My twopennethworth - Back in the 33bhp days in 2006, I bought a ZX6R from a chap in Quedgeley (funnily enough, not far from where you're at), restricted with FI international washers. Bike was gutless up the motorway. Luckily, I only had a month left on my 33bhp - whipped out the restrictors and became a different animal - the powerband. Roll forward 10 years in 2016, I needed a commuter for Gloucester to Bristol - The CBR500 was such a fun tool. I often took it out on sunday rides when the R1 was waiting for parts. WOT everywhere around the Cotswolds made my mate appreciate that it's the Rider's experience that makes you quick on the roads, rather than being on a litre bike - he was on his KTM SMT. TLDR; A2 bikes are very competently designed around their limitations for them go be fun. The 47bhp bikes have chassis that can be fully exploited by their limited power. 33bhp 2 stroke 125cc bikes would like to join the fun party.
I haven't watched the full video yet...but I "restricted" a Varadero 1000 and went round France Scotland & Ireland with ease & I can guarantee I wouldn't have had the same fun doing those trips on the KLR I bought as a 2nd bike. I'm not condoning illegal activities by any means btw. I had my A2 for like 4 years because I didn't feel the need to upgrade my licence. My varadero was definitely 100% restricted and definitely did not have a fake garage letter head saying it was restricted by remapping the ECU.
I've seen a trend lately of people buying lower power bikes. They all say that they are a lot cheaper, easier to handle, and still enough power to be fun. I'm so glad I got my ninja 650! Perfect bike for what I need.
A reason it can be worth it and it is a big one, is not needing to buy a new bike to get that increase in power once you are allowed. Unless you are a haggler and happy to deal with private sales you are getting ripped off on your trade in just to reduce friction of switching. It is usually better to grow into than out of something.
The only bike I miss from years ago is my old VFR400. Great handling, looked brilliant and quick. Used to commute into the centre of London on it. Unfortunately written off when someone pulled out on me.
Pretty good advise, I’ve been out of bikes for 6 years but used to own a zx6 and loved it, felt I just need a city and twisty road bike so bought a speed 400, at first felt it was slow but now I’m used to where the gears come in and the corners on it, I love it fantastic little bike, but I can see me getting a 2nd for long distance and pillions. Advise to anyone sit down and work out what you want to do on the bike and ride safe
Correction on the A2 age, it's between the ages of 19-24 Where you qualify for an A2 license, over 24 you can do direct access to completely ignore the age restriction
Agreed. At first the bigger bike might seem like the better choice (mostly financially) and you make it work in your head but 2 years is a long time on the same machine.
@kynoVNs I'm talking about beginning out. You still have to figure out which bike fits best for you. So obviously in the beginning you're switching bikes faster than when you find the 'perfect' bike for you
@@kynoVNs You pay tax on used bikes? I never buy new bikes/cars. It's just not worth the immediate depreciation. A lot more reasonable too, my dream bike is a Z1000 and it's "only" around 10k for a 2017-2020 model (which is a lot but definitely achievable for a dream bike). My first bike was 2.5k
@@nulla9601 The tax technically isnt on used private bikes. However the price of the equivalent is still just as big because the tax drives the price up on the entire market.
I live in Norway, and because I'm older than 24 years, I'm able to take the full A licence directly, so that's what I'm doing. I've already bought a bike, a 2014 Suzuki V-Strom 650, which is known to be reliable, and it's pretty damn cheap to insure as well it's not a powerful beast like a sportsbike, but it's not as weak as an A2 bike either it's not a light bike, but because of low center of gravity, it doesn't feel heavy the power is pretty linear with lots of torque at low RPM, so it's kinda like driving a diesel car overall, it's a great bike in the lower end of class A bikes, at least for being so inexpensive
I'm so bored of my 125, waiting until I'm 24 to do the direct access course... Such a hassle to get a full MB licence, Also 125s are basically everything a MB shouldn't be, slow, not great looking 125s though there are some and acceleration is abysmal
Born in the wrong era! 125cc 33bhp 2 strokes were all the rage. Sadly, you can't find an NSR125, Cagiva Mito Evo or RS125 with powervalves installed anymore
@@originironwolf514 My first 125 was an XR125, back in 2004. It sucked to go on motorways, but what was fun was the fact that I could stoppie everywhere. I don't envy anybody wanting to do their motorcycle test (thank you EU directives!). Back then, if you did your A category licence at 17, you'd have a full power bike by 19. Or if you didn't care, you could illegally ride your bike unrestricted and have the proof of restriction in your document folder. Quite common for us to be on Gixxer 600s and R6s in the early 00s whilst only being 18.
