Looking at first motorcycle update sep 22 bought one!

[roguerower]

The biggest thing to remember about riding is slow is smooth and smooth is fast.

 

[Fenixgoon]

sweet, what kind of MPG were you getting?

i get between 40-50mpg depending on how gentle i am with the throttle. but i've never gotten a tank below 40.

edit: here's one of my youtube videos..i got a few more of me and the bike! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93x9ROmaTV4

 

[ViviTheMage]

How many miles did you put on the 636? You say you rode it... but was it just around the block? If you rode it for a little while and you felt okay, the gsxr600 I think will be okay, as you said you have other experience as well.

If not or it didn't feel safe/comfortable the SV650 or the FZ6R will probably be a lot better until you decide you want to go for a real sport bike (if you ever did).

few miles, no highway.

thanks fenix, what got some areas that are similar/twisty that would look fun to bike.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

It sounds like you're trying to keep costs down since mileage is important to you. To really keep costs down you're gonna need some basic motorcycle tools (front stand, rear stand, proper size sockets to take wheels off). It's a small investment that will pay itself off in no time. You'll need the stands to take your own wheels off so you can have a shop put new tires on for you. They charge $80 a wheel to change the tire if you just drop the bike off. You can take the wheels off yourself and take them to cycle gear (big motorcycle chain store) and it's like $20 to mount and balance your wheel. Tires are usually replaced every 5-8k miles so you can see how even doing your own tire removal can be important. You'll also need the rear stand so you can do chain adjustments and lube.
Also another thing to look for when buying used is if the bike has had a valve adjustment. Most bikes are due between 10-15k and it's a very complicated and pricey maintenance item to be left to a pro. If you find a bike in that mileage make sure to see if it's been done or you'll be on the hook for it. As far as tires online was usually best for me. Sometimes cycle gear will have sales and you can pick up a set cheaply. If you can spare the cash buy a couple sets when you find them on sale.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Thanks oiled, stands will be a for sure to do wheels/chain/lube maintenance.

How do you know if the valve adjustment has been done? What if they don't know?

Now that I am looking at a motorcycle, my wifey really wants a scooter/moped to use around town, haha.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Thanks oiled, stands will be a for sure to do wheels/chain/lube maintenance.

How do you know if the valve adjustment has been done? What if they don't know?

Now that I am looking at a motorcycle, my wifey really wants a scooter/moped to use around town, haha.

I'd ask for the paper work from the shop or dealer that did the maintenance. I wouldn't accept anyone's word for it.
Also mods such as aftermarket exhausts, windscreens, seats are a plus. They are 99%of the time something that you'd end up doing anyways. Also they are basically throw-ins as they don't add any value to the purchase price.

 

[ViviTheMage]

What if they don't know the valve's have been done or not?

 

[waggy]

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.

great advice.

 

[JulesMaximus]

What if they don't know the valve's have been done or not?

I would assume that they probably haven't been done if the owner claims he doesn't know. I would ask if he has receipts for the work he has had done. When I sold my Suzuki I had all the receipts for all the major services and oil changes. Trust me, I know EVERYTHING I've spent money on for my bike and I just had the first valve adjustment done on my Ducati. It was $560. I'm on my second set of Pirelli tires, I've had every service done at the dealership (because the bike is still under the factory warranty).

I think it was around $450 for my Suzuki but that only required a valve adjustment every 15,000 miles, and I did have it done prior to selling it. The Ducati is every 7,500 miles.

Once my bike is out of warranty I'm going to start doing maintenance myself. I might leave the valve adjustments to the shop though because it is not an easy DIY job.

 

[ViviTheMage]

good to know, thanks.

 

[JulesMaximus]

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.

I'm not crazy about that term. The GSXR is a bike you could race right off the showroom floor. It isn't a replica of a race bike. It IS a race bike. In the World Superbike series they race production motorcycles with different plastics, headlights and turn signals removed, along with tweaks to suspension, brakes and engine mapping/exhaust, and running race rubber but otherwise it is the same bike you'd find down at your local Suzuki dealership.

 

[consolibyte]

If you really want to go crazy, this is an excellent resource for checking out used bikes:
http://www.clarity.net/adam/buying-bike.html

 

[ViviTheMage]

That is a LOT of info, i'll read up on it when looking for bikes though.

 

[Vic Vega]

Good luck in your first purchase. Remember that not being a dumbass is more important than experience and the size of the bike. Experience is learned and you obtain good or bad experience based on if you are a dumbass or not.

Take your time, read, take your time, practice in empty spaces, take your time, watch for idiots, take your time and finally, watch for idiots.

 

[WilliamM2]

Once my bike is out of warranty I'm going to start doing maintenance myself. I might leave the valve adjustments to the shop though because it is not an easy DIY job.

It may not be easy on a Ducati, never did one, but it's very simple on the Kawasaki's and Yamaha's I've owned over the years. No more difficult than removing the wheeels for tire changes. Most the work is removing all the bodywork and whatever to get to the valve cover.

