looking for opinions on a bike

I am looking to get a bike this summer but i wanted to know what you guys think would be a good starter bike. I would like something newer, and any tips would be good.

GS500, or a mid-90s 600cc sport or touring bike. Nothing crazy, and nothing too new. You'll feel bad if you wreck a nice newer bike because you're new. I started with my F4i, and while I wouldn't recommend it to most beginners, if you're smart like me and know your limits and don't try to push it immediately, it'd be a good starter bike as well. (Mainly because the power band is so late in the RPMs).

kawasaki sells a ninja 250 and 500. the suzuki gs500 is a nice one too

aside from those, theres the yamaha yfz-600r, kawa ninja 650r, and katana 600's

Katana? ***!

Get something cool, and old. Cool and old usually equals cheap I started on a 78 CB550, and it got more looks then my impala on air ride. I had les then 400 bucks into the bike, and it was a **** blast to ride

pOrk wrote:

Katana? ***!

i dont like them either..but just throwing it out there. they feel big and heavy...like the walrus of the sportbikes. yes, the walrus

stasis- wrote:

pOrk wrote: Katana? ***! yes, the walrus

LOL

now all i need is for a used one to be for sale around here

f3's are always good starters

beach cruiser

^ pimp

sv650s

BlazenSentra wrote:

beach cruiser

damn you guessed me favorite colors too!

banned from SG wrote:

sv650s

great all around bikes to.

silentalero wrote:

f3's are always good starters

You mean the CBR600F3? Or the SV650 sport bike?? As a *starter bike*?? PLEASE tell me you're joking.

Is the point to recommend a good first bike or to kill this guy? The CBR has WAY too much power for a starter bike IMHO, plus it has a full fairing - chances are, a new rider will drop the bike on its side at least once or twice just doing things like turning around in a driveway on wet pavement and such, and even a small slip is an expensive repair on a faired bike.

What you want to do is look for a dependable and CHEAP non-faired Honda in the 360cc-500cc range or so - like the CB400 or similar. I know you want something new and flashy, but you gotta think about your health and well-being, dude. An older Honda Rebel is a good starter as well - there are still plenty of them around and they're tanks. The CB series, especially, is old enough that it's almost "retro" now. Any bike in this range will have plenty of speed (up to highway travel no problem) but isn't terribly twitchy or too powerful - plenty of time for sport bikes after you learn the rules of the road. Trust me- they're very different for bikes.

I saw so many young guys mangle themselves on sport bikes that they had NO business riding when I worked for Honda - I'll tell you all about the guy that "had been riding with his Dad since he was 12" that shattered his spine and pelvis in 13 places when he drifted over the yellow one Sunday afternoon if you really want, but I won't lecture. Honestly, though, start small and work up to sport bikes safely - you'll be glad you did in the long run. There's plenty of things that can injure you or even kill you on the road as it is - no need to make things harder on yourself by chosing a fire-breathing first bike engineered for experienced riders.

F3 is slow, and like it's predecessors has true power in the higher RPMs.

SV650s is light and easy to handle, and still fun when you get better with it.

You can start on ANY motorcycle as long as you're not stupid. I had absolutely no bike experience before taking the MSF class, then a week later I bought my F4i. I've never crashed.

ImagoX wrote:

silentalero wrote: f3's are always good starters You mean the CBR600F3? Or the SV650 sport bike?? As a *starter bike*?? PLEASE tell me you're joking. Is the point to recommend a good first bike or to kill this guy? The CBR has WAY too much power for a starter bike IMHO, plus it has a full fairing - chances are, a new rider will drop the bike on its side at least once or twice just doing things like turning around in a driveway on wet pavement and such, and even a small slip is an expensive repair on a faired bike. What you want to do is look for a dependable and CHEAP non-faired Honda in the 360cc-500cc range or so - like the CB400 or similar. I know you want something new and flashy, but you gotta think about your health and well-being, dude. An older Honda Rebel is a good starter as well - there are still plenty of them around and they're tanks. The CB series, especially, is old enough that it's almost "retro" now. Any bike in this range will have plenty of speed (up to highway travel no problem) but isn't terribly twitchy or too powerful - plenty of time for sport bikes after you learn the rules of the road. Trust me- they're very different for bikes. I saw so many young guys mangle themselves on sport bikes that they had NO business riding when I worked for Honda - I'll tell you all about the guy that "had been riding with his Dad since he was 12" that shattered his spine and pelvis in 13 places when he drifted over the yellow one Sunday afternoon if you really want, but I won't lecture. Honestly, though, start small and work up to sport bikes safely - you'll be glad you did in the long run. There's plenty of things that can injure you or even kill you on the road as it is - no need to make things harder on yourself by chosing a fire-breathing first bike engineered for experienced riders.

