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Motorcycles
nightcrawler335
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So, I've been wanting to buy a motorcycle (sport bike) for quite some time now, and have been doing some research on the webb lately. From everything I've read, the best starter bikes for new riders are the Kawasaki Ninja 250r and the Kawasaki Ninja 500r. Wanting that little extra power, I'm going to hopefully purchase a used 500r sometime in the near future.
Here's my issue. Right now, as of the end of March, I'm a resident of Houston, TX. However, I'm down here on an internship for school, and move back to Ohio in September, and I my permanent residence is in Ohio. So therefore I have an Ohio license, not a Texas one. But, I would like to purchase a bike while I'm down here, and I will need to get a motorcycle license in order to ride legally. Will I be able to get a motorcycle license from a Texas DMV, even though I don't have a Texas driver's license? Or will I have to go through the stuff in Ohio?
Here's my issue. Right now, as of the end of March, I'm a resident of Houston, TX. However, I'm down here on an internship for school, and move back to Ohio in September, and I my permanent residence is in Ohio. So therefore I have an Ohio license, not a Texas one. But, I would like to purchase a bike while I'm down here, and I will need to get a motorcycle license in order to ride legally. Will I be able to get a motorcycle license from a Texas DMV, even though I don't have a Texas driver's license? Or will I have to go through the stuff in Ohio?
"Once again, the conservative, sandwich-heavy portfolio pays off for the hungry investor!"
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Make sure you can buy a bike in Texas with an Ohio license.
Also, try taking the safety course before you buy your bike; I thought I wanted a sport bike until I took the course, and now I've got more of a cruiser, for long trips and meandering roads - I found out high speed turning and corners aren't really what I enjoy the most, and sport bikes aren't the best for long trips.
Tip all helmet brands do not fit the same. Some are better suited for different head shapes. I have a rounder head so Suomy, Shark, and KBC fits me best. Arai and Shoei tend to favor the more oval shaped head. In helmets you tend to get what you pay for in features as the safety is all standardized. A helmet with comfier interior and light weight materials pays big dividends after a day in the hills.
MSF course then a year later Advanced Riders Course.
Ninja250 is a better deal as you can sell it for close to what you bought it for usually due to demand. The 500r while solid is less popular at least here in the Northern California riding community.
Learn to do basic maintenance on you bike i.e. oil change, brake pads, cable adjustment, setting chain slack, and basic suspension setup. This will save you tons of money in the long run that you can throw at tires. Plus a lot of accidents can be prevented by addressing base maintenance issues.
As mentioned take care of all your DMV work in your home state.
Good luck and welcome to the riding community!
However due to the nature of how people ride them most never see 6 digits mileages.
So what about buying a used bike from a dealership? For example, the bike I'm going to look at tomorrow has 27k miles on it, but I obviously have no idea how the bike itself was treated. Is 27k a lot of miles for a used '03 model bike?
I'm not going to tell you how to ride, that's your choice, but be prepared for any accidents.
Satans..... hints.....
As someone said, get one that you agonize over if it gets scratched up, you will drop it eventually.
And yeah... health insurance is a good thing, Bike insurance too. My uncle goes through Gieco (Has Allstate on vehicles, Gieco was cheaper.)
My uncle's friend hit a deer going 60mph. He survived, the deer and bike did not. So be careful, and have fun.
It's like Amazingness captured in a motorcycle.
and my second Choice
Lightning XB12Scg
May I suggest the Triumph Speed Triple
I rode with one of these on Sunday. Its short wheel base allowed it to just dip into the corners so easy I found myself on my 05 GSX-R1000 having to play a little catch up in the tighter twisty sections of the mountains here. On my 600 though I believe I would have had no problems passing him but I was impressed for a bike of its horsepower to handle so well.
If I were in your situation, I'd take the MSF course and they'll give you this little card. Then pop back to Ohio, and you should be able to go to the DMV, take the written test, and walk out with a full motorcycle endorsement. (double check that they waive the riding portion for a MSF completion, I believe they do).
That is a great idea, since I am actually heading back to Ohio in a month for a few days, and have to goto the DMV anyways to get my new license when I turn 21. Are you sure that an Ohio DMV will accept an MSF certificate from Texas?
On another note, I went out browsing today after work. A local dealership has a 2004 Kawasaki Ninja 500cc with 2000 miles on it for $4300 -- is that a good deal? It seems to me like it is, but I also don't know anything about good deals on bikes yet. And I definitely need to look into insurance and loan rates and all that stuff as well, and will be doing that in the near future.
Avoid Progressive they will ream you.
