Motorcycles

[OVerLoRDI]

Originally posted by: Mellman
Don't forget to look into all the gear you'll be needing to purchase before you ride...helmet, pants, jacket, boots, gloves... I spent around $1800 on all my gear if i remember right, my bike only cost $3200

and remember, its not a matter of IF you fall, it is a matter of when, and how often...

I am 240 5'10" and bought a used YZF600R as my first bike, perfect first bike if you're a normal, sane person. If you want to just get out and go fast, don't bother getting a bike unless you have a death wish. Not everything on the road is under your control.

The YZF is a perfect starter bike in my opinion if you can handle the responsibilities of riding and staying under control on the street. www.yzf600r.com is our forum, we're not your typical sportbike forum, and don't take kindly to squids

I had completely forgotten about yamahas, the YZF600R looks awesome. The Ninja 500 looked like a great starting bike (good amount of power but nothing to extreme) but I think the front of it is fugly. The Yamaha looks so sweet, I'll have to look into what a second hand one will cost me.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Imp
Dang, all I budgeted was about $500 for helmet, gloves and jacket. I can get really nice boots for free from someone, and just going with jeans. Maybe I'll have legs in a month, maybe I won't...but I'll still have that extra $100.

I spent $350 for the helmet alone. I picked up a jacket and boots for about another $400 on top of that.

350 on a helmet might be overkill. Some people don't mind spending that much, but I haven't found a study yet that shows the Arai's and Shoei's were better then the Scorpions, HJC, KBC's. I personally had an HJC, then a Scorpion and then an AGV.

I would recommend the OP get a $200 helmet, $50 pair of leather gloves, $100 pair of leather boots, 100 for a pair of textile overpants, and $200 on a leather jacket.

Hell, I have an A* spinner leather jacket, MotoGP overpants with upgraded CE knee armor and a size 10 pair of Tourmaster I'll sell for 350.

http://newenough.com/protectiv...ycle_sport_jacket.html
http://newenough.com/closeouts...orcycle_overpants.html
http://newenough.com/boots/wat..._motorcycle_boots.html

I like the Shoei because it fits me well and I don't mind shelling out a few extra bucks for a good fitting helmet that is comfortable. I bought the RF-1000.

I need to find a good lightweight jacket for summer that offers decent protection. Mine is just too hot when the sun is out and it's approaching 80 degrees.

 

[PrelateBishop]

My vote is for s supermoto. Cheaper then a sportbike, less things to break if you drop it, inexpensive to insure, very light, enough power to have plenty of fun.

 

[Ruptga]

Originally posted by: NoShangriLa

Check the local bike shop or newspaper for a used bike.

Get a 750 or bigger for a first bike if you want to kill yourself. Other wise, purchase a 400cc or less as a learner...IMHO, a 250cc is the way to go.

I second that, a 250 should do at least 80mph, it's powerful enough to replace your car, but not so powerful and heavy that it's suicide. I actually started on a 50cc, which honestly isn't much different than a bicycle in handling and all that, and (because of budget) I'm on a 150cc now, which is a lot heavier than that 50. I'm already used to it after only two weeks, but I'm glad I started small, the learning curve is so much smaller.

A good 250, new, should run you in the 2-3K range. Also, whatever you get, make sure to get one with a windshield, or at least a helmet with a visor. Bikers don't wear sunglasses on the road just to keep the sun out of their eyes, though they really do help with that. You really need some protection from the wind above forty miles an hour, otherwise your eyes tear up really bad, even over a short distance.

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

I like the Shoei because it fits me well and I don't mind shelling out a few extra bucks for a good fitting helmet that is comfortable. I bought the RF-1000.

I need to find a good lightweight jacket for summer that offers decent protection. Mine is just too hot when the sun is out and it's approaching 80 degrees.

Fit is everything. I just didn't want him thinking that he had to spend so much on a helmet.

I personally really like Sharks too.

Are you thinking textile for that summer jacket, or leather? I really liked the MotoGP Corkscrew jacket that is on clearance from newenough.

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: Imp
Dang, all I budgeted was about $500 for helmet, gloves and jacket. I can get really nice boots for free from someone, and just going with jeans. Maybe I'll have legs in a month, maybe I won't...but I'll still have that extra $100.

You don't need to spend a lot of money to get a safe helmet ... most of the cost of high priced models goes into fancy paint and/or bells & whistles which are not required.

HJC and Bell for example makes reasonably priced & very safe helmets, in my case however neither seems to fit my head very well though & thats the most important thing to consider when buying because a comfortable helmet is not only safer but is more likely to stay where it belongs while riding ... on your head! (only consider full-face models with BOTH Snell & DOT certifications)

Joe Rocket makes some high quality & affordable leathers which are what I suggest you wear in all but the hottest weather ... they also make comfortable ballistic-nylon breathable jackets, but they don't provide nearly as much protection.

For pants, jeans are better then bare skin but not much ... if you go down they'll be shredded almost instantly & then you'll be grinding off flesh-chunks or bone (!!!) ... the most comfortable safe option is a pair of Kevlar-lined Draggin Jeans.


Grab yourself a decent pair of riding gloves & those boots from your friend (provided they fit well) & with some careful shopping you should get in below your $500 budget plus be as safe as possible on the road.

