ukrm FAQ

ukrm FAQ - Motorcycles

Where am I?

Home

1: The Newsgroup

2: Motorcycles

Buying a used bike

Importing bikes into the UK

Shite Old Bikes (tm)

3: Bike Maintenance

4: Clothing

5: Bikes and the Law

6: Riding Info

7: Misc. Stuff

8: Online Resources

9: Phone Nos.

10: UKRMsCBT

11: Suggestions

12: Search

2: Motorcycles

2.1: Recommended learner bikes

There's one regular poster to ukrm who will always tell you to get a CG125. The fact that he's regularly Murray'd (tm) should be taken into consideration. Beware of smooth talkers bearing gaskets.

2-stroke possibles are -
Kawasaki AR125
Yamaha RD125LC
Yamaha TZR125

4-stroke possibles are -
Honda CG125
Suzuki GS125

2.2: More poweful, midrange...

What about more powerful, mid-range bikes for new but roadwise riders?

Honda CB1
Honda CB500
Kawasaki ER5
Suzuki Bandit 600
Suzuki GS500
Yamaha XJ600S/N

These bike are good all-rounders, with good fuel economy and motorway speed but without revving the guts out of them. 2-up riding, reasonable insurance costs and if you drop it, no expensive fairing to damage. They all have enough power for safe overtaking and pulling away in high gears but wouldn't have you off the back very easily.

If you want something which looks a bit sportier then the Kawasaki GPZ500 would be a good choice but insurance cost will be higher.

2.3: I'm only a shortarse. Which bike should I buy?

For the bike try the Home of the Short Bikers at: http://www.ki.org/sbl/

http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcdbase/mcdbase.html can do a search based on seat height.

2.4: Personal reviews or advice on different bikes?

Are there any personal reviews or advice on different bikes?

ukrm-ers occasionally make comment on the home page to be found at http://ukrm.info/

2.5: Buying a used bike

PRINT THIS OUT AND TAKE IT WITH YOU WHEN YOU GO TO BUY A BIKE

>>More...

2.6: Custom Bikes?

Why, from our very own Anthony Keenan's site, of course at http://www.custombike.org

2.7: British Bikes?

http://www.british-bike.com/

http://www.gacorner.f9.co.uk/motorcycle.html#T

2.8: Best place to look for a new bike?

http://www.biketrader.co.uk/

2.9: HPI check

The HPI number is: 01722 435516
Or you can do HPI check which gives you 3 searches for 12 quid(as at 12/02/00) at http://www.hpicheck.com/echeck/
You only get a cut down version of the full HPI check, but it's enough to tell you if the bike/car is stolen/write-off/financed.

There's another company called TGM. Alan Gower said "they were good and less expensive than HPI. I phoned them with the registration number and they called me back within an hour with all the details. They then sent me a hard copy in the post. Very accurate."
Their number is 070717 7777

On the 14/02/00, Floyd also said about TGM "Ok, just used their web service. For 12quid, you get a basic check. Something showed up regarding outstanding finance. So rang them for a full check, only 15quid if you have already done an 'e- check'. 27 quid total as opposed to 31 if you go straight for the full check. Anyway, they were very helpful and gave me loads of info. Regarding the finance thing they gave me phone numbers of the finance company, reference numbers. (As it turns out everything is OK and the finance is being settled, but if I hadn't had the ref no. and phone number I'd have run a mile). And I'll get a full written report sent to me by tomorrow."

2.10: Importing bikes into the UK

Advice by TOG

>>More...

2.11: Torque and horsepower explained

http://www.turborick.com/hp-tq.html

2.12: Online directory of UK bike shops

http://www.ukbsd.co.uk

2.13: Sidecars

The Federation of Sidecar Clubs is at http://www.sidecars.org.uk/

2.14: Shite Old Bikes (tm)

Alan Frame sheds some light on the matter

>>More...

2.15: Motorcycle registries

http://www.micapeak.com/reg/bikes/