Looking to get into motorcycling

[hanoverphist]

I started on a 84 Honda sabre v65 which isn't an r1 but I would say a much harder bike to ride. Lots of power, jumpy clutch and throttle, not to mention tall as hell.

nice bike tho. my mechanic had one, used to piss him off he had mine set up and tuned to be faster than his. he would get me to race at least once a month when he was doing "upgrades" to his. he finally got an rz350 and tuned it up, then consequently beat the snot out of me. but i outweighed him by like 400 lbs so i wasnt too butthurt.

 

[pauldun170]

I know its has already been covered but when it comes to gear, try on a variety of brands. Helmet fit varies by maker (I have 4 helmets on the shelf, same size and each fit my head differently). Jackets are all over the place (I've always had an Alpine Stars Jacket on the hook but recently picked up a Joe Rocket).
When it comes to Jackets - Leather, Leather, Leather. Find one with lots of vents and you can use it year round. Nowadays I'll ride in the 35-100F range weather wise. All using the same jacket.
Gloves - make sure they fit properly
Boots - Get real MC boots.
Ear plugs - Get them. I personally use 32db plugs but anything over 15db is a good first step.

DO NOT BUY NEW AS YOUR FIRST BIKE

Why?
Because you WILL drop it
You WILL scratch it
finally you have no idea what kind of rider you will become. Dont blow your load on something new that you may decide you hate or just cant get comfortable with.

What to get -
Suzuki SV650 is an excellent all rounder.
Kawasaki also has a nice 650 vtwin
Early 90's Honda CB750 - Ultimate beater bike that you wont have to worry about leaving unattended.
Having spent time on Ninja250's I'd have to say that it is not the best bike for highways. HOWEVER, it is one of those bikes that hold their value pretty well. Buy it for 2000, sell it a year later for 2000.
EX500 - Suspension could be better but a solid ride.
Harley 883 - Gets the job done and though I would recommend something with more cornering clearance.

When shopping around for a used bike a few things to keep in mind:
A motorcycle engine will last as a long as a car with proper maintenance (don't worry about high mileage bikes)
A motorcycle will reveal degradation in the suspension sooner than that of a car. Expect the suspension to need refreshing every 20K-30K (not replacement....refreshing)
Certain makes\models are have certain quirks and fortunately there are a bunch of forums out there dedicated to every model you can think of.

I started riding in the early 90's, started on an 83 CB750, moved on to a 85 GPz900r followed by a 93 ZX-11 (which I still have) currently a CBR1Krr. I've ridden everything Harleys to dirtbikes over my 20 years of riding.

 

[Zap]

7.7s 0-60 time according to Motorcycle USA

Dunno...

Best Beginner's Motorcycles
0-60 5.75s

Not sure of the source but...
0-60 5.5s

Motor Cyclist says...
0-60 6.9s

This blogger says
0-60 7s

Might be some differences in rider weight, plus how it is ridden? Maybe close to 7s range if shifted with clutch, and the under 6s range with power shifting?

 

[Zargon]

5's sounds more like it!

 

[JulesMaximus]

This site places the SV650 at the top end of beginner motorcycles.

http://www.bestbeginnermotorcycles.com/suzuki-sv650-review

 

[SithSolo1]

This site places the SV650 at the top end of beginner motorcycles.

http://www.bestbeginnermotorcycles.com/suzuki-sv650-review

Most of the guides and reviews for bikes on the site were done circa '07-'08. It might not be the most up-to-date but I still think a lot of the base info there is valid.

 

[JCH13]

Dunno...

Best Beginner's Motorcycles
0-60 5.75s

Not sure of the source but...
0-60 5.5s

Motor Cyclist says...
0-60 6.9s

This blogger says
0-60 7s

Might be some differences in rider weight, plus how it is ridden? Maybe close to 7s range if shifted with clutch, and the under 6s range with power shifting?

Could also be if they're measuring actual 0-60 times, i.e. stopped to 60 mph, or if they're going drag-race style with a roll-in distance. Might also have a lot to do with carburetor tuning.

Still though, high 5s to mid/high 7s for 0-60 isn't amazingly fast. That's sporty compact to hot-hatch territory in the car world.

