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First Bike?

speg

speg

Diamond Member
So I've never ridden a motorcycle - and for some reason all I want is a bike. I've been driving for 8 years, (25 years old) but never owned my own car - and don't really want to either.

I would love to get Suzuki's V-Strom 650 - as I think it's exactly what I want in a bike (a little bit of everything).

but...

a) is 650 too much for my first bike?
b) I can't find any cheap ones around here, not even used

Soo... I'm thinking maybe I could pick up a smaller, older bike - something like a Honda Rebel? I'm off and on about sportsbikes... everyone around here has them just because they're "cool" - which I don't think is a very good reason to get a bike. But not getting one for this reason is just as bad. I do travel long distances at times (~500km) so that's another reason against a sport bike. I'd rather have adventure than speed.

This isn't some whim, I am finishing school this term and will need transportation. I cycle a lot, and love two wheels. I've been actively researching this for 4 months now, and am just waiting until the snow melts in the spring before I do the safety course and make sure I like it and whatnot.

So what did you guys start out with, and what do you recommend I do.

Edit:
This is sounding good, DL650 - AnandTech approved 🙂

Now I just have to find a good deal on one...

I emailed a dealer and he replied:

"Price on 2008 650 V Stom $6995 plus, 300 for pdi, 389 for admin fee, 140 fght = 7824 x13% = $8841.12"

That seems a bit much? I have never bought a car or anything before so I dunno how this is supposed to go down. $400 for admin?! Also, $8,841.12 CAD = $7,120.74 USD

Thanks!

 
650 can be a bit much for a first bike. The V-Strom 650 is no slouch either, that bike has plenty of torque and horsepower and could get a n00b into trouble real quick.

I think the Rebel is an excellent choice though. The Kawasaki Ninja 250 is another highly recommended first bike but I've never ridden either one. People also speak highly of the Suzuki GS500. You could pick up any of those bikes used for easily half what you'd pay for a new bike.

Definitely take the safety course first.

BTW-Cycling will give you very little applicable knowledge to prepare you for motorcycling. Honestly though, I feel safer on my motorcycle than I ever did on my road bikes and I've ridden many thousands of miles on them.
 
Originally posted by: angry hampster
Take the MSF class and pick up a 500CC or low-power 600CC bike. 🙂
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priority #1.

The MSF course will allow you to ride someone else's bike and let you figure out whether you *really* want to ride a bike or not 🙂 I had to spend about $300 for my class (thanks, state of Maryland) but it was worth every penny.
 
my wife started on a sv650. Great starter bike that you will not outgrow too soon if ever. If you take the MSF class, you will already be beyond a 250 imo.
 
I had never rode on a motorcycle before taking the MSF course.

My first bike was (and still is) a Ninja 650R. I love the torque and the gas mileage of the parallel twin -- an SV650 should be very similar -- and the upright seating position which is also similar to the SV650. I'm 6'1", 220lbs and I don't think I'd be comfortable on anything smaller.

My wife got a Rebel and it's great for street driving but we can't realistically go anywhere together involving a drive on the freeway. Her Rebel tops out at about 75mph and that's just too slow around here. She wants my 650 as her upgrade and for me to get a new bike -- unfortunately, I love the 650 so much I really don't want anything else.
 
The V-Strom is an awesome bike, the 650 should be good for a starter. Take a course though first, and relax when you ride.

I'm in a similar boat as you although I do have some previous experience, but I bought a v-rod as my first real bike lol.
 
Originally posted by: DVad3r
The V-Strom is an awesome bike, the 650 should be good for a starter. Take a course though first, and relax when you ride.

I'm in a similar boat as you although I do have some previous experience, but I bought a v-rod as my first real bike lol.
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Have you ridden the vrod yet?
 
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: DVad3r
The V-Strom is an awesome bike, the 650 should be good for a starter. Take a course though first, and relax when you ride.

I'm in a similar boat as you although I do have some previous experience, but I bought a v-rod as my first real bike lol.
Click to expand...

Have you ridden the vrod yet?
Click to expand...

Naw, it's going to be ready the 3rd week of March. We just had 10 cm of snow last night, won't be riding for a few weeks. Ill keep you guys posted though 🙂 Next week if there is good weather my dad and I are going to take out the Sabre.
 
SV650 was my first bike and it was alot of bike but still a great one, torquey and got 50mpg, insurance was cheap too

I wish Honda would make the CBR400 here that would be the best first bike
 
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: Saga
Buy something thats easy to fix when you drop it. 😉
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Naked bike with frame sliders FTW!!!
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Basically. Grab a set of noob tubes and maybe a few extra mirrors for when they snap off.

The only bike I've ever owned with sliders was the ZX636, which had them on it when I bought it and I was just too lazy to take them off since they never got in my way.

Ironically, they saved my ass. I was going out to eat with some friends and we all met in a parking lot of a mall to walk across the way to a grill. I don't really know how it happened but I heard the bike fall and turned around to see some 16 year old girl in what must have been mommy's Lexus SUV had nosedived into the tail end of my bike and tipped it over. Snapped off the left side mirror but the slider took 100% of the impact, there wasn't even a scratch on the bike.

Up until that day I never thought someone would be stupid enough to run into a parked bike in a parking lot - and I now park with the tail end out a LOT further. 😉
 
Originally posted by: Saga
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: Saga
Buy something thats easy to fix when you drop it. 😉
Click to expand...

Naked bike with frame sliders FTW!!!
Click to expand...

Basically. Grab a set of noob tubes and maybe a few extra mirrors for when they snap off.

The only bike I've ever owned with sliders was the ZX636, which had them on it when I bought it and I was just too lazy to take them off since they never got in my way.

