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Jon, you know there are many reasons why I cannot get a bike that says "ninja" on the side.
You're just gonna have to get passed that if you want to get a Kawasaki since that is their brand. And Kawasaki makes some great motorcycles.
When you say tall, how tall are you? The best thing to do would just be to go to a dealership and sit on some bikes and see how they feel. If you want a sportbike you are going to be pretty limited in selection as a beginner though unless you want to jump to a bigger bike right away which would be a mistake. I know that the Suzuki GS500 rides a little higher than the Kawasaki 500s so you might try sitting on one of those.
AlwaysAngryGuy on
0
JohnnyCacheStarting DefensePlace at the tableRegistered Userregular
edited May 2007
Yeah, same here, I'm really worried about fitting into that prone position I see people riding in.
IRT to AAG I am 6'4 and very bulky. If you've ever seen a picture of Tank Abbot, I look like that, but taller, younger, and nicer.
Also, the ninja thing is a joke. I would buy a ninja, if it was the right bike for me.
I don't really know what to tell you guys as I have the complete opposite problem. Finding a bike I can flatfloot is a challenge. You're gonna have a hard time finding a sportbike that will fit you, you'll probably be very uncomfortable on anything considered a "beginner" motorcycle. The only advice I can give is to go to a dealership, sit on some bikes, maybe talk to a sales person about it.
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.
The speed thing is a non-issue if you go for a 250cc like the Kymco People 250:
My friend has an old 250cc Vespa that tops at 80ish. It's enough to take out just about anywhere.
Buell's in my experience have been very disappointing. Twist the throttle and wait basically. They look great though very street fighter like.
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.
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.
A friend of a friend has an older Buell, he says they're good in turns but that's about it. It's also one of the most uncomfortable looking bikes I've ever seen. When he got on to show me it was like a superman position, I was actually laughing at how he looked.
I don't know if the newer models have changed that at all...
So...
I don't know why I thought that bikes would be cheap, but i can't find ANYTHING here in vancouver on craigslist for less than 3000$ used, why the fuck is that?
So...
I don't know why I thought that bikes would be cheap, but i can't find ANYTHING here in vancouver on craigslist for less than 3000$ used, why the fuck is that?
Odd, how hard is it to register a bike bought in say Seattle?
Prices are affected right now due to riding season being in full swing. During Fall/Winter though people drop the prices rock bottom.
Its not bad say if you pick up something like a motard. They are cheap to fix and fun to ride.
A Ninja 250 can be leased to own for a lil over 3k and be sold for just about what you paid for it later. Don't let the 250 fool you though I have seen guys on 250 smoke people on Liter bikes at the track.
Jon, you know there are many reasons why I cannot get a bike that says "ninja" on the side.
lol! You owe me one keyboard.... :P
The zx11 wasn't bad at all position-wise. I was slightly leaned over, but I (6'4, ~315#) felt fine on it. granted I didn't get to ride it long but you might consider it. If you really want tall, there's always the KLR650. The 2008 one looks a lot nicer than the current models, but that's a bulletproof go-anywhere ride. You'll need that wasteland survivability once the coming resource wars get into full swing.
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?
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.
Okay, since everyone is recommending to not buy from a dealer, what are good places to check for used bikes through independent sellers (aside from craigslist and eBay)? And, I looked into the Ohio licensing stuff, and they will take a certificate of MSF completion from another state, just so long as the state it was completed in meets Ohio guidelines, so I just have to call and check on Texas to see if they will take it. I've looked into the MSF courses, and damn they're pricey! I'm going to get an insurance quote at the end of this week, and depending on that, I might just hold off on doing the MSF course until I'm back in Ohio for good, which will give me proper time to decide if I'll be able to afford this or not.
nightcrawler335 on
"Once again, the conservative, sandwich-heavy portfolio pays off for the hungry investor!"
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?
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.
