Entry Level Motorcycle Thread

[RedRooster]

Why? Sports bikes aren't the only legitimate motorcycle type. I couldn't ever see myself owning a sport bike unless the rides were less than half an hour. I just find them to be incredibly uncomfortable compared to cruisers.

I dunno, that upright sitting is hard on the back, even with a soft seat. And more than half an hour with your arms at chest level gets pretty sore too.
Granted, all I've ridden for any amount of time was an old Honda Shadow, when I swapped for a couple hour ride with my 9R years ago. I actually thought the 9R was more comfortable.
All depends I guess.

 

[JulesMaximus]

3 months under your belt is not going to make you nearly good enough to safely thrash a 600cc sport bike...IMHO anyway...

Agreed. :thumbsup:

 

[LOUISSSSS]

how about a 500 as a starter bike: Suzuki GSX500?

 

[TridenT]

Oh just do what you want to do OP: Get a Honda CBR600RR.

Or... just get a COMFORTABLE 250cc motorbike... <_< Depends on where yah live. No cars in sight? CBR600RR... There's a car once in a while? 250cc...

 

[Greenman]

You could get a 600cc sportbike used pretty cheap. Just take it easy for about 2-3 months then ride it like you stole it after that. You control the bike not the other way around. Get someone who knows bikes to teach you and you'll be fine.
I almost threw up at the cruiser suggestions. You're gonna get a 600cc or bigger bike soon after that 500cc so just skip that altogether.

Kind of a narrow minded attitude. Not everyone needs or wants a sport bike. If I had to go five hundred miles on a sport bike, I'd leave it home and take the bus. They simply aren't designed for long distance riding. The entire point of them is performance, that's why they don't come with bags and a windshield.
We all have our preferences, that's why there are so many different bikes, the trick is to figure out what you want to do with it, then find what matches your needs.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Kind of a narrow minded attitude. Not everyone needs or wants a sport bike. If I had to go five hundred miles on a sport bike, I'd leave it home and take the bus. They simply aren't designed for long distance riding. The entire point of them is performance, that's why they don't come with bags and a windshield.
We all have our preferences, that's why there are so many different bikes, the trick is to figure out what you want to do with it, then find what matches your needs.

I ride a zx14 and I feel that is more comfy than any cruiser I've owned. I could set my bike up for cruising if I wanted and have the best of both worlds. In the sportbike riding position you a have much more in control feeling. I think motorcycling tech has evolved past the upright sitting position, no aerodnamics, low power cruisers. It's just the geezers that refuse to adapt and refuse to accept any bike but their overpriced low quality harleys. If he was serious about touring I'd suggest a Kawasaki concours or a yamaha FJR1300. Those bikes would chew up highway miles much faster and more comfortably than any "cruiser".

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Oh just do what you want to do OP: Get a Honda CBR600RR.

Do it! You'll thank me later for not wasting your money on a 500cc! It's a serious machine yes but treat her with the proper care and respect and she returns the favor.

I've been riding motorcycles since I was 15 years old. I've owned a Harley sportster, yamaha roadstar warrior, 2002 ninja zx6r, 99 zx9r, now a 07 zx14. Those are all my street bikes I've put thousands of miles on each one. That's not including the 4-5 different dirt bikes my parents bought me or the couple of enduros I've had. These are a bunch of geezers that started riding when they were 40 and have no clue how to do it. Get someone knowledgable with riding sportbikes and let them teach you and you'll be fine on a 600.

 

[Ciber]

I just started riding yesterday for the first time ever, on my new Ducati 848... I have a professional tutor teaching me 1 on 1. I found the 848 to be easier to deal with than the 250cc ninja the tutor started me on. Basically rode the 250cc ninja around for an hour and then jumped on the Ducati. I have an excellent tutor that drilled all the safety stuff into my head and gave me tons of advice for hours before i even sat on the bike though. If you're going to be a hot head and not respect the bike, then you should probably stay away from them all together. it's amazing how much stuff you NEED to know when it comes to riding that you don't even think about until someone mentions it to you.

No, i'm not riding on the street yet, as i know i'm nowhere near ready for that.

Taken with my gimpy iphone.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Do it! You'll thank me later for not wasting your money on a 500cc! It's a serious machine yes but treat her with the proper care and respect and she returns the favor.

