I would have to echo at least one thing that most everyone agress on here is take a Motorcycle Safety Course. If you don’t do anything else right, at least taking the course will have helped you out.
As far as 1st bikes, my first one was a Ducati 748, like the one below. To me it was an excellent one to ride. At needless to say I didn’t kill myself. Everything about the bike was smooth which made it easy to learn on.
After I many years of riding that Ducati I finally got rid of it for a 2005 Suz. Hyabusa 1300. This bike can move but it’s also fun to ride.
Whatever you decide on, just be safe and don’t act stupid. It’s too easy to get killed, especially a newbie. I’ve seen it happen.
thanks for all the input guys, i will definetly write down some advice everyone has so i can recall it when i go looking again at the bike dealership.
i will also let you guys know what i liked/disliked and that good stuff and what else i looked at.
just address acouple comments, i have looked into the MSF safety course and i am going to take it ASAP, however the testing centers i called that are local to my area are totally booked till OCTOBER!! but once i have the chance to take the safety course i will.
oh and i didnt really consider buying used, but i will now. i dont really like buying used autos. i have one now(car) and im getting rid of it.
My first non-dirt bike was a Suzuki GS550 LE (I believe, it’s been a while now). This beast wasn’t overly powerful but she was a nice four cylinder machine with lots of chrome. Very smooth for the longer rides.
It’s been a few years, but I’m thinking I might get something soon. I don’t want anything that has me all hunched over and uncomfortable, but neither do I want a completely boring motor home on two wheels.
Wait a second here… I myself considered a Katana for my first bike and quickly reconsidered after some research. But an R6 as a first bike?? (At least I thought I saw someone suggest that…) Are you HIGH??? R6’s, while 600’s, are superbikes. Period. I know way too many people first hand who bought those thinking “ah, it’s JUST A 600…” Right. A week later it’s totalled.
I ended up w/ a Yamaha YZF600R as my first bike. The “little brother” of the R6 / R1. It’s a but heavier, bit has a more upright stance (only slightly) and quite a bit of much more MANAGEABLE and usable power, especially for a beginner.
Get something that you will be happy with for a while. It doesn’t take long to grow into (and subsequently OUT OF) a bike. But nothing insane. Not that an R6 is insane, but it is a bit much for a first time street bike.
A couple of other tips, if I may:
Take a rider’s safety course. It makes all the difference in the world.
TRUST NO ONE. This goes for a couple things.
a) Other Drivers. NO ONE is looking out for you. Just be 125% aware of your surroundings.
b) Your “buddy” that swears he’s a good rider and wants to test ride your rocket. NO WAY. 95% of the bike accidents I know of were caused by this. Bikes are different from cars. Knowing how to ride one is not necessarily knowing how to ride them all. It almost always ends bad.
Other than that… slow, look, lean, roll. You’ll hear more of that in the rider’s safety course.
Oh and a couple more suggestions for beginner bikes:
Of course these are all crotch-rocket style. Maybe you want a cruiser-type? I dunno. Like it was mentioned above, depends on WHY you wanna ride. I love crotch-rockets, but I really have a bad itch to build rigid chopper now as well. If I had my way, I’d have about six bikes.
[quote]lynxx wrote:
oh and i didnt really consider buying used, but i will now. i dont really like buying used autos. i have one now(car) and im getting rid of it.
[/quote]
DO consider this, especially for a first bike. Dollars to donuts, it will be dropped once. It’s always a little easier on the ego / soul / etc if you drop one that has character already. Plus you can pay it off more quickly, sell it, and upgrade earlier!
Before I goto spanish class thanks again for the input and ill keep everyone updated on the bike i choose. also if anyone has any good resources on the internet to research bikes on that would be helpful. also any magazines or consumer reports. i didnt goto consumerreports.com but they only had cars, no bikes.
and im going to the MSF safety course! relax, i just gotta find a place thats not totally booked up like i said before.
I would not recommend buying a used motorcycle. Most motorcycle’s that have been previously owned have been seriously abused. It will cost you just a little bit more to get a brand new bike. The little extra money is well worth it. The first 1000 miles on a motorcycle is very important, it’s the time when the bike is broken in and if not done properly can ruin the bike forever.
When I bought my first sport bike it was a 92 ninja, which had been abused and never really ran right. Then I bought a new yamaha R6, and a few laters a new R1.
Everyone has there own opinion, but I would strongly encourage to buy a new bike, you will be much happier and save a lot of headache as well as money on repair costs.
