Head or heart ?

BOX ON'T BACK · Post by **BOX ON'T BACK** » Sun Feb 20, 2005 7:27 pm

We were hoping to be heading for the Humber Bridge this morning ... but the weather put paid to that ! ..... so we headed for a few bike showrooms to cheer us up ... and I now have big dilema ! (again)

Was almost ... very nearly ...on the verge of parting with some hard earned cash (that I dont have) on a CBR125 ... just to give me a bit of experience (and freedom) on the road this summer before deciding whether I want to do direct access. I sat on it ...... and felt comfortable .. and safe ! Perfect I guess, me being about as novice as they come .........

and then ........

H took me to see a few more bikes just to be sure ...... and I saw an Aprilia RS125 Poggiali Replica !!!!

... sat on it ... ..and ..well that just scuppered everything. Common sense says CBR 125 .... safe, reliable good learner bike ...keep me out of trouble ..etc etc

..... but heart says Aprilia !!!!!! It just felt FUN FUN FUN !!!! ..... more expensive (yup) not as easy to handle (yup) ..but sexy (yup yup yup)

Would it really be a stupid first bike ??? All feed back very welcome (provided is is totally in favour of the aprilia)

T

winger · Post by **winger** » Sun Feb 20, 2005 8:56 pm

I'd say exstremely!!!!,only time to go buying a bike with your heart is when you've got plenty of money,so when everything goes tits up and you get rid of it(cuz thats what happens),the cost doesn't come into it.

Looking for something practical but different??? 125 Varadero.

Chris

adamski49 · Post by **adamski49** » Sun Feb 20, 2005 9:03 pm

I agree with Chris. Aprillia may look a nice bike but if it's anything like the 250 it'll be hard work to ride and anything but fun, fun, fun for a learner*... in fact it may even dent the confidence to the point that you lose interest.

Learn to ride and get plenty of experience on something more straight forward, possibly even a trail style bike... Varadero is a good recommendation.

Good luck

Adam

* 17 year old lads excepted - caning the nuts off it, no fear and bouncing down the road are all par for the course, well it was when I was 17

herrman · Post by **herrman** » Sun Feb 20, 2005 9:19 pm

TG,
Common sense says it must be the Honda but I think Pauline (Boxerlass) started riding on an Aprilia RS125 and look what she rides now!! End of the day it has to be what YOU want despite all the good advice you'll be given. Buy a bike that is someone else's choice and it may well stand unloved and unridden in the back of the garage.
Regards Peter.

Pity the weather didnt play ball this morning but spring will soon be here!!

Ade B · Post by **Ade B** » Sun Feb 20, 2005 10:34 pm

I'd cut out the 125 and go for the direct access before they change it. Plenty of small large bikes around for little money and you won't be stuck with a 125 to get rid of.

My wife passed second time (failed first due to leaving indicator on) and she rides the vespa all the time but has yet to ride the SS as she reckons its too tall. She used to ride the CS and rode the standard S demonstrator though.

Go direct access and then pick up a RS250, that is a fun small bike

Ade.

PBBoxer · Post by **PBBoxer** » Sun Feb 20, 2005 11:49 pm

< agrees with Ade to a degree.

The direct access is going to be pulled soon, plus you would be able to spend less than on either of the two 125's. You could have all sorts for less money than the Aprillia or Honda.

However. like Pete says, go for what you really WANT, but make sure you're prepared to live with the downside.

winger · Post by **winger** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 7:45 am

What i want is a full on R1/999 Ducati what i need is an S or a Tiger!

I have to say completely the opposite to Peter,buy what you want,by all means but you'll end up with what you need in the end which is always something completlely different,which isn't a problem so long as you can afford it.

As for Direct Access,who ever invented that!! I'd have put up against a wall and shot,done about as much for bikeing as mixamatosis has done for rabbits!!.

Chris

adamski49 · Post by **adamski49** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 9:44 am

winger wrote:As for Direct Access,who ever invented that!! I'd have put up against a wall and shot,done about as much for bikeing as mixamatosis has done for rabbits!!.

Tend to agree with this as well... christ, I'm going to go and lie down in a darkened room, this can't be right.

boxerpan · Post by **boxerpan** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 10:58 am

adamski49 wrote:
winger wrote:As for Direct Access,who ever invented that!! I'd have put up against a wall and shot,done about as much for bikeing as mixamatosis has done for rabbits!!.