I've been riding motorcycles since I was 15 years old. I've owned a Harley sportster, yamaha roadstar warrior, 2002 ninja zx6r, 99 zx9r, now a 07 zx14. Those are all my street bikes I've put thousands of miles on each one. That's not including the 4-5 different dirt bikes my parents bought me or the couple of enduros I've had. These are a bunch of geezers that started riding when they were 40 and have no clue how to do it. Get someone knowledgable with riding sportbikes and let them teach you and you'll be fine on a 600.

That is seriously some of the worst advice ever. I've ridden with a number of people who bought 600cc super sports as a first bike and I can outride all of them on my SV. Some of them are downright scary to ride with...but at least they know their limitations for the most part. One of them was on his second SS after wrecking his first one...he's the guy on the blue race replica in this photo (I took this pic on Palomar Mountain about a month ago). He's lucky he didn't kill himself.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I just started riding yesterday for the first time ever, on my new Ducati 848... I have a professional tutor teaching me 1 on 1. I found the 848 to be easier to deal with than the 250cc ninja the tutor started me on. Basically rode the 250cc ninja around for an hour and then jumped on the Ducati. I have an excellent tutor that drilled all the safety stuff into my head and gave me tons of advice for hours before i even sat on the bike though. If you're going to be a hot head and not respect the bike, then you should probably stay away from them all together. it's amazing how much stuff you NEED to know when it comes to riding that you don't even think about until someone mentions it to you.

No, i'm not riding on the street yet, as i know i'm nowhere near ready for that.

Taken with my gimpy iphone.

Man, that's going to hurt WHEN you drop that bike for the first time.

 

[Greenman]

I ride a zx14 and I feel that is more comfy than any cruiser I've owned. I could set my bike up for cruising if I wanted and have the best of both worlds. In the sportbike riding position you a have much more in control feeling. I think motorcycling tech has evolved past the upright sitting position, no aerodnamics, low power cruisers. It's just the geezers that refuse to adapt and refuse to accept any bike but their overpriced low quality harleys. If he was serious about touring I'd suggest a Kawasaki concours or a yamaha FJR1300. Those bikes would chew up highway miles much faster and more comfortably than any "cruiser".

Absolutely absurd. The entire point of cruising is to enjoy the ride, it's not about getting there as fast as possible. To even suggest that the bent over riding position is more comfortable than sitting up is simply stupid. The only other times a human assumes that position is when they are on the toilet with cramps and diarrhea, or about to crash in an airplane. The low horsepower argument is equally as ignorant. You don't need a 150 horsepower, you don't need a top speed over 100, because there is no public road in the US where you can use either.
I think most bikes are cool, and I don't much care what anyone rides, but I find the squid mentality annoying. Ride whatever you want, but please don't try to "prove" that whatever you ride is the best bike there is.

 

[iGas]

A used 250cc or less if it is your first bike IMHO, because it is likely that you will drop it a few times. Then graduates to a bigger bike (500~600cc) after a year or 2 of experience (5k~10K miles or more).

 

[JJ650]

Man, that's going to hurt WHEN you drop that bike for the first time.

Yeah it will, but man....You gotta luv Ducs.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Absolutely absurd. The entire point of cruising is to enjoy the ride, it's not about getting there as fast as possible. To even suggest that the bent over riding position is more comfortable than sitting up is simply stupid. The only other times a human assumes that position is when they are on the toilet with cramps and diarrhea, or about to crash in an airplane. The low horsepower argument is equally as ignorant. You don't need a 150 horsepower, you don't need a top speed over 100, because there is no public road in the US where you can use either.
I think most bikes are cool, and I don't much care what anyone rides, but I find the squid mentality annoying. Ride whatever you want, but please don't try to "prove" that whatever you ride is the best bike there is.

^
This. Riding a sports bike for me is uncomfortable because due to my height its like being bowed over in a partial pushup. Completely uncomfortable for anymore than a half-hour ride.

 

[lghost]

6' 5" here and I am more comfortable on sportier bikes, generally speaking. I am riding an SV650 now which is a great inexpensive little bike, despite the comically bad suspension, so-so brakes, and rabid fanboys.
The Suzuki and Kawasaki 500's are probably even better bets, or any older UJM if you don't mind tinkering. I started on a CX500 I bought for 600$. It was heavy, slow, awkward, and I loved every minute of it. I sold it after five years of riding for 600$.

