Global Scale Modeller

Hi guys, looking for some recommendations on perhaps a good first motorbike kit to get some practice with before tackling the likes of the Repsol Honda.

Have finished four car builds now, with my next car build (Lancia Delta) being my first experimentation with PE. When I come to build the Repsol Honda, I'd like to go the full nine yards and include the detail-up set. Therefore, I'd like to get some practice in with PE first, as well as a bike which I can learn the building process for.

Looking for sports bikes recommendations

ryan81 wrote: Thu Jul 02, 2020 11:05 pm Hi guys, looking for some recommendations on perhaps a good first motorbike kit to get some practice with before tackling the likes of the Repsol Honda.

Have finished four car builds now, with my next car build (Lancia Delta) being my first experimentation with PE. When I come to build the Repsol Honda, I'd like to go the full nine yards and include the detail-up set. Therefore, I'd like to get some practice in with PE first, as well as a bike which I can learn the building process for.

Looking for sports bikes recommendations

Never built this one but it would probably be a good one, everywhere I read it is.



Hobby Design makes a relatively inexpensive detail-up set for it as well.

Any of the Tamiya Ducati MotoGP bikes as well, they're pretty much red and you can get the correct Baccy decals for them. (I have one on the way!! )

Any of the more modern Tamiya kits are super to build

Thanks guys.

Based on what I can get locally, I was thinking the Ducati 888 Superbike might be a good first kit. Other potential options are the Ducati 916 or I quite like the colour scheme of the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR - plus it's a bit more modern, although doesn't carry as much history

ryan81 wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2020 3:20 am Thanks guys.

Based on what I can get locally, I was thinking the Ducati 888 Superbike might be a good first kit. Other potential options are the Ducati 916 or I quite like the colour scheme of the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR - plus it's a bit more modern, although doesn't carry as much history

The Panigale 1199 is actually a pretty easy kit, great fitment and minimal complex decal or paint
Plus there are four or five threads on here that walk you through it

ryan81 wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2020 3:20 am Thanks guys.

Based on what I can get locally, I was thinking the Ducati 888 Superbike might be a good first kit. Other potential options are the Ducati 916 or I quite like the colour scheme of the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR - plus it's a bit more modern, although doesn't carry as much history

The Panigale 1199 is actually a pretty easy kit, great fitment, minimal complex decal or paint and readily avaliable.
Plus there are four or five threads on here that walk you through it.
Pretty fresh in my mind so would be happy to help with it as well

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2020 4:01 am

ryan81 wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2020 3:20 am Thanks guys.

Based on what I can get locally, I was thinking the Ducati 888 Superbike might be a good first kit. Other potential options are the Ducati 916 or I quite like the colour scheme of the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR - plus it's a bit more modern, although doesn't carry as much history

The Panigale 1199 is actually a pretty easy kit, great fitment, minimal complex decal or paint and readily avaliable.
Plus there are four or five threads on here that walk you through it.
Pretty fresh in my mind so would be happy to help with it as well

Thanks Scott. I would like to build that but was wondering the importance of the detail up kit. Ideally I'd like to start with a kit where I can get away with no detail kits, just so I can learn the main build process

I've built the Ducati 888, really good value for money and builds into a great looking model in my opinion, pictures in my portfolio if you want to have a look, was built straight OOB no details added at all.

You won't go far wrong with any Tamiya 1/12 bike kit though, especially if it's just a beater you want to practice on, I'd find the cheapest I could get and just crack on, they all follow the same basic pattern and order of building.

The Repsol Honda is going to be my next build once this cursed Mustang is finished , and I know LWWales is building one at the moment too, so there will be plenty of reference for you when you get round to starting it.

My first build was the R1M and I think of it wasn't for Tamiyas excellent quality, it would have been a disaster, hahaa.I've seen the YZF-R1 kit for cheap and the VF750R both under £25 and plentiful, so maybe one of those!

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2020 4:01 am

ryan81 wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2020 3:20 am Thanks guys.

Based on what I can get locally, I was thinking the Ducati 888 Superbike might be a good first kit. Other potential options are the Ducati 916 or I quite like the colour scheme of the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR - plus it's a bit more modern, although doesn't carry as much history

The Panigale 1199 is actually a pretty easy kit, great fitment, minimal complex decal or paint and readily avaliable.
Plus there are four or five threads on here that walk you through it.
Pretty fresh in my mind so would be happy to help with it as well

The Panigale 1199 and the Yamaha R1M fly together. I'd recommend either of these.

barryf1fan wrote: Thu Jul 02, 2020 11:45 pm

ryan81 wrote: Thu Jul 02, 2020 11:05 pm Hi guys, looking for some recommendations on perhaps a good first motorbike kit to get some practice with before tackling the likes of the Repsol Honda.

Have finished four car builds now, with my next car build (Lancia Delta) being my first experimentation with PE. When I come to build the Repsol Honda, I'd like to go the full nine yards and include the detail-up set. Therefore, I'd like to get some practice in with PE first, as well as a bike which I can learn the building process for.

Looking for sports bikes recommendations

Never built this one but it would probably be a good one, everywhere I read it is.



Hobby Design makes a relatively inexpensive detail-up set for it as well.

Any of the Tamiya Ducati MotoGP bikes as well, they're pretty much red and you can get the correct Baccy decals for them. (I have one on the way!! )

ive also purchased this kit, nice looking bike and would be having a crack at one like this before jumping into a race bike

Thanks for the advice everyone. Given price considerations for an experimental kit, and local availability, I think I've narrowed it down to the Ducati 888, Panigale and one of the Ninjas. Might test out multiple depending how I get on.

