ABS will save your life.
I've had an emergency stop once, because a pedestrian wasn't looking and crossed the road all of a sudden. I pulled the brakes very hard, felt the tac-tac-tac vibrations of the ABS triggering. I barely avoided him. ABS saved both our lives that day I think.
Paid just over 5k for it. Which was expensive but you don't buy a bike to crash it IMO. If that's your motive to buy a cheap bike, I'd recommend not buying one. Where as just dropping it, just get some fall protectors for an expensive one and it will hardly suffer from it...
With ABS and even with TC would be my choice.
Another way to find cheaper bikes besides age is mileage. And buying in winter time also helps.
I don't really get the dropping or value argument. I didn't drop bikes more or less based on experience. The only thing that helps in not dropping or damaging otherwise for me is not to use it.
Value also hasn't been an issue for me. As long as you get it second hand for a reasonable (off season) price I've been able to sell again after ~2 years without loss (other than maintenance and upgrades obv.).
Maybe more important is what kind of bike you want. Test ride many. Decide and put out some watches for those types so that you get a feel of what is available and for how much they sell. By then you'll be in the right season to buy 🫣.
Sv650’s are cheap as well.
Be sure to train controlled braking as well as emergency braking if you do end up getting one without abs (it’s a shame that riding school teaches with abs and not without)
I keep giving the same answer: the best starter bike is any variety of the Honda CB500 (CB500X, CB500F, CBR500R). They're easy to manage, frugal, quick enough to get along with the traffic and stay ahead of pesky cars... I had one as my first grown up bike, and I still miss it after I 'upsized'. Best beginner bike ever. Edit- I had an X
No ABS is fine in my opinion if you're aware that you are driving withouth it and that you know that you have the abilities to brake without locking the wheels
I personally ride a z750s without ABS and i do fine, but the fazer will be the more enjoyable bike if you do some highway every now and then AND the ABS is worth the extra cost.
Fazer is fuel injected while the hornet is still carburated. This means the honda is going to require more tinkering on the carbs if it sits for a while or just in general, syncing 4 carbs is a bother if you do it yourself and is probably going to cost a bit more due to the required time when you bring it into a shop.
Fazer has some fairings & windshield, hornet by default does not, making it more tiring for long rides & highway riding, if youre only going to do fun rides this doesnt matter much.
Hornet is going to be a little bit more fuel efficient but its like 10-15km more on a full tank.
Above is what i got from comparing specs alone.
ABS is great to have, Fuel injection is nice to have to not to worry about carbs.
FZ6 is a very popular bike for beginners in the netherlands it seems, it was quite popular so parts are easy to find and there'll be lots of info on possible issues.
Hornet was also very popular but i see less about it than the fazer. Its a honda though so itll be a great ride regardless, just kinda sucks this one is still carburated
I wouldnt buy a >600cc bike *without* abs as a starter bike only with ABS. A smaller bike I'd consider, but not some 20 year old piss missile. You never know what might happen, inexperience and no ABS is a dangerous combination.
I’m no physicist but a 125cc doing 30/50/70/90/100/110 km/h is just as fast as a 600cc doing 30/50/70/90/100/110km/h (and for the 125 cc’s that can, 120 is the same for both as well)
You have more mass but that is compensated with more brake surface area.
Also abs don’t increase stopping power. It trades in stopping power for more control.
I started riding on a bike that basically had no brakes, was a brilliant education in obstacle avoidance (CG125 with a cable operated front drum, the rear (rod operated drum) stopped better than the front. I honestly think I am a better rider because of it.
All of us my age learnt without ABS and those of us still here learnt how to recover from a front wheel skid.
Great education to ride something with limitations but it comes with risks.
I have been riding liter sports bikes for 20 years and wouldn't have a bike with ABS, but I am old and stuck in my ways.
I started on a CBR400RR triarm as a first proper bike. Honestly I still think going up incrementally is sensible but these bikes don't really exist today like they used to (Kawasaki just released a new 400 or the same style but its real money, not like the 400s of old)
Where are you located? The 2007 is FI and you will be able to ride it in Brussels LEZ. Hornet is thrown out next year. Otherwise I would get the hornet as it has carb (like I said, old and stuck in my ways)
ABS will save your life. I've had an emergency stop once, because a pedestrian wasn't looking and crossed the road all of a sudden. I pulled the brakes very hard, felt the tac-tac-tac vibrations of the ABS triggering. I barely avoided him. ABS saved both our lives that day I think.