One other thing is you should sit on all the different brands of bikes you are thinking about and see which one feels most comfortable to you. I like the yamaha posistion because it feels like you have so much control over the bike.
Good luck with you first bike man, once you start riding you will never stop!
NO KATANA! The “little brothers” Yamaha YZF600 and Kawasaki ZZR600 are great bikes to learn on. I’ve seen many people learn on the old CBR600 F1,F2, etc. I never cared for the bike myself, but it is (was) a popular model.
The motorcycle safety course is great, but there are also some other great riding schools out there. Spending some track time on a bike will teach you valuable lessons.
[quote]LowfatMatt wrote:
Wait a second here… I myself considered a Katana for my first bike and quickly reconsidered after some research. But an R6 as a first bike?? (At least I thought I saw someone suggest that…) Are you HIGH??? R6’s, while 600’s, are superbikes. Period. I know way too many people first hand who bought those thinking “ah, it’s JUST A 600…” Right. A week later it’s totalled.[/quote]
I think much of that has to do with the mentality of the rider. I haven’t had that problem. I do agree that someone may be more inclined to go beyond their means with a superbike simply because the power is there. It is like being Superman but trying hard not to fly.
The current 600 sport bikes are wickedly fast. I guarantee you won’t be wishing for something faster for a very long time (if ever).
Personally, I’m partial to the Kawasakis. You should definitely check out the Ninja ZX-6R. Everyone is raving about the new-generation '05 model. It’s the bike to get this year. Definitely put one of them on your list.
If you are looking for something slightly less powerful and a little more comfortable, the ZZR600 isn’t a bad choice, either.
hey i had the same problem for my safety course in NJ. Even though they say they are booked, u should still go down to the course on the testing day. Alot of times people dont show up, and they will take u in as standby. This is what i did and it worked perfect. I advise getting there at least 1 or2hrs early though. But its better to wait a couple extra hours then a few months.
good luck
In WA, you can either take the state-subsidized course, which of course has a multi-month waiting list, or you can pay the full price yourself and get in quickly. They offer additional sessions at full price, that the state doesn’t pay for, so people who do want to take it quickly can do so. It works.
alright fellas its down to two…this is if im buying new…sorry lowfat but i just havent looked at used bikes…yet
but anyway
katana 600 vs yamaha yzf600r
the katana i do like, its comfortable, everyone says it has enough power for me for my first bike and i like the looks as well. and its much cheaper then the yamaha, which scores points in my book
the yamaha i must say when i saw it i fell in love with it, when i got on it i loved it even more. same if not more comfortable then the katana in my opinion and the looks are awesome. however its way more expensive then the katana. its not completely out of my price range, i can AFFORD up to 7k, that doesnt mean i cant buy the thing, 7k is just that absolute tops i wanted to spend on a bike. but i can take acouple hundred dollars more damage (taxes, helmet, protective clothing)
so…
katata 600
cheaper, very comfortable,good looks and it is a wiser financial choice
yamaha yzf600r
awesome looks, very comfortable however not the best choice financially
again thanks again guys!
btw, i still gotta look at the used bike market here but those are what id like to buy new
I noticed that they didn’t review a Kawasaki ZZR600 in that review, which sounds like it would fit your list. However, it’s also probably going to be $6k+ when you deal the dealer down, so it’s going to be similar to the Yamaha.
I would say, go with the bike that moves your soul. You want to really connect with this bike. Don’t forget to go check out the Kawasaki. I think you owe it to yourself.
Once you pick the bike that connects with you on a deeper level, if that bike costs a little more, you should pick that bike. If it costs a lot more, then maybe you need to consider your priorities. The Katana might be a nice bike if it means you can afford it where the others are going to make financial life uncomfortable. I guess it depends on how big the difference is. But don’t pick a bike you are going to be sorry you bought in a year.
A little review on the Can-o-tuna you are considering.
I would assume that any bike he is considering would be newer than either of these, but interesting read![/quote]
This was just a comparo of the two he had indicated he was considering. I don’t believe either model has any changes done to it since the review was done.
I owned a Katana and was not happy with the handling at all, the bike was very reliable and looked great but the performance was definitly lacking. It was my first bike also and I grew out of it so to speek in about 6 months. Good luck, Thad
This was just a comparo of the two he had indicated he was considering. I don’t believe either model has any changes done to it since the review was done.
I love motorcycles![/quote]
They don’t make the FZR600 anymore. YZF’s replaced them
