Having spotted a Breva at the weekend and instantly fallen in love with it, I'm wondering if anyone can give me some advice on (a) if it would be a good first big bike (restricted to 33bhp), and (b) if many of them come up for sale, as I can't see that there are any near me at the moment - I live in Bedfordshire.  I have spotted one in Peterborough that has just been sold, but I'm considering taking the afternoon off (it's about an hour and a quarter from here) just to ride over and try it out for size, I'm that keen!

I started learning in July 2011, got a Suzuki Marauder 125, got my full (restricted) licence in November 2011 and have been riding a Kawasaki Ninja 250 since then.  Really I would like something less sporty than the Ninja, with a little more relaxed riding position - it's more designed for youthful lads, and I'm a rather less youthful woman whose dodgy wrist and neck joints are suffering!

I would also like something my 5'5" can cope with without any bother, I'm not the most confident rider or the strongest for manhandling bikes, but while I rather like the Nevada I would prefer not to have another cruiser just yet, having done most of my learning on the Marauder I found steering it far more hassle than on the school learner bikes or the Ninja.

The Breva looks like it could be the perfect bike for me (possibly with the addition of the lower seat?), and one I imagine I would want to keep long after my licence restriction runs out.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

Where in Bedfordshire?

Hi - sorry, replied to the previous post before seeing this one come in.  I'm in Ampthill, so quite a way from Wendlebury but I'm tempted.  It looks like the Herts & Beds Branch should be meeting this evening as well, closer to home but I don't know if any Brevas will be in attendance of course.

I may well pm nearer the time, thank you!

Oh yeah, due to the nature of the 750 ie engines, unless you really press on, you won't notice it is restricted.

Whatever way you do it to make it road legal as far as I know you need a certificate stating it has been restricted it needs that for insurance too. as far as I am aware so it may be a dealer thing....

Edited by guzzibear - 07 Aug 2012 at 19:05

Originally posted by guzzibear Simpson/MZ/CZ restrictors" were  a lead fishing weight attached to the throttle cable

After a visit to the Herts & Beds meet the other night I'm considering Nevada 750s as well - not that many of those are for sale within 200 miles of me either. I didn't get to see one of those but spoke to an owner, but I'm wondering how differently they perform. Looking at the specs (including torque and wheel/tyre sizes) they should be pretty much the same, but Motorcycle News has the Breva doing a quarter mile in 12.5 seconds and the Nevada doing it in 16.1 seconds, which is massively different. Of course they also say the seat height is 725mm, which is blatantly wrong, and say my Ninja 250 does 170 miles to the tank when I get 200 miles without behaving terribly well, so I don't take their figures as gospel.

Any views from people who know the two bikes would be greatly appreciated - I very much doubt I will be able to compare both bikes together at a dealer to make a choice, so I expect I'll end up going on gut feelings and advice.

Speed isn't what they're about. Big grins are.

See you there then.

Surely that last line should read poseur.

Spot on about seat width. I couldn't reach the ground from my 840mm-high Versys, but I can on an 830mm Honda NC700X, just as easily as on the NC700S, which is 790mm. The Honda seats have a narrower front section, which is chamfered, allowing legs to be close together, not splayed out. Some optional "lower" seats are merely scooped out and don't offer any improvement.
This is why Guzzibear's Annie's Virago is so good, being wasp-waisted...

Thank you Ian and everyone else who was so friendly and helpful at the Oxford meet today.  Lovely ride out for a sunny Sunday afternoon as well.  My mind is now made up, it has to be a Breva - now for the tricky bit of finding one anywhere near me!

Jackie

Originally posted by Cabernet I have a 33bhp restrictor kit for any 750 ie pre 2009 and a non bike specific certificate. The Mrs used it on her Nevada.

Cabernet, how much are you looking for for the 33bhp restrictor kit? I now have a bike to fit it to!

Jackie

Nice one.  Northants club meet up at Wellingborough on the first Thursday of the month if you fancy a run up that way next week 

Originally posted by Jax67 Well, I had a first quick ride this evening on my lovely Breva (thank you Mike), fitted with the restrictor (thank you Cabernet) - fantastic. Such a different ride from what I've got used to, which is an excellent excuse to do lots of practising! Jackie

There are still some low key events which do not require your partner to be on a guzzi if you like camping.