 

[JulesMaximus]

It may not be easy on a Ducati, never did one, but it's very simple on the Kawasaki's and Yamaha's I've owned over the years. No more difficult than removing the wheeels for tire changes. Most the work is removing all the bodywork and whatever to get to the valve cover.

Removing the wheels is easy. Adjusting your valves is definitely not as easy as that.

It's just fiddly and there are certain tools you need that I don't have. Just not worth it to me.

 

[sze5003]

Just make sure to get the service manual for whatever bike you had. Most of the work I did in my carburators was covered in the manual. Hardest part was finding out what to take apart, how to squueze them out and put everythung back properly. Most of the tough parts on bikes is the plastics, grommets, and so on. Which reminds me I need to Change my bikes oil before it gets cold.

 

[pauldun170]

Just make sure to get the service manual for whatever bike you had. Most of the work I did in my carburators was covered in the manual. Hardest part was finding out what to take apart, how to squueze them out and put everythung back properly. Most of the tough parts on bikes is the plastics, grommets, and so on. Which reminds me I need to Change my bikes oil before it gets cold.

Definitely get the service manual.

Valve check and adjustment can be a pain in the ass but like most things on a motorcycle, its a DIY job.
Ducati Honda, or Moto guzzi

Its all DIY if you have the manual, patience and the right tools.
Some bikes are a royal pain in the ass (Buell for example) to do routine stuff while other are straight forward.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

You can find a lot of manuals in pdf format or on ebay if you want a paper version.

That new buell looks pretty sick.

 

[Fenixgoon]

You can find a lot of manuals in pdf format or on ebay if you want a paper version.

That new buell looks pretty sick.

1190rs....

a friend of mine at work is getting a buell 1200-something. he's never ridden AFAIK. bad idea. i already told him so, but it's not like i can stop him.

 

[JulesMaximus]

1190rs....

a friend of mine at work is getting a buell 1200-something. he's never ridden AFAIK. bad idea. i already told him so, but it's not like i can stop him.

What an idiot. I bet he sells it after the first time he drops it or scares himself if he doesn't kill himself first.

 

[Fenixgoon]

What an idiot. I bet he sells it after the first time he drops it or scares himself if he doesn't kill himself first.

yep.

 

[DominionSeraph]

What an idiot. I bet he sells it after the first time he drops it or scares himself if he doesn't kill himself first.

Big engine doesn't necessarily mean rev-happy with a ton of power. My Bandit 1200 was my first street bike and it's by no means a monster. Having usable power in the 2-3000rpm range means it's actually quite easy to get used to.

 

[sze5003]

Yeh but most sport bikes are very finicky with the throttle. When you are just getting used to it, a slip of the wrist is all it takes and you can end up with the bike on top of you. I'm still getting used to my 250 and learning different techniques everytime I get on it. You just need a lot of patience and time to ride. Unfortunately I barely ride it anymore but I'm keeping it for when I do get free.

My mother has been trying to get me to sell it all summer when I finally bought it in June and had it running. Oh and I'm not a kid I'm 25 lol all she would talk about were accidents she saw or heard of. But rheres risk with everything you do in life.

 

[soccerballtux]

Yeh but most sport bikes are very finicky with the throttle. When you are just getting used to it, a slip of the wrist is all it takes and you can end up with the bike on top of you. I'm still getting used to my 250 and learning different techniques everytime I get on it. You just need a lot of patience and time to ride. Unfortunately I barely ride it anymore but I'm keeping it for when I do get free.

My mother has been trying to get me to sell it all summer when I finally bought it in June and had it running. Oh and I'm not a kid I'm 25 lol all she would talk about were accidents she saw or heard of. But rheres risk with everything you do in life.

that almost happened to me twice when I
a). went over my first large speed bump, the slight twist of hand on the throttle caused the bike to jump forward a bit, that was startling and
b). when I tried to do a rolling burnout the rear tire broke loose and slid to the left, meanwhile I stopped the clutch slipping and throttle gassing but the bike was moving forward a bit faster than I would have liked and I gripped onto the throttle trying to pull myself forward which caused a moment about the thottle causing the bike to accelerate a bit more making it worse, etc.

I would still recommend getting a decent sized bike though instead of 250cc for starter as I would have outgrown that in 1 week. I think one of the first things I would recommend doing though is hitting the speed bump. They don't teach you that in the motorcycle course and graduating from a 250cc to 600cc to 1000cc the same thing could still happen to you. However, like always, I would only recommend the 600cc+ bike if you are the "athletic" type with good build, balance, hand/foot-eye coordination, and a certain "cleverness" or "whit". IE if you are capable of learning to clutch and ride the bike without killing the engine more than 3x then you will be fine a 600cc+ bike. If, however, you're clumsy and are the type that isn't able to pick up a new sport easily and be decent at it immediately then I would recommend starting with the 250cc bike.

As for b, if the foot pegs were more a pod you slipped your foot into like what bikers use on their pedals, then I would have been able to lean back forward using my torso.

TBH nothing could have prepared me for B happening except for thinking of what I needed to do while it happened instead of freezing and not thinking. If I had been focused and hadn't freaked I would have figured it out.