@@Titot182 Honestly mate sounds like a great time, Just wish I could do the same but with the modern world if I tried to fake anything it's gonna come back to bite me. Trying to be patient until I'm 24 and get 1000cc something like a Gen1 Gen2 Hayabusa for comfort looks and performance.
Even then it is joke how they expect you to step up so gradually, mandated through insurance costs or denying to give quotes etc. If you have only ever ridden 125 they will expect you to go through 400 or less then twin cylinder 650, then maybe 4 cylinder 600. Otherwise you will be milked for the privilege.
I have to disagree with your position. As it's bhp that is restricted, not torque, it's worth getting a restricted larger bike for the 2 years of the restrictions and benefiting from the torque increase in the lower rev range. Likewise, a rider who has moved from an A2 to a full license will likely want to change their bike. Does it matter if it's an A2 bike or a larger bike they're replacing?
totally agree. and as a tall rider the bigger bikes are more appealing since i am 6.5. the a2 bikes are just too similar in size as the 125 and i want a bike thats alot of fun even in the low rpms. so i am currently looking at an mt07 because of the price and low end torque
I passed at 17 (1991) and in them days there was no limit a2 etc. What did i buy........ TZR250. Why? It was way faster than my 125 and not too heavy. Also i could insure it. Kept for couple of years. Then cars and life. 30 years later, just brought a CBR650R. First big bike i guess. Loving it. Maybe in a few years i will get a 1000 or try a naked bike. Thats part of the fun. 😁. Agree its worth a2 bike then buy something new after.
Insurance on my 125 pit bike is £1000, insurance on my DRZ-400 is £1500. Full license 3rd party only in both cases. Not sure it is of good value for a lot of people to gradually move up and pay those costs across classes, rather than try to min max between reducing insurance for a bigger class sooner, and the slippage involved with trade ins.
Unfortunately, it's just a case of waiting it out. I remember when my ZX6R cost 800 to insure TPFT as a uni student back when I was 19. I now only pay £180 fully comp for an R1 and Fazer 1000 with all mods declared. Trust me, it's just a function of age and experience. The most I had to pay for insurance was 1400 TPO in London at 17 for my XR125.
There must be insurance implications right? Even restricted I feel the insurance may still be higher than a lower cc/bhp. EDIT, I've been commuting on a motorbike for years and not once has anyone asked me about what bike I'm on. Probably means I'm boring or people in general aren't that interested in what you ride so don't get a bike you think will impress people. It wont.
For sure, would probably want to weigh against the true cost of an upgrade in the nearish future. How much would one lose across owning another and then moving up, relative to insurance cost. Appreciating it might help to rack up insurance years on the more powerful of the two if all else is equal. On the other thing, definitely don't get a bike to impress, but I would say for a fraction of the cost you will get as many questions and nice comments as a high performance car owner. People always stop and comment when I'm out and the bike is worth all of about 5 grand. A car for grand is not getting that love.
My twopennethworth - Back in the 33bhp days in 2006, I bought a ZX6R from a chap in Quedgeley (funnily enough, not far from where you're at), restricted with FI international washers. Bike was gutless up the motorway. Luckily, I only had a month left on my 33bhp - whipped out the restrictors and became a different animal - the powerband.
Roll forward 10 years in 2016, I needed a commuter for Gloucester to Bristol - The CBR500 was such a fun tool. I often took it out on sunday rides when the R1 was waiting for parts. WOT everywhere around the Cotswolds made my mate appreciate that it's the Rider's experience that makes you quick on the roads, rather than being on a litre bike - he was on his KTM SMT.
