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[TheBoy]

600 Bandit (Suzuki) detuned Gixer engine so tough as old boots, cheap to buy & insure. Bit heavy & softly spung but a good, fun reliable starter bike, fair turn of speed if you wind 'em, docile at low revs. Pick one up finance free for a few hundred, build up some no claims etc. Not as cool or fast as the 1200 or many sportbikes but faster, better & way cooler than the ER5.
    Worth a look & you can de restrict if need be. Doubt you'll get a better cheap ins. solid starter bike for the money. Guy.  

de restrict??? Sorry i meant restrict to 33bhp if need be.

I have a full license, no need to restrict!  

Bandits seam about the same price as ER5's on bike trader.

This is close to me...

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/bikes/KAWASAKI+ER-5/Ne-2-4-7-8-27-64-104-133-146-236,N-13-121-239-4294942263-4294967193/advert.action?R=200911330598034&distance=21&postcode=NN13+6ER&channel=BIKES&make=KAWASAKI&model=ER-5&min_pr=&max_pr=2000&max_mileage=&vehicleYearOfManufacture=2001&vehicleRegLetter=Y

That ER5 is much newer.

Other 500 twins to look at and (imho) more comfy

Honda CB500 (may be pricey)
Suzuki GS500E

All easy to maintain, easy to ride, good power delivery, and light to pick up off the road!

[stuart30]

600 Bandit (Suzuki) detuned Gixer engine so tough as old boots, cheap to buy & insure. Bit heavy & softly spung but a good, fun reliable starter bike, fair turn of speed if you wind 'em, docile at low revs. Pick one up finance free for a few hundred, build up some no claims etc. Not as cool or fast as the 1200 or many sportbikes but faster, better & way cooler than the ER5.
    Worth a look & you can de restrict if need be. Doubt you'll get a better cheap ins. solid starter bike for the money. Guy.  

de restrict??? Sorry i meant restrict to 33bhp if need be.

I have a full license, no need to restrict!  

Bandits seam about the same price as ER5's on bike trader.

This is close to me...

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/bikes/KAWASAKI+ER-5/Ne-2-4-7-8-27-64-104-133-146-236,N-13-121-239-4294942263-4294967193/advert.action?R=200911330598034&distance=21&postcode=NN13+6ER&channel=BIKES&make=KAWASAKI&model=ER-5&min_pr=&max_pr=2000&max_mileage=&vehicleYearOfManufacture=2001&vehicleRegLetter=Y

Mates not long sold his ER-5...After a few weeks of owning it found it too be under powerd.

Also he isnt very tall 5.9ft and found it physiclay small.

[tunnie]

i can't find decent ER5s for sub £1k locally.... GS500E are even more pricey.

ER5's seam the cheapest of the bunch

[amigov6]

Nothing wrong with the ER5 but the Bandit even in 600 form is more playful if you want it to be & smoother being a 4 cylinder, a good gateway to a faster bike.
     Have test ride & see what's best for you.

[albitz]

this one is closer to me.... maybe 600 twin too much for a first bike?

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/bikes/advert+search/Ne-2-4-7-8-27-64-104-133-146-236,N-12-29-121-239/advert.action?R=200911330368742&distance=30&postcode=NN13+6ER&channel=BIKES&make=&model=&min_pr=500&max_pr=1000&max_mileage=&vehicleYearOfManufacture=1996&vehicleRegLetter=P

For reasons already stated, may be worth avoiding faired (fully or half faired) until you have the experience.

34 years experience,I was pushing mine off the driveway on Saturday,lost my balance and dropped it,scuffed fairing and broken generator cover.

[albitz]

Throw caution to the wind and buy a Hayabusa,at least you wont have to think about upgrading - ever.
It would go from 0-100and back to 0 in about the same time as it takes your mig to hit 60   8-) 8-)

[TheBoy]

this one is closer to me.... maybe 600 twin too much for a first bike?

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/bikes/advert+search/Ne-2-4-7-8-27-64-104-133-146-236,N-12-29-121-239/advert.action?R=200911330368742&distance=30&postcode=NN13+6ER&channel=BIKES&make=&model=&min_pr=500&max_pr=1000&max_mileage=&vehicleYearOfManufacture=1996&vehicleRegLetter=P

For reasons already stated, may be worth avoiding faired (fully or half faired) until you have the experience.

34 years experience,I was pushing mine off the driveway on Saturday,lost my balance and dropped it,scuffed fairing and broken generator cover.

We've all done that.  You quickly get up, pull the bike up, quickly look around to see if anyone saw you

[TheBoy]

Nothing wrong with the ER5 but the Bandit even in 600 form is more playful if you want it to be & smoother being a 4 cylinder, a good gateway to a faster bike.
     Have test ride & see what's best for you.

I'm thinking of lighter bikes for tunnie, as he will struggle to lift a pushbike, so no chance of a heavy 4pot

[albitz]

this one is closer to me.... maybe 600 twin too much for a first bike?

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/bikes/advert+search/Ne-2-4-7-8-27-64-104-133-146-236,N-12-29-121-239/advert.action?R=200911330368742&distance=30&postcode=NN13+6ER&channel=BIKES&make=&model=&min_pr=500&max_pr=1000&max_mileage=&vehicleYearOfManufacture=1996&vehicleRegLetter=P

For reasons already stated, may be worth avoiding faired (fully or half faired) until you have the experience.

34 years experience,I was pushing mine off the driveway on Saturday,lost my balance and dropped it,scuffed fairing and broken generator cover.

We've all done that.  You quickly get up, pull the bike up, quickly look around to see if anyone saw you

I fell over it and ended up lying on my back in the middle of the road outside my own house,the only good thing was at least mrs Bitz wasnt watching out of the window.