Motorbike in NYC

[Koing]

I'm moving to NYC in a few months and I've been thinking about getting my license done there and getting a Ninja 300. I'll be doing the MSF course.

Insurance. I did a rough quote and on Geico they are charging me $550 odd with no theft! $1500 odd with theft. I'm 32 with zero motorbike experience but with 15yrs car experience to that counts for anything in America.

Any good forums to read bout bikes and things? I've watched loads of youtube videos so far.

Bike experience:
I had a 15minute lesson in a field in Nicaragua and then rode a 250cc manual. It felt awesome to ride it for the rest of the day.

Cheers guys!
Koing

 

[pauldun170]

I'm moving to NYC in a few months and I've been thinking about getting my license done there and getting a Ninja 300. I'll be doing the MSF course.

Insurance. I did a rough quote and on Geico they are charging me $550 odd with no theft! $1500 odd with theft. I'm 32 with zero motorbike experience but with 15yrs car experience to that counts for anything in America.

Any good forums to read bout bikes and things? I've watched loads of youtube videos so far.

Bike experience:
I had a 15minute lesson in a field in Nicaragua and then rode a 250cc manual. It felt awesome to ride it for the rest of the day.

Cheers guys!
Koing

Where you gonna park it? Where in NYC?


Since you are asking this question on anandtech, everyone will tell you to get an abs equipped Ninja300 or CBR300. If you are not planning or prepared to get an ABS equipped bike because of budget or whatever....get a used KLR650. For NYC, I'd pick up a used\rat KLR650 over just about anything.
Depending on the neighborhood, be prepared to find whatever you choose either knocked over, fucked with or stolen. NYC roads are have low posted speed limits, shitty pothole\steel plated roads and HORRENDOUS drivers.
KLRs are great at soaking up that kinda abuse.
Take the worst drivers from around the world. Place them in a city with constant roadwork and overall horrible road conditions. Add a huge sense of entitlement.
That's NYC driving\riding.

 

[Koing]

Where you gonna park it? Where in NYC?


Since you are asking this question on anandtech, everyone will tell you to get an abs equipped Ninja300 or CBR300. If you are not planning or prepared to get an ABS equipped bike because of budget or whatever....get a used KLR650. For NYC, I'd pick up a used\rat KLR650 over just about anything.
Depending on the neighborhood, be prepared to find whatever you choose either knocked over, fucked with or stolen. NYC roads are have low posted speed limits, shitty pothole\steel plated roads and HORRENDOUS drivers.
KLRs are great at soaking up that kinda abuse.
Take the worst drivers from around the world. Place them in a city with constant roadwork and overall horrible road conditions. Add a huge sense of entitlement.
That's NYC driving\riding.

No idea where I'm going to park it yet. I'm thinking of living in Hells Kitchen/ Midtown area. It won't be used for commuting but more for fun riding at weekends.

I'll read about KLR650s.

Koing

 

[DigDog]

moped ftw.

 

[Phanuel]

Unless you have a garage (heh, NYC, doubt you do). I wouldn't even bother.

 

[jlee]

I wouldn't bother. Drivers are insane and the roads are abysmal.

 

[JulesMaximus]

You basically have zero experience riding and you want to buy a motorcycle to ride in and around one of the most congested cities in the country?

Best case scenario: The bike will get stolen and you'll be out the money you paid for it.
Worst case scenario: You will get hit by a bus and die.

 

[Koing]

Unless you have a garage (heh, NYC, doubt you do). I wouldn't even bother.

I wouldn't bother. Drivers are insane and the roads are abysmal.

You basically have zero experience riding and you want to buy a motorcycle to ride in and around one of the most congested cities in the country?

Best case scenario: The bike will get stolen and you'll be out the money you paid for it.
Worst case scenario: You will get hit by a bus and die.

Not really in NYC but around NYC for weekend trips or so.

If I live in a place with car parking or so that may sway it for me. Or I may to bother as I wouldn't want the bike stolen

Well there goes the idea of owning a motorbike! It'll be weird to not have my own transport anymore. It felt weird enough getting rid of the S2000 a few years ago let alone my M3 in a few months .

Koing

 

[JulesMaximus]

Not really in NYC but around NYC for weekend trips or so.

If I live in a place with car parking or so that may sway it for me. Or I may to bother as I wouldn't want the bike stolen

Well there goes the idea of owning a motorbike! It'll be weird to not have my own transport anymore. It felt weird enough getting rid of the S2000 a few years ago let alone my M3 in a few months .

Koing

Bikes are so easy to steal there is no way I'd own one if I had to park in a car park or on the street. Locked private storage is the only way to go, especially in a large city.

 

[Koing]

Bikes are so easy to steal there is no way I'd own one if I had to park in a car park or on the street. Locked private storage is the only way to go, especially in a large city.

Gotcha mate.

I'm going to have to really think about this one through. I'm looking at bike garages to lock the bike up but there seems to be lots of hurdles

Koing

 

[repoman0]

Hey koing,

As others have said, I'm not really sure you'd find it that enjoyable. I used to have a motorcycle in Boston which is significantly less crowded and crazy than NYC, and even here I found it pretty terrible. Too many cars, distracted drivers, and asses mad about being stuck in traffic. And even coming from a city of asses, NYC is exponentially worse whenever I have the misfortune of needing to drive through it I am looking forward to getting back into motorcycling some day, but a huge east coast city isn't the place, in my opinion.

