Except the NORMAL (non S model) is a much better bike to start out on. The S model has a seating position much like a true crotch rocket and makes learning much more difficult. So if you go with a SV650 get the non-S model (and good luck finding one of those, Suzuki pushes the S model a lot more).katsmp3 said:
Recommend me a starter bike
- Thread starter skilletrx
- Start date
I jus finished the MSF training course and here are three of my newbie criteria:
1. CC 500-600 (Thinking about 250Ninja just b/c I may just drive it on local roads to take public transportation to my work)
2. Low seat height (I'm 5'3" - 5'4")
3. WEIGHT (lower is better...the 250 ninja was low 300lbs)
4. Price- I'm not sure how much I'll keep this hobby, so looking for something cheap, good, and immediate so I can just continue practicing.
5. Don't want to be crouching
All of your advice has been helpful: Here's where I'm currently looking at:
SUZUKI GS500F
KAWASAKI NINJA 250 or 500
Keep them coming in. Any advice on buying used buys (what problems to look for) are greatly appreciated.
TIA.
1. CC 500-600 (Thinking about 250Ninja just b/c I may just drive it on local roads to take public transportation to my work)
2. Low seat height (I'm 5'3" - 5'4")
3. WEIGHT (lower is better...the 250 ninja was low 300lbs)
4. Price- I'm not sure how much I'll keep this hobby, so looking for something cheap, good, and immediate so I can just continue practicing.
5. Don't want to be crouching
All of your advice has been helpful: Here's where I'm currently looking at:
SUZUKI GS500F
KAWASAKI NINJA 250 or 500
Keep them coming in. Any advice on buying used buys (what problems to look for) are greatly appreciated.
TIA.
Familia323
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Another thing to think about is that if you get a Kawi 250R the resale value is really good.. So chances are you can pick one up for under 2grand, and then sell it for practically the same thing you bought it for. If you later decided that you didn't like riding a motorcycle then you won't lose much, if anything. That's my opinion though.skilletrx said:
UnNaturalinc
Formerly"HorsepowerFreak"
- :
- '03.5 MSP, '87 RX-7 TII, '80 Chevy Luv, '05 Honda CRF230
I bought a dirt bike to prep me for a crotch rocket. I need to be making more money to have a streetbike type toy in a state where it rains more times than not. 
skilletrx said:
I took a very unadvised path. I bought a Suzuki katana 750 as a starter bike. I think there is something major people are overlooking and that is that not all 500s or in my case 750's are the same. The katana is not that powerful and its steel frame doesnt let it get going to crazy. Now compare that to a GSXR750 and you have a VERY different animal.
I played around with the katana on my own for a few months before the safety course and ended up passing the course test with a 100%.
The only problem is that its a b**** to get back up and I almost took out the condo associations mailboxes.
The problem with a 250 and a even a 500 is that you will feel like a tool riding it. 250's are praticly a moped.
I would keep the search to the GSF500, katana 600, ninja 500. These are only if you are going for a sports bike of coarse. With cruisers you can go with larger engines and really not worry about it.
Keep your options wide and go used bike looking.
Familia323
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1sty said:
I agree for the most part, except the part about feeling like a tool riding a 250. The people I know that started by riding 250's are generally better overall riders than the people that started on 600cc or bigger bikes. They seem to actually give a s*** about riding and not just looking cool to other people. If you are into motorcycling just so you can look cool, then you are the real tool. I know plenty of amazing riders on smaller bikes and they don't feel embarassed at all. And as for a 250 being practically a moped.... well thats a pretty fast moped. In the world of motorcycles i guess it is considered one of the slower ones. Although the 250 is small, it still has enough pull to beat out most of the protege drivers on this forum. The 250 has a quarter mile time somewhere in the 14 second range.
anyway enough of my rambling .... point being, if you really get into motorcycling then this will be your first bike not your last. So whatever you pick, you won't be stuck with it forever. Try something smaller and cheaper out now, and if you grow out of it, sell it and get something else.
s*** , I wanna get a bike too, but like the guy who started this off I've been in bikes before but here and there nothing serious.
