i am getting interested in motorcycles

[Amused]

Originally posted by: CVSiN

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: CVSiN
you couldnt give me a "hardly" as in Hardly running....

if and when I ever buy a cruiser it will not be a harley... it will be a Custom chopper with a aftermarket motor...

even then I dont see myself on one... #1 becasue I dont just ride to the local bar and hang out with the posers...

#2 because i like to wear my saftey gear.. and Id be the only chopper rider in texas with a helmet.. boots roadrash pants... gloves etc...

ive had roadrash before and ive seen harley morons die in 30 mph fall overs becasue they had no gear...

no thanks..
ill stick with my leather wearing psycho brethren.. we may ride fast in my group.. but every rider has 15+ years exp and a racing license and we are safe where we ride fast and never ride out of our abilities.

LOL!! All the "aftermarket" motors put in "choppers" are exact replicas of Harley motors... and usually less reliable.

Harley's reliability is quite strong. FAR stronger than any of the custom bike builders.

You know, the Harley hate among sport bikers is some of the most irrational and ill informed bullsh!t I've ever heard. You sound like a bunch of religious nuts talking about the devil.

when was the last time harley podium finished in world superbike?

1992 Pascall Pacotte. 3rd place...

the one and only time harley ever made it to the finish line...

Japanese/Italian Superbikes constantly destory harleys/buells in any class they allow them to run...

the main reason for Harley hate is thier Inability to progress into the modern era..

their Vtwin design is an Antique.. even the Italian V twins are better.. which isnt saying much...

when harley learns how to build an Inline 4 sportbike that can compete on any level with the modern liter bikes than Ill buy one...
the main hate is becasue we have 2 American motorcycle brands and neither is doing anything for the sport on the racing side..

If there was a competitive American bike in the same class as the ZX-10, GSXR1000 CBR1000RR or the R1.. then maybe just maybe Id get off harleys back about being obsolete and a waste of money...

as for aftermarket chopper engines.. Id rather have a well known engine builder build me a built to the hilt chopper motor that actually made over 100hp than your detuned 80 HP harley production motors...

after riding sportbikes with nearly 200 RWHP the average harley feels like a scooter in comparison...
the only chopper I have ever ridden that felt like it had some balls was a Houston built "Big Dog" with an custom motor... he said it was makign 110 horses... not bad i guess. but on the highway while doing a 60 MPH roll on race with him.. he very quickly faded in my mirrors...

Totally and completely irrelavant. I bought my bike to cruise, not race.

People who like Harleys are not interested in racing.

Harley isn't unable to progress, they choose not to. And it's been a wise choice as Harley outsells any other bike manufacturer in the US.

Your "built to the hilt" chopper motor is built that way using Harley parts or Harley part clones.

And any Harley motor can be built to 110 HP very easily using HD parts... and will be far more reliable than any chopper builder's bike out there. My Softail Deluxe with the HD bigbore kit and heads is just about there at just over 100HP.

If you want to race, fine. But do not assume everyone does. Your arrogance, ignorance and irrational bullsh!t is just that, bullsh!t. No one here has trashed Japanese bikes. Yet you feel this irrational, almost fanatical need to trash Harleys. Why?

 

[jonjonsanfru]

I had at 96 Kawasaki Ninja EX500 as my first ride. I'm 6'0", 175 lbs... it was a very comfortable bike for my weight and size (nice bar position, allowed me to sit more upright than the CBR), and forgiving enough. Yes, you WILL drop your first bike... you may not skid out, but its gonna tip over at some point so go used and cheap on the first one. TAKE the MSF course, in cali there is like a 2-4 month queue to even get in the class. Its worth it for the solid safety, negating DMV road test, plus the insurance discount... $250 very well spent. And don't skimp on your helmet, jacket and gloves, they will save you a LOT of pain if the worst happens... pants and boots are important too, but at LEAST those 3.

Don't let people tell you what kind of bike to get... some people like cruisers, some people like dual sports, some like sports bike... there is no right or wrong answer, its your preference. Don't let these a$$hats pissing contests about "cruising" >/< "speed" BS confuse you... get what you want, get what you think is cool... motorcycles are all about style, so stick to yours.

 

[ValValline]

I Started on a Ninja 500R (EX500), and now have a Suzuki 2004 SV650S.

I love(d) both bikes, but the SV I love the best. It's sporty, but not a supersport. The V-Twin motor is simply amazing. Plenty of power at just about any RPM. It's light, very easy to handle. The only bike I would trade it for is the Suzuki DL650 V-Strom. Same wonderful engine packaged into a dual-sport tourer.

