AT OT Motorcycle Riders - do we have any in here.. I have a few Q's

[The Stigenator]

I plan to get a 2 wheeler for next semester. Any idea what is the minimum CC required to get on to the freeway.

I was thinking of 250 CC would do fine, since California DMV book say upto 125 cc you are not considered motorcycle rather motorized bicycle. However with 125 you can "attain" freeway speeds.

I was thinking 250 and above anyway. Are they any "motorcycles" on auto tranny's - I know in europe you have them, what about here. I am just lazy to shift. *if your wondering I have prior motorcycle experince in an another country*.

What do you think of these models:

Honda Reflex - 250 CC - plenty powerful for me.

Honda Nighthawk - now only if they made these with ALL DOWN gear shift (I am used to that)

Aprilia Pegaso 650 - Actually sat on this bike, like its comfort, and definitly can be used for long distance.

X9 - Maxi from Piaggio, 250 & 500 cc, saw a review on TopGear (BBC)

Any others you can suggest.

I am still in contact with Royal Enfield Motors to see if I can import one of those bikes into CA. I know they are legal in 49 states execpt CA. (ask any guy who has been to india, its the bike to have).

 

[Vikaden]

 

[BAMAVOO]

Nope don't go with a 250... I have ridden motorcycles for years..Started at age 8 I went thru many a dirt bike..When I was 18 got a Ninja 250...BORING RIDE!!! I went from that to a Hurricane 600..Lemme tell ya something...That 600 was fast as hell!!!! I don't ride anymore (Wife and child don't permit) I will say this..I saw 155mph on the Interstate..That scared the t total hell out of me...I still had throttle left too..But for the rush of the takeoff a 600 is great and is strong throughout the powerband...I am 31 now and have left that street racing craze for more relaxing things..My 18' Chaparral SL180 Limited Ski Boat..Family fun and a heck of a lot safer than being on the street with a bunch of people that don't pay attention

The 600 is a great performer..Believe me I ate Corvettes and any other car that tried it Yep there are faster bikes Kawasaki ZX12 comes to mind but that is too much power..I recommend the Suzuki GSXR600R or the Yamaha YZF600R with a change in pipes these thing run great and sound better..

Be safe and happing riding..
Bam

 

[Eug]

250 is painfully weak especially if you ever play hitting (err... I hope not hitting...) the highway. 500-600 is a good beginner bike. However, if you really want something for commuting in all weather, a used car is really better. I've seen a 450 cc automatic. It was something like 20 years old though.

Drive safely.

BAMAVOO, 155 mph? Sheesh.

 

[WetSprocket]

I think in most states a 250cc is minimum on the highway. If you are going to be doing any real riding I wouldnt get anything less than a 500. Still that's kinda small. Most important is to get what you feel comfortable with. If you already know how to ride a scooter it should be no problem getting use to a motorcycle transmission. Ride safe and have fun.

 

[Mister T]

go with at least 600-750 CC's...
anything else and you are cheating yourself.

I have a Ninja and its a 500 but the bike does 0-60 in 3.8s
I beat a damn Viper... Too bad the bike tops at 130...

thats why you neet at least a 600 if you go with Kawasaki or Yamaha or Suzuki...
If you go with ducati or aprilia, go with a 750...

Let us know what you get

 

[The Stigenator]

Thanks for the replies.

The reason I wanted something automatic was because my main commute is to school. Once I get back from school I probably will take one of the cars to work. I dont mind manual transmission but I find teh "first up, rest down" a little idiotic. I prefer all down (I have driven bikes with all 5 gears down), It makes more sense. I have had countless time trying to get my friends bikes (back in India) who had the first up, rest down (original RX100's had this and so does the bullet) and I had tonnes of trouble finding the gears.

I am going to go down to the honda dealer tommorow to test drive the 250 cc Reflex & also test drive teh Aprilia Enduro. I dont want to get a harley, its not me (atleast not at this age). As for speed, well I have had my days of racing, I dont mind going at high speed but after driving 4 wheels for the last few years I dont know how fast I would want to go.


Thanks

TGG

 

[The Stigenator]

250cc slow eh... 62HP from that engine.. O-60 < 3 Sec.

oh well that's a racing bike.

 

[WoundedWallet]

Don't go with anything less than a 500. For freeways is good to have some weight when that 18-wheeler passes by or if it is a windy day.

Besides smaller bikes will shake more on high speeds.

They are fun on a crowded 405, but not so much in the cold or in the rain. And it does rain in So Cal.

