I Need a Bike

[LowSider]

In 53 days I will get my permit. I would to have a bike by then but I am not sure which to get.

My brother has a Suzuki GSXR600 but I want something a little less common.
I wouldnt like to spend anymore then $8,000 if i can help it. It doesnt have to be new but something '03 or '04 in good condition would be great. I want a 750-800 and would like to put duel exhaust on it, if it can be done.

Could you start naming some motorcycles, the good and bad about it, and if you have it, what you think about it.
Thanks.

[13]

no

[HBerry]

Who are you, where you from? Have you ridden before?

[OreoGaborio]

.................................

ok I lied, i'll participate & throw in my $.02 (i'm at work, not like there's anything better to do, right? )

First, welcome to the site hope ya find what you're lookin for & you'll definitely learn a shitload if you stick around like I did

Second.... Dare i ask?...... Why 53 days? Guessing it has to do w/ your username?

Either way, the last thing I would suggest to ANY new rider, no matter what their prior two-weeled experience & level of maturity, is a brand new 750 supersport as their first bike... it's really just not reasonable. If you wanna spend 8 grand & get a brand new 750 superbike then by all means do so, but you gotta be willing to accept the consequences that come with owning and riding such an expensive and powerfull bike as your "learner bike"

What is it exactly that you're looking to get out of your first bike? Are you just looking to learn how to ride motorcycles or learn how to be a Motorcyclist? It's very easy to learn how to ride a motorcycle on just about anything w/ two wheels.... learning how to ride WELL in an efficient manner is not. Just about any sportbike that's less than a year or three old is pretty difficult to quickly learn how to ride well. The two main things you've got going against you with a bike like this is that you're always worried about dropping it ($$$) and fuel injected bikes are much more sensitive to throttle inputs, especially near the on/off throttle zone. Therefore it takes alot more finesse to operate a motorcycle smoothly at low speeds.

Now there are hundreds of reasons why a new rider shouldn't get a brand new sportbike and just as many reasons why you would want to get an older slightly less powerful bike.

A mid-late 90's 600cc supersport looks just as good to the chicks, gets you respect from the riders that REALLY know what they're doing (they see a new rider learning on an appropriate bike & not a new rider getting way over his or her head), it's easier to handle, easier to learn on, easier ride, more forgivable and therefore inspires confidence which will help keep you interested in riding... no sense in scaring you out of the motorcycling community w/ a bike that's way over the top. It also won't get you in trouble quite as fast. (Now obviously just about any bike will get you in trouble, some just take a little longer to get to that point & gives more time for the thought "WTF am i doing???" to pop into your head )

So with that said, you asked for opinions on a bike to get? I'll give you my opinion (now i'm sure someone's gonna say "opinions are like a$$holes, everyone's got one & they all stink" right? )

SV650 or SV650S... great bike, dependable, not terribly expensive, smooth powerband, easy to handle.

just about any mid-late 600cc sportbike. Same as above with full fairings & sportier look depending on model. CBR F2, CBR F3, ZX6R, YZF600R, etc (those are the best that come to mind right off the bat)

[JeffL]

I'm going to go out on a limb, and guess he hasnt even turned 16 yet, in which case, the last thing I'd suggest to you is buying a motorcycle of ANY kind. Get a car and learn what a jungle it is out there, and how to navigate the hundreds and thousands of morons that call themselves drivers, then decide from there if you want to move yourself from a fellow "driver" to a moving target in the road.

[LowSider]

I am not looking for a training bike, I want something that will last me a few years. I don't mean some old shit box that has a year left in it, I mean something that I wont out grow and need to replace soon. Nothing so weak I am going to get board with.
I want it to at least last me though the rest of highschool. Then I can get something more advanced if I want.



I have had this name since the 4th grade, no truth behind it.

[JeffL]

Get a mid 90's XXX Brand XXX Model 600cc sport bike, and wear buy some gear, dont be a squid.

And.........

Aha! I knew it, hes not even 16 yet.

[LowSider]

I have been plowing driveways for a few MA-winters, I know how to drive.

If I get a motorcycle I can drive 6 months sooner.
I am going to get one.

[FazerChic]

Originally posted by DrunkDriver
I want it to at least last me though the rest of highschool.

[OreoGaborio]

I edited my post above and listed some bikes that will both be easy to learn on and you won't outgrow anytime soon.... It cracks me up when people think the phrases "learner bike" and "piece of crap that i'll outgrow in a week" together. There's no reason to think that you'll quickly outgrow a bike that's also easy to learn on.

my bike for example... isn't the best leaner bike, but a somewhat tame bike that's easy to learn on... I've had it for about 16 months, put 13 thousand miles on it, 7 days of track time and i haven't "outgrown" it at all. It's still more capable than I'm able to handle. I know for a fact that the bike has more in it than i'm able to squeeze out of it.