Okay, since everyone is recommending to not buy from a dealer, what are good places to check for used bikes through independent sellers (aside from craigslist and eBay)? And, I looked into the Ohio licensing stuff, and they will take a certificate of MSF completion from another state, just so long as the state it was completed in meets Ohio guidelines, so I just have to call and check on Texas to see if they will take it. I've looked into the MSF courses, and damn they're pricey! I'm going to get an insurance quote at the end of this week, and depending on that, I might just hold off on doing the MSF course until I'm back in Ohio for good, which will give me proper time to decide if I'll be able to afford this or not.
You can try to haggle with the dealer - I talked mine down some, probably could have gotten more out of him too, if I had tried. Can also try to talk him down some, and also have him throw in a helmet/jacket, maybe. Have fun with it.
If you go to buy a used bike from someone, though, there's lots of questions to ask.
Hey guys, what do you all think of the Honda "Go" deal for new riders?
It's a Honda 125 ( ugh) CBR, jacket, pants, boots, gloves and 3 year warranty + roadside assistance for 150$ Canadian per month for three years (though you can pay it all off as quickly as you like to save nearly a grand total in interest.
Heres the thing, while it's a small bike, I'm a total beginner, and when I outgrow the thing, it'd be perfect for my girlfriend. Insurance would also be cheap.
Well, you don't want the PW80, since it's an 80cc kid's dirt bike. The other 2 could be nice though, it really depends on how well they've been taken care of.
As for the 125.... That seems really expensive, especially for a bike you're going to get tired of real fast. $5000 could get you a VERY VERY nice used japanese bike, and since it's canadian money it makes it even a little more ridiculous. As far as safety and learning is concerned, smaller is not always better. IMO, there's kind of a middle ground you want to look for, around 250cc-650cc. However, I would stay away from the low end (250cc) if you're going to be doing any kind of regular highway travel. Also, I would stay away from the high end if you're looking at brands or models that are known for being torque-y or sporty. I would be afraid of not being able to manuever and get out of the way of a bad situation on a 125.
also, the cbr deal includes close to 800$ worth of gear, and 3 year warranty/roadside assistance.
also, it's financed, meaning that i couldafford it now.
Even on back roads, I'd hate to drive a 125. Having such a weak bike will get old fast, I'm even noticing my 500 is a little slow these days for me. Yeah, sure, you get $800 of gear with the bike, but is that the gear that you'd personally choose for yourself, or are you just taking it because it's there? $4600 for a 125cc bike with roadside assistance sounds bad however I look at it. Personally, I do not recommend that cbr deal, you can find a much better bike for much cheaper. Motorcycle season is in its prime, drive around and see if anyone is selling a bike in their front yard, I see at least 5 every day just by heading down the main street through town. A better deal is out there, just keep looking.
That's true, but he'll most likely be bored of it far earlier than he expects, and will either end up dissatisfied with his bike and buy another one sooner than normal, possibly wasting money that he wouldn't have otherwise spent that way, or he'll just end up dissatisfied with it and continue to be dissatisfied with it. Either way, a 125 is a bit underpowered to get out of tight spots, and not even remotely good to take on a highway. 250 should be the minimum you look at for regular riding.
Hey, I was curious. I heard sports bikes are torture to ride. Is there any way you can put the uh... cowling, or whatever that front shell is, onto a regular bike? the kind you don't lean forward in. Is there room to do that? I wonder if it would look completely ridiculous. I just want a regular bike so that it's comfortable, but that looks sexy like a sport bike.
also, what's the deal with doing your own motorcycle maintenance? why is it emphasized so much compared to a car?
I wonder what the gas mileage is compared to one of those tiny 2-seater cars. I wonder which one is safer to ride. :> (I wonder if those little cars are physically or legally capable of towing trailers)
A lot of bike companies now make sport tourers. Sport bike look but touring style clip ons and seating position.
BMW has a bunch
Honda and the VFRs
Motorcycle maintenance isn't too pricey but its way more important. You need to make sure your bike is in proper order because the level of forgiveness on a bike is small compared to that of a car.
Mileage on my 2005 Suzuki GSX-R1000 I can go between 36-42 miles per gallon depending on how I ride. If I am riding mountains all day though I get about 28 because I like to ride them fast.
My 2004 Honda CBR 600 F4i I get about 40 mpg. In the mountains about 36 mpg.
A lot of bike companies now make sport tourers. Sport bike look but touring style clip ons and seating position.