Then again I'm looking for GXR600 or r6 or cbr600 what you guys think ??
I know these are not for beginners but i catch up quick (quick lerner) and i tent to keep my self undercontroll so wont do something crazy.
BTW for those who know/have knowledge more than me , which one is best for $$$/performance GXR600 , R6 , CBR600 (the new one) ??
Not to thread jack this but depends on you're conf's you could go ahead with these bikes as well since you're not gonna ride far and chances are w/ you're rutine ride you'll get the hang of a bike.
Edit: I just won't go for less than a sport bike or car that is , thats why i wanna get one of those unless something else comes up by that time.
whats the fun unless you're riding a sport bike right ?? imo
Then again I'm looking for GXR600 or r6 or cbr600 what you guys think ??
I know these are not for beginners but i catch up quick (quick lerner) and i tent to keep my self undercontroll so wont do something crazy.
BTW for those who know/have knowledge more than me , which one is best for $$$/performance GXR600 , R6 , CBR600 (the new one) ??
Not to thread jack this but depends on you're conf's you could go ahead with these bikes as well since you're not gonna ride far and chances are w/ you're rutine ride you'll get the hang of a bike.
Edit: I just won't go for less than a sport bike or car that is , thats why i wanna get one of those unless something else comes up by that time.
whats the fun unless you're riding a sport bike right ?? imo
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how do you know you're a quick learner in regards to something you've never done before?
learning is only part of it. You need to react without thinking as well. You'll not learn that part on a sportbike. Many crash trying to get to that point.
Go to a motorcycle forum and ask people who ride. While this thread does have some useful info in it, it's really a question that should be asked of a group of motorcyclists. The concentration is less so in a car forum.
try www.cycleforums.com
learning is only part of it. You need to react without thinking as well. You'll not learn that part on a sportbike. Many crash trying to get to that point.
Go to a motorcycle forum and ask people who ride. While this thread does have some useful info in it, it's really a question that should be asked of a group of motorcyclists. The concentration is less so in a car forum.
try www.cycleforums.com
since we got this rolling , i have some friends that tell me GXR are better and the other one says R6 is better , like one is light one has high rev and one is for track one is for streets these kinda stuff what are you're thoughts on these ?? honda CBR600R is more of street bike i know that much but R6 and GXR600 they're neck to neck depends on how you ride them.
AFaceInTheCrowd
Member
- :
- 2010 Subaru Legacy GT
i was planning on getting an fz6, but now you all got me second guessing myself...
why would that be a bad move.
why would that be a bad move.
AFaceInTheCrowd said:
I think the FZ6 would be an ok starter bike. Here's why. Relaxed suspension geometry. Sportbikes are very agressive in their rake/trail/length. The FZ6 is much more relaxed in that regard. The power aspect is not what gets people hurt (aside from looping one @ WOT)
People get hurt when they can't stop or steer away from an obstacle (trees are obstacles
)Bikes with very agressive geometries will handle extremely well, until you do something wrong. Then they spit you off and you get hurt. Bikes like the FZ6 have a much greater fudge factor. You get more warning when you are on the verge of doing something silly.
Speed3.5 said:
I'm guessing your friends read motorcycle magazines and don't actually ride any of the bikes they are talking about. ALL 600s need to be rev'd for power. Some a little more than others. 2 ftlbs of trq and 3 hp won't really make that much of a difference on the street. They are all silly fast.
no my friends own them and i've been in those bikes as well, and they sick crazy so they know what they talking about the only thing is each has its own ego on the bikes that makes me hard to choose.
CBR600R that's the only one i haven't tried but based on read/ppl its more forgibing than GSX600 and R6 , the s*** is the $$$ that makes a diff cuz i could get hooked up from my boy w/ GXS600 but that's too stiff to start w/ i know that cuz i tried before, the R6 feels light and its pricy as well as CBR600R
CBR600R that's the only one i haven't tried but based on read/ppl its more forgibing than GSX600 and R6 , the s*** is the $$$ that makes a diff cuz i could get hooked up from my boy w/ GXS600 but that's too stiff to start w/ i know that cuz i tried before, the R6 feels light and its pricy as well as CBR600R
