Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

@PhilDAS - I half agree with Soul and TM about a 600cc. But it really comes down to your riding, aims and budget.

go the cheap 250 if...

• main riding is in the city
  
• some country roads
  
• almost no motorways / high speed dual carriageways
  
• planned to sell the bike in <18 months once you have a better idea of what you want
  
  

Buy the 600 if...

• you just want one bike for the next +18 months
  
• will ride longer stretches on faster roads possibly with a pillion
  
  

Originally I was looking for a Hornet as my first big bike. I only ever had a tiny go on one but it fitted what I wanted*. The problem I found is that they're (relatively) desirable and expensive. Shit ones are knackered, good ones are appreciating. The other ones I looked at which possibly offered better VFM were:

• bandit (great bike, but bit heavy)
  
• old SV650 (sports bike feel)
  
• new SV / Gladius (great to ride, light, easy, etc. but iffy resale and marmite looks and you need to make sure you're ok with the seat on the new SV)
  
• ER-6N (just as good as the new SV and MT07 really, not sure about resale value)
  
• MT07 / XRS (spot on first bikes, on balance my favorite out of the above)
  
  

I was going straight for a 600c because my commute has a couple of fast and windy dual carriageways with even faster drivers. Plus I'd been riding the same route on a quickish 125cc - so knew what I wanted.

Other things to consider:

• 500c bikes - lots are replacing 600s, there's a reason but it escapes me.
  
• fairings - make any high speed journey a million times easier, but lack of wind incorporates faster driving (eg my scram has an effective limit of 85mph)
  
• ULEZ coming in means if you're choosing a bike to keep you want something >EURO3
  
  

*a really common, light, cheap, 600cc Jap bike... so I bought a 900cc Triumph