Motorcycles anyone?

[EmperorIQ]

Anyone here ride motor cycles? if so what? Also, do you recommend a beginner to purchase a new bike or a used one?

 

[nrg99]

I ride a sportbike...
What is your poison? Used bikes are cheaper and if you drop them you won't feel real bad.... on a new bike, you will be very p1$$3d about it... and the probability of dropping is pretty high in the beginning years of riding... heck some even crash after 10s of years of experience...

Definitely sign up for the MSF class... check with any local dealer and they should be able to direct you...

 

[boyRacer]

A Hayabusa... or a ZX12R

If you're looking for a sportsbike... go look for a used Kawasaki Ninja 250R or 500R... it looks ugly... but hey if you're riding to impress girls... lol... you can impress girls in safer ways. Plus you can sell it later on for the same price. Then get the bike you want after you've got some miles under you.

Some people do start on 600ccs some go straight to liter bikes... some are fine... some end up in the ER... but i guess that depends on how disciplined your are about it. Take an MSF class if you can... it'll help you a lot if you've never ridden bikes before. Good luck.

 

[Kelemvor]

I'd recommend buying used for a first bike because there are so many styles to choose from, you don't want to buy one and find out you want a different style. I'd second the motion for a Kawasaki 500 Ninja if you want a sportbike. I had a '92 as my first bike and I loved it. Only 100cc less than the main biger bikes but much easier to handle and most people can't tell the difference unless they read the sticker. heh.

 

[EmperorIQ]

cool! thanks for the replies, though it wasn't as popular as i'd hope it would be. Yea i'm definately going to sign up with msf, and i was leaning towards a honda cbr, the whole "if you drop it" idea convinced me to get a used one. Thanks!

 

[psydancerqt]

i've only been on a motorcycle as a passenger... make sure the backseat is comfy!

 

[Alptraum]

Originally posted by: EmperorIQ
cool! thanks for the replies, though it wasn't as popular as i'd hope it would be. Yea i'm definately going to sign up with msf, and i was leaning towards a honda cbr, the whole "if you drop it" idea convinced me to get a used one. Thanks!

I would sort of expect to drop it at least once. Most of the bikers I know all say that anybody getting a bike for the first time is likely to do that at least once while getting used to it. I am thinking about getting into bikes myself right now. I need a new hobby, heh.

 

[notfred]

I'm going to get a used 600cc sportbike (yeah, it'll be my first bike) in the near future.

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: EmperorIQ
cool! thanks for the replies, though it wasn't as popular as i'd hope it would be. Yea i'm definately going to sign up with msf, and i was leaning towards a honda cbr, the whole "if you drop it" idea convinced me to get a used one. Thanks!

yeah you can find a used cbr600 F4i for $5k since everyone wants the new 600RR... ride safe!

 

[faZZter]

Originally posted by: EmperorIQ
Anyone here ride motor cycles? if so what? Also, do you recommend a beginner to purchase a new bike or a used one?

I ride a '98 ZX9RC and an '87 CR250.

If I were you I would learn to ride on a dirt bike then go to the street.

Dirt doesn't hurt as much when you crash and there is less traffic to worry about.

Seriously though, if you HAVE to start on the street a Kawasaki EX500 would be a good choice. Enough power to get going but not overwhelm a new rider. Also be sure and take a motorcycle training class.

On a side note, I have to admit that I'm drooling for one of the new bikes coming out this year, they are sweet. (R1, ZX10, 1000RR, Gixxer)

 

[C'DaleRider]

Buy a used bike and NOT a sport bike. Motorcycle junk yards are full of extremely low milage sport bikes bought by beginners who then were overwhelmed by the bike's speed, capabilities, etc. and weren't experienced enough to handle it, and consequently "lost control" and crashed.

I'd equate it to a new driver getting into an F1 Ferrari and expecting it to be as docile as a Taurus. Sport bikes are essentially barely tamed race machines and are NOT for the beginner to learn on.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: C'DaleRider
Buy a used bike and NOT a sport bike. Motorcycle junk yards are full of extremely low milage sport bikes bought by beginners who then were overwhelmed by the bike's speed, capabilities, etc. and weren't experienced enough to handle it, and consequently "lost control" and crashed.

I'd equate it to a new driver getting into an F1 Ferrari and expecting it to be as docile as a Taurus. Sport bikes are essentially barely tamed race machines and are NOT for the beginner to learn on.

Agreed. There is a reason why insurance can be as high on a sport bike as on a fairly fast car (I was quoted that way anyway) - and think about the fact that on a sport bike when you hit something it's going to do a lot less damage than in a car - so the increase is due to the overwhelming frequency in which these bikes are parts of accidents.

