First motorcycle recommendations?

[longjohn50000]

Way underpowered

http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&tsn=1&tid=1233&webtag=ab-motorcycles4
After research I've decided on a smaller first bike - the Kawasaki Ninja 250- and hopefully I can find one used. The reasoning: most newbies will drop or damage their bikes so don't waste too much money on the first bike.

Any comments on first bikes from experienced riders?

250 is way underpowered and you might end up getting hurt worst than on a bigger bike. You don't really have to have large CC's for good HP and torque ratings. There are some 750cc bikes that out perform my 1450cc HD.

 

[tboy]

While that Kawi is nice, the mass is just so much it can't be as nimble as smaller bikes. Probably be great for open roads but try to wind it out along rosedale valley road and I bet a 4 or 600 would kick it's ass. At 474 lbs it is pretty frickin heavy too (though for 1300+ cc's it is light for it's size).

Call me old but a crotch rocket just doesn't appeal to me any longer...give me a sweet 883 or sportster anyday

 

[Smash]

http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&tsn=1&tid=1233&webtag=ab-motorcycles4

After research I've decided on a smaller first bike - the Kawasaki Ninja 250- and hopefully I can find one used. The reasoning: most newbies will drop or damage their bikes so don't waste too much money on the first bike.

Any comments on first bikes from experienced riders?

Great to hear you're choice for a first bike... I applaud you..
It's really good to hear a first time rider go the smart route.
I have been riding sportbikes for 10 years, I ride a Gixxer750. Whenever I'm parked with my bike dudes would tell me that they're going to buy a R1/ Ninja or Gixxer and when I ask them how long they've been ridin they say this will be his first bike..

I always try and talk them out of it.

Like I said it's good that you're doing it the smart way.. A 250 would be fine for you if you plan on doing allot of city/subburbs ridin. If you plan on using the highway's and ridin 2-up I would reccomend a USED Suzuki SV650.
Great bike reliable and more then enuff power for a new rider.

Also you need to consider you're height/weight when selecting a bike.

Remember to get a used bike just in case you drop it (fairings are exxpensive) or after a few months you decide you don't really like ridin after all. The used bike will resell for almost what you paid for it

My top bikes for a new rider are...

1) Suz SV650......used
2) Honda 599......used
3) Suz Katana 600.....used

These are all great reliable bikes that look and perform excellent.
I would also reccomend taking the fast rider course. It will improve you're skillz 10 fold. Good luck and take it slow

 

[peeler_feeler]

Oh did I mention you better wear your leathers, for your safety. Because you will have an accident.

EU

I hope to NOT have an accident, however your advice is well taken, I will be buying the appropriate gear.

 

[21pro]

Sorry, a lil' off topic, but curious? Taking a peek at dudes riding around their bikes during the summer, I couldn' help noticing 2 x-teme differences in biking attire ......


THE EASY BREASY TYPE

ride around with barely wearing a T-shirt
cut off T's, shorts, a pair of sneakers, that's it

THE READY TO RUMBLE TYPE

wearing more leather than a dominatrix
leather jacket, pants, gloves, boots, name it
?

which brings to mind... I saw a crazy wipe out today near Bolton. some guy on a 90's something larger Kawasaki frame took a fast corner at an intersection... we all know how much salt, sand and gravel is still on the roads... well, this biker was clueless to it.. he went down into a table top slide, (thank goodness i was the only traffic around), slid right through the intersection before catching the curb with his tires, which flipped him airborne, still holding on to the bike and still in seated positioning... then he crashed into a 10ft chainlink fence and bounced off the fence rolled 2x's with the bike and finally came to rest in a ditch.. i quickly stopped my car, ran over to check to see if he was ok, he picks the bike up and rushed to start it up a.s.a.p.. when the bike started he told me to fuck off and sped away..! guess he was emberassed of his stupidity... my concern was that by the way he sped away that he was going to do the exact same thing come the next intersection...

BTW... though he wasn't in riding gear, i think he sparred himself a little by atleast wearing work boots of some type, a full face helmet, jeans and a 'hockey coach' type leather jacket...

... and to think some ride in t-shirts, shorts, and flip-flops for shoes!!!

 

[goodtime]

Heard Bell spend bundle on safety testing. Seems like a lot of serious riders use them.

Ninja is a good looking bike.

 

[darkknight77]

First Bike for Tall (6'3") Rider?

Seems like there are a lot of riders on this site so I thought I'd ask if anyone has any recommendations for a first bike for tall riders (I'm 6'3").

I think the riding position for the crotch rockets are too extreme for someone like me, but the sport-touring bikes (Yamaha FZ600, pretty well anything by BMW) seem more upright and comfortable.

Any recommendations? If you're taller than 6', I'd be interested in hearing what you ride.

--DK77

 

[Smash]

Seems like there are a lot of riders on this site so I thought I'd ask if anyone has any recommendations for a first bike for tall riders (I'm 6'3").

Any recommendations? If you're taller than 6', I'd be interested in hearing what you ride.--DK77

I would suggest a USED Suzuki Katana.. Great first time bike nice comfortable riding position and still enough JAM for the highway and riding 2-up.
You can find a 2 year old one for under $5000 with helmet/leathers. Cheep on insurance and reliable. Nice meatly bike for a taller fella.

