A BIKE expert has picked out five of the best motorcycles for beginners to “start life on two wheels” – all for under £7,000.
Eric Barros, aka Yammie Noob, shared the list as there’s “never been a better time” to start your biker journey.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said: “There has never been a better time…to begin life on two wheels.
“Motorcycles keep getting more powerful, more advanced and more capable.
“And beginner bikes are not exempt.
“The beginner bike category gets new heavy hitters each year that offer competitive packages aimed to bring new riders into the fold.”
Boasting “iconic Triumph style” and “characterful performance”, the Speed has earned its place in the manufacturer’s Modern Classic range.
The design incorporates a relatively neutral riding position and low seat to make it more comfortable and manoeuvrable for inexperienced riders.
There’s no shortage of power either with 39 horsepower putting out a top speed of 90mph.
The single-cylinder setup is not typical for a beginner bike but provides a solid platform without going over the top.
Plus the exhaust system is fitted with a swish stainless steel silencer so you won’t annoy the neighbours when you fire it up in the morning.
You can get a brand new one for just £5,000.
The Eliminator is a bit of a halfway house between roadsters like the Triumph and the iconic American cruiser style made famous by Harley Davidson.
A lower seat and steeper rake on the bonnet meet mid-positioned foot pegs to provide a relaxed yet still engaged riding position.
And at just £6,000, it’s a fair bit cheaper than Harley’s base offerings.
The engine is originally from the Ninja model but the stroke length has been increased to give more low-end torque, allowing it to deal better with the Eliminator’s extra weight.
The Eliminator name also has quite the storied history, originally appearing on the ZL900 model Kawasaki produced for just two years from 1985.
CF Moto is a bit of a new kid in town when it comes to motorcycle manufacturing.
The Chinese firm doesn’t necessarily have the heritage of brands like Triumph or Kawasaki but is increasingly breaking into the European market.
The company was actually founded in 1989 and was even involved in making luxury yachts, but it’s motorcycle division really picked up when it struck up a partnership with major Austrian manufacturer KTM.
It looks really cool
The 450 SR-S comes in at the top of the SR range and is priced at £6,500.
The twin-cylinder engine puts out more horsepower than the Triumph Speed but at higher revs, meaning it can scream down the road but might take a little longer to get going from a standing start.
Another entry coming in from Triumph, the Scrambler offers a slightly different proposition compared to its sister bike.
Sitting more in the adventure bike category, it features a higher seat, different wheels and more travel in the suspension while making use of the same engine to get it over trickier terrain.
It’s also slightly more expensive at £5,595
Eric said: “Triumph has modified the Scrambler 400 to be more suited for light offroad duty or cafe cruising.
“It looks really cool.
“Overall, it’s cool to see Triumph coming into the beginner bike segment.”
Getting a motorcycle licence in the UK is a slightly more complicated process than qualifying to drive a car.
The first thing you have to do is complete a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) certificate once you’re older than 17.
This is a one-day course, usually costing around £100, that will teach you the basics of motorcycling.
Once passed, it allows you to ride any moped or geared bike up to 125cc as long as it produces less than 14 horsepower.
It lasts for two years before having to be renewed, requires you to use L plates and does not allow the use of motorways or carrying passengers.
Then, from the age of 19 you can qualify for an A2 licence, which will require a theory and two-part practical test.
That will allow you to ride a motorcycle with up to 46 horsepower, including most of the bikes on this list.
Finally, you can go for an A licence which allows the use of any motorcycle.
The test is the same as for an A2 licence but done on a larger bike.
You can take the unrestricted licence with no previous experience from age 24, lowered to 21 if you have ridden on an A2 licence for at least two years.
While that may sound like a lot, it’s more than worth it when you consider that bikes are cheaper to buy, run and insure than cars – and are a lot of fun too,
Finally, CF Moto also makes a repeat entry into the list, this time with its 450 NK.
Marketed as the “ideal stepping stone” for new riders, it sits in the mid-weight roadster category like the Speed 400 and is also £5,000.
However, unlike the Speed it makes use of a dual-cylinder engine and delivers more power at max rpm.