Also, that is a beautiful 848 in this thread. You don't have to lay it down, really. I'll cry.
(I laid down a dirtbike once when I was about 11 years old, have never been down in the 23 years of riding since)

 

[Greenman]

6' 5" here and I am more comfortable on sportier bikes, generally speaking. I am riding an SV650 now which is a great inexpensive little bike, despite the comically bad suspension, so-so brakes, and rabid fanboys.
The Suzuki and Kawasaki 500's are probably even better bets, or any older UJM if you don't mind tinkering. I started on a CX500 I bought for 600$. It was heavy, slow, awkward, and I loved every minute of it. I sold it after five years of riding for 600$.

Also, that is a beautiful 848 in this thread. You don't have to lay it down, really. I'll cry.
(I laid down a dirtbike once when I was about 11 years old, have never been down in the 23 years of riding since)

It's all about what works for you. I have mid controls and highway pegs. I find I like the forward pegs more around town than on the highway, so should the economy ever recover and I start making money again, I'm going to run dual controls. It's ever so pleasant to have two different riding positions on the same bike.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Absolutely absurd. The entire point of cruising is to enjoy the ride, it's not about getting there as fast as possible. To even suggest that the bent over riding position is more comfortable than sitting up is simply stupid. The only other times a human assumes that position is when they are on the toilet with cramps and diarrhea, or about to crash in an airplane. The low horsepower argument is equally as ignorant. You don't need a 150 horsepower, you don't need a top speed over 100, because there is no public road in the US where you can use either.
I think most bikes are cool, and I don't much care what anyone rides, but I find the squid mentality annoying. Ride whatever you want, but please don't try to "prove" that whatever you ride is the best bike there is.

Everyone rides for different reasons. I'd keep ragging on you but I just saw the idiot with the 848

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I just started riding yesterday for the first time ever, on my new Ducati 848... I have a professional tutor teaching me 1 on 1. I found the 848 to be easier to deal with than the 250cc ninja the tutor started me on. Basically rode the 250cc ninja around for an hour and then jumped on the Ducati. I have an excellent tutor that drilled all the safety stuff into my head and gave me tons of advice for hours before i even sat on the bike though. If you're going to be a hot head and not respect the bike, then you should probably stay away from them all together. it's amazing how much stuff you NEED to know when it comes to riding that you don't even think about until someone mentions it to you.

No, i'm not riding on the street yet, as i know i'm nowhere near ready for that.

Taken with my gimpy iphone.

You're a total idiot. You can afford to stay on the 250 for a few months if you bought an 848, why don't you do it?? You can buy a used 250/500 for like $2000, ride for 6 months and sell with no loss. Do you have ANY idea what the statistics on replacement for that are??


Over the ~8 years of serious street riding (commuting every day, mountains almost every weekend, I averaged 30-40k++++ miles a year depending on long trips), I've done plenty of track days, had track bikes, I've owned a supersport from every major man'f (including a 1098 along with other big twin liters, tons of 600s, on and on and on)

Just to make a long story short... Every single spring I see the exact same slew of posts (on this forum and others) from people wanting to start on 600s - even an SV is too slow for a 1st bike now apparently!! I like the cheap parts being on the market but it is seriously screwing my insurance rates and cops hate us.



Not only that, but you WILL be slower. You WILL be intimidated by that bike. Unless you have Keith motherfsckingCode as your "professionalistic 1 on 1 riding coach" you'll end up just like every other squid up in the mtns on a damn literbike - plastered on the side of the mountain. You realize that your "puny" 848 is actually faster than a 998 AND 999!!!






Do yourself a favor and save the nice pretty pearly white paint on that 848 by getting yourself an 06-07 GS500 for the first year. Don't worry, it's faired so all your big bike night friends won't make (too much) fun of you. Hopefully you have your trendy jeans on.



This sport has been slowly getting more and more polluted over the last 10 years.



:disgust;

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Oh and I like your snakeskins, good thing you have those to help keep your form while holding cornering lines...




rofl


Edit:


Whoa wouldn't want anyone knowing you have a "measly" 848 vs an 11!! Good thing you pulled the stickers off before anyone at bike night noticed !

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Oh shit, did I get trolled lol? That has to be a troll post

 

[SpatiallyAware]

^
This. Riding a sports bike for me is uncomfortable because due to my height its like being bowed over in a partial pushup. Completely uncomfortable for anymore than a half-hour ride.