 

[Greenman]

Why do you want a sport bike? Are you going to do track day's, or will it be street racing? I'd recommend thinking about where, when, and how long you'll be riding before choosing a bike.

 

[*kjm]

However, I'm going to need something that can also easily get up into the 80-90MPH range for the freeways and interstates.

How much interstate driving are you going to do? I have a ton of riding time over the years but have been off a bike for the last 16yrs(750 interceptor) so I took the MSF and ended up buying a WR250X and I'm having the most fun I have ever had on a bike at 45

"I'm mostly going to be on 50 MPH or less city roads, some of which are on the rougher side and some with turns I can barely make in my Tiburon, if that matters."

The supermoto's are a blast in this area! Some forums to read about supermoto's are
http://wr250rforum.forumotion.com/

http://www.supermotojunkie.com/

They are a great starter bike and if you would get the WR250X the insurance is cheap. What can they do... it's up to you the rider.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4I92t39U7xM

I have people telling me how much they like the look of the bike but I just love how it handles around town and the twisties.

It's also fuel injected and very low maintainence!

 

[JulesMaximus]

Most of the guides and reviews for bikes on the site were done circa '07-'08. It might not be the most up-to-date but I still think a lot of the base info there is valid.

There haven't been a whole lot of advances in beginner bikes between 2007 and 2011. Addition of fuel injection on some models, slight changes in styling, the Ninja got cool looking sportbike plastics which made it an instant hit with the sportbike crowd but not much else. Honda entered the mix with a fully faired 250cc that is supposedly pretty decent. I wouldn't recommend anyone buy any of these bikes new because they'd be worth less than half what you paid for them the moment you rode it off the lot.

 

[JulesMaximus]

How much interstate driving are you going to do? I have a ton of riding time over the years but have been off a bike for the last 16yrs(750 interceptor) so I took the MSF and ended up buying a WR250X and I'm having the most fun I have ever had on a bike at 45

"I'm mostly going to be on 50 MPH or less city roads, some of which are on the rougher side and some with turns I can barely make in my Tiburon, if that matters."

The supermoto's are a blast in this area! Some forums to read about supermoto's are
http://wr250rforum.forumotion.com/

http://www.supermotojunkie.com/

They are a great starter bike and if you would get the WR250X the insurance is cheap. What can they do... it's up to you the rider.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4I92t39U7xM

I have people telling me how much they like the look of the bike but I just love how it handles around town and the twisties.

It's also fuel injected and very low maintainence!

I think Supermotos are the new naked bikes/cafe racers. I haven't ridden one but they seem to be very fast and fun to ride. Must try one out sometime.

I love the twisties!

 

[*kjm]

I think Supermotos are the new naked bikes/cafe racers. I haven't ridden one but they seem to be very fast and fun to ride. Must try one out sometime.

I love the twisties!

Jules do yourself the favor and try one they are so dam fun and so light to throw around:thumbsup: In town and on the twisties they are hard to beat.... with the 250 I try to stay under 20miles on the freeway but there have been guys going accross country with them.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33889

Great read!

 

[J3S73R]

I don't post often but...

I would go with something in the 600cc range, otherwise I do believe you will outgrow the smaller bike rather quickly. It does NOT have to be a supersport style of bike! In fact, I would advise against it as a first bike.

Do make sure you wear your helmet! Also, FULL gauntlet gloves, boots jacket and pants.

I have first hand experience on not wearing the pants, full gloves and boots for that ride... -.-

I will rid again once I get a new bike (and it was the other guys fault btw!)

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/jester/15536_172105868260_759383260_2837255_4477196_n.jpg

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/jester/15536_172105893260_759383260_2837258_3518596_n.jpg

and the result of not wearing a full gloves (missing some skin):
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/jester/149931_449326908260_759383260_5441326_58701_n.jpg

 

[satyajitmenon]

I don't post often but...

Lurker alert

 

[J3S73R]

Lurker alert

I am going for golf points :X Why is it so bad to lurk?

Anyways,

I should have added that the boots are recommended because I had the shifter go through my foot (yay) and as for the pants... my knees were wicked chewed up but I didnt take pictures of those. They did take about 3-4 months to fully heal.

 

[Zap]

Most of the guides and reviews for bikes on the site were done circa '07-'08. It might not be the most up-to-date but I still think a lot of the base info there is valid.