 

[Saint Nick]

i have realized that i really like these honda CBRs... i have found a few nice ones on eBay (though i probably won't buy from there). what are your guys' opinions on the CBRs? the ones i've been looking at are "older" models (like 93-98) and they just look so cool to me. i'm not about speed right now, i just want a nice bike i can go ride.

 

[CVSiN]

Originally posted by: jndietz
i have realized that i really like these honda CBRs... i have found a few nice ones on eBay (though i probably won't buy from there). what are your guys' opinions on the CBRs? the ones i've been looking at are "older" models (like 93-98) and they just look so cool to me. i'm not about speed right now, i just want a nice bike i can go ride.

those older F3s and F4s should be ok they arnt really super duper fast...
the F3s we have put girls and and they did ok...
they arne not wheelie prone and they are a pretty forgiving bike...

not a bad choice...

 

[The Stigenator]

Nothing wrong iwth a Ninja 250. However I will highly suggest a Suzuki GS500. The new F model looks like a sports bike.. and its fast enough to keep you interested and you will learn a lot about riding. I ride one, i love mine.

check www.gstwin.com for available mods.

 

[Rallispec]

i've got an EX250 - it's a great bike. And considering i'm a pretty small guy (~140lbs) it has more than enough power to get me around pretty damn fast, and works fine on the highway.

i'll probably be trading up to something larger next year... thinking a 600cc.

 

[RedRooster]

Originally posted by: CVSiN

Originally posted by: RedRooster

Originally posted by: jndietz

Originally posted by: RedRooster
Sportbikes are so two years ago, they're pretty much useless if you do a lot of commuting or low speed riding. Very boring too when you're constrained to "around town" speeds. They'd be fun on the track, but I don't have one close so I got rid of mine because it really was overkill.

So, what bike do you get? A supermoto. KTM isn't the only brand, but it's the best street legal out of the box brand. They handle BETTER than sportbikes(yes, I said it, and they do), they're way better for commuting, you can take them off road(within reason) and curbs, and they're way cheaper to insure and license because there's no gaudy plastic to break off.
It's all the rage in Europe, and since getting mine, I see why!

are these bikes pricy new and/or used?

New, they're slightly less than sportbikes. Used, they're way cheaper than sportbikes. Especially if you can find one that someone put together from a dirt bike and street legalized it, like this or this.
Suzuki makes a stock street version too, the DRZ400SM.

PS they dont handle better than sportbikes.. Motards even with the best suspension equipment fall well short of a good sport rider on track or off...

My expereince is not just based on street but also the track...

note those DP bikes hes suggesting are MUCH MUCH slower than even a 500 CC ninja...
in top speed and accelleration...

I dunno about your town but here traffic can run in the 80-90s and I want to be able to keep up and maintain a little speed buffer...

Sportbikes suit you more, and I respect that. If you can get enjoyment out of them on the street, good for you, I just found them less and less appealing to ride the past couple years. But you obviously haven't ridden a motard in any capacity for any serious amount of time on the street. It's common knowledge that within sane speeds(up to 60mph or so), motards will blow the plastic off sportbikes in tight twisty roads. They're currently ripping the plastic off every Tupperware Torpedo(sorry, I just like calling them that now for some reason. :laugh: ) down at the Gap, daily, and people like Rossi, Biaggi, and Hayden are using them more and more for training, in fact almost exclusively in the off season. Even they admit the sheer cornering power of them compared to readily available sportbikes. As an aside, I laugh everytime Rossi puts a foot down going into a corner this year, it looks so funny dragging a foot at 120mph.

And with comparative engine size, a 600cc motard will still outaccelerate a 600cc sportbike. 100lbs lighter with more torque will tend to do that. Of course 1000cc will blow me off the road, but I don't care when I putt by while he's pulled over getting a ticket.
Top speed of ~110mph isn't that great, but it's fine for cement slab riding. Not that anyone in their right mind would do that daily on a motard though. It's all about the side streets and back roads.

Just wanted to clear up some misconceptions you have about motards(not dual sports, those are a much different and far less appealing beast).
Motards are the funnest bikes at or under the speed limit by far. :thumbsup:

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

a good friend is in ICU as we speak after being thrown from his cycle and hitting a tree. He lost control after swerving to avoid a kid on a bike crossing the street. Too damn much risk on those things.

