I want a motorcycle!

HeatherCFI

HeatherCFI

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HeatherCFI
I just signed up for motorcycle classes. I have no idea what to look for in a motorcycle. My ex- told me a Buell Blast is a good starter bike for women since they are a little more light-weight. I sat on one and it felt good for my height. (I'm 5'10") For my first bike, I really don't want to spend more than $2000. Then in a year or two, upgrade to something a little better. Any ideas for a good starter bike??
 
HeatherCFI said:
I just signed up for motorcycle classes. I have no idea what to look for in a motorcycle. My ex- told me a Buell Blast is a good starter bike for women since they are a little more light-weight. I sat on one and it felt good for my height. (I'm 5'10") For my first bike, I really don't want to spend more than $2000. Then in a year or two, upgrade to something a little better. Any ideas for a good starter bike??
Click to expand...

Suzuki GS-500 would be a good choice, too. Make sure you budget for protective gear, to buy good gear to cover yourself from head to toe can run $700 - $1,000.


Trapper John
 
I've got a Honda CBR600 I'm selling, but I want $3k.

My suggestion for a starter bike is a 500twin of some sort. A Suzuki GS500 is a good choice. Enough power to get out of it's own way, but not so much that you can get into trouble with it. Anything in the 400lb range should be good. However, for a real starter bike, skip the street only bikes and get a DR350 or something like that which can be taken off road, and is still street legal. SUPER light, easy handling, and if you happen to drop it....well...they are made to be crashed more or less.
 
What bikes are supplied by the class?

After a few sessions, if other attendees have their own bike, ask to sit on it (the bike, not the attendee).

What sort of style do you think you want?

What's your mission?
 
There are a number of in-line fours and twins from the late eighties and early nineties that would fit your need. There are also a number of small V-twins as well, depending on the style you like. The V-twins tend to be lower to the ground for easier stance, but are somewhat less maneuverable than the in line fours. I wouldn't go any more than 750cc displacement for a starter bike, and don't get anything new, you'll probably drop it.
 
I wouldn't even say the 600s (CBR, R6, ZX-6, GSX)are anywhere near starter bike status either
 
EdFred said:
I wouldn't even say the 600s (CBR, R6, ZX-6, GSX)are anywhere near starter bike status either
Click to expand...

Good point. I wouldn't advocate starting on any of the sportbikes except maybe the Ninja 250. They're very light and powerful, and can get you into real trouble.
 
jhausch said:
What bikes are supplied by the class?

After a few sessions, if other attendees have their own bike, ask to sit on it (the bike, not the attendee).

What sort of style do you think you want?

What's your mission?
Click to expand...


I don't know what bikes are supplied, just that they are 350 cc or smaller. A couple of other posters suggested a Suzuki GS-500, and I like the look of that bike. I also like the look of the Buell.

I mostly want to go for rides on the weekends, and use it to ride to work, etc. My commute is either 8 miles or 32 miles. I live 8 miles from work, and my boyfriend lives 32 miles from my work, so wherever I sleep the night before...

So what do I do then if the attendee is better-looking than his bike? Which one do I sit on? :yikes:
 
Trapper John said:
Suzuki GS-500 would be a good choice, too. Make sure you budget for protective gear, to buy good gear to cover yourself from head to toe can run $700 - $1,000.


Trapper John
Click to expand...
+1,000,000,000

When I bought a bike many years ago my roommate made fun of me because I spent $200 on a helmet. This was in 1981 and that was the price for a top of the line full face helmet. He paid $40 for his open face K-Mart helmet. I told him if he had a $40 head then a $40 helmet was all he needed.

Months later I was in a really bad wreck and the helmet saved my life and is the reason I can still walk today. my roommate went out the next day after my accident and bought the same helmet model that I had on for my crash.
 
A suzuki SV-650 wouldn't be a bad bike to start on either. That bike may be a little more expensive than what you are budgeting for though. One more word of advice. Get a helmet that is comfortable, even if it costs a little more.
 
I rode for 5 years in college in the early 1970s. Biggest bike I had was a Honda CL-175. In town it was fine, topped out at about 70 mph on the highway. My friends with the Kawasaki 2 strokers would blow it away. Interestingly enough, with oil injection their oil consumption was about the same as mine when you factored in the oil changes I had to make and they didn't.

