between them. The engine is an inline-four 600cc, originally from the R6 and FZ6 (the FZ6 also being a good bike to start on), so it revs very freely, but it lacks the supersport craziness at the top end, making it very usable and remarkably torquey for an inline-four. The seat is quite narrow and low making it suitable for a wide range of rider sizes, and insurance is comparatively low.
SUZUKI SV650 (A2 when restricted)
The Suzuki SV650 can make a good new buy in its latest guise, but it’s an especially tempting proposition used. Its bulletproof 650cc v-twin has great character and ample power, and the half faired version looks great with its twin headlight stare. Full fairing kits are available, and there was also a naked version. The SV650’s use in Supertwin racing showed just how capable it can be, and in its basic form it makes a good basis for a quick track bike or a simple commuter. Finish can suffer, but a looked after model will still look great. Fruity pipes really make the bike come alive with a large number of used bikes having them installed, so it’s worth looking for one with one already attached.
HONDA HORNET CB600F (A licence only)
The Honda Hornet CB600F had been around for a long time with two major iterations; one with a round headlight, and the newer one with a more modern unit; it’s since been superseded by the CB650F. The bike is a firm favourite with a huge variety of motorcyclists, providing reliable fun for inexperienced and experienced riders alike. Putting out up to around 100bhp it has plenty of power for the road with reasonable handling. This all makes it a great used buy and an ideal first big bike, but it’s a touch too powerful to allow a restriction for an A2 licence.
What should you pick?
As a new rider, deciding on your first bike can be a difficult decision, sometimes you’ll have your heart set on something but it might not be a practical decision or a wise one. Going for the fastest or most shiny bike isn’t generally the best idea at this stage, but it’s worth getting a bike to be proud of.
If it comes down to price, generally speaking used bikes will be the best bet if you can find good examples, a Suzuki SV650 in good nick will be suitable for anybody restricted to 47bhp or without a restriction but shouldn’t break the bank, while a used Yamaha YBR125 will be ideal for those looking for a 125cc machine.
For performance and fun I’d look no further than the Yamaha MT-07, it may not have the all out top speed, but its acceleration and handling are superb, while remaining suitable for an A2 license. Neither the YBR125 or CBF125 are going to blow your socks off, but that’s unfortunately always going to be the case with a maximum of 15bhp to play with. The nearest you’d get is with a Yamaha YZF-125, but with its full fairing and high price tag it’s hard to recommend.
Looks-wise you’re spoilt for choice on bigger bikes, however the MT-07 has three models with a unique look to each with great fit and finish which makes it easy to recommend. The best looking bike has to be the Triumph Street Twin though, it oozes quality and doesn’t look like a budget bike whatsoever. In the 125 arena the most authentic looking bike has to be the YZF-125, but you pay dearly for it, so I would go for the CBF125 with its bold yellow colour scheme.
If I was starting again I’d go with a Yamaha MT-07 if I were buying new for its blend of performance and price, but I would still go with the XJ6 if I went used, it’s a great bike that can take you all over the place without breaking a sweat.
