Looking at first motorcycle update sep 22 bought one!

[ViviTheMage]

I have driven dirt bikes, road bikes (smaller ones when I was younger -250/150), so I understand how they work, have not been on a highway before though.

More recently I have driven a buddies 09 SV 650S and 07 ninja 636, I thought they were fun to drive, and not TOO difficult to menuever.

So I was thinking I might get a 07 gsx-r600, a friend is selling it for 5k, only has 4k on the clock ... pretty new tires, ready to go.

Is this TOO much bike? I plan to be insanely defensive, and will drive very little until I actually take the class.

update :

Been looking test driving a few, and found a 2008 SV650S with 2300 miles on it...100% stock, 1 owner. Guy was real nice, drove about 50 miles to see it, grabbed cash on the way...tested it, rock solid. Had my motorcycle buddy test it, good to go. Paid him $3000 for it, clean title too. Then I drove it 50 miles home!

here it is next to my GF's new scooter

 

[Fenixgoon]

turbo busa or bust.

just kidding. the SV would be a decent pick, if on the high end of performance IMO. also check out the ninja650 and yamaha FZ6R (I have a 6R - you can snag an 09 for like $4-5k, and it's the same bike as 10/11/12)

i would not recommend the ninja636 or GSXR600 as they are both true sportsbikes, designed for outright performance (the 636 produces ~130hp).

 

[pauldun170]

OP - How old are you?
GSXR00 is a whole lotta bike once that tach sweeps into the upper range. Avoid that upper range and its just another motorcycle.

 

[pauldun170]

turbo busa or bust.

just kidding. the SV would be a decent pick, if on the high end of performance IMO. also check out the ninja650 and yamaha FZ6R (I have a 6R - you can snag an 09 for like $4-5k, and it's the same bike as 10/11/12)

i would not recommend the ninja636 or GSXR600 as they are both true sportsbikes, designed for outright performance (the 636 produces ~130hp).

quoting for truth.

 

[ballmode]

Modern bike anything 2003+ SV650 with the fuel injection

 

[crackerjacks]

I assume you already asked this on google and got the collective "no" from the internet, but as you're probably going to do it anways..
you can dog around on a gsx-r under 6000rpms pretty safely, get above that and you could easily get yourself in a lot of trouble before you know what happened.

 

[consolibyte]

Another vote for an SV650 - fun, cheap, reliable, durable, and a great bike for both newbies and experienced riders!

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

If he's ridden a 636 before he can handle the gsx-r. You've really got to wrench the throttle before it gets too sketchy.

SV is a good looking bike also.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Shit, everywhere I read on the internet says to never ride a motorcycle...

I am 25, shit, almost 26 ... ha.

I think the GSXR @ $5k is cheap, and looks to be very well maintained and low miles with only 4k on the clock.

I am only going to get liability insurance..it'll be an expendable loss if I do total it, I hear claims on motorcycle insurance are in sanely bad for you, and rates triple/quadruple with one.

but like I said I only rode them, I have probably put on less then 25 miles in the lat 3 years...and yeah, that 636's power was in the 11k+, which I could stay far away from for a bit.

 

[crackerjacks]

If he's ridden a 636 before he can handle the gsx-r. You've really got to wrench the throttle before it gets too sketchy.

SV is a good looking bike also.

There's a big difference between now when he's putting around a few miles and a little cautious as he new, and 4 months from now when his confidence exceeds his skill while out riding with his friends trying to keep up.

Either way, i wish the OP best of look in his quest to defy the odds.

 

[ViviTheMage]

In a few months the snow will fall and she'll be in storage, haha!

 

[crackerjacks]

In a few months the snow will fall and she'll be in storage, haha!

wus!

 

[ViviTheMage]

I am honestly a little scared to drive a bike 'full time' when the weather is right!

Other people scare me.

I assume this is a good attitude to have though?

 

[ProchargeMe]

I second the yamaha Fz6r. Fun bike to ride for a better price. :thumbup:

 

[Majunior]

You need to decided how you want to use the bike, in order to determine the best bike for you.

The gsxr is a race replica... It's not built to be comfortable for extended periods of time, nor is it all that forgiving for underexperienced riders, or tuned for for comfortable commuting at moderate speeds. It would be like having a 500hp sports car. It's just not practical for a lot of people.

I got my first bike late last season, after having put a few hundred miles on a loaner 400cc Yamaha standard. I got an 06 Honda 599. It has WAY more power than anyone could need for street riding(89hp). It's powered by the same drive train as the CBR600 but retuned for practicality, still has a sporty look but the riding position us upright and comfortable for longer periods of time, and only costs me 17 bucks a month to carry full coverage since it's a Standard not a sportbike. I snagged it for 2800 bucks, with 7K miles one it. All said, it's VERY comperable to the SV-650.

 

[ViviTheMage]

how is the Fz6r compared to the GSXR600 or SV 650S even?

Maybe I should try something slower and more comfortable...like a CBR/SV 650

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

Defensive driving is good. There's a good book called proficient motorcycling that you can read.

http://www.amazon.com/Proficient-Mot.../dp/1933958359

Along with Twist of the Wrist I and II.

 

[ProchargeMe]

how is the Fz6r compared to the GSXR600 or SV 650S even?

Maybe I should try something slower and more comfortable...like a CBR/SV 650

http://findthebest.motorcycleshows.com/compare/348-427/2012-Yamaha-FZ6R-vs-2012-Suzuki-GSX-R600

A CBR600 is a good choice in my opinion as well, but there are a lot of people that don't like how they look.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I am definitely looking at used for my first bike, haha.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

What about an f4i?

 

[ProchargeMe]

I am definitely looking at used for my first bike, haha.

I believe someone in this thread stated that the fz6r hasn't changed since'09, and he got the bike for relatively cheap ~4k

 

[Mandres]

Ok, I'll say it. Don't be a fucking retard and buy a supersport racing bike when you don't know how to ride. You'll hurt yourself trying to keep up with your friend on the 636, I've seen it happen over and over (lost 2 friends so far).

Buy a small, old used bike and ride it for a year to figure out how to survive in traffic. Then sell it for what you paid, and get the bike that makes your penis move.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I've already got a semi quick car ... this is just to have 'fun' maybe save some MPG and free parking at school, haha. I don't plan on forcing myself to keep up if I can't handle it.

I am thinking I will look at CBR 600, FZ6R, SV 650S, 6R, what else am I missing in the middle range?

What makes them super quick, the HP? These being 90, and the 646/GSXR being 130~?

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Ok, I'll say it. Don't be a fucking retard and buy a supersport racing bike when you don't know how to ride. You'll hurt yourself trying to keep up with your friend on the 636, I've seen it happen over and over (lost 2 friends so far).

Buy a small, old used bike and ride it for a year to figure out how to survive in traffic. Then sell it for what you paid, and get the bike that makes your penis move.

So, so much of this. I have had this debate too many times to count, and expect to see the 'regular' OFT and other two who will come in here claiming that a literbike etc is just fine for a first bike.

As someone who rode for ~10 years, tons of trackdays, countless days up in the mountains, owned almost every brand and make from GS400 vintage up to a 1098......... A supersport 600 is a fucking terrible idea for a first bike.

That $5k seems like a great deal until you're stuck in a hospital for a few weeks or worse.

 

[ViviTheMage]

yeah, i'll go with something a little slower, haha...