Ironically, they saved my ass. I was going out to eat with some friends and we all met in a parking lot of a mall to walk across the way to a grill. I don't really know how it happened but I heard the bike fall and turned around to see some 16 year old girl in what must have been mommy's Lexus SUV had nosedived into the tail end of my bike and tipped it over. Snapped off the left side mirror but the slider took 100% of the impact, there wasn't even a scratch on the bike.

Up until that day I never thought someone would be stupid enough to run into a parked bike in a parking lot - and I now park with the tail end out a LOT further. 😉
Click to expand...

That's precisely why I have them on my bike. A simple tip over is enough to break the radiator and that alone costs almost $400 to replace not to mention any other damage that may occur. Frame sliders cost me $79, that's a no-brainer AFAIK. Call them noob tubes if you want...I call it cheap insurance.

They're on there for the exact same reason I wear gear, nobody ever expects to crash, if they did they'd all wear the best gear before they set out on that day. I was talking to the guy I sold my last bike to after a particularly cold commute in to work, we were complaining about how cold it was and how inadequate our gloves were. I started to gripe about how expensive gloves are and he said he was going down to the sporting goods store to buy some ski gloves. I said, "that's great but what happens to those gloves if you go down" and he said, "I'm not planning on going down."

Duh...nobody ever plans on going down. :roll: It amazes me how often I hear that from guys who ride. These are the same people you see wearing jeans and a t-shirt on a bike.
 
The DL650 V-Strom is one of the easiest bikes to ride I have ever thrown a leg over. It has a detuned (more low-mid range torque) version of the SV650 engine, which makes it one of the best bikes on the market for new riders. You can handle most city driving with the first 3 gears. Hitting a corner a gear high or low is not a problem.

Starting in 2008 Suzuki began shipping them with a $500 optional ABS system, which turns the Wee-Strom into the best "bang for the buck" on the market in my opinion.

It isn't pretty, but it does everything so well I hug mine Wee-Strom every day.

1. Comfortable (like riding an easy chair, all day comfortable with a gel seat)
2. Feels light (upright seating, wide handle bars)
3. Great gas mileage (45+)
4. Cheap to insure
5. Throw on a set of engine guards and you are relatively "drop proof"
6. TONS and TONS of aftermarket accessories. (Add a hard luggage set and drive it around the world)
7. Cheap and easy to maintain.


 
As much as I typically disuade 650's as starters I'll give my nod to the V-Strom. It's a fantastic touring bike, a lil' heavy, a lil...big, but it should be a good learner bike. The only other option I'd say would be to get a Ninjette 250 or a Ninja 500/GS500, ride it for a year and sell it. The V-Strom isn't nearly as high strung as the SV650/Ninja 650 though (IIRC) and will make a good 1st bike.


Originally posted by: Chunkee
GSXR 1000
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You're evil... 😛
 
Why does everyone so love the Ninja 250? Is there something special about them? The last 250 I rode was a Suzuki, rode it around for six boring hours. I swear the thing didn't have as much pull as my lawn mower. To be fair, it was a badly beaten machine, pretty much everything that sticks out had been broken off, but it still ran.
 
Originally posted by: Greenman
Why does everyone so love the Ninja 250? Is there something special about them? The last 250 I rode was a Suzuki, rode it around for six boring hours. I swear the thing didn't have as much pull as my lawn mower. To be fair, it was a badly beaten machine, pretty much everything that sticks out had been broken off, but it still ran.
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Cheap and it doesn't weigh a lot would be my guess, so when you drop it you can get it back up and take off with little to no damage.

I typically just recommend people an older 500-600 to learn on, just not a SuperSport. A 750 Nighthawk is a great first bike, for example.
 
Originally posted by: Greenman
Why does everyone so love the Ninja 250? Is there something special about them? The last 250 I rode was a Suzuki, rode it around for six boring hours. I swear the thing didn't have as much pull as my lawn mower. To be fair, it was a badly beaten machine, pretty much everything that sticks out had been broken off, but it still ran.
Click to expand...

The Ninja250 is in a class by itself. Feels like a LOT more bike than the other 250s (standards and cruisers) put out by the other manufacturers.

The Ninjette is a blast to ride. You can wind the hell out of the engine and race it around like a track star. All at legal speed limits. Everyone I know who has been on one (myself included) loves the little thing.

In my opinion it is also the best bang for the buck in motorcycles/scooters if you are looking to buy new or used. Thousands cheaper than a 250-500cc scooter, get great gas mileage, cheap insurance, and sustained resale value.
 
Originally posted by: Greenman
Why does everyone so love the Ninja 250? Is there something special about them? The last 250 I rode was a Suzuki, rode it around for six boring hours. I swear the thing didn't have as much pull as my lawn mower. To be fair, it was a badly beaten machine, pretty much everything that sticks out had been broken off, but it still ran.
Click to expand...

Probably cause it's cheap, so widely available and pretty forgiving. It's been called a regular motorcycle (standard) with sport styling. Seat height is on;y 31" -ish, good for shorties, weight is in the low 300s (lbs).

Personally, if I started riding I'd get a CBR125. Weak as hell, but like $75 for front fairings, thin seat and 250lbs. Bike was jerry-rigged from widely available parts too.
 
This is sounding good, DL650 - AnandTech approved 🙂

Now I just have to find a good deal on one...

I emailed a dealer and he replied:

"Price on 2008 650 V Stom $6995 plus, 300 for pdi, 389 for admin fee, 140 fght = 7824 x13% = $8841.12"

That seems a bit much? I have never bought a car or anything before so I dunno how this is supposed to go down. $400 for admin?! Also, $8,841.12 CAD = $7,120.74 USD



 
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