Does anybody have any advice for somebody looking to buy their first bike?
I’m 18 and I’d really like to get one in the next couple of years. I’m really not looking for speed right now, at least until I’m more confident in my skills and being able to handle a faster bike.
I’ve heard the Ninja 500 is a good starter bike that has enough pep to make it fun but isn’t TOO quick and is pretty stable to ride.
BTW, I’m a pretty big guy (at 6’4"ish), so does anybody who has experience with some of those bikes think they’d be too small for me?
[quote]jtrinsey wrote:
Does anybody have any advice for somebody looking to buy their first bike?
I’m 18 and I’d really like to get one in the next couple of years. I’m really not looking for speed right now, at least until I’m more confident in my skills and being able to handle a faster bike.[/quote]
It’s pretty rare to see people like you. Most newbies buy the most powerful bike they can afford then end up in a ditch or worse 3 months later.
Do the MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) class. It’s the best way to learn good skills right from the beginning. They give classes everywhere, just take a look at their website.
That will give you an easy way to obtain a license (at least in CA the DMV will waive the driving test if you take the MSF class). With the license in your pocket it should be easy to borrow a bike and try it out. See if the Ninja 500 is OK for you.
Or you can start on a Ninja 250. It’s even more forgiving and newbie-friendly, even cheaper - if you dump it, it won’t bankrupt you. Just ask these guys:
After a year or two, you can upgrade to a more powerful bike. The Ninja 250 keeps its value pretty well so you won’t lose much by selling it.
There’s a guy in my area who used to race professionally. When we’re doing group rides, he shows up on a Ninja 250. Of course, in the straight lines, when any monkey can squeeze a throttle, everyone else catches up with him. But you should see cocky wanabee “racers”, riding powerful literbikes, struggling to keep up with him in the twisties and failing miserably. lol
That’s one more reason to try out a few bikes before you decide.
[quote]E-man wrote:
I’ve always had mixed answers on insurance. Some say very high some say very low. What do you guys pay?[/quote]
obviously depends on the basic things like displacement, age/accident/violation history.
I have one speeding violation on my record and nothing else. at age 20 i pay 300$ a year for “useless” coverage on a 996cc (2001 honda vtr1000 superhawk).
useless coverage is the bare minimum liability. which you can only opt for if you actually own your motorcycle outright.
[quote]jtrinsey wrote:
Does anybody have any advice for somebody looking to buy their first bike?
I’m 18 and I’d really like to get one in the next couple of years. I’m really not looking for speed right now, at least until I’m more confident in my skills and being able to handle a faster bike.
I’ve heard the Ninja 500 is a good starter bike that has enough pep to make it fun but isn’t TOO quick and is pretty stable to ride.
BTW, I’m a pretty big guy (at 6’4"ish), so does anybody who has experience with some of those bikes think they’d be too small for me?[/quote]
I’ve been riding since I was young. I started riding dirt bikes when i was 8 and I have rode ever since. If this is your first time riding a street bike get a small bike and don’t pay a crap load for it. DO NOT get the newest fastest bike in production today if you do not know how to ride!!!
I can not stress this enough. I live in a fairly well off part of town and I see high school kids on toned down racing machines racing up and down the street and when they crash thier parents go around hollering and screaming because thier kid got hurt.
Under no circumstance should you let your pride get in the way of common sense.
Start off slow and learn a while, sure people will talk shit because you aren’t riding the newest fastest bike, but at least you’ll be around to ride next summer instead of being road pizza.
[quote]E-man wrote:
I’ve always had mixed answers on insurance. Some say very high some say very low. What do you guys pay?[/quote]
Last year I was paying 119.00 per year full coverage on a 2001 Kawasaki ZX7R. Mine was lower than most because I have had motorcycle safety courses and I have been a licensed rider since I was 15. My bike was also paid off and that helps a bunch too.
I have a somewhat ageing ZX9R but was thinking of getting something newer and faster. Insurance is pretty cheap on limited miles. Probably be looking at something like a 2004 or so YZFR1.
I hear ya. I just sold me ZX6. I couldn’t afford the insurance anymore and didn’t have the time to ride anymore either. It was hard to let it go, but maybe later in life I wll get another.
I gotta say that i’m impressed with all the “Kawi” owners in this thread! It seems like we are the majority for once. LOL
The first bike I learned how to ride was a 1980 Honda CM200T. It was my grandfathers bike while he was alive and my dad got it after he passed. It was sitting in our garage for years before I fired it up. Learning to ride on that thing was the best thing I could have done. All my buddies has rockets and I had a glorified moped. It would only go 70 if I was riding downhill with a stiff wind coming from my back. I learned a lot riding on that bike. But most of all I learned respect for the road and traffic.
My next bike was a 99’ ZX7R and I loved that thing. It sill brings a tear to my eye just thinking about it. Like I said, I just sold it acouple of months ago to plan for our future. Stupid future!!! LOL I was also fortunate enough to know a lot of people who had bikes, so I was able to ride a lot of different models before I bought mine. I rode, Gixxers, R1s, CBRs, Katanas, ZX9R, ZX7R, and Aprillia. Out of all those models the ZX7 is the bike I feel in love with. Being a bigger guy, not huge or anything, I liked that the ZX7 was a bit bigger than the other bikes. I felt too big on the other bikes. They just weren’t comfortable to me. So, if you can, ride as many different bikes as you can before you buy one.
[quote]jtrinsey wrote:
Does anybody have any advice for somebody looking to buy their first bike?[/quote]
For starters, don’t buy a “crotch rocket” — they’re for punks and dipsteens only.
Get a cruiser type bike (sitting back as opposed to being over the gas tank). It’s not as hard on the wrists and your ability to rotate your neck to check out the periphery is better. Comfort and safety are much more important than speed.
Picture a Harley, but you don’t have to go that expensive on your first bike. The less expensive asian bikes have many cruiser-style models.
Honestly, I’m not too “up” on current model names and numbers. I have always preferred Hondas and Kawasakis for their ride and handling, but Yamaha has really improved the smoothness of their ride from days gone by.
[quote]jtrinsey wrote:
Does anybody have any advice for somebody looking to buy their first bike?
[/quote]
I just turned 19 and got my first bike a few months ago, its a Suzuki SV650 naked model. Single cylinder so it has a shit load of torque and will keep up with an R6 all day long. Absolute blast to ride. Also, seat position is a bit higher so it’s comfortable as well. Theres my .02.
I had a phase with them a couple years back. They are very nice bikes! I’m 6’5" though and after awhile, my back couldn’t take hunching over continuously. So I just sold mine and now I cruise with a 2005 Suzuki Boulevard M50 Black. Much more relaxing but not as much adrenaline pumping!
Though I’m much more impressed with the technology that goes into these things. It’s just fascinating seeing a simple machine hitting 150MPH like nothing. And we’re not even discussing Hayabusa’s! Talk about awe-mazing!