BMW has a bunch
Honda and the VFRs
Motorcycle maintenance isn't too pricey but its way more important. You need to make sure your bike is in proper order because the level of forgiveness on a bike is small compared to that of a car.
Mileage on my 2005 Suzuki GSX-R1000 I can go between 36-42 miles per gallon depending on how I ride. If I am riding mountains all day though I get about 28 because I like to ride them fast.
My 2004 Honda CBR 600 F4i I get about 40 mpg. In the mountains about 36 mpg.
I'll have to look it up when I have more time but... touring bikes? oh god, is THAT what they're trying to look like? those are old man bikes! hm. oh well. maybe an old man bike is what I should get. :S
I'll have to look it up when I have more time but... touring bikes? oh god, is THAT what they're trying to look like? those are old man bikes! hm. oh well. maybe an old man bike is what I should get. :S
Triple digit cruising = awesome. Probably the best known sport/tourer is the Honda ST1300. Not what I'd call an 'old man bike'.
I'll have to look it up when I have more time but... touring bikes? oh god, is THAT what they're trying to look like? those are old man bikes! hm. oh well. maybe an old man bike is what I should get. :S
Triple digit cruising = awesome. Probably the best known sport/tourer is the Honda ST1300. Not what I'd call an 'old man bike'.
That looks like you drive it in the traditional racing/sports bike position. So what makes it a touring bike? The fact that it has the saddlebags on the rear sides? Do all touring bikes where you sit upright look like old man bikes? I wonder what makes them old man bikes. If it's just having a cowling/fairing on a bike that you sit upright on.
The clip ons are higher so you sit more up right. The seats are also thicker. On my sports bikes my clip ons are low and the seats are just pads since when you ride sports your butt doesnt spend much time on the plank.
Ducati ST3
Ducati Multistrada
Every BMW bike except maybe the HP2
Triumph Bonneville/Thruxton/Scrambler
Triumph Tiger
Triumph Sprint ST
Triumph Speed Triple
Every Moto Guzzi
Buell Ulysses
Though honestly, don't let what someone else said about seating position make your decision for you. Lots of folks find the sporty position perfectly comfortable. Go sit on some bikes. If you decide you like one but don't like the seating position, it's simple to raise the bars or move the footpegs forward.
Well, I'm just about ready to get my bike up and running. It's a hand down from my father, a 1986 Kawasaki Vulcan 750 (was going to link to a photo, but imageshack appears to be acting flaky at the moment).
Edit: Pickey!
Picked up an HJC CL-SP for a helmet, some leather boots, and looking at one of these for a jacket (my dad got one 3-4 years ago, and he's very satisfied with it). Still trying to decide what I want to do for gloves and pants, but I'll have decided by the time the bike is up and running. I wanted to get these for gloves, but I'm not sure I like the current looks of them. And before anyone can say it, yes, I know that function > form.
I've been planning on doing this for awhile, and I'm kicking myself for not signing up for the state sponsored safety course, as it's now booked up until August. I'm going to go ahead and sign up for it in the next day or two, and just hope that an earlier opening arises.
Update: After some tinkering, I found out that the choke cable is borked. I managed to follow it, and was able to get it to idle after opening it a smidge. Huzzah! I'm new to motorcycles, so I'm counting this as a victory, even if it's basic stuff to the more experienced of you.
Well I own those gloves but in shorty form. The studded palms can play hell on your wrist position after a while but since I now only wear them for short trips to the store/gym its ok. Otherwise its my full track leathers and gloves for mountain runs and long trips.
I know a guy who crash tested the gauntlet version and they weren't even phased when he laid down is Hayabusa. So they have function as well as some nifty form.
What ever leather jacket you get make sure it has armor and fits snug.
Leather over pants are a plus too as jeans don't do much to stop rash.
Also boots are a good idea. Sidi, Alpinestar, Daytona, Oxtar make quality boots. Check out Setup boots they run for about 125 but they are made by Sidi at half the Sidi Price.
I own the Sidi Vertigo Corsas and they are worth the 400 bucks. My Alpinestar SMX boots are great too for 325. However these are race boots but both companies also make great tour boots I have another pair for 120 thats water proof and for touring by Alpinestar. They look like normal work boots.