DrunkDriver... please don't get defensive about what anyone says here. If something offends you take it as a grain of salt and just ignore it. listen to what the knowledgable members here have to say and you'll no doubtedly get the best advice the motorcycling community has to offer.

[LowSider]

Let me try you, JeffL.
24/25 years old, been riding a week and you think you are tough shit?

[HBerry]

I say who cares if he isn't 16. Just because he might not have been legally driving for years, it doesnt mean hes a bad driver. Fist of all TAKE THE MSF!!!!! again: TAKE THE MSF!!! Do you have dirt bike experience? Do you live in a heavily populated area?

[JeffL]

No, just saying, new drivers are bound to crash. Personally I'd rather see a 16 year old crash in a car than on a bike.

I know, you're a teenager, you know everything, they all do. But personally I think if people waited till they had a few years of driving in a car under their belt at least, they'll be alot better off.

[Karaya One]

Just make sure it has spinners on it!

[ZX-12R]

Originally posted by FazerChic

I had a KZ1000 the moment I turned 16. That is what I learned to ride on the street with. I was also the only one in my highschool with a motorcycle! I had been riding dirtbikes for years but when I first cracked the throttle on the KZ, it scared the shit out of me because I had never ridden anything so powerful. I said to myself "Jesus Christ what did I just buy!" After a year I got used to it but I never realized how slow it and my other motorcycles were until I got the ZX-12R.

Anyhoo, a good starter bike in my book is a Nighthawk 750. Comfortable, easy to manage, and very tame when you keep the RPMs down. As you progress in your riding abilities, the engine is more than powerful enough to get you arrested on the fastest of highways.

[TheIglu]

We've all been 16 with our permits. That is where the recommendations for a non-brand new more learner oriented bikes are coming from. It's experience talking and by asking a motorcycle forum I'm willing to bet that is the type of recommendation you were looking for. If you want to hear "Yeah dood, buy a Hayabusa or a GSXR1k, it'll be a perfect beginner bike" then find someone who hasn't ridden before to ask. You'll get an answer that probably sounds better to you right now.


Dual exhaust.....

SV 650 - You can't beat it with a stick. You'll also piss off a lot of literbikes as you pass them in the corners once you get good. You can pick up a brand new one for $5500 and then get a sick set of high-mount pipes, full set of real leathers, a decent helmet that looks as good as the bike (Arai, Shoei, Seomy) and the rest of the gear that'll help keep you from being a statistic for the same price you'd pay for a Gixxa.

Ducati 800 Supersport: If you really feel the need to spend a bunch of money on something very new with bling factor, this is the bike for you. It's a good bike, reasonably fast (it'll eat squids for lunch on R1's if they don't know how to ride and you can). It's also got the "looks", dual exhaust stock, sounds tits with a set of Remus CF pipes on it and has ALL sorts of hop-ups for it (can you say full carbon fiber body, titanium rods and Magnesium Wheels?) Now THAT is bling, forget those ghey clear directionals and undertail kits.

[TheIglu]

Originally posted by JeffL
I'm going to go out on a limb, and guess he hasnt even turned 16 yet, in which case, the last thing I'd suggest to you is buying a motorcycle of ANY kind. Get a car and learn what a jungle it is out there, and how to navigate the hundreds and thousands of morons that call themselves drivers, then decide from there if you want to move yourself from a fellow "driver" to a moving target in the road.

I didn't get my car license until a year after I got my bike permit. I had 7k on my bike before I had 200 miles in a car. I also lived in the woods where there was little traffic.

I still feel more comfortable on a bike than I do in a car.

Would I have been ok on a Wicked-Pissah-Gixxa for a first bike? Oh fuck no. I woulda ended up like the rest of the kids in high school who ended up hating me; pissed that a 400 from the late 70's could kick the shit outta a brand new 600 on any back road. Doesn't really matter, they just rode to do crappy wheelies and never turn. They all ended up crashing before highschool was over and gave up riding cause "It's too dangerous".

[OreoGaborio]

D.D... you & I are the only ones that have posted in this thread that know anything so ignore eveyone else & just re-read my posts well, my posts & where HBerry strongly suggests the MSF course... i'll second that. (EDIT: I missed Dave's post... definitely get spinners )

the skills they teach in the MSF course have LITERALLY saved my life more than once. It's an AWESOME way to get started & teach you the basic survival skills for the street. People say motorcycling is dangerous for a reason, so you can at least take the MSF to learn some skills that will help keep you alive.

