First motorcycle recommendations? Options

[robz71lm7]

I asked a few others (co-workers, local F-body board etc) but thought I'd ask here as well since I trust the judgement and value the opinions on this board. First of all I have never ridden a motorcycle, but have toyed with the idea for the past few years. I got my motorcycle permit last week and am taking an MSF course in a couple of weeks. As you can probably guess I want a sportbike. I have a 30 mile one way commute on 2-lane roads and the interstate (70 mph+). I'd mainly be getting it as a toy, but I'd like to be able to ride to work too so I can somewhat justify it in my head. I have thought about track days, but that is a ways away if ever.

I've had recommendations ranging from a 250 all the way to a 750 sport bike (Ninja 250r, R6, or GSXR 600 or 750). Thoughts?

[1meanZ]

For a starter sport bike, I'd get a cheap used Suzuki Katana. They are fast enough for an adrenaline rush for a squid, but they are mild enough to learn on as long as you use some common sense. Compared to the likes of an R6 or a Gixxer 600, they are slow turds and you'll be ready to step up in 1-2 years depending on how comfortable you are. But last I knew you could get older used Katana's pretty dirt cheap. Get one for your first bike, take care of it and if you buy one old and cheap enough you can probably break even when you go to sell it.

I don't have tons of experience with the really new bikes, all my buddies had them back 2002-2006 and thats when I was riding them a fair amount. (I have a Honda Shadow 1100 Sabre, I prefer crusiers) I will say that even some of the newer 600s are VERY fast. I rode a fairly new R6 a while back and it was so light I was shocked at how easily it would wheelie. My point is, be careful even on some of the newer 600s, they are not toys anymore. If you disrespect the bike, it will disrespect you in a hurry.

[trackbird]

Buy an inexpensive/reliable used commuter bike. I learned to ride on a Yamaha Seca II (600cc). It doesn't make enough power to outright kill you (no 75 mph wheelies becaused you twitched the throttle) and you'll probably wreck it anyway (the one I learned on was wrecked/dropped half a dozen times by the owner and friends). My other friend bought one used with 300 miles on it and it has 70k on it now (also wrecked a few times). Once you survive a year or so on something like that, then consider a sport bike.

I ultimately totalled a 1993 Katana 750 (in 1993) doing something stupid. After clearing the handlebars and landing in a field at 100+ mph, I decided to stick to cars. Your results may vary.

[robz71lm7]

I was honestly considering an '08 or '09 Ninja 250R, but everyone I've talked to has told me I'll be bored with it after a month or two. Not to mention the laughs I got

[trackbird]

I'd avoid the 250's, they aren't really enough bike. Buy a v-twin or a 4 cylinder 600cc "commuter" bike and ride the wheels off of it. Buy used, learn to work on it, and ride a lot. It will save you fuel and speeding tickets and you'll have a far better chance of surviving your first year with minimal incidents.

[00 SS]

If you're a bigger guy like me, a little bike will get boring fast. I was never into the sport bikes, but in the cruisers, the little motors just suck. I suggest you buy a used bike to learn on. Get a medium sized one so you don't hate it in few weeks, 600-750 is probably a good size since we're talking sport bikes. For a cruiser, I'd say 1100 minimum. After a year or two, you'll know what you really want and you can sell your starter and get something you'll enjoy for a long time.

[robz71lm7]

6' tall 200-210 lbs a lot lighter than when most on here have seen me last.

[z28jeff]

I still have my first bike... an 05 500 Ninja (ex500). Bought it in the spring of 06 and put over 8k miles on it so far. I still have it because I'm not really tired of it yet. It's fast enough (for me anyway), handles great, super realiable, and was dirt cheap. I like the looks of it too, but that's a matter of opinion.
Like you, I was considering a new 250, but ended up buying the barely used 500 for about the same money. I'm convinced that was the right decision by far. I would not have been happy with the 250 for very long.
If I had to do it all over again as a beginner, I would probably be looking for a 650R Ninja, (They didn't make those yet when I bought mine) or a Suzuki SV650. The 2cyl bikes are much more forgiving with mistakes. You're less likely to do an unintended wheelie on them, but they'll still scoot when you wind them out. Shifting at 10k rpm allways makes me smile.

So yeah, those are my recommendations:
Ninja 500r (stupid cheap)
Ninja 650r (modern styling)
SV650 (tried and true realibility)

[Todd]

I second staying away from 250's. They might have enough power to get you in trouble...but the brakes generally suck on a 250. They also tend to cheap out pretty much anything else on an american market 250. My fiancee took the MSF course and got a nighthawk 750. Ultimately it was too big for her but she is a small girl and the 4 cylinder motor was just too heavy for her to handle. For me, as a rider of 15+ years, it was almost like riding a bicycle. I had a Shadow 750 (cruiser) in college, and it was okay, but uninspiring. I bought a VFR 750 to replace it with...and I've loved it ever since. I've had a few other bikes come and go, but my VFR stayed. It has a V4 so it has enough torque to tool around under 5K rpm. When you want to scream, it has a 12K RPM red line. Just under 100HP at the rear wheel, and I've run 11 sec 1/4 times on it, bone stock. There are a bunch of bikes in the category the VFR is in, the "sport touring" category. I had a BMW K1200RS for a while that was in the same category...but obviously a lot bigger motor. I found that I *really* enjoyed the BMW on highway trips, but in town, it was just too big and heavy for me. Since I didn't make too many out of town trips, I sold it. The mpg on the BMW really sucked too...32-35 unless I was doing 65 on the highway with the cruise on. On the VFR I get about 45mpg riding to work daily, about 52-53 on the highway. One thing the VFR could use is cruise control...but maybe I'm just getting old. If you have enough sense to not ride like an idiot, you can get away with a "powerful" first bike.