Posts
You're just gonna have to get passed that if you want to get a Kawasaki since that is their brand. And Kawasaki makes some great motorcycles.
When you say tall, how tall are you? The best thing to do would just be to go to a dealership and sit on some bikes and see how they feel. If you want a sportbike you are going to be pretty limited in selection as a beginner though unless you want to jump to a bigger bike right away which would be a mistake. I know that the Suzuki GS500 rides a little higher than the Kawasaki 500s so you might try sitting on one of those.
IRT to AAG I am 6'4 and very bulky. If you've ever seen a picture of Tank Abbot, I look like that, but taller, younger, and nicer.
Also, the ninja thing is a joke. I would buy a ninja, if it was the right bike for me.
I host a podcast about movies.
The speed thing is a non-issue if you go for a 250cc like the Kymco People 250:
My friend has an old 250cc Vespa that tops at 80ish. It's enough to take out just about anywhere.
Hah, yes.
Go sit yourself on a Suzuki V-Strom 650, I think it'd fit you nicely. Or a Kawasaki KLR650.
Edit: Speeling.
A friend of a friend has an older Buell, he says they're good in turns but that's about it. It's also one of the most uncomfortable looking bikes I've ever seen. When he got on to show me it was like a superman position, I was actually laughing at how he looked.
I don't know if the newer models have changed that at all...
Buy some useless stuff at my Cafepress site!
I don't know why I thought that bikes would be cheap, but i can't find ANYTHING here in vancouver on craigslist for less than 3000$ used, why the fuck is that?
Odd, how hard is it to register a bike bought in say Seattle?
Prices are affected right now due to riding season being in full swing. During Fall/Winter though people drop the prices rock bottom.
If i'm completely new to riding, how retarded would it be to just lease to own or something?
A Ninja 250 can be leased to own for a lil over 3k and be sold for just about what you paid for it later. Don't let the 250 fool you though I have seen guys on 250 smoke people on Liter bikes at the track.
lol! You owe me one keyboard.... :P
The zx11 wasn't bad at all position-wise. I was slightly leaned over, but I (6'4, ~315#) felt fine on it. granted I didn't get to ride it long but you might consider it. If you really want tall, there's always the KLR650. The 2008 one looks a lot nicer than the current models, but that's a bulletproof go-anywhere ride. You'll need that wasteland survivability once the coming resource wars get into full swing.
There is also the KTM's and Husqvarna's to look at when seeking out the super moto/ motard choices.
Okay, since everyone is recommending to not buy from a dealer, what are good places to check for used bikes through independent sellers (aside from craigslist and eBay)? And, I looked into the Ohio licensing stuff, and they will take a certificate of MSF completion from another state, just so long as the state it was completed in meets Ohio guidelines, so I just have to call and check on Texas to see if they will take it. I've looked into the MSF courses, and damn they're pricey! I'm going to get an insurance quote at the end of this week, and depending on that, I might just hold off on doing the MSF course until I'm back in Ohio for good, which will give me proper time to decide if I'll be able to afford this or not.
You can try to haggle with the dealer - I talked mine down some, probably could have gotten more out of him too, if I had tried. Can also try to talk him down some, and also have him throw in a helmet/jacket, maybe. Have fun with it.
If you go to buy a used bike from someone, though, there's lots of questions to ask.
I reccomend reading through this guide: http://www.clarity.net/adam/buying-bike.html
It's a Honda 125 ( ugh) CBR, jacket, pants, boots, gloves and 3 year warranty + roadside assistance for 150$ Canadian per month for three years (though you can pay it all off as quickly as you like to save nearly a grand total in interest.
Heres the thing, while it's a small bike, I'm a total beginner, and when I outgrow the thing, it'd be perfect for my girlfriend. Insurance would also be cheap.
So what say you SE++?
Or, some craigslist options:
1981 Yamaha Maxim XJ 650 cc - $1800
1999 YAMAHA PW80 - $1299
1982 Yamaha Seca 650 - $1250
any of these better choices for a beginner?