Just remember to take it easy no matter which bike you go with. Don't let the cc size fool you, a 600 can go 150+mph and reach 0-60 in under 4sec.

Good Luck

 

[wetnose]

LUST, baby, just pure lust!!!!

 

[healer677]

My first bike was a 750 cruiser -years ago. It was bulletproof. I abused that poor sob for near a decade. Two years ago I got a new bike and am in the process of chroming it up. But even now -a 750. I don't mind the Honda 1300's. The 1800 are a bit lurchy but the 750 for my purposes is perfect. I've ridden most bikes and styles out there -sportbikes, tourers, baggers, bobbers, even the odd dirt bike. But I always go back to the 750 / 800's as my favorite.

My arms are too short for most chopper style bikes and I'm too short for most sport tourers.lol

Try a 750 / 800 Jap -lots in the market, comfy seats, flat feet on the ground and it's like riding a lazyboy. Easy to customize, tons of parts and cheap on insurance.

 

[healer677]

btw -darkknight77 what kind of riding will you be doing? Bar hops, downtown, long tours? Pick a bike that's more suited for what type of riding you plan to do. Then pick a budget. Off the top of my head - Aprilia, Hayabusa, Fat Boy, the Arlen Ness Victory, BMW heck even a Ural (in the original combat green) but each bike has a specific purpose more or less.

 

[Doctor Zoidburg]

My advice :

Don't!

I hit one once in my car, he was doing 90 km / hr. on a city street and he had a stop sign at the intersection and I did not. On another occasion I was hit by a motorcyle in the rear of the car.................


Splat! Like a fly!

 

[tboy]

holy ressurrected threads batman.....

Ah hitting and falling are some of the joys of two wheeled riding. There are two types of riders:

Those who have fallen off and survived
Those who are going to fall off.......

Nevermind the imitation jap cruisers. For the same money you can buy the real deal.

Check out robinson motors or any of the other used harley dealers around. You can get awesome bikes at great prices......

(btw, I had my bike licence 2 yrs before I had my car licence and I've fallen off, hit something, oh, maybe 4 times? I do have some nice road rash scars though......)

 

[jbtoronto]

You're right, that's one very old thread to resurrect. I'll counter the advice with:

Do it!

Life is too short to spend it in dull ways. I've had my M license for about 12 years, since I was in my 20s. Never dropped, no accidents. I don't think it's a coincidence that I've also never had a drop of alcohol before riding, I never ever speed, I never ride when upset/tired/etc., and I always always always assume I'm completely invisible to everyone else particularly "cagers" talking on their cell phones in cars packed with screaming kids.

I've owned everything from a behemoth of a Harley to a tiny Vespa (frankly, I liked the latter more). Currently ride a 2007 Triumph Bonneville (865cc standard bike), and would actually recommend that as a candidate for good first bike.

I agree with an early poster than a 250cc is a bit underpowered even for a starter bike. Probably a reliable 650cc is a better way to go: not really that much more weight, but ample oomph for highways. Much easier to resell too. Others to consider:

Yamaha V-Star 650 (cruiser - shaft drive)
Kawasaki KLR650 (dual sport - dependable old tech)
Kawasaki Ninja 650R (sport - fights pirates)
Suzuki SV650 (standard -- ABS available)

And here's a brief article about things to consider before buying your first bike:

http://motorcycles.about.com/od/howtostartridin1/bb/buy_first_bike.htm

 

[diehard]

don't "duck walk".
when you stop, keep the right foot on the brake pedal.

It's safer and doesn't cause a bad impression when you start moving after a green light.

also, ride the bicycle like it's a car, never try zig zagging.

and always remember, you're vulnerable no matter what.

 

[tboy]

The advice "ride like you're invisible" is the best advice so far.

I sold my 600 ninja after nearly getting run into a guardrail at 120 kph by someone who changed lanes without looking. I rode for 18 yrs prior to that and encountered all kinds of near misses but that one really shook me.

I was on my way to pick up a cute little lady friend and when she came out from work and saw the look on my face she was freaked. I drove us home, parked the bike and never rode it again.

 

[diehard]

The advice "ride like you're invisible" is the best advice so far.

I sold my 600 ninja after nearly getting run into a guardrail at 120 kph by someone who changed lanes without looking. I rode for 18 yrs prior to that and encountered all kinds of near misses but that one really shook me.

I was on my way to pick up a cute little lady friend and when she came out from work and saw the look on my face she was freaked. I drove us home, parked the bike and never rode it again.

ride like your visible, you mean?

 

[diehard]

Many friends of mine who have/had motorcycles were involved in an accident, some are crippled.

 

[tboy]

ride like your visible, you mean?

No, ride like you're invisible to all the other maniacs out there. Meaning: drive like you know they don't see you so never put yourself into a position where you can get hurt by them not seeing you.

In other words: drive directly in front of them (even then some are pretty frickin blind), drive directly behind them, but never drive in ANY vehicles blind spot........

When I almost was run off the road my back wheel was paralell to the passenger door and the passenger was actually looking at me while the driver drifted over.......I actually thought the driver was doing it on purpose until he swerved allowing me back onto the road at the last second.....

 

[21pro]

the guy is 43 now, but nonetheless a great thread... especially on a day like today.