Good luck!

[Todd]

I still have my first bike... an 05 500 Ninja (ex500). Bought it in the spring of 06 and put over 8k miles on it so far. I still have it because I'm not really tired of it yet. It's fast enough (for me anyway), handles great, super realiable, and was dirt cheap. I like the looks of it too, but that's a matter of opinion.
Like you, I was considering a new 250, but ended up buying the barely used 500 for about the same money. I'm convinced that was the right decision by far. I would not have been happy with the 250 for very long.
If I had to do it all over again as a beginner, I would probably be looking for a 650R Ninja, (They didn't make those yet when I bought mine) or a Suzuki SV650. The 2cyl bikes are much more forgiving with mistakes. You're less likely to do an unintended wheelie on them, but they'll still scoot when you wind them out. Shifting at 10k rpm allways makes me smile.

So yeah, those are my recommendations:
Ninja 500r (stupid cheap)
Ninja 650r (modern styling)
SV650 (tried and true realibility)

a few of my friends have SV650's. They are relatively low maintenance fun bikes... Another buddy has an SV1000S...that bike is FUN! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[z28jeff]

Here's a pic of my 500r...
http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/z...pg?t=1274715649

[Chevy053]

I bought a used SV650 about 4 years ago as my first bike. I really wanted a GSXR600 but actualy listened to a bunch of experienced riders who all made good arguments for not going with something like that as a first bike.

Anyway I think its a really good first bike. Its fast enough for a rush when you get on it. I use mine mainly for commuting in the summer. The low end torque of the v-twin is actualy really nice for around town riding. Also some things to note is it is most certianly more comfortable then my buddys 600RR and gets much better gas mileage. I manage to get somewhere around 53MPG where he gets somewhere in the 30's.

[Eskimo]

I'll second the SV650 / Ninja 650 ideas.. great platform, lots of aftermarket support, and can make great trackday bikes. Light & easy to handle as well. With you wanting to commute, some good textile gear that's breathable and slides on over your street clothes will be a great investment.

STAY AWAY from anything with an "R" on it.. CBR, GSXR, R6, R1, etc... Those bikes are truly racebikes with lights and will reward novice mistakes as such. I hate seeing new riders on them.. The other bikes will make you a better rider in the end.

[BumpaD_Z28]

FZ1

(IMG:http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss235/BumpaD_Z28/FZ1/100_2206.jpg)

~DaVe

[BigEnos]

Honda VFR, a reasonably recent one can be had for relatively modest money. Should be a fantastic commuter bike and I bet it would be fine at a "get acquainted" type of track day, too. I think the FZ1 is fantastic, too for the same reasons. Run away from 250s, you'll be sick of it in a week and you won't be able to get rid of it. Smallest bike I'd recommend would be an SV650 (600cc sportbikes are "bigger" in the power dept and therefore "bigger" bikes). All motorcycles will go fast enough to kill you so gear up and ride within your limits and you should be fine.

My first (and previous) bike was a Kawasaki ZRX1200, fwiw. I swapped it for a KTM 300EXC (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/burnout.gif)

[robz71lm7]

With regards to the SV650 what do you all think of the ABS option?

[Chevy053]

With regards to the SV650 what do you all think of the ABS option?

Mine dosent have it. But I would imagine that its kind of like having an airbag in a car. You probaly will never use it but if you do you will be glad you have it.

But I don't have any first hand experience with a bike with ABS.

[NJSPEEDER]

I always recommend getting something older and easy to work on for a first bike. It is an opportunity to learn and the odds are that if you are ever going to tip or wreck a bike it is about 85% likely to happen in the first year of riding.

Old Jap cruisers are great to learn on, Honda CB's or Kawasaki LTD's would be my bikes of choice for learning. Plentiful and a breeze to work on. Just avoid the 4 carb Kawa's, that was the only mistake of my first bike, they can be a PITA to synch properly.

-Tim

[Todd]

With regards to the SV650 what do you all think of the ABS option?

Mine dosent have it. But I would imagine that its kind of like having an airbag in a car. You probaly will never use it but if you do you will be glad you have it.

But I don't have any first hand experience with a bike with ABS.

I put nearly 10K miles on the BMW K1200RS which was an ABS bike. Only once did I use the brakes hard enough to engage the ABS. Much like when you experience your first ABS in a car, it was a little unsettling. I doubt it would have made a difference either way, but I can see it being beneficial on bad pavement. I'm just used to my non-ABS bike which I do occasionally lock up the rear under heavy braking.

[Todd]

I always recommend getting something older and easy to work on for a first bike. It is an opportunity to learn and the odds are that if you are ever going to tip or wreck a bike it is about 85% likely to happen in the first year of riding.

Old Jap cruisers are great to learn on, Honda CB's or Kawasaki LTD's would be my bikes of choice for learning. Plentiful and a breeze to work on. Just avoid the 4 carb Kawa's, that was the only mistake of my first bike, they can be a PITA to synch properly.

-Tim

Much of that 4 carb pain goes away with a vacuum sync tool...I made that investment when I first bought my VFR. I've done many a sync job for friends as a result...