I can't second the protective gear enough. I had a line of curb paint about 6 inches long on my original helmet from the 3rd (I think) summersault off the bike after we were hit broadside by an idiot in a 1968 Ford Mustang who ran a stop sign at about 30 mph. 35+ years later I still have problems with my left ankle, but the helmet saved my life. And the helmet my wife was wearing saved hers. Through high school and college I knew 4 people who needed helmets. 3 had them and are alive today. 1 didn't and he died at the scene. Limited sample, 100% correlation. Oh, and I'm sure that the combat boots I was wearing saved my left foot from being completely torn off. The doctor never showed me the pre-op X-rays, but my dad was a veterinary orthopedic surgeon and his comment was that the guy did a great job with what he had to work with. Try not to get yourself in the same situation. And get the best gear you can. As Yoda would say, "Save your life, it can."
 
HeatherCFI said:
So what do I do then if the attendee is better-looking than his bike? Which one do I sit on? :yikes:
Click to expand...

That's between you and your BF, I s'pose :P

PS - Partly because I you are a femal aviator and partly because I am a modern american male, I made my post gender neutral. Interesting on how you assumed the attendee would be male. (poke poke) :D
 
HeatherCFI said:
I just signed up for motorcycle classes. I have no idea what to look for in a motorcycle. My ex- told me a Buell Blast is a good starter bike for women since they are a little more light-weight. I sat on one and it felt good for my height. (I'm 5'10") For my first bike, I really don't want to spend more than $2000. Then in a year or two, upgrade to something a little better. Any ideas for a good starter bike??
Click to expand...

A Generation 1 (pre-2008) Ninja 250 is a far better first bike than a Buell Blash. The Ninja is cheaper, lighter, better balanced (no 'thumper' engine can be really smooth), has more performance, has a far higher build quality, more reliable and is more comfortable. For $2K there are plenty of great gen-1 Ninja 250s out there for you.

I've ridden my Ninja 250 on many long cross-countries, its very comfortable and can handle any paved road up to and including I-10 in West Texas (80mph limit) just fine.

See the Ninja 250 Riders Club for everything there is to know about the Ninjette.
 
EdFred said:
I wouldn't even say the 600s (CBR, R6, ZX-6, GSX)are anywhere near starter bike status either
Click to expand...


Certainly a beginner should not get a race replica, but I don't see a problem with starting on a 650. For example the Ninja 650R and the new Yamaha FZ6R are great bikes for both the beginner and more experienced rider who really wants to go somewhere on their bikes. I say this as someone currently riding a Ninja 250.

We have to rule out the 650's for this case, since our budget is only $2k.

I'm pretty sure the OP wants to a reliable bike, not a restoration project. Thus 600cc+ bikes are ruled out in this case.
 
I used to want a motorcycle - But the last 3 years or so, people's driving ability has taken a noticeable downturn. So many people are driving while distracted by their various gadgets, and/or in such a big hurry they don't care to look where they're going. 3 years ago I almost got killed by a car - And I was driving a semi. 'bout a year and a half ago I almost killed someone else because she damn near went under my trailer while she was going through a red light and not looking at all.

So, no motorcycle for me. :frown2: Are you SURE you want a motorcycle?
 
JimNtexas said:
Certainly a beginner should not get a race replica, but I don't see a problem with starting on a 650. For example the Ninja 650R and the new Yamaha FZ6R are great bikes for both the beginner and more experienced rider who really wants to go somewhere on their bikes. I say this as someone currently riding a Ninja 250.

We have to rule out the 650's for this case, since our budget is only $2k.

I'm pretty sure the OP wants to a reliable bike, not a restoration project. Thus 600cc+ bikes are ruled out in this case.
Click to expand...

I hope nobody minds a bit of argument, but I don't advocate sports bikes for noobs. They are far lighter and more powerful than some of the other bikes mentioned, and can easily lead an inexperienced rider into some difficulty. My favorite of all beginner bikes is one Honda made years ago called a Rebel. It was basically an in-line twin made to look like a cruiser. I recall a 450cc variant that was an excellent beginner bike, low stance, plenty of power to get going but not so much to get out of hand. I still see them for sale here and there.

Hey, just post up a link to the rides you're considering and you'll have lots of experts chime in on the pros and cons. Seems like everyone is a biker hereabouts.
 
steingar said:
I hope nobody minds a bit of argument, but I don't advocate sports bikes for noobs. They are far lighter and more powerful than some of the other bikes mentioned, and can easily lead an inexperienced rider into some difficulty. My favorite of all beginner bikes is one Honda made years ago called a Rebel. It was basically an in-line twin made to look like a cruiser. I recall a 450cc variant that was an excellent beginner bike, low stance, plenty of power to get going but not so much to get out of hand. I still see them for sale here and there.

Hey, just post up a link to the rides you're considering and you'll have lots of experts chime in on the pros and cons. Seems like everyone is a biker hereabouts.
Click to expand...