Honestly buy used from a private party. 2004 Ninja 500 I would pay around the 3500 give or take $200.
Ninja 250's though are a great buy as they can be had used for 2500 or less. Can be sold for what you paid for them provided you don't wreck it. You can also take them to the track to and learn all the skills you will need for the big bikes.
Seconding that $4300 is too much. Definitely find a private seller, a used bike from a dealer will never be a good deal.
I missed this earlier, but a jacket is just as important as a helmet. Get a textile one if leather is too hot or expensive.
I would recommend a Yamaha V-Star, but only because that's the bike I currently own and have experience with. I got the 1100 Custom, and for my height and weight it's a great bike, low enough to the ground so my feet are planted firmly when stopped or when I need to muscle it around a bit.
Some people might recommend getting a smaller bike like a 650 first, but I haven't had any problems with the 1100 as my first bike.
Buy some useless stuff at my Cafepress site!
Well, golly, it doesn't look like it. Check out this PDF - http://www.msf-usa.org/Downloads/2002%20CSI%20Licensing.pdf
Apparently, it was last updated in 2002, so it may be worth calling the Ohio DMV to confirm.
Second on that 500 from the dealer being a bad deal. I *did* buy mine from a dealer, but it's an 05, I bought it over a year ago, and paid less than that.
Also the jacket is a must have. If you have a skin vs asphalt battle, well, you're gonna lose that one.
I should also mention that MSF courses usually fill up real fast. You should be looking into that if you aren't already.
What are these crappy bikes you are referring to, so that I can start this "few years" countdown?
Let 'em eat fucking pineapples!
Are you looking for a sport bike or a cruiser? For sportbikes, a Kawasaki Ninja 250 or 500 is a great starter bike. 250s run around $3000 new. 500s are $5000. Alternatively there is the Suzuki GS500 which is a very similar bike. If you are trying to decide between the two, just pick the one that is more appealing to you and comfortable when you sit on them. The Suzuki rides a little higher than the Ninja if I remember right. That's a problem for me because of my height.
Also I don't agree with the "you'll drop it no matter what" statement. It happens to a lot of people, but I've known several who went through their first bikes and never dropped them. You definitely should think about it though.
Something to get to campus and around the city when it's not possible to use a bicycle all the time, like a used bike that a college kid with a low-income internship could afford. Unfortunately, $3000 is out of my price range.
I know a lot of people here are clutching their head at my lack of knowledge and decorum on the subject, but until I get some real income it's not going to be much more than a cheap, used bike that gets from A to B without using much gas. How I long for the day when that real bike is possible though.
Let 'em eat fucking pineapples!
Why don't you look into getting a scooter instead? Bikes are fun and you could probably find an old used 250 for pretty cheap but it doesn't sound like that is what you are looking for.
<Trimming the quote tree>
That's not a bad idea. However, I'm under the impression that scooters have a limited speed capacity (highways impossible) and may be too inconspicuous for cars to notice them on the road.
Edit: One of my main concerns for such transportation is safety. If I can convince the people footing the majority of my tuition that bikes are safe compared to cars, then I'm set.
Let 'em eat fucking pineapples!
That would be untrue. Sorry.
You could spring for a nice BMW with ABS (~$15k), but still that wouldn't be nearly as safe as a used honda civic.
You can get ABS on the SV650 starting this year, and hopefully it'll keep spreading. Having ABS is so nice when the roads are slick, and I don't understand why all bikes don't come with it. It's 2007 for fuck's sake.
Edit: Yes, mule with a B.
You mean for riding a bike, not for flattening a biker, right?
Two things: 1st, my local DMV has inexpensive classes where they will teach you motorcycle safety and at the end of the class you get your motorcycle license - they even provide a bike.
2nd what's a good bike for a very tall and or heavy person? Who doesn't really care for harley/hog type bikes?
I host a podcast about movies.
ya, I mean I've actually never had experience with a Buell. I've just always thought they were amazing looking, and sounding bikes. The Triumphs have always impressed me too. But, I think if I get the money in the short term to buy a sport-bike I'm going for the Monster.
I'm about the same size as you and I've been looking for a good deal on a used bike. I fit *perfectly* on a zx-11. Not at all a beginner bike though. Also if you're more into the standard, look at a V-Strom (suzuki DL1000). Very tall bike. It's not really a true dual-sport, but that bike would be fine with trails and fire roads as well as the highway. the people here give it pretty good reviews: http://www.advrider.com/
ZX-11
Vee
I host a podcast about movies.
Edit: Whoops kind of redundant, didn't see the tall guy question above me, sorry