Recommendations for a first standard/naked sport bike

[SRTie4k]

A friend at work is looking to buy his first street bike, and he wants something that is comfortable but somewhat sporty at the same time, and of course cheap. He wants to commute with it to work, and of course he also wants to be able to have some fun on it and carve some corners when not commuting. He has riding experience, although not a lot. I put together the following list.

Standard Sport Bikes:
FZ6
SV650S (2003-)
Ninja 650R
Ninja 500R
GS500/GS500F

Naked Sport Bikes:
SV650n
Street Triple
599
ER-6N
Gladius
Monster
XB9S

Small Displacement/Motards:
Ninja 250R/300R
CBR250R
DRZ400sm

Dual Sports:
V-Strom DL650
KLR650?



Anyone have anything to add to that list? I'm thinking he'll probably stick more towards the Standard/Naked Sport Bike lists.

[nhbubba]

You need to put the Bandit 600/Bandit 650 in somewhere too.
Maybe Honda Nighthawk 750 too?

[nt650hawk]

1988-1991

[SRTie4k]

I had considered the Hawk GT, but its a very hard to find bike and IMO very overpriced when you do find one.

I'm also assuming he doesn't want something older.

I'll add the Bandit to the list, though.

[jbmass]

ummm.....TL1000S

[SRTie4k]

I specifically left 1000's off the list.

[Point37]

just saw this while poking around on CL...
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/mcy/3691870576.html

[Kurlon]

You've got Monsters, which are getting easy to find in the smaller displacements for reasonable money now, good. The GS500 is an oddball, the older ones can be found cheap, for some reason people think the newer ones are minted from pure gold (doubly so the fully faired ones) when selling them used so be sure to shop around on those.

The Katana is a staple beginners work horse. The Yam YZF600R and later YZF600RS (AKA first gen fuel injected 03-05 R6) machines could be good starter mounts too.

[csmutty]

just saw this while poking around on CL...
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/mcy/3691870576.html

Someone on the boards went and looked at it and said it was a POS.

[Chippertheripper]

Someone on the boards went and looked at it and said it was a POS.

Thanks for saving me the trip. Srs.

[nhbubba]

I had considered the Hawk GT, but its a very hard to find bike and IMO very overpriced when you do find one.

I don't think that is universally true. I've seen what look like reasonable deals posted up by the Hawk nuts here. Enough so that I think it should be in your buddies search list, even if he never gets any reasonable hits for it.

The mid 90's VFR is on my list too. I've seen some for pretty reasonable money. Not sure if they are starter-bike material though.

[SRTie4k]

It can't hurt I guess.

[Falko]

Shiver?

[SRTie4k]

Not enough support around here for Aprilias.

[fineout]

if youre including the DL650, the Versys although its a bit of a tall bike

[Chippertheripper]

Busa.

[SRTie4k]

He already had a Busa and said it was too slow.

[curiouser]

Busa.

Hah! Was waiting for that.

Maybe add the BMW F650GS to the dual sport list?

[tom5796]

Still available: http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...maha-FZ6-4-000

[SRTie4k]

Still available: http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...maha-FZ6-4-000

Screw my friend, I want that!

[Doc]

I had considered the Hawk GT, but its a very hard to find bike and IMO very overpriced when you do find one.

I'm also assuming he doesn't want something older.

I'll add the Bandit to the list, though.

They are rare but you can find good examples for $1800-2000.

Then again if he doesn't want anything "older" his price range is most likely hihger.

[No Quarter]

Shameless self promotion...but, probably one of the most dependable bikes ever made, and seems to fit the bill.
http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...00-(Epping-NH)

[fineout]

wouldnt a heavy, fast vfr be a bit much for a first bike?

[nhbubba]

Way too nice as well. IMO.

[jwm2k3]

Dont get a Brutale 910R. Mine sucked.