[quote]jehovasfitness wrote:
seems rather cheap
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Motorcycles___1993-suzuki-katana-gsx-600-will-ship-anywhere-cheappppp_W0QQitemZ270249216532QQddnZMotorcyclesQQddiZ2283QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item270249216532&
[/quote]
Yeah and for good reason. No doubt that windscreen was broken in an off and the rear tyre has been doing some serious burnouts. Steer clear.
[quote]medevac wrote:
I just got my first bike after doing the MSF last fall. It is a Suzuki GS500E '95 and I paid like a grand for it. I wanted something that was reliable and fun that I could learn on, and not freak out when I do something stupid like not put the kickstand down all the way and dump it.
Now compare this to a kid at work who went out and bought a 600cc off the rack sportbike (brand new rider) and was approaching a red light the second week he owned it. A car stopped short and freaked him out and he grabbed the front brake too hard…went over at like 5 mph and ended up with only a bruise. The fairing however didn’t do so well and now it sits in his garage because he’s pulling a Maverick after the spill.
I do have a couple of questions for the riders out there:
I work on a mountain and we went up there today to ride a bit (not fast). I noticed going down the mountain that I could either leave the bike in gear (like a car) and let that slow me but it seemed like it was revving way too high. Or I could coast and break before each corner but I felt like I was going a bit too fast. Is there anything wrong with keeping it in gear and letting that slow me down regardless of RPM?
Also I am having trouble feeling the gear lever with my foot. I keep having to look down because I can’t tell if I’m on it or not. Right now I’m wearing my duty boots…do riding boots make any difference? Or do you just get used to where it is over time (I’ve only ridden the bike twice so far).
Thanks.[/quote]
You can brake while engine braking to take the load off the engine. If its revving to high just go up a gear and brake more.
You will learn in time to ride in your work boots. That being said I feel naked riding without my sidi boots and they make shifting gears almost telepathic.
edit: all I said before was dribble lol
do not get any of these china made bikes
if you want fast not too fast user friendly get a suzuki gs500 or a 500f I promise you will not be sorry
the difference is the 500f has a full fairing on it I think they look much better
the other is a naked sport bike
they are about 3000 brand new
that or the ninja 250 or 500 are also good choices
you can have them change the pegs,controls,suspension hight all that within reason
also no litter bikes no race inspired bikes like a yahama f6 or gsxr these are not freindly bikes and in what I do I get way too many insurance jobs where I gotta swap frames on a bike where a new rider laid it down going too fast.
Ok thanks guys…no it’s not getting close to redlining, probably 6K or so…it just seems worse because I’m sitting over the motor I guess. I also tried to brake with more rear brake to let the front ones cool off. I don’t know if the weight of a bike could make it overheat like a car but it happens to 4 wheel vehicles all day on the mountain.
The shift thing I guess I’ll get used to because it seems like the pegs are set fine for me (no real problem reaching them, feels natural to shift). My work boots have to be steel toe so it just seems like I have no idea where my foot is in relation to the pegs with out looking.
[quote]nichaaron wrote:
if you want fast not too fast user friendly get a suzuki gs500 or a 500f I promise you will not be sorry[/quote]
Mine’s an older one (95) but it seems to go fast enough for me and it’s hella cheap for parts because they really haven’t changed a lot on the GSs on my model in years.
[quote]nichaaron wrote:
the difference is the 500f has a full fairing on it I think they look much better
the other is a naked sport bike[/quote]
I think the opposite actually, I like the fairingless look myself but I don’t race or ride long distances so wind and aerodynamics may mean less to me.
[quote]nichaaron wrote:
they are about 3000 brand new
that or the ninja 250 or 500 are also good choices[/quote]
Yeah I got mine for like a grand and you can find them all day long out here for a similar cost. I guess a lot of people try them out as beginner bikes.
I’ve also heard good things about the Ninja 250/500s. A guy at work was bashing me when I was thinking about one and I went over all the reasons why I didn’t want a CBR (his bike) or a 600 whatever.
I explained that I was a total beginner (while he was raised on dirt bikes), and that speed meant nothing to me at this point other than being able to keep up with traffic. For me all I want out of my first bike is something to increase my skill level (from complete zero) and to have some fun. I also didn’t want the stress of worrying about theft or every little scratch on it. My goal this year is to 1. not die and 2. have fun.
His argument consisted of one point: other bikers will laugh at you. I guess that’s the difference in views between being 22 and 36.
Anyway I retorted that people can laugh at you for a variety of reasons and that your choice of transportation was probably the least important one to consider. For example, I told him, I can bench press more than him yet I don’t laugh at his petty attempts at lifting. For some reason this irritated him. 
[quote]medevac wrote:
I just got my first bike after doing the MSF last fall. It is a Suzuki GS500E '95 and I paid like a grand for it. I wanted something that was reliable and fun that I could learn on, and not freak out when I do something stupid like not put the kickstand down all the way and dump it.
Now compare this to a kid at work who went out and bought a 600cc off the rack sportbike (brand new rider) and was approaching a red light the second week he owned it. A car stopped short and freaked him out and he grabbed the front brake too hard…went over at like 5 mph and ended up with only a bruise. The fairing however didn’t do so well and now it sits in his garage because he’s pulling a Maverick after the spill.
I do have a couple of questions for the riders out there:
[/quote]
Leave it in gear, I am pretty sure it won’t bring you anywhere near the engine redline. Save your brakes for when you need them.
[quote]
Thanks.[/quote]
You should get used to it unless your boots are too wide.