 

[loic2003]

Originally posted by: RedRooster


Sportbikes suit you more, and I respect that. If you can get enjoyment out of them on the street, good for you, I just found them less and less appealing to ride the past couple years. But you obviously haven't ridden a motard in any capacity for any serious amount of time on the street. It's common knowledge that within sane speeds(up to 60mph or so), motards will blow the plastic off sportbikes in tight twisty roads. They're currently ripping the plastic off every Tupperware Torpedo(sorry, I just like calling them that now for some reason. :laugh: ) down at the Gap, daily, and people like Rossi, Biaggi, and Hayden are using them more and more for training, in fact almost exclusively in the off season. Even they admit the sheer cornering power of them compared to readily available sportbikes. As an aside, I laugh everytime Rossi puts a foot down going into a corner this year, it looks so funny dragging a foot at 120mph.

And with comparative engine size, a 600cc motard will still outaccelerate a 600cc sportbike. 100lbs lighter with more torque will tend to do that. Of course 1000cc will blow me off the road, but I don't care when I putt by while he's pulled over getting a ticket.
Top speed of ~110mph isn't that great, but it's fine for cement slab riding. Not that anyone in their right mind would do that daily on a motard though. It's all about the side streets and back roads.

Just wanted to clear up some misconceptions you have about motards(not dual sports, those are a much different and far less appealing beast).
Motards are the funnest bikes at or under the speed limit by far. :thumbsup:

I'm in agreement, Rooster. On a track with perfect mirror-finish tarmac, the harder suspension of a sportsbike allows you to take those corners with increased aggression. However, in the real world there a commonly loads of bumps and potholes in the road which an SM bike will eat up no problem.

I do love the supermotard bikes and would have bought one myself. However, I'm just starting the biking thing again these days so I'm limited to a 125, and the 125 motards just don't have the pace I want.

In a year I'm loooking to pick up a Duke or similar. Seriously hot bikes but also comfortable and more practical. Only problem is motorway cruising. Since you have no fairings you're going to get blown about all over the place.

Still not sure is a 600 is good for someone just getting into biking, though... I think a two-stroke is a better starting point, simply for the powerband. Very easy to jerk the power and for things to get really ugly really fast.

 

[Amused]

I started on dirt bikes as a kid. My first street bike was a Honda CB450-Four I bought from a friend that was stripped down and rebuilt as a cafe racer. (It was painted flat black like a Mad Max bike)

After a couple years I moved up to an FJ1100 (the fastest street bike at the time in the early 80s).

I would agree with everyone else that starting small and mild is the way to go. The key here is more mild than size, really. As you don't want to get a bike that is too small and therefore too uncomfortable. But you do want something mild and forgiving.

 

[Triumph]

Originally posted by: loic2003
Still not sure is a 600 is good for someone just getting into biking, though... I think a two-stroke is a better starting point, simply for the powerband. Very easy to jerk the power and for things to get really ugly really fast.

I'm not sure if 2 strokes are a better choice. The peaky power band can be really difficult if you don't know what you're doing. But it's almost a moot point, as I can't think of one production 2 stroke street bike available in the states today.

 

[Amused]

Triumph gave me an idea.

Triumph (the motorcycle company) makes a line of their classic bikes called "Modern Classics."

These are larger bikes with mild handling and power bands. Perfect learner bikes that one wont outgrow in a couple months. Plus, they have a lot of style.

http://www.triumph.co.uk/usa/785.aspx

http://www.triumph.co.uk/usa/786.aspx

 

[bleeb]

a relatively cheap bike is the Honda F4i.

I recommend taking a motorcycle training course.

 

[Tbirdkid]

I own a 2k5 sv650s. I love it. Its my first bike... and i wouldnt give it up for the world. I will keep it even after i get a new one... it will be either my wifes bike or i will make it a track bike...


also, find a local msf course to take... they are great

 

[Saint Nick]

about much are training courses going to set me back? three hundred buxxx?

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: jndietz
about much are training courses going to set me back? three hundred buxxx?

MSF basic riders course for beginners is free in many states. Others are like 50-100 bucks.

Info for your state:

http://www.dmv.state.ne.us/highwaysafety/training

http://www.safenebraska.org/SafeDriving/Motorcycle.php

They appear to charge $185 in your state.

The GF took the course here in IL (I took it with her just for kicks) and it was free.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: Amused
I rode crotch rockets for nearly 20 years.

Now I ride a Hog.

I'm having way more fun on the Hog.

You don't need to play boy racer to have fun on a bike. Cruising and touring is far more fun to me than racing around collecting tickets ever was.

Enjoying that Iron Slug eh?

BTW I don't know about other big engine bikes, but my bike runs on 87 octane as well as anything I have tried which is just about everything short of AV or race fuel.

Truimph and Amused are giving good advice. Don't get CC fever. Live to tell about it.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: CVSiN

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: CVSiN
you couldnt give me a "hardly" as in Hardly running....

if and when I ever buy a cruiser it will not be a harley... it will be a Custom chopper with a aftermarket motor...

even then I dont see myself on one... #1 becasue I dont just ride to the local bar and hang out with the posers...