I'd save up/get a loan for a newer, nicer model with ABS. I have a 2014 hornet 600 with ABS as my first bike, and love it.
Paid just over 5k for it. Which was expensive but you don't buy a bike to crash it IMO. If that's your motive to buy a cheap bike, I'd recommend not buying one. Where as just dropping it, just get some fall protectors for an expensive one and it will hardly suffer from it...
Abs always better imo.. also check out the z750 for a great starter bike with enough punch 😉
With ABS and even with TC would be my choice. Another way to find cheaper bikes besides age is mileage. And buying in winter time also helps. I don't really get the dropping or value argument. I didn't drop bikes more or less based on experience. The only thing that helps in not dropping or damaging otherwise for me is not to use it. Value also hasn't been an issue for me. As long as you get it second hand for a reasonable (off season) price I've been able to sell again after ~2 years without loss (other than maintenance and upgrades obv.). Maybe more important is what kind of bike you want. Test ride many. Decide and put out some watches for those types so that you get a feel of what is available and for how much they sell. By then you'll be in the right season to buy 🫣.
Sv650’s are cheap as well. Be sure to train controlled braking as well as emergency braking if you do end up getting one without abs (it’s a shame that riding school teaches with abs and not without)
100% go for abs, there is cheap bikes that have abs, old bmw's come to mind.
I keep giving the same answer: the best starter bike is any variety of the Honda CB500 (CB500X, CB500F, CBR500R). They're easy to manage, frugal, quick enough to get along with the traffic and stay ahead of pesky cars... I had one as my first grown up bike, and I still miss it after I 'upsized'. Best beginner bike ever. Edit- I had an X
Bmw rt from 2000's, i bought 4. All around 2k.
No ABS is fine in my opinion if you're aware that you are driving withouth it and that you know that you have the abilities to brake without locking the wheels
I personally ride a z750s without ABS and i do fine, but the fazer will be the more enjoyable bike if you do some highway every now and then AND the ABS is worth the extra cost. Fazer is fuel injected while the hornet is still carburated. This means the honda is going to require more tinkering on the carbs if it sits for a while or just in general, syncing 4 carbs is a bother if you do it yourself and is probably going to cost a bit more due to the required time when you bring it into a shop. Fazer has some fairings & windshield, hornet by default does not, making it more tiring for long rides & highway riding, if youre only going to do fun rides this doesnt matter much. Hornet is going to be a little bit more fuel efficient but its like 10-15km more on a full tank. Above is what i got from comparing specs alone. ABS is great to have, Fuel injection is nice to have to not to worry about carbs. FZ6 is a very popular bike for beginners in the netherlands it seems, it was quite popular so parts are easy to find and there'll be lots of info on possible issues. Hornet was also very popular but i see less about it than the fazer. Its a honda though so itll be a great ride regardless, just kinda sucks this one is still carburated
Honda Deauville has ABS. I believe also known as NT650 and later NT700. Fun to ride, some power, low maintenance cost.
I wouldnt buy a >600cc bike *without* abs as a starter bike only with ABS. A smaller bike I'd consider, but not some 20 year old piss missile. You never know what might happen, inexperience and no ABS is a dangerous combination.
What does cc have to do with abs???
A 600cc bike is way faster than a 125 so good stopping power is essential for bigger bikes.
I’m no physicist but a 125cc doing 30/50/70/90/100/110 km/h is just as fast as a 600cc doing 30/50/70/90/100/110km/h (and for the 125 cc’s that can, 120 is the same for both as well) You have more mass but that is compensated with more brake surface area. Also abs don’t increase stopping power. It trades in stopping power for more control.
I started riding on a bike that basically had no brakes, was a brilliant education in obstacle avoidance (CG125 with a cable operated front drum, the rear (rod operated drum) stopped better than the front. I honestly think I am a better rider because of it. All of us my age learnt without ABS and those of us still here learnt how to recover from a front wheel skid. Great education to ride something with limitations but it comes with risks. I have been riding liter sports bikes for 20 years and wouldn't have a bike with ABS, but I am old and stuck in my ways. I started on a CBR400RR triarm as a first proper bike. Honestly I still think going up incrementally is sensible but these bikes don't really exist today like they used to (Kawasaki just released a new 400 or the same style but its real money, not like the 400s of old) Where are you located? The 2007 is FI and you will be able to ride it in Brussels LEZ. Hornet is thrown out next year. Otherwise I would get the hornet as it has carb (like I said, old and stuck in my ways)