That said, more power to you if you go for it and like it!

Maybe think about another fun car instead? At least you'd be able to use it year round and not have to worry as much about it getting stolen or you dying

 

[jlee]

Gotcha mate.

I'm going to have to really think about this one through. I'm looking at bike garages to lock the bike up but there seems to be lots of hurdles

Koing

If you want one that bad and want it primarily for outside-the-city trips, have you considered renting a garage or other secure parking outside of the city and storing it there?

 

[DigDog]

NYC, you're looking at extreme expenses for parking, possibly road tax too (does it vary based on the residence?), and most likely, you'll get it stolen.

on the other hand, you can buy a second hand moped, never clean it, and it will look like junk in a month - nobody will steal it.

BUT, it will still get you around. and its cheap. and you get to play the hipster card.

i'm talking, real dirt cheap rubbish like this

probably dirt cheap on insurance too. and gas costs are really low.

 

[Koing]

Hey koing,

As others have said, I'm not really sure you'd find it that enjoyable. I used to have a motorcycle in Boston which is significantly less crowded and crazy than NYC, and even here I found it pretty terrible. Too many cars, distracted drivers, and asses mad about being stuck in traffic. And even coming from a city of asses, NYC is exponentially worse whenever I have the misfortune of needing to drive through it I am looking forward to getting back into motorcycling some day, but a huge east coast city isn't the place, in my opinion.

That said, more power to you if you go for it and like it!

Maybe think about another fun car instead? At least you'd be able to use it year round and not have to worry as much about it getting stolen or you dying

Hmmmm...thanks for the ideas and keeping it real guys!

So it looks like with all of the hassle I probably won't be getting a motorbike. Or I might just get a crappy beater? It'll be depend on where I'm living and if they have anything suitable.

The car will end up costing more and the idea behind the motorbike is that it's something different that I haven't really tried. Well apart from riding a 250cc beat up bike around and island. The island had next to zero cars on it so that made riding much easier and less dangerous. I was really pumped for getting a motorbike when I got back to the UK, then reality set in and I shelved that idea. Also the most ironic thing happened a week or two when I got back in to the UK.

I went to see one of my only mates that rides and as he was talking about how safe he was in the UK. He is heading towards the exit of a car park at a slow pace and this woman just pulls out of her spot without edging out slowly and knocks my mate over. My mate is find but his bike is damaged a bit. WTF? He has about 5 witnesses and the car park has cameras. Talk about bad luck.

The dying factor has kept me from getting a motorbike. A few months ago this woman pulls out on me as I'm cycling. It was insane. If I wasn't able to speed up she would have ran me over and I would have been under her car. I was FUMING at how careless she was. One small mistake and I'm under her car.

If you want one that bad and want it primarily for outside-the-city trips, have you considered renting a garage or other secure parking outside of the city and storing it there?

One place has quoted $400 a month but this place is central.

Thanks for all insights and opinions!

Back to watching youtube motorbike videos

Koing

 

[jlee]

It's certainly not cheap, but there are options if you're willing to go outside the city:
https://newjersey.craigslist.org/prk/5529741355.html
https://newjersey.craigslist.org/prk/5555516637.html
https://newjersey.craigslist.org/prk/5516530299.html

 

[Phanuel]

I'd be extremely leery of parking my bike offsite in a parking structure. Locked garage or nothing. Lots of parking attendants/guards can be bought off, or actively provide tips to thieves for cash.

 

[Koing]

It's certainly not cheap, but there are options if you're willing to go outside the city:
https://newjersey.craigslist.org/prk/5529741355.html
https://newjersey.craigslist.org/prk/5555516637.html
https://newjersey.craigslist.org/prk/5516530299.html

Cheers for the links!

Koing

 

[jdoggg12]

You could get a Grom and keep it inside your place, they're very small and INSANELY fun.

http://www.cycleworld.com/2013/11/18/2014-honda-grom-riding-impression-review-photos-specs-pricing

It's way more fun/cool than a scooter with all the perks of a scooter.

 

[Koing]

You could get a Grom and keep it inside your place, they're very small and INSANELY fun.

http://www.cycleworld.com/2013/11/18/2014-honda-grom-riding-impression-review-photos-specs-pricing

It's way more fun/cool than a scooter with all the perks of a scooter.

Hmmmmm....that seems pretty awesome!

I'll definitely have to take a look at that.

I've watched about 2hrs of youtube videos of sport bikes. BMW HP4!

Koing

 

[twinrider1]

I'd own a bike in NYC...if I owned a loft with a freight elevator.

 

[ibex333]

Do not get a bike in NYC unless you have a garage. People will scratch it, run into it when parking and just when passing by.

My friend who has a bike recently found his knocked over to the side with a bunch of parts taken off and stolen. That's New York for you! Such a nice Honda Hornet in yellow, and already all messed up all over.

Also, last spring, he couldn't start it after the winter cold. Had to boost the battery. And do a full tuneup. Annoying...