Hello all

Hi there, I'm matt and very new to riding, currently pottering about on a CG125 on helL plates while training up for my DAS.

When I took the Honda for it's MOT I had a look round the bikes they had for sale and kept wandering back to the same machine, a nice looking yellow and silver machine with a cool sounding name and a riding position that just felt right for me, a Thundercat, so I thought I had better sign up here and find out more about them

Gonna have to hurry up and get my mod 2 done so i can have a couple of test rides.

Hi & welcome matt i too started on a cg 125 after doing the cbt while doing the direct access. Only had it 3 months but loved it as a first bike.

Welcome Stonesie.

Good to hear you're eyeing up a "cat" , you could do a lot worse.

There's a wealth of info on the site about the :yzf: . Have a real good snoop around on here and get to know all about it and us.

If you have any specific questions about the though in the mean time , do post up, you'll get a friendly and informative answer.

Good luck with your further training and test to get on up the ladder to your first big bike

cheers

excellent choice, my cat was my first bike after i did the DAS last June

Hi Matt! Welcome! I hope you get on OK with your DAS. My girlfriend is in the same position, she's riding a cbf125 and has just booked her tests up. I'm sure my thundercat will be the first she will ride after passing. Don't know how I feel about that yet but we'll see...

Regards,

Sam.

Thanks for the welcome

The only thing that's grabbed my attention as a negative so far is the 2nd gear issue, but if it comes to it I am not one to be scared of a strip down job, I built my own engine for the car and a year on it hammered round Cadwell Park with no hiccups

And the poor headlight....PAH!! try riding a CG at night in the rain, if I had to do it all the time I would get 200 mpg out of the thing, again the car (BMW E30) had headlamps like candles until I converted it to HID's so doing the same to a bike should be no problem, just a shame the CG uses such an oddball bulb, cant even get a Halogen for it

Hi and welcome.

I think the 2nd gear problem may not be as bad as is made out. I have have the occasional problem, bike has reasonably high miles and it doesn't bother me.

-Steve

Welcome to the site, you'll ney go wrong with a Thundercat for a fIrst big steed,

I started out on an old GPZ600 as my first bike back in the day (top gun lookeylike), managed to dislocate my shoulder when I dropped it on gravel a week after my test- well i didnt actually drop it i caught it on the way down- on reflection i wish i hadn't it would have been a lot less painfull! anyway- baack on topic- good luck with the test, enjoy the site and don't be afraid to ask any questions-

hi and welcome to the site

Welcome aboard

Hi & Welcome to the site, excellent choice for a first bike..you'll not regret it!

Welcome to the forum

Thanks for the welcome, just got in from a days training in Sheffield, they say 1 more day on the 125 (because everyone gets 3) then I will be on the 500's for 1 full day then the next morning, mod 1 that afternoon

My instructor says he really rates the Thundercat as a good all-rounder

Welcome Stonesie, glad to here training going well, and sure you will enjoy getting on the 500, amazing feeling!

The is a great bike, altho i have not had anything to compare it to in all honesty as i done cbt&das traight away and jumped straight on this after passing last year, everyone i've met since has said there great bikes, and generally under-rated, which means they are normally available at very reasonable prices, which is always good news, second gear problem was banded about when i was looking but mostly by people who never had one but just heard about it, so wouldn't panic too much!!

Enjoy when you pass, all the best
Gigsy.

Welcome to the site!

I did my DAS course in Sheffield. Which school are you using? Nice to hear the 'cat's getting praised. I was recommended the Fazer, but I didn't take the advice!

Hope the training goes to plan and you get that licence.

Chris

I'm doing it a BikeSafe, at Owlerton Greyhound stadium

Hi all, I keep browsing this site and can't wait to get some test rides in, Bikesafe are stupidly busy but I have had a taste of power, 20 mins on a GS500

Sunday the 12th I am on the 500 all day, Monday I'm on it all morning then I ride it to the test centre for my MOD 1

The thundercat is defiantly on my 3 bike short list ('cat, SV650, Bandit 600) and a mate at work has promised me a go on his 600 ninja too...

Hi Matt,

Great stuff, keep up the good work and good luck with your continued training and tests.

Any of those bikes would be a good starting point. Though it has to be said folks here abouts would favour the ' Cat '

If you want new though, have you also given a thought to the Kawasaki ER6f ?

As Oldcat Tel said, they are all good bikes but one thing the 'cat does have is longevity. You won't get bored of it as it is a fantastic bike to do your first few thousand miles on whilst getting to grips with a decent sized bike and take it up past 8000rpm when you are used to it then it's as quick as you like! Not sure the ER6 or the SV or the Bandit will give you that...

Keep up the training though, safety always comes first.

Matt,

Dont underestimate the cat. I've come back to riding after a short 25 years. my last bike was a Yam RD 350 LC YPVS. Fast and sure but fortunately I, more by luck than judgement, got a cat. You'll not get a better all rounder. Sure footed and fast when you want it to be.

It always manages to put a on my face when the grip is opened.

Good luck with the test and ride safe.

Sure footed and fast when needed sounds like my car, It's no stranger to the odd track day mentalism but on the road, if I keep the revs down it is smooth, torque'y and relatively comfortable.

If the 'cat is like that then I think it could be the one for me.



I am already thinking of doing some kind of advanced training next year after being advised to have a few months out on a proper bike first, to settle into riding I guess :idea:

The cat is exactly like that. Some advanced training is a good idea in my opinion.

I can recommend an advanced instructor who's based in Gainsborough if you decide to do that advanced training - which I recommend you do do

He got me through my IAM test!

Keep us up to date with your progress.

Cheers,
Chris

Well I did my Mod 1 yesterday, in the rain, and got 2 minors because nerves got me but I passed so on to the Mod 2, booked for 01/10/10


The advanced training in Gainsbrough sounds good, thanks for the offer Greencat.

Matt.

well done, all the best for the next round!