I know this and so do you but how many people buying their first bike actually go out and do the smart thing and get a ninja 500. maybe 1 out of 10 because they dont want a bike that they are gonna hate in 2 months because they feel they outgrew it. Those bikes have power but they are still semi forgiving that if you hit a pothole or a rock your not jumping up 4k rpm's in the small flick like the newer bikes.

Starter wise yes a 500 will be better to learn the basics and mastery of riding. Get a new bike? Hell no, your gonna drop it. My friend decided to get a 04 600rr for his first bike. Already dropped it twice within a month. Its how much you can respect the bike. I started on a 600 sport bike and im fine(99 katana), and never dropped it. Same with the 01 f4i, i had it for a while and never laid it down. The recent crash is my first real accident on a bike. Its all about respecting the fact that the second you think your better than the bike it will turn and hand you your ass on a platter.

Be smart and get 500 ninja, but ill wait for the post of your brand new r6 lol jk

silentalero wrote:

I know this and so do you but how many people buying their first bike actually go out and do the smart thing and get a ninja 500. maybe 1 out of 10 because they dont want a bike that they are gonna hate in 2 months because they feel they outgrew it.

You're right... But that's why insurance premiums for bikes for males under 25 are so freaking high - because they KNOW that they have about a 90% chance of having to pay a claim (hopefully just some property damage, but where bikes are concerned, personal injury is never far behind).

As for beginning to ride with an F4, Aken, all I can say is that I'm glad you're lucky - you're definitely the exception to the rule. Smart money plays the odds, though, always, because the odds don't lie.

Seriously - do yourself a favor and get a proper starter bike before the sport bikes. I have nothing against them - I've owned 2 VFR 750s, 2 CBRR600s, 2 CBR1000 sport tourers, as well as a couple of Magnas and even a Kawasaki or three, and I'd never dream of allowing an inexperienced rider to ride ANY of them until they had a few months' experience on something more forgiving. You still might fall on a "tame" bike, but I really think your odds of getting plastered are far worse on a high-end machine. It's your bod, though and hey, as my buddy Kyle (he's an EMT) says "there are hundreds of people desperate for donorcyclists' organs." Just be sure to become an organ doner first before you roll out of the bike dealership, OK?

SV650 if you don't want a fairing. It's the same bike as the SV650s only non-faired. No, I'm not joking about this. They haven't changed looks since they were introduced so you could pick up a used one and almost be able to play it off as new (as far as body style. people will get ya on the paint though). So if you're worried about riding an old bike or w/e, then this gets ya by that. Expect to fall. Wear all your gear. Wanna find out what happens if you dont? Run down your street as fast as you can and do a baseball slide on the concrete. You just experienced a 12 mph low side. Imagine the damage at 45 or 60. Gear homie.

If your not stupid and go crazy like i did at first get something like a 02 or older yamaha R6, honda f4i, or suzuki kantana. the R6 and F4i give you a good bike to start and gives you room to expand on. ive had my R6 for 2 1/2 years now and im looking to upgrade now. Next year im jumping to a cruzer (Suzuki M109R S.E.) nearly 1800cc of raw power.
If your looking at a cruzer i would say something like a Honda VLX 600. What ever you do dont get a 250cc bike you will be bored with it in one year and hate yourself for it. My friend bought a 250 ninja and i rode it after i got my bike and its like riding a cardboard box not even joking.

Wow, where've you been dude? Haven't seen you around much.

No lie. Maybe in the hospital for buying a rocket. Kidding.

little off topic but in australia you have to have a 250cc or under for a learner bike L plates

Smart little kangarooooo jockeys...

look into a YZF600r It's sporty, and I'd say a decent bike to learn on. At least that's what I learned on and was pretty comfortable with it.

the only place iv seen kangaroos is in the zoo
what happens in the states do you just get ur license and ride whatever cc bike you like?

dyldo wrote:

the only place iv seen kangaroos is in the zoo what happens in the states do you just get ur license and ride whatever cc bike you like?

yes

It's pretty stellar how much of a **** they don't give over here.

yer there are alot of laws and regulations about everything here after when getting ur car licence you have to get L plates 2 years must drive with a fully licencesed driver then P plates 4 years cant drive v8's super or turbo charged cars even some high powerd 6 cylinders.

::cough:: *** ::cough::