No, I pretty much agree with you. I'd been riding for 15 years, and the CBR got away from me only 5 weeks into riding it. Anyone advocating the 4 sport bikes in the 600 series for a beginner is probably a purchasing life insurance policy on whoever they recommended them to later that day.
 
A 600 can be a good starter bike, just not a 600 sport bike.

One good option is a Yamaha Seca II. They're cheap, look pretty good, are very forgiving, lightweight, and easy to ride. One of my friends bought one off of another friend of mine as his starter bike, and it's working out very nicely. It has enough power that car drivers will respect it, but not enough power that you can get into a whole lot of trouble with it.

Riding motorcycles is great fun. Buy good gear and be safe! :)
 
What do you call a Harley that doesn't leak oil?
Empty!


The most efficient way to convert gasoline into noise
without the adverse side effect of horsepower!


Did you know 95% of all Harleys are still on the road?
The other 5% actually made it home.


Is it true that Harleys are chick magnets?
Yes, but only if the chick has a steel plate in her head.


What's the cheapest way to get another 50hp from your Harley?
Trade it in on a Suzuki.


Why don't Harley riders sit on their bikes when the side stand is down?
They're afraid to lean over that far.


What's the difference between a Harley and a Harley owner's home?
The Harley costs more and has fewer wheels.


How do you know you're riding a Harley?
While coming off an exit-ramp you get passed by a Vespa.


Why don't Harley riders wave at sportbike riders?
Because they don't want to drop their tools.


How do you know all the aftermarket parts you bought for your Harley are worth the money?
You finally break into the 15's in the quarter mile!!!


What do you call a group of Harley Owners with a collective IQ of 120?
Sturgis!

How do Harley engineers tell if a bike is worthy of the Harley name?
They check to make sure the exhaust noise in decibels exceeds the horsepower rating.


Why don't Harley owners smile?
Once you realized you got conned into paying $25,000 for an outdated piece
of $#!+, would YOU be smiling?


What's the difference between a Harley Davidson and a vacuum cleaner?
The location of the dirtbags.


Why do Harleys have fringe?
So you can tell if they're moving.


How is a Harley Davidson like an old dog?
They both like to ride in the back of pickup trucks.


How do you know your Harley is handling great?
You can almost keep up with the logging trucks when you're riding in the canyons.


What is the difference between a Harley Davidson and an old dog?
The dog can get in the back of the pickup by itself.


Why couldn't the Harley mechanic repair the doorknob?
Some things just can't be fixed with only a hammer and a rope.


What's the difference between a Harley taken to Daytona on a trailer and one that's being ridden there?
The one on the trailer is going about 30mph faster.


Why do all Harley owners have trailers??
So they can go around corners faster!


Where can you find the world's largest collection of Harley jokes?
On the showroom of the Harley mega-store in Milwaukee.
(Alternate answer: At Sturgis)


You know you're a Harley rider if:
You're unable to let your bike simply IDLE at a stop light.


You confuse the word "character" with the more accurate term "engineering flaws".


"Water cooled" means standing on the side of the road, in the rain, waiting for a wrecker.


And the biggest (or at least the most expensive) Harley joke of all time: The Harley-Davidson VR-1000 superbike racer.
 
steingar said:
There are a number of in-line fours and twins from the late eighties and early nineties that would fit your need. There are also a number of small V-twins as well, depending on the style you like. The V-twins tend to be lower to the ground for easier stance, but are somewhat less maneuverable than the in line fours. I wouldn't go any more than 750cc displacement for a starter bike, and don't get anything new, you'll probably drop it.
Click to expand...

Agreed.
You might consider the honda CB series from the 80-90's. They're honest motorcycles and will run forever. They'll likely need a little work after a couple decades however it'll be minimal if it's been taken reasonable care of and they're easy to work on. $1000 or thereabouts will get you one with low mileage and in good condition.


You said about $2000 so:

The motorcycle is about $1000 if you shop around and choose sensibly.

Take the other $1000 and buy yourself good crash gear. At an absolute minimum: full face helmet (IMNSHO, any open face helmet, even 3/4 helmets are, at best, a pathetic joke in a real crash), jacket, gloves, pants and boots (good quality hiking boots will do for starters)
 
Tom-D said:
Why ride a krotch rocket when you can do it with class
I rode mine 230,000 miles with no big problems.
Click to expand...

I sure wouldn't recommend a Sportster to a beginning rider. And, you're not going to get one worth owning for $2,000.