 

[trmiv]

This is my bike, Buell Cyclone M2 the ONLY American made sportbike, and love it. It has a 1200 (Harley engine so it has a ton of torque) in it so it's probably not what you are looking for. But, they have a new bike called the Blast that has a 500 in it that might be more your style.

And, don't you mean first down, the rest up? At least that's the way my bike is.

 

[The Stigenator]

humm. you got me confused..
I have riden a bike with &quot;first down rest up&quot;, it was the Yedzi Fury.
That was years ago.
But the last bike I rode here in the US (an acquaintances) was first up rest down. It was a honda slight older model, something from the late eighties early nineties a 250 cc, I believe its model was CBR250.

Personally I prefer all down if its going to be stick make it simple and logical. Ofcourse I have driven an &quot;All up&quot; gear box.. damn it makes no sense.. Plus I prefer the heel &amp; toe shifter. Those are hard to come by here. Once you drive a mobike with all down with heel and toe shifter you wouldnt want to go back to anything else. One reason you dont have to think, going up (hit heel(aka:54321)) going down (hit toe(aka:12345)) music to my mind and body.

I used to drive a heel and toe all down bike when I was in India, and that is why I prefer it, but ever since I came here I have been looking to get one with heel and toe with all down.

BTW: When I was in India I used to drive an automatic (scooter) and a geared mobike. Personally I am comfortable in both but as long as the mobike has what I like.

Thanks for the links.. guys.

I decided to up the CC's. Your right about being passed by a bigrig. My dinky little toyota wobbles in the wind, I can imagine what a lite bike could do.

 

[MadMerc]

my vfr is first down, rest up - do you have different gear box arrangements over there?

if your looking for an auto, and dont mind zero style, consider a 400cc scooter - dunno if you can get em in the states or not, but they will do 85+ and will be fine for the freeway

 

[YamahaGPR]

I'd suggest a Yamaha R6, but that might be out of your price range... that is a 600 that I don't think you can get tired of... Saw one at a motorcycle/atv/pwc auction last week.. 180 miles.. 2001... went for 5,500... not a scratch on it..

 

[ajskydiver]

1 up 5 down is what many of the professional racers prefer (GP, Superbike, Supersport, etc.) (although some use the standard 1 down 5 up)and on many bikes can be switched quite easily.

It's generally a matter of preference and what you learn on is a big consideration.

~AJ

 

[thebestMAX]

Nothing less than 600-650. Had a 450 Honda Scrambler and it was a great street bike but NG on the highway. Went to bigger bikes and would never go back uner 650 on the street.

 

[Moving Target]

For a beginer get a Suzuki GS550 or for better perfomance Suzuki Bandit 600. Cheap for what you get. Strong motor, good handling/brakes and cheap to insure.

If you don't have much motorcycle experience, don't buy a R6, ZX6, GXSR600 or CBR600. Way to much motorcycle for a beginner. And way to expensive to insure (mostly because of the morans that have never rode a bike and buy one because they some how think it will make them cool, and kill themselves shortly after)

The Kawasaki ZR-7s is not a bad bike either, but the Bandit is less and performs slightly better.

My Summer Fun:
'01 Bandit 1200's
'00 DRZ400

 

[ajskydiver]

I disagree completely about any bike being &quot;too much&quot; for a beginner.

A mature and responsible person can learn to ride on just about anything. Some bikes are easier to learn on than others yes...the key is to respect the machine and its capabilities.

I had no problems learning to ride on a brand new CBR 600 F3 -- I didn't think I was Eddie Lawson (or Foggy for you younger guys, Mike Hale for the really old ones)...

In fact, an incredible handling, responsive bike would be a pleasure to learn on...just respect the power and speed and anyone should be ok.

~AJ

 

[CirekL]

All I can say is... if you fall off, and still have all your limbs... ride on like there's no tomorrow!

 

[The Stigenator]

Well A Bandit600 can be considered. I talked to my counsellor at school (she rides a bike to school) regarding what to get. She told me to keep away from anything really too fast on the acceleration (which I already knew - never give a beginner or a new rider something way too powerful - like never give a 16 yr old a ferrari).

Anyway the Bandit I had considered, I talked to the guys at &quot;Cycle Trends&quot; in VanNuys regarding changing the shifter to &quot;All down&quot; they did say its possible for the bandit. However this decision has to be made and I will do so soon.

Just in case you are looking for info, did get some from &quot;motorcycleusa.com&quot; a pretty darn good site. check em out. Can be considered Anandtech of Motorcycles.