TLDR; A2 bikes are very competently designed around their limitations for them go be fun. The 47bhp bikes have chassis that can be fully exploited by their limited power. 33bhp 2 stroke 125cc bikes would like to join the fun party.
I haven't watched the full video yet...but I "restricted" a Varadero 1000 and went round France Scotland & Ireland with ease & I can guarantee I wouldn't have had the same fun doing those trips on the KLR I bought as a 2nd bike. I'm not condoning illegal activities by any means btw. I had my A2 for like 4 years because I didn't feel the need to upgrade my licence. My varadero was definitely 100% restricted and definitely did not have a fake garage letter head saying it was restricted by remapping the ECU.
same as my scooter, it definetly did the 25kph AT MAX, never was any faster, would'nt know how anyways. Please carry on good sir.
I've seen a trend lately of people buying lower power bikes. They all say that they are a lot cheaper, easier to handle, and still enough power to be fun.
I'm so glad I got my ninja 650! Perfect bike for what I need.
did you have to restrict it?
A reason it can be worth it and it is a big one, is not needing to buy a new bike to get that increase in power once you are allowed. Unless you are a haggler and happy to deal with private sales you are getting ripped off on your trade in just to reduce friction of switching. It is usually better to grow into than out of something.
The only bike I miss from years ago is my old VFR400. Great handling, looked brilliant and quick. Used to commute into the centre of London on it.
Unfortunately written off when someone pulled out on me.
Pretty good advise, I’ve been out of bikes for 6 years but used to own a zx6 and loved it, felt I just need a city and twisty road bike so bought a speed 400, at first felt it was slow but now I’m used to where the gears come in and the corners on it, I love it fantastic little bike, but I can see me getting a 2nd for long distance and pillions. Advise to anyone sit down and work out what you want to do on the bike and ride safe
Correction on the A2 age, it's between the ages of 19-24 Where you qualify for an A2 license, over 24 you can do direct access to completely ignore the age restriction
Agreed. At first the bigger bike might seem like the better choice (mostly financially) and you make it work in your head but 2 years is a long time on the same machine.
You go through multiple bikes in less than 3 years...?
@kynoVNs I'm talking about beginning out. You still have to figure out which bike fits best for you. So obviously in the beginning you're switching bikes faster than when you find the 'perfect' bike for you
@@nulla9601 I wish that could be the reality for me. I live in Denmark with huge vehicle tax. For me buying a bike is a huge investment
@@kynoVNs You pay tax on used bikes? I never buy new bikes/cars. It's just not worth the immediate depreciation. A lot more reasonable too, my dream bike is a Z1000 and it's "only" around 10k for a 2017-2020 model (which is a lot but definitely achievable for a dream bike).
My first bike was 2.5k
@@nulla9601 The tax technically isnt on used private bikes. However the price of the equivalent is still just as big because the tax drives the price up on the entire market.
I live in Norway, and because I'm older than 24 years, I'm able to take the full A licence directly, so that's what I'm doing. I've already bought a bike, a 2014 Suzuki V-Strom 650, which is known to be reliable, and it's pretty damn cheap to insure as well
it's not a powerful beast like a sportsbike, but it's not as weak as an A2 bike either
it's not a light bike, but because of low center of gravity, it doesn't feel heavy
the power is pretty linear with lots of torque at low RPM, so it's kinda like driving a diesel car
overall, it's a great bike in the lower end of class A bikes, at least for being so inexpensive
I'm so bored of my 125, waiting until I'm 24 to do the direct access course... Such a hassle to get a full MB licence, Also 125s are basically everything a MB shouldn't be, slow, not great looking 125s though there are some and acceleration is abysmal
Born in the wrong era! 125cc 33bhp 2 strokes were all the rage. Sadly, you can't find an NSR125, Cagiva Mito Evo or RS125 with powervalves installed anymore
@@Titot182 I've got a keeway superlight 125 with a whopping 9.9hp, Safe to say your completely right and 125s now are aweful...