Trapper John
 
Craigslist for an EX500. It became the Ninja 500. Reasonable power, and parts are dirt cheap. If you buy used you won't care about that first drop, and there will be a first drop sometime.. After a year you can probably sell the EX500 for what you paid, and buy something better if you want to. Ninja 250's are nice, but harder to find, people tend to hang on to them. IIRC you can get lowering links for either one to bring seat height down a bit if necessary.

Rod
 
Tom-D said:
Why ride a krotch rocket when you can do it with class

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1969....c0.m245&_trkparms=65:12|39:1|72:317|240:1318

I rode mine 230,000 miles with no big problems.
Click to expand...

Do you mean "no big problems...other than a permanent palsey" :smile:

I switched from a Kaw (note for chronic cagers: pronounced "cow") to a Sportster last year. I like the handling of the Harley but it shakes just a tad and the darn thing hits the rev limiter just when I think it's getting up where it'll run right...
 
I've had them all (H-D) from 125cc to Hogs, since 1959, and find the 883 to be totally sufficient for my current needs; but it's still too big for a starter bike.

HR
 
I sat on all the Harleys at Osh last year and boy were they heavy. My friends who ride Harleys tell me they're always finding bolts on the ground under the things. They call them harley nuggets (actually, that's a sanitized version of what they call them).

If its your thing go for it, we're all brothers of two wheels (even if I like to post Harley jokes). But I think something with that kind of weight might be a bit much for a noob, especially one of the fairer sex.
 
An old BMW R65 would be a nice bike, especially since the seat is lower on them. Unfortunately a decent one (if you could find one) will blow your $2000 budget.
 
EdFred said:
I've got a Honda CBR600 I'm selling, but I want $3k.

My suggestion for a starter bike is a 500twin of some sort. A Suzuki GS500 is a good choice. Enough power to get out of it's own way, but not so much that you can get into trouble with it. Anything in the 400lb range should be good. However, for a real starter bike, skip the street only bikes and get a DR350 or something like that which can be taken off road, and is still street legal. SUPER light, easy handling, and if you happen to drop it....well...they are made to be crashed more or less.
Click to expand...

Amen, learning to ride should be done in the dirt. Learning to ride on the street to me is just too much to absorb. You should already be a damn good rider so you don't even think about the riding part anymore before you get out where you have to use every bit of concentration and attention you have to keep from getting hurt or killed by somebody other than your own stupidity.
 
vontresc said:
A suzuki SV-650 wouldn't be a bad bike to start on either. That bike may be a little more expensive than what you are budgeting for though.
Click to expand...

Yes, a little more than $2k used, but this bike is fantastic. Plenty docile for newbies, and remains quite entertaining as your skills progress. This is the only bike I ever regret selling!!! I had progressed all the way up to an 1100cc sportbike, then downsized back to the lightweight SV-650. Wonderful bikes.

As others have said, gear is important. ATGATT (all the gear all the time)
 
How do you tell the difference between a rice rocket, and a rice rocket owner?

no one knows, they both whine.
 
EdFred said:
Yeah, and she ignored every bit of advice that was given to her. Ask her how that turned out.
Click to expand...

Actually, she bought a Yamaha Sport Cruiser before ever posting and followed my advice to gear up (as far as I can tell). Don't know how it turned out.
 
steingar said:
Actually, she bought a Yamaha Sport Cruiser before ever posting and followed my advice to gear up (as far as I can tell). Don't know how it turned out.
Click to expand...

The advice wasn't from people on here, it was from others. It was ignored (except for the gear). As to how it's turned out, that's for her to tell.
 
Henning said:
Amen, learning to ride should be done in the dirt. Learning to ride on the street to me is just too much to absorb. You should already be a damn good rider so you don't even think about the riding part anymore before you get out where you have to use every bit of concentration and attention you have to keep from getting hurt or killed by somebody other than your own stupidity.
Click to expand...

I agree completely.

Start on the dirt and learn real bike handling skills.

Then add the road part (you already drive a car, but on a bike you need to be more aware of potential and unfolding hazards).

The skills you'll learn on dirt will make you a much safer and more able rider -- and the mistakes will be far less costly.
 
Dirt/track is no safer/more dangerous than quiet residential streets. The main thing is to get out on a bike that is light and insufficiently powerful to accidentally speed the noob into a parked car/pedestrian/post/house/tree.
 
My Honda CX650C is a great starter bike, but that's because its a cruiser, not a sport bike.

Its fast enough to get you places, heavy enough to be stable, and more fun than you should ever have legally.

I paid $900 for it.
 
You did well, and I agree. The smaller cruiser-style bikes are excellent for beginners, especially vertically challenged ones.
 
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