 

[imported_Imp]

Thanks for the tips. Truth is, althought I budgeted $500, I 'could' go a lot highere. And I don't care for that 'flesh-chunks' possibility... I'll look a bit closer at decent pants now. As for jacket and gloves, where do you usually pick those up? Local bike shop or internet? I've checked a few American sellers, but the shipping will probably be murder (not to mention customs). Are stores usually overpriced?

As for the helmet, I'm probably renting one first to make it past the safety course. If/when I get a bike sometime next year, I'll pick one up then. Seen some for about $200 that seem acceptable in quality.

 

[TheNinja]

Don't go with the 250, you'll have to upgrade within a year. Go at least 500. I personally didn't like riding that much. I would rather ride in a car with my buddies when we went places. When I rode my bike, I got bored just sitting there riding. That being said, get one if you want but be careful. I don't want to read about you killing yourself on these boards. Oh and have fun

 

[ballmode]

I'd rather sweat than bleed, so get good gear. It's your body parts you choose how much you can invest to protect them.

Joe Rocket
Alpinestar
Shoei
HJC
Icon
Arai

good brands

 

[Schadenfreude]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Imp
Dang, all I budgeted was about $500 for helmet, gloves and jacket. I can get really nice boots for free from someone, and just going with jeans. Maybe I'll have legs in a month, maybe I won't...but I'll still have that extra $100.

I spent $350 for the helmet alone. I picked up a jacket and boots for about another $400 on top of that.

Ditto

edit: as for the OP's post, my fist bike is a used SV650 and I couldn't be happier - granted I dropped it three times, and I couldn't even dream about getting one in a big city, but I tell you what, if you've got more stupid than sense, I'd recommend you get one of these things

I'm quite posisbly thinking about getting a Honda 599 next . . . same idea, except it's a Honda

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

I like the Shoei because it fits me well and I don't mind shelling out a few extra bucks for a good fitting helmet that is comfortable. I bought the RF-1000.

I need to find a good lightweight jacket for summer that offers decent protection. Mine is just too hot when the sun is out and it's approaching 80 degrees.

Fit is everything. I just didn't want him thinking that he had to spend so much on a helmet.

I personally really like Sharks too.

Are you thinking textile for that summer jacket, or leather? I really liked the MotoGP Corkscrew jacket that is on clearance from newenough.

Probably textile. I saw one at a local motorcycle store the other day but they only had them in XL (which is too big for me).

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: Imp
Thanks for the tips. Truth is, althought I budgeted $500, I 'could' go a lot highere. And I don't care for that 'flesh-chunks' possibility... I'll look a bit closer at decent pants now. As for jacket and gloves, where do you usually pick those up? Local bike shop or internet? I've checked a few American sellers, but the shipping will probably be murder (not to mention customs). Are stores usually overpriced?

As for the helmet, I'm probably renting one first to make it past the safety course. If/when I get a bike sometime next year, I'll pick one up then. Seen some for about $200 that seem acceptable in quality.

I'd advise against this because theres no way to be sure what you get will be undamaged & also because its pretty nasty ... even well vented helmets will make for a sweaty head!

Believe it or not you should be able to find a high quality & very safe helmet for around $120 provided you are flexible about how it looks ... try a bunch on at a local dealer to find the best size (it should feel borderline too tight at first) & then find the best price you can online.


Again I have to say that despite advice to the contrary I also strongly advise against anything larger then a 500cc bike to start out on & it would be best to go with a "standard" frame style rather then a sportbike because it'll be a lot more comfortable, PLUS will cost a lot less to repair WHEN you drop it. (note I didn't say if) The article about first bikes linked towards the beginning of this thread provides a lot of useful advice from a long-time rider and you should follow it.

 

[illusion88]

It's not if you crash it's when you are going to crash.
Buy a good leather jacket (suit would be better) with a backboard in it, good helmet, gloves shoes, the works. With your left over money buy a bike.

And don't worry about your organs if you are a donor. They won't be harvestable after they pick your broken body up off the ground.

 

[MrBond]

Don't listen to people saying you'll "grow out of the 250" in a year. So what if you do want something bigger later on, they've got insane resale value (whoever said "Buy for $2999, sell for $2799" is right). A 250 is going to be faster than most any car on the road and trust me when I say, even 55mph on a bike is exciting.

If you're going to be doing a lot of highway riding, then maybe consider a 500, but for around town riding, the 250 is great.

Also, I saw you mention you liked the YFZ-600R. Don't buy a bike based solely on displacement - there are 600cc bikes out there that are stupid fast and would make poor choices for a first bike (ie: Ninja 6R, GSX6R, etc). The older YFZ-600's might be tamer, but they're still going to be very fast. You should avoid anything with an "R" in the name for two reasons: 1) They're going to be too much for a new rider and 2) Your insurance company will rape you on the insurance.

The exception to this would be the Ninja 250R and 500R - they're just the old EX250/EX500 with a different name. That's the other thing to keep in mind too - the Ninja 250 has basically been the same bike for a long time, so don't worry too much about the age of the bike.

 

[Turin39789]

You're 18. Start small. If you're doing sportbikes(plastic yech) then you should probably start on a 250. It's not a bad idea to go ahead and get your permit by taking the written test and then signing up for the MSF course before even buying your bike. They have their own bikes, and may have loaner helmets available.

Also, it's transportation and it can be dangerous. You seem to have a good head on your shoulders, but that's no reason for us all not to keep saying ride safe and always be aware. Don't showboat on the road and always keep an eye on other motorists and the road.