@@originironwolf514 My first 125 was an XR125, back in 2004. It sucked to go on motorways, but what was fun was the fact that I could stoppie everywhere. I don't envy anybody wanting to do their motorcycle test (thank you EU directives!). Back then, if you did your A category licence at 17, you'd have a full power bike by 19. Or if you didn't care, you could illegally ride your bike unrestricted and have the proof of restriction in your document folder. Quite common for us to be on Gixxer 600s and R6s in the early 00s whilst only being 18.
@@Titot182 Honestly mate sounds like a great time, Just wish I could do the same but with the modern world if I tried to fake anything it's gonna come back to bite me. Trying to be patient until I'm 24 and get 1000cc something like a Gen1 Gen2 Hayabusa for comfort looks and performance.
Even then it is joke how they expect you to step up so gradually, mandated through insurance costs or denying to give quotes etc. If you have only ever ridden 125 they will expect you to go through 400 or less then twin cylinder 650, then maybe 4 cylinder 600. Otherwise you will be milked for the privilege.
I have to disagree with your position. As it's bhp that is restricted, not torque, it's worth getting a restricted larger bike for the 2 years of the restrictions and benefiting from the torque increase in the lower rev range. Likewise, a rider who has moved from an A2 to a full license will likely want to change their bike. Does it matter if it's an A2 bike or a larger bike they're replacing?
totally agree. and as a tall rider the bigger bikes are more appealing since i am 6.5. the a2 bikes are just too similar in size as the 125 and i want a bike thats alot of fun even in the low rpms. so i am currently looking at an mt07 because of the price and low end torque
I'm 23 and about to do my CBT. I think I'll stick to a moped or something similar until I'm 24 and then get my full license.
I passed at 17 (1991) and in them days there was no limit a2 etc. What did i buy........ TZR250. Why? It was way faster than my 125 and not too heavy. Also i could insure it. Kept for couple of years. Then cars and life. 30 years later, just brought a CBR650R. First big bike i guess. Loving it. Maybe in a few years i will get a 1000 or try a naked bike. Thats part of the fun. 😁. Agree its worth a2 bike then buy something new after.
Enjoying the content keep it up buddy
I couldn’t I bought a mt09 as my first bike and I love it
Insurance on my 125 pit bike is £1000, insurance on my DRZ-400 is £1500. Full license 3rd party only in both cases. Not sure it is of good value for a lot of people to gradually move up and pay those costs across classes, rather than try to min max between reducing insurance for a bigger class sooner, and the slippage involved with trade ins.
Unfortunately, it's just a case of waiting it out. I remember when my ZX6R cost 800 to insure TPFT as a uni student back when I was 19. I now only pay £180 fully comp for an R1 and Fazer 1000 with all mods declared. Trust me, it's just a function of age and experience. The most I had to pay for insurance was 1400 TPO in London at 17 for my XR125.
There must be insurance implications right? Even restricted I feel the insurance may still be higher than a lower cc/bhp.
EDIT, I've been commuting on a motorbike for years and not once has anyone asked me about what bike I'm on. Probably means I'm boring or people in general aren't that interested in what you ride so don't get a bike you think will impress people. It wont.
For sure, would probably want to weigh against the true cost of an upgrade in the nearish future. How much would one lose across owning another and then moving up, relative to insurance cost. Appreciating it might help to rack up insurance years on the more powerful of the two if all else is equal.
On the other thing, definitely don't get a bike to impress, but I would say for a fraction of the cost you will get as many questions and nice comments as a high performance car owner. People always stop and comment when I'm out and the bike is worth all of about 5 grand. A car for grand is not getting that love.
Its better to ride a slow bike fast then a fast bike slow.
something about the lip sync here is bothering me
Superbe vidéo merci ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
whatever you do, don't buy that "180cc registered as 125cc" lol
So many things wrong with this video and a lot of misinformation please do your research before giving advice to people 👍
"Nothing more important than a motorcycle" "hehehe"
What if I restrict it and unrestrict it ? After 😂
Speed x1.5
Sucks that Europe restricts motorcycles like they do.
It sucks that more people died thinking they could ride a powerful motorcycle from day one.
Restricting a 150hp bike to 50hp means youre paying for all those 150 ponies, maintaining all of them but using only 50 of them
Can’t restrict anything bigger than double the limit so that’s kind of irrelevant