Looking for reccomendations on a first bike.

[Doc]

Good thread I found.

OTB's First Bike Buyers Guide - SquidBusters - New Rider Discussions

[schleppy]

I don't care if it's not 600cc, it's awesome:



I'm sure if he saw that he'd like it. Cheap too!

[*GhostRide37]

haha i remember when i first wanted to get a bike. i was 16, just about to take the msf course. went to ss motorsports to look at a 250 ninja or something. ( i didnt know much about bikes then, besides who made what) and the guy there laughed at me and said i have to get at least a 600 considering my size. so i did end up getting a 600, because because i knew i could handle it, but still get a lot of fun and learning out of it (and that seems to be the minimum standard to be "cool"). like everyone else, i dont like the look of too many 500s either. just tell your buddy stick with any 600 and dont do any stupid stuff, ie pop wheelies because his friends egg him on

[Honclfibr]

I don't care if it's not 600cc, it's awesome:



I'm sure if he saw that he'd like it. Cheap too!

Yeah it's cheap. In both senses of the word. The old EX250s skimped on pretty much every aspect of construction in order to lower the MSRP. I've not seen one of the new ones but I bet you they skimped even more to keep the MSRP down and recoup the retooling costs to make the thing so pretty.

It's cool that they're updating the small displacement bikes and all, but I don't get why everyone that turned their noses up at the old bikes suddenly decide that they're "awesome" now that they're 30 year old technology wrapped in a cheap modern look.

[BLACK SQUIRREL]

Yeah it's cheap. In both senses of the word. The old EX250s skimped on pretty much every aspect of construction in order to lower the MSRP. I've not seen one of the new ones but I bet you they skimped even more to keep the MSRP down and recoup the retooling costs to make the thing so pretty.

It's cool that they're updating the small displacement bikes and all, but I don't get why everyone that turned their noses up at the old bikes suddenly decide that they're "awesome" now that they're 30 year old technology wrapped in a cheap modern look.

I have seen the bike its looks the same as the old bike. with a nicer wrapper and a pedal rotor on the front

[Honclfibr]

I have seen the bike its looks the same as the old bike. with a nicer wrapper and a pedal rotor on the front

Exactly. We laugh at the civics with the big wings and the douchebags who put the ferrari body kits on their toyota supras, but for some reason when the manufacturers go and do the same thing to a motorcycle we think they're awesome?

The 250 is not a sportbike, it never was a sportbike, it's not supposed to be a sportbike, that bodywork is a ferrari body kit on a yugo.

[*GhostRide37]

Exactly. We laugh at the civics with the big wings and the douchebags who put the ferrari body kits on their toyota supras, but for some reason when the manufacturers go and do the same thing to a motorcycle we think they're awesome?

The 250 is not a sportbike, it never was a sportbike, it's not supposed to be a sportbike, that bodywork is a ferrari body kit on a yugo.

hey, there are some nasty supras out there though. but agreed that much of car bodywork done today does not help, and even hurts performance. aka a 250 should look like a 250, not dressed up like its something better

[Pittenger5]

And if new drivers could readily afford a ferrari, would you be happier from a safety and overall public image standpoint with them driving a 500 horsepower ferrari or a yugo with a ferrari body kit?
I think its good for the fact that with this image concious industry MAYBE it will convince people to start on a smaller bike cause it looks cooler. I think itd have a better effect with a 500, but hey, its a start.

[Brian675]

Exactly. We laugh at the civics with the big wings and the douchebags who put the ferrari body kits on their toyota supras, but for some reason when the manufacturers go and do the same thing to a motorcycle we think they're awesome?

The 250 is not a sportbike, it never was a sportbike, it's not supposed to be a sportbike, that bodywork is a ferrari body kit on a yugo.

[R1]

ill give you all the litre bike as a first bike final squid answer tomorrow.

its a good one!

[R1]

I bought my bike without eben so much as seening it in person. it was a decision made with multiple factors involved including riding a few 600's, when it came down to it, i wanted something i would grow into and not look at like it was a toy. the litre bike is alot to handle and needed to be treated with respect. my decision was completely funancial, if i wasn't such a high step i would be in a trans am right now and none of you would know me.

there it is the "Ultimate" in squidly answers of why youd buy a litre bike as a first!

[schleppy]

The 250 is not a sportbike, it never was a sportbike, it's not supposed to be a sportbike, that bodywork is a ferrari body kit on a yugo.

Agreed, that still doesn't mean it's not a good first bike.

[Jim]

tell your friend to buy my bike (if he wants to pay a lot for the bling).
just put it on CL this morning

[Bowflex]

Show him some video off of youtube of motorcycle crashes and the injuries they inflict...not to mention deaths...

Be a good friend and keep talking about taking motorcycle riding courses...take one with him if it will help...

Gotta agree with you there, if nothing else maybe, just maybe this will make him think twice about a 1000cc for his first bike with no experience. Make sure you show him the video's of all the "cool guys" with busa's that think they can handle it and the amount of wrecks there have been.

I started with a 600cc last year and I am very happy with it. I wanted a bike I wouldn't outgrow fast. This is New England, there aren't enough straight roads to really merit that big of a bike unless you're 1) a bigger guy and need the extra power or 2) have a lot of riding experience and you really know how to handle a bike well.

If that doesn't help you have a full support group here for when he becomes part of the pavement.