Tend to agree with this as well... christ, I'm going to go and lie down in a darkened room, this can't be right.

Is this what my folks call 'a senior moment' or just a momentary lapse of reason ? I suggest quarantine may be in order until these thoughts have passed and you are back to full fitness

Dickie2679 · Post by **Dickie2679** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 6:08 pm

I had a RS125 before I took the direct access route, a fun bike, but you have to feed it with expensive two stroke oil & let it warm up before you set off (or major engine damage will result from thrashing a cold motor)
also every spotty teenager wants to race you, which is ok as you will have the fastest 125, but I always felt I was a bit old for that sort of thing at 36

m25jambuster · Post by **m25jambuster** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 9:11 pm

My 2pence worth - my wife took the direct access route last year having been tempted by 125's but deep down knowing that once she had passed a test she would want to move on. After passing her direct access we found a nice and un-thrashed VFR400 (NC30). She spent the summer out and about clocking up several thousand miles while I stayed at home and looked after our daughter. As a result my wife now has stepped up to an SV650s and I have a NC30 track bike. Everyone in my house is a winner!!!

Ade B · Post by **Ade B** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 1:47 am

what's wrong with DA?

boxerpan · Post by **boxerpan** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 8:21 am

Oh dear, quick before Chris gets here

It allows people who have spent a very limited time on two wheels with no horsepower the chance to go and get on anything they fancy without recalibrating their senses by building up thru the middle ground. Given that biking to a lot of people is fashion accessory and last years bike is now crap, fastest is best so that means this years big sportsbike. Middle aged people trying to recapture their youth, with lots of disposable income maketh not a good rider and are a statistic waiting to happen.

THIS DOES NOT APPLY ACROSS THE BOARD AND IS TO BE TAKEN AS A GENERALISATION

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:38 am

What Lloyd said - and definitely including the last statement.

I've met plenty of very good riders who are DAS-trained/tested etc but I've equally come across some complete friggin' useless numpties aswell; the DA system does mean it's easier for such f*ckwits to get onto 2 wheels.

Anyway....unless you've spent your youth riding around on clapped-out Fizzies/AP50's etc you've not lived anyway.

Boxerlass · Post by **Boxerlass** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 5:21 pm

What herrman says... Yes I did ride an Aprilia RS125 for 3 years before going up to the S - Tony did the same.

We had great fun on the Aprilias, derestricted, because of their light weight, they are very quick (over 100mph if you want it). They were an excellent training bike for what we have now. I think you should honestly get something at least mid range before you get on a Boxer, not because of the difference in speed/acceleration, but mainly because of the difference in weight.

But there are down sides: The changes in DAS are well worth looking into for a start.
They need to be warmed up for 10 minutes before revving them, and due to the way you will ride them, that means in practise standing there with them stationery for that 10 minutes - including in Winter.
They do need expensive 2 stroke oil and that just about doubles the cost of your fuel.
You also need to be looking at new rather than 2nd hand; I'd say that our 2 bikes were probably the only 2 in the world that had been cared for properly! I wouldn't risk buying 2nd hand.
They will teach you a lot about throttle/clutch control.

On the plus side, they are 5 times the fun of any other 125cc that you could mention - I cant overstate that point.
They will let you have a good idea of how a big bike is going to handle/U turn/brake etc.
They will teach you loads about proper gear changing.
You will beat some of the bigger bikes on the twisties - i promise!
They are reliable if looked after properly, despite what anyone would tell you. Most of these bikes are ruined by young tear aways, but serviced and warmed up properly, ours both did 10K without a spot of trouble from either of them.
They can be difficult to set off on - that sounds weird I know, but it is easy to stall them, being 2 stroke (but see the plus side re: clutch control!!).

I still think that a good option would be to get through DAS then look for a ZXR400 or an SV650 maybe.

Like everyone says. The choice is yours and you can only take in any advise you find useful then follow both your head and your heart!

Pauline

PS Anyone who tells you they didn't follow their heart when buying a bike is talking thru' their posterier IMHO. It is very much an emotion and passion thing, otherwise we would all be in boring old cars.

PPS Yes you are right - the Aprilia RS IS a sexy bike!

Pauline