#2 because i like to wear my saftey gear.. and Id be the only chopper rider in texas with a helmet.. boots roadrash pants... gloves etc...

ive had roadrash before and ive seen harley morons die in 30 mph fall overs becasue they had no gear...

no thanks..
ill stick with my leather wearing psycho brethren.. we may ride fast in my group.. but every rider has 15+ years exp and a racing license and we are safe where we ride fast and never ride out of our abilities.

LOL!! All the "aftermarket" motors put in "choppers" are exact replicas of Harley motors... and usually less reliable.

Harley's reliability is quite strong. FAR stronger than any of the custom bike builders.

You know, the Harley hate among sport bikers is some of the most irrational and ill informed bullsh!t I've ever heard. You sound like a bunch of religious nuts talking about the devil.

when was the last time harley podium finished in world superbike?

1992 Pascall Pacotte. 3rd place...

the one and only time harley ever made it to the finish line...

Japanese/Italian Superbikes constantly destory harleys/buells in any class they allow them to run...

the main reason for Harley hate is thier Inability to progress into the modern era..

their Vtwin design is an Antique.. even the Italian V twins are better.. which isnt saying much...

when harley learns how to build an Inline 4 sportbike that can compete on any level with the modern liter bikes than Ill buy one...
the main hate is becasue we have 2 American motorcycle brands and neither is doing anything for the sport on the racing side..

If there was a competitive American bike in the same class as the ZX-10, GSXR1000 CBR1000RR or the R1.. then maybe just maybe Id get off harleys back about being obsolete and a waste of money...

as for aftermarket chopper engines.. Id rather have a well known engine builder build me a built to the hilt chopper motor that actually made over 100hp than your detuned 80 HP harley production motors...

after riding sportbikes with nearly 200 RWHP the average harley feels like a scooter in comparison...
the only chopper I have ever ridden that felt like it had some balls was a Houston built "Big Dog" with an custom motor... he said it was makign 110 horses... not bad i guess. but on the highway while doing a 60 MPH roll on race with him.. he very quickly faded in my mirrors...

Totally and completely irrelavant. I bought my bike to cruise, not race.

People who like Harleys are not interested in racing.

Harley isn't unable to progress, they choose not to. And it's been a wise choice as Harley outsells any other bike manufacturer in the US.

Your "built to the hilt" chopper motor is built that way using Harley parts or Harley part clones.

And any Harley motor can be built to 110 HP very easily using HD parts... and will be far more reliable than any chopper builder's bike out there. My Softail Deluxe with the HD bigbore kit and heads is just about there at just over 100HP.

If you want to race, fine. But do not assume everyone does. Your arrogance, ignorance and irrational bullsh!t is just that, bullsh!t. No one here has trashed Japanese bikes. Yet you feel this irrational, almost fanatical need to trash Harleys. Why?

Well he probably doesn't like them because he can't pick them up when he lays them down like his can do with his Sport Bike.:laugh:

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: CVSiN

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: CVSiN
you couldnt give me a "hardly" as in Hardly running....

if and when I ever buy a cruiser it will not be a harley... it will be a Custom chopper with a aftermarket motor...

even then I dont see myself on one... #1 becasue I dont just ride to the local bar and hang out with the posers...

#2 because i like to wear my saftey gear.. and Id be the only chopper rider in texas with a helmet.. boots roadrash pants... gloves etc...

ive had roadrash before and ive seen harley morons die in 30 mph fall overs becasue they had no gear...

no thanks..
ill stick with my leather wearing psycho brethren.. we may ride fast in my group.. but every rider has 15+ years exp and a racing license and we are safe where we ride fast and never ride out of our abilities.

LOL!! All the "aftermarket" motors put in "choppers" are exact replicas of Harley motors... and usually less reliable.

Harley's reliability is quite strong. FAR stronger than any of the custom bike builders.

You know, the Harley hate among sport bikers is some of the most irrational and ill informed bullsh!t I've ever heard. You sound like a bunch of religious nuts talking about the devil.

when was the last time harley podium finished in world superbike?

1992 Pascall Pacotte. 3rd place...

the one and only time harley ever made it to the finish line...

Japanese/Italian Superbikes constantly destory harleys/buells in any class they allow them to run...

the main reason for Harley hate is thier Inability to progress into the modern era..

their Vtwin design is an Antique.. even the Italian V twins are better.. which isnt saying much...

when harley learns how to build an Inline 4 sportbike that can compete on any level with the modern liter bikes than Ill buy one...
the main hate is becasue we have 2 American motorcycle brands and neither is doing anything for the sport on the racing side..