Regular motorbikes are dangerous enough but sportbikes are quite lethal. I see guys racing around on them all the time. I think most people on them have a powerless impulse to drive it fast. And of course your side impact beams are your legs and your front bumper is your skull. Driving defensively is the name of the game, but difficult to do when you have so much power, and you can still never control other people. Chances are you will get in an accident some day, and on a bike you're going to be the worse for it.

I was talking to millennium and a friend of his recently bought a very powerful sport bike. He got in over his head trying to tail a more experienced rider and he lost it around a corner breaking part of his neck. Fun times!

 

[Whisper]

I ride a Gixxer 600 at the moment...had a Ninja 500R before this and loved it. Fast enough to get around, but not so powerful that when you make a typical beginner mistake, you'll kill yourself. Doesn't look too bad, either. And gets kickazz gas mileage. Woo!

 

[EXman]

Heck I see alot of newbies on old ninja 250s that look sporty yet be light and nimble. Are you short? make sure you can reach the ground on the bike so you don't lay it down at a stop light

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

<----the resident Hayabusa rider.



Another vote for a used ninja 500, if you take it easy. Remember this will toast just about any car, and if you do not have the skills down to an instinctive level, and try to ride too hard, you stand a great chance of being seriously injured or worse.

Take BOTH the beginner and advanced motorcycle safety courses, and you will do fine just as long as you use right wrist restraint (that's the throttle )

 

[malbojah]

Common, I started out on a liter bike and I'm still here

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: malbojah
Common, I started out on a liter bike and I'm still here

Hmmm...

 

[2002R1Rider]

2002 Yamaha R-1, I would recommend that they by used because you are going to fall at some point and new parts cost some cash. I good starter bike would be a used 250cc or so... That of course is my opinion.

 

[nrg99]

used 600 sportbikes are usually not the most friendly ones to learn on... some do... and some learn the hard way...
But if you are very concerned about CCs and looks, I would look into an SV 650 in that case...

 

[Budmantom]

I started on a used 600 sportbike, but a 500ex is also great to learn on.

 

[TekChik]

sure, i'll take one

 

[Fausto]

We need to make up a "I want to buy a first motorcycle FAQ"

1. Start relatively small (under 600cc is a good rule of thumb)

2. Buy a used bike with no/minimal bodywork since you'll drop it a few times when you're learning and bodywork is expensive.

3. Don't spend a lot of money on the first bike. Get something to learn on and then get something nice later.

4. Take the MSF course. No question.

5. Remember to budget for proper riding gear. I know it's expensive and hot in the summer, but it's literally your ass if you don't wear it.

 

[TekChik]

Originally posted by: Fausto1
We need to make up a "I want to buy a first motorcycle FAQ"

1. Start relatively small (under 600cc is a good rule of thumb)

2. Buy a used bike with no/minimal bodywork since you'll drop it a few times when you're learning and bodywork is expensive.

3. Don't spend a lot of money on the first bike. Get something to learn on and then get something nice later.

4. Take the MSF course. No question.

5. Remember to budget for proper riding gear. I know it's expensive and hot in the summer, but it's literally your ass if you don't wear it.


Had to sell it a while back, sadly.

i know, i know...size does NOT matter...but for a girl (a small girl, at that) would you go either smaller/lighter than 600?

 

[K6]

I started with a 80cc Peugeot Scooter ... after 1 year of pratice switched to mi First real Bike..

a NEW 600cc Honda Transalp

Is nice , light and easy .... a bike for riding every day , good as starting bike.

Today there are 55000 Km on this bike but keep going as New

ME and my bike

My bike alone

 

[Bulk Beef]

Originally posted by: TekChik

Originally posted by: Fausto1
We need to make up a "I want to buy a first motorcycle FAQ"

1. Start relatively small (under 600cc is a good rule of thumb)

2. Buy a used bike with no/minimal bodywork since you'll drop it a few times when you're learning and bodywork is expensive.

3. Don't spend a lot of money on the first bike. Get something to learn on and then get something nice later.

4. Take the MSF course. No question.

5. Remember to budget for proper riding gear. I know it's expensive and hot in the summer, but it's literally your ass if you don't wear it.


Had to sell it a while back, sadly.

i know, i know...size does NOT matter...but for a girl (a small girl, at that) would you go either smaller/lighter than 600?

GS500
EX500 (Ninja)

If you can put your feet flat on the ground, that would be nice, but it can be tough for shorter riders.