(Now you must admit that you've come to a motorcycling forum to learn something about motorcycling, so try to keep an open mind & be open to suggestions, that's all we ask... believe it or not, we like to see the motorcyling community grow and foster responsible riding, so don't throw our advice out the window just because it's not something you want to hear)


BTW, Clayton's right, too... i didn't see his either before i posted. As much as you may not want to admit it, there's some great advice in this thread.

and ZX-12R had a great point as well... most bikes have a VERY wide RPM range. A good learner bike is tame down low but powerfull up top. keep the RPMs low and you can learn alot... want more fun? wait longer to shift

[TheIglu]

Originally posted by DrunkDriver
I am not looking for a training bike, I want something that will last me a few years. I don't mean some old shit box that has a year left in it, I mean something that I wont out grow and need to replace soon. Nothing so weak I am going to get board with.
I want it to at least last me though the rest of highschool. Then I can get something more advanced if I want.



I have had this name since the 4th grade, no truth behind it.

You need to ask yourself a few questions first:

WHY do you want to ride? Go fast? Just to have a bike? Looks? Enjoy the ride?

Do I want this to turn into a long term hobby or is this a temporary fun time?

Driving a plow truck, 18 wheeler, golf cart, Corvette, BMW, Civic or shopping cart has no relevance to riding a motorcycle. It's apples to oranges. Your mindset is completely different, the skills are essentially reversed for most aspects of it and people who go into it thinking they are the shit usually end up in a big pile of it when it comes down to it.

You mess up driving a car in the learning process, you dent a fender or get whiplash. You mess up driving a bike, it can get and most likely will get MUCH worse.

It may sound like the same old song and dance from all of us, but realize why it is the same for all new riders who ask our advice:

They usually want something that isn't good for them. You may realize that a year from now and join in the chorus. Until then, just realize that we are trying to help. That is really all it comes down to. We're not out to make you look like a pussy riding a moped or keep you from getting faster than us. We're here to make you one of us: Responsible rider, safe rider, good rider, skilled rider, alive rider.

[Nikon]

Originally posted by DrunkDriver
Let me try you, JeffL.
24/25 years old, been riding a week and you think you are tough shit?

that'll get you far around here...

[Honclfibr]

8k would buy you a relatively low mileage used Aprillia RSV Mille. If I was a 15 year old with more money than sense who was determined to impress people with a rare motorcycle for a few days until I turned it into a $10 heap of scrap metal and plastic, that's what I'd buy

[LowSider]

OreoGaborio, HBerry, ZX-12R, and TheIglu thanks for the suggestions and help.

OreoGaborio, I think you missunderstand a little. I am not some 'young dumb full of cum' type of cocky kid the majority of the time. I didnt come here with out a little backround. I could have thrown down names like the R1 and stuff with rough powerbands but I didnt. ZX-12R knows what I am looking for I think, TheIglu definatly knows what I mean. I am not being defensive, I am getting to know you guys. I want to take the class but I went to the site and it says you need to of held a car or bike permit for at least 6months. I would take it now, if I could.

TheIglu, JeffL said I should get some driving experience first. Simply telling him I am not all fresh meat.

Thanks guys, keep it comming.

[Sirkbac]

Originally posted by DrunkDriver
Let me try you, JeffL.
24/25 years old, been riding a week and you think you are tough shit?

At least you seem to be mature enough for a motorcycle. Best advice would be to forget getting a bike for a few years before your attitude/maturity kills you.

[Honclfibr]

Originally posted by DrunkDriver
OreoGaborio, HBerry, ZX-12R, and TheIglu thanks for the suggestions and help.

OreoGaborio, I think you missunderstand a little. I am not some 'young dumb full of cum' type of cocky kid the majority of the time. I didnt come here with out a little backround. I could have thrown down names like the R1 and stuff with rough powerbands but I didnt. ZX-12R knows what I am looking for I think, TheIglu definatly knows what I mean. I am not being defensive, I am getting to know you guys. I want to take the class but I went to the site and it says you need to of held a car or bike permit for at least 6months. I would take it now, if I could.

TheIglu, JeffL said I should get some driving experience first. Simply telling him I am not all fresh meat.

Thanks guys, keep it comming.

Whoah guys, lay off the man, he knows about the R1. And after all Yamaha has done to keep it a secret. You're the real deal kid. Drop a few other names, show us your stuff.

[LowSider]

I figured you would say 'get a Ninja 250' or a dirt bike so I said nothing I would get board with. Though, you are still going to say I am not going to outgrow a 250, right?