If there was a competitive American bike in the same class as the ZX-10, GSXR1000 CBR1000RR or the R1.. then maybe just maybe Id get off harleys back about being obsolete and a waste of money...

as for aftermarket chopper engines.. Id rather have a well known engine builder build me a built to the hilt chopper motor that actually made over 100hp than your detuned 80 HP harley production motors...

after riding sportbikes with nearly 200 RWHP the average harley feels like a scooter in comparison...
the only chopper I have ever ridden that felt like it had some balls was a Houston built "Big Dog" with an custom motor... he said it was makign 110 horses... not bad i guess. but on the highway while doing a 60 MPH roll on race with him.. he very quickly faded in my mirrors...

Totally and completely irrelavant. I bought my bike to cruise, not race.

People who like Harleys are not interested in racing.

Harley isn't unable to progress, they choose not to. And it's been a wise choice as Harley outsells any other bike manufacturer in the US.

Your "built to the hilt" chopper motor is built that way using Harley parts or Harley part clones.

And any Harley motor can be built to 110 HP very easily using HD parts... and will be far more reliable than any chopper builder's bike out there. My Softail Deluxe with the HD bigbore kit and heads is just about there at just over 100HP.

If you want to race, fine. But do not assume everyone does. Your arrogance, ignorance and irrational bullsh!t is just that, bullsh!t. No one here has trashed Japanese bikes. Yet you feel this irrational, almost fanatical need to trash Harleys. Why?

Well he probably doesn't like them because he can't pick them up when he lays them down like he can do with his Sport Bike.:laugh:

:laugh:

Actually, if you know how to do it, there is a technique that allows even the smallest woman to pick up the heaviest dropped bikes.

 

[Steve]

OP, I asked this same question five months ago to this day. Here's my thread Text and I hope whatever's been contributed there helps you gain some insight.

 

[Whisper]

My first bike was a Kawasaki Ninja 500R (same thing as the EX500), so I'd give another vote for that as a starter. It was fast enough, yet not so powerful that it killed me when I made my dumb "new rider" mistakes. It was also very reliable, needing no maintenance beyond oil and brake pad changes during the year that I rode it full-time (i.e. without a car).

I've since moved on to a GSX-R 600 (another great bike that required hardly any maintenance during the 1.5 years that I rode it full-time), but it's definitely not as comfortable as the 500R (duh). I've thus far been lucky enough to never drop, lay down, or in any other way damage my motorcycles--knocking on wood--and I attribute a good bit of that fortune to spending a year on the Ninja.

I personally learned to ride on a Ducati 900SS, but I don't ever, EVER recommend anyone doing anything that stupid. After I got the Ninja and had ridden it for a few months, I got on the Ducati again...and after the first 100ft, wondered at how I hadn't died while learning with it.

 

[racer42]

Don't buy something based on the love for the styling for a first bike. You will damage it in the learning process. As you can see there is no shortage of opinion on the best first bike. The irony is after your first 3 or 4 motorcyles you will know what the best first bike for YOU would be. This is how it works. It's intensely personal.

My advice is visit the local shops that sell gear only. Not a dealership for any brand. Find the place that gives you a comfortable vibe. Chat up the people that work there. Most motorcycle people have more than one bike and a huge percentage have a waaay more than one. Find something to buy and it's better if you don't love it or what it says about you. If you buy from someone that works there you will have a connection to go to for parts and advice. Put 5,000 miles on and find the type of riding you like to do and the people you like to hang with. When you have finished this you will have some idea of what to do next.

 

[Saint Nick]

Originally posted by: racer42
Don't buy something based on the love for the styling for a first bike. You will damage it in the learning process. As you can see there is no shortage of opinion on the best first bike. The irony is after your first 3 or 4 motorcyles you will know what the best first bike for YOU would be. This is how it works. It's intensely personal.

My advice is visit the local shops that sell gear only. Not a dealership for any brand. Find the place that gives you a comfortable vibe. Chat up the people that work there. Most motorcycle people have more than one bike and a huge percentage have a waaay more than one. Find something to buy and it's better if you don't love it or what it says about you. If you buy from someone that works there you will have a connection to go to for parts and advice. Put 5,000 miles on and find the type of riding you like to do and the people you like to hang with. When you have finished this you will have some idea of what to do next.

actually thats not bad advice at all... thats how it was with me when i started skateboarding, actually. thanks!

 

[bigredguy]

Just remember there are two kinds of motor cyclists, those who have layed down a bike, and those who will.