Will be sure to sneak into a few our your guy's threads for some inspiration!

Bikes used to be very cheap at PlazaJapan but since the virus their shipping is outrageous so I will wait... and hopefully things will go back to normal. $18 for the 916 Ducatti and $15 for the Honda NSR500 and several more around these prices.. I used to get them shipped for about $4 a kit and buying more kits got the shipping down.. now the price for shipping is as much for the kit. Maybe some of you who live closer to Japan can get better shipping prices?
https://www.plazajapan.com/4950344996001/

Ducati 888 or 916 are great bikes to build. But to be honest any Tamiya bike kit will be great to start with.

jchrisf wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2020 4:27 pm Bikes used to be very cheap at PlazaJapan but since the virus their shipping is outrageous so I will wait... and hopefully things will go back to normal. $18 for the 916 Ducatti and $15 for the Honda NSR500 and several more around these prices.. I used to get them shipped for about $4 a kit and buying more kits got the shipping down.. now the price for shipping is as much for the kit. Maybe some of you who live closer to Japan can get better shipping prices?
https://www.plazajapan.com/4950344996001/

Wow, I would kill to find kits that cheap. The cheapest I can find are around $45 NZD, so about $30 USD, and that's just for the common older kits. The newest ones, for example Repsol Honda, are about $90. As you suggested, can get them a bit cheaper from Japan but really need to do a big order for the shipping to be worth it

jchrisf wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2020 4:27 pm Bikes used to be very cheap at PlazaJapan but since the virus their shipping is outrageous so I will wait... and hopefully things will go back to normal. $18 for the 916 Ducatti and $15 for the Honda NSR500 and several more around these prices.. I used to get them shipped for about $4 a kit and buying more kits got the shipping down.. now the price for shipping is as much for the kit. Maybe some of you who live closer to Japan can get better shipping prices?
https://www.plazajapan.com/4950344996001/

Nah doesn't matter unless you live in Japan shipping cost from there have increased hugely. Mainly from them now only shipping through courier services. Have to wait until the postal service properly resumes.

Thanks for the input everyone.

My Ducati 888 arrived in the post today so will start on that shortly. Also received the lovely Tamiya Xanavi Nismo GT-R R34 as a late birthday present, so will build both concurrently - already made a good start on the Skyline

I've got that Nismo waiting to be built. I would love to have that bike... I've got the Alice one that I think is similar. Nice score! Can't wait to see what you do with it.

digger303 wrote: Sat Jul 04, 2020 12:40 am

jchrisf wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2020 4:27 pm Bikes used to be very cheap at PlazaJapan but since the virus their shipping is outrageous so I will wait... and hopefully things will go back to normal. $18 for the 916 Ducatti and $15 for the Honda NSR500 and several more around these prices.. I used to get them shipped for about $4 a kit and buying more kits got the shipping down.. now the price for shipping is as much for the kit. Maybe some of you who live closer to Japan can get better shipping prices?
https://www.plazajapan.com/4950344996001/

Nah doesn't matter unless you live in Japan shipping cost from there have increased hugely. Mainly from them now only shipping through courier services. Have to wait until the postal service properly resumes.

Good to know digger.. can't wait for things to get back to normal.

Good choice on the bike! I’ll keep a look out for your build log, I can’t remember too many pitfalls, goes together nicely, slightly jealous of the R34 too

jchrisf wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 2:33 pm

digger303 wrote: Sat Jul 04, 2020 12:40 am

jchrisf wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2020 4:27 pm Bikes used to be very cheap at PlazaJapan but since the virus their shipping is outrageous so I will wait... and hopefully things will go back to normal. $18 for the 916 Ducatti and $15 for the Honda NSR500 and several more around these prices.. I used to get them shipped for about $4 a kit and buying more kits got the shipping down.. now the price for shipping is as much for the kit. Maybe some of you who live closer to Japan can get better shipping prices?
https://www.plazajapan.com/4950344996001/

Nah doesn't matter unless you live in Japan shipping cost from there have increased hugely. Mainly from them now only shipping through courier services. Have to wait until the postal service properly resumes.

Good to know digger.. can't wait for things to get back to normal.

Let's hope prices slide back down to normal.
Shipping is up, but overall kit prices are way up too. E Bay is no better, Amazon too.
I have been looking for 1/24 Revel of Germany F1 race cars.....their prices have gone over $100 or more. Just stupid money for that level of a kit.
Motorcycle kits are the same way...anything cool or popular has skyrocketed in price, and then the shipping is jacked up too.

Gary30 wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:13 pm Good choice on the bike! I’ll keep a look out for your build log, I can’t remember too many pitfalls, goes together nicely, slightly jealous of the R34 too

Cheers Gary. Yeah I was pleasantly surprised by the R34 when I received it. It wasn't on my radar but I'm stoked to have it. Love the unique paint scheme

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:41 pm

jchrisf wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 2:33 pm

digger303 wrote: Sat Jul 04, 2020 12:40 am

Nah doesn't matter unless you live in Japan shipping cost from there have increased hugely. Mainly from them now only shipping through courier services. Have to wait until the postal service properly resumes.

Good to know digger.. can't wait for things to get back to normal.

Let's hope prices slide back down to normal.
Shipping is up, but overall kit prices are way up too. E Bay is no better, Amazon too.
I have been looking for 1/24 Revel of Germany F1 race cars.....their prices have gone over $100 or more. Just stupid money for that level of a kit.
Motorcycle kits are the same way...anything cool or popular has skyrocketed in price, and then the shipping is jacked up too.

Maybe I should sell mine now and buy them again when the prices come back down.