New here and nee dyour opinion.

[Fatandre]

Hello chaps.
I an new here and to bikes. I love cafe racers.
I want to buy a MZ bike since they are rather cheap and make it a cafe racer.
Would it be ok to start with 250 or should I go for a 125?
What do you think?

This is what I am planning on getting.

And want to make something similar to this

 

[WeberKid]

engine displacement doesn't matter at all.
1200ccs:

125ccs:

 

[Fatandre]

I just want to get something to learn on and make it a bit stylish. Then I want to go for a BMW R80 and make it a real cafe

 

[SONICJK]

Get whatever one you want man looks like a cool bike.
Id go 250, as you'll "outgrow" a 125 pretty quickly.

 

[AndrewDoesHair]

I bought my first bike just a few months ago, and everyone gave me different advice about engine size. One guy said anything bigger than a 500 would be suicide for a first bike, while another guy told me that anything smaller than a 500 would be suicide for a guy my size (6'1" 195lbs). Then I come to find that if you ask a guy who rides a brand new sport bike, his idea of a 600 is WAY different than a guy who rides a 40 year old cruiser. I ended up getting a 32 year old Suzuki GS750L, and I don't regret it. I just shopped aiming for the cleanest condition at the lowest price, and when that bike happened to be a 750, I didn't argue- figured it was fate that wanted me on there. My friend is my size and has a bike of the same make as mine, but his is a 550, and there is a very notable difference when we ride together. I will say, though, that I am glad to have the more power, as I've found it nice to easily blow past and away from a car that is making me uncomfortable with their erratic swerving or braking...

 

[DesmoBro]

with a name like fat Andre i think you'll be dissatisfied with a 125cc...250cc is a great beginner bike and that Mx would make a neat cafe too

 

[Fatandre]

Believe me, I am not fat. You can see me here

http://vimeo.com/28626040

 

[VonYinzer]

Get the best bike you can afford. The best running, most comete bike will be the easiest way for you to build the cafe you want. If its a 125, so be it. You plan on buying a larger bike for the next project anyway.

 

[DesmoBro]

.....i still say the 250 especially if u plan on driving it aggressive like that 850....or just get the R80 already

 

[Fatandre]

The R80 might be to strong to begin with.
I really dont want to kill myself due to lack of knowledge.
The MZ 250 is reliable and quite common. I will want to change the seating and the steering bar. to make it more of a Cafe. Ride it and when I get the hang of it get the BMW

 

[RustyRivets]

+1 to Weberkid

Both cool bikes. If you're new to bikes (as I am too) try something small on first and see if it grabs you. I recently rode my an early 80s GS450 and loved it (much recommended, btw), which to me says that I should probably stick to smaller displacements for now. Best advice I can think of is don't do anything you're not comfortable with. We have a "mixed" late 60s triumph at my shop right now, I want nothing more than to take it for a spin, but I won't because I'm not comfortable with the prospect of dropping such a machine.

Whatever you end up getting, best of luck.