Most people that find sportbikes that extremely uncomfortable aren't riding them properly. On a cruiser it's "ok" (technically you shouldn't though) to hold yourself up with your arms. On a sportbike you need to learn to hold yourself up with your back muscles. I prefer the 'chicken flap' (you should be able to flap your elbows like a chicken i.e. no weight on your wrists) It takes awhile before this is subconscious.. Tall people have a much bigger problem than this, but I've seen a 6'5 dude RAIL on a RS250. Another guy riding my 675 was over 6' but it wouldn't have worked for long distances. motorcycles don't do well with tall or fat people. You can get lower rearsets which help, but if you're 6'4 then you should find another sport - like basketball, or a cruiser lol..

Granted sportbikes are designed with a primary purpose of going as fast as possible in the corners, so of course they will be inherently less comfy. That being said, I had a 636 that would tour on - complete with luggage. I put 15k miles on it the first year I had it (and I had 3-4 other bikes I was riding at the same time too).. That 636 was more comfy than any cruiser I've had.

I also commuted (90 miles a day) on a 1098 for almost two years. I bought some helibars which helped tremendously and allowed me to do 300 miles or so in a day before getting really worn out.

 

[Jeff7181]

3 months under your belt is not going to make you nearly good enough to safely thrash a 600cc sport bike...IMHO anyway...

That depends how much you ride, where you ride and who you ride with.

 

[zylander]

SV650s, dont waste your time with anything less.

The SV650 isnt so fast that you will kill yourself but its not so slow that you will grow out of it in 6.

 

[Ciber]

You're a total idiot. You can afford to stay on the 250 for a few months if you bought an 848, why don't you do it?? You can buy a used 250/500 for like $2000, ride for 6 months and sell with no loss. Do you have ANY idea what the statistics on replacement for that are??

You are going off on a crazy rant based on a bunch of assumptions. My friend's all ride and are always going to the track(they rarely ride on the street). I've gone to the track with them a couple of times and they are always telling me i should get a bike. So i decided to get this one because it's the one i like.

Over the ~8 years of serious street riding (commuting every day, mountains almost every weekend, I averaged 30-40k++++ miles a year depending on long trips), I've done plenty of track days, had track bikes, I've owned a supersport from every major man'f (including a 1098 along with other big twin liters, tons of 600s, on and on and on)

Just to make a long story short... Every single spring I see the exact same slew of posts (on this forum and others) from people wanting to start on 600s - even an SV is too slow for a 1st bike now apparently!! I like the cheap parts being on the market but it is seriously screwing my insurance rates and cops hate us.



Not only that, but you WILL be slower. You WILL be intimidated by that bike. Unless you have Keith motherfsckingCode as your "professionalistic 1 on 1 riding coach" you'll end up just like every other squid up in the mtns on a damn literbike - plastered on the side of the mountain. You realize that your "puny" 848 is actually faster than a 998 AND 999!!!

Who told you i want to go fast or be faster than someone else? I'm under no delusions that i'm god's gift to motorcycles or anything of the sort, i got the bike because i like it, i'm not planning to race anyone with it, it's simply for my enjoyment and to hang out with my mature friends. What makes you think i'm a squid? I have gear and no plans to go fooling around on public roads, much less racing around on mountains or whatever it is that you're imagining based on nothing. I never said the 848 was puny, you should work on your reading comprehension.




Do yourself a favor and save the nice pretty pearly white paint on that 848 by getting yourself an 06-07 GS500 for the first year. Don't worry, it's faired so all your big bike night friends won't make (too much) fun of you. Hopefully you have your trendy jeans on.

I've never been to a "bike night" and don't plan to. My friends and I have more important things to do than sitting around showing off motorcycles like a bunch of teenagers. I think the youngest one of us is 27, We all have families and real life responsibilities. We all have gear and not a single one of us owns a stereotypical japanese bike to show off at "bike night".

We are not a bunch of crazy kids running around with used japanese bikes that we bought with our pizza delivery money. You need to relax on your assumptions and stereotypes, there are responsible adults out there that can buy nice bikes AND respect them.

This sport has been slowly getting more and more polluted over the last 10 years.



:disgust;

My replies are in Bold...

 

[Ciber]

Oh and I like your snakeskins, good thing you have those to help keep your form while holding cornering lines...



rofl

Friend put those there for me. He took it to the track twice already.

Edit:


Whoa wouldn't want anyone knowing you have a "measly" 848 vs an 11!! Good thing you pulled the stickers off before anyone at bike night noticed !

Or i simply thought giant red numbers looked out of place on a plain white bike? I prefer the clean look. Relax dude, waaay too many assumptions.

Replies in bold...