In fact there are quite a few guys here in Cali that would love to own a Honda CBR 125. Lucky Canadians.
As for the 125.... That seems really expensive, especially for a bike you're going to get tired of real fast. $5000 could get you a VERY VERY nice used japanese bike, and since it's canadian money it makes it even a little more ridiculous. As far as safety and learning is concerned, smaller is not always better. IMO, there's kind of a middle ground you want to look for, around 250cc-650cc. However, I would stay away from the low end (250cc) if you're going to be doing any kind of regular highway travel. Also, I would stay away from the high end if you're looking at brands or models that are known for being torque-y or sporty. I would be afraid of not being able to manuever and get out of the way of a bad situation on a 125.
also, the cbr deal includes close to 800$ worth of gear, and 3 year warranty/roadside assistance.
also, it's financed, meaning that i couldafford it now.
Its not the bike thats fast it is the rider.
also, what's the deal with doing your own motorcycle maintenance? why is it emphasized so much compared to a car?
I wonder what the gas mileage is compared to one of those tiny 2-seater cars. I wonder which one is safer to ride. :> (I wonder if those little cars are physically or legally capable of towing trailers)
BMW has a bunch
Honda and the VFRs
Motorcycle maintenance isn't too pricey but its way more important. You need to make sure your bike is in proper order because the level of forgiveness on a bike is small compared to that of a car.
Mileage on my 2005 Suzuki GSX-R1000 I can go between 36-42 miles per gallon depending on how I ride. If I am riding mountains all day though I get about 28 because I like to ride them fast.
My 2004 Honda CBR 600 F4i I get about 40 mpg. In the mountains about 36 mpg.
Kawasaki:
Z1000
ZZR600
Ninja 650R
Ninja 500
Ninja 250
Honda:
Superhawk
919
Interceptor
599
CBR600F4i
Yamaha:
FZ1
FZ6
YZF600R
Suzuki:
SV650S
SV650
Katana 750
Katana 600
GS500F
SV1000S
Bandit 1250
This is just the current line up for the big 4.
Ducati ST3
Ducati Multistrada
Every BMW bike except maybe the HP2
Triumph Bonneville/Thruxton/Scrambler
Triumph Tiger
Triumph Sprint ST
Triumph Speed Triple
Every Moto Guzzi
Buell Ulysses
Though honestly, don't let what someone else said about seating position make your decision for you. Lots of folks find the sporty position perfectly comfortable. Go sit on some bikes. If you decide you like one but don't like the seating position, it's simple to raise the bars or move the footpegs forward.
Touring bikes are certainly not old man bikes.
Edit: Pickey!
Picked up an HJC CL-SP for a helmet, some leather boots, and looking at one of these for a jacket (my dad got one 3-4 years ago, and he's very satisfied with it). Still trying to decide what I want to do for gloves and pants, but I'll have decided by the time the bike is up and running. I wanted to get these for gloves, but I'm not sure I like the current looks of them. And before anyone can say it, yes, I know that function > form.
I've been planning on doing this for awhile, and I'm kicking myself for not signing up for the state sponsored safety course, as it's now booked up until August. I'm going to go ahead and sign up for it in the next day or two, and just hope that an earlier opening arises.
Update: After some tinkering, I found out that the choke cable is borked. I managed to follow it, and was able to get it to idle after opening it a smidge. Huzzah! I'm new to motorcycles, so I'm counting this as a victory, even if it's basic stuff to the more experienced of you.
I know a guy who crash tested the gauntlet version and they weren't even phased when he laid down is Hayabusa. So they have function as well as some nifty form.
What ever leather jacket you get make sure it has armor and fits snug.
Leather over pants are a plus too as jeans don't do much to stop rash.
Also boots are a good idea. Sidi, Alpinestar, Daytona, Oxtar make quality boots. Check out Setup boots they run for about 125 but they are made by Sidi at half the Sidi Price.
I own the Sidi Vertigo Corsas and they are worth the 400 bucks. My Alpinestar SMX boots are great too for 325. However these are race boots but both companies also make great tour boots I have another pair for 120 thats water proof and for touring by Alpinestar. They look like normal work boots.