Yes, especially since the Ninja 250 has hardly changed since inception.

Could also be if they're measuring actual 0-60 times, i.e. stopped to 60 mph, or if they're going drag-race style with a roll-in distance. Might also have a lot to do with carburetor tuning.

Still though, high 5s to mid/high 7s for 0-60 isn't amazingly fast. That's sporty compact to hot-hatch territory in the car world.

I think one of those sites has a separate number for a roll-on acceleration, so I would consider those from a dead stop. And yes, some hot hatches are in that range, but what percentage of overall vehicles on the road (counting all the service vehicles, SUVs/crossovers, beigemobiles, hybrids, econoboxes, etc.) are in that performance range? Not much, I would wager. AFAIK the hot hatches sell a few thousand each per year. The top beigemobiles sell in the hundreds of thousands each per year.

The supermoto's are a blast

I also like those, next to naked sportsbikes. I suppose this comes from riding dirt bikes and lusting after dual sports BITD.

 

[*kjm]

I don't post often but...

I would go with something in the 600cc range, otherwise I do believe you will outgrow the smaller bike rather quickly. It does NOT have to be a supersport style of bike! In fact, I would advise against it as a first bike.

Do make sure you wear your helmet! Also, FULL gauntlet gloves, boots jacket and pants.

I don't know why the bigger cc thing is always brought up unless it is by someone that has never owned anything smaller. I had a 750cc bike and now have the 250cc Wr250X and don't miss I thing and don't see "myself growing out of it". It depends on what you are using it for. I ride in the city and on country roads and it has great pickup and speed 80+MPH and the whole tire is used()

If you are going to do a lot of interstate driving I would want the bigger cc bike just for the weight and that alone. I can drive mine on the interstate and can pass/get out of the way ect without a problem but strong winds and semis can move you around. But I'm having a blast driving up stairs, jumping off docks and dinkin around town getting around 50+MPG with a valve check every 26,600

Like I said if he is going to do interstate driving a lot don't look at the SM but if not it's a great bike to think about.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I don't know why the bigger cc thing is always brought up unless it is by someone that has never owned anything smaller. I had a 750cc bike and now have the 250cc Wr250X and don't miss I thing and don't see "myself growing out of it". It depends on what you are using it for. I ride in the city and on country roads and it has great pickup and speed 80+MPH and the whole tire is used()

If you are going to do a lot of interstate driving I would want the bigger cc bike just for the weight and that alone. I can drive mine on the interstate and can pass/get out of the way ect without a problem but strong winds and semis can move you around. But I'm having a blast driving up stairs, jumping off docks and dinkin around town getting around 50+MPG with a valve check every 26,600

Like I said if he is going to do interstate driving a lot don't look at the SM but if not it's a great bike to think about.

This is 'Merika...land of the bigger is better mentality. We have "men" here who want to put a V8 engine into a Prius simply to annoy people who own a Prius.

 

[*kjm]

This is 'Merika...land of the bigger is better mentality. We have "men" here who want to put a V8 engine into a Prius simply to annoy people who own a Prius.

True

 

[twinrider1]

Right away you knew MSF and ATGATT, so you're already on the right path.

Find a local riding group. They know the good roads. They organize rides. They're always there with good advice and a helping hand. Ask your MSF instructor. He or she is probably a member of a good one.

Used to be Arai and Shoei were the only good choices and you either had a oval head or a round one. Now it seems like there are quite a few good helmet makers. Try them on and see what feels best. You want it to be very snug with no pressure points.

EX500/Ninja 500. My first bike was an '88 EX500. I've owned many bikes since then, from a '49 panhead to a Honda RC51 (1000cc sportbike). But honestly, I never really outgrew the EX500.

-- 0-60 under 4 and 1/4 mile under 13 is plenty fast.
-- low seat height, high bars make for a very comfortable ride
-- long range, 200+ miles on main tank.
-- great mpg.
-- been around for decades, virtually unchanged = parts are available. And while looks are subjective of course, I still think it looks good.

And it just has a great character. It's half an inline-4, a vertical twin. It has some nice vibrations down low; and then it smooths out and has a nice hit at 7000rpm. Best of both worlds.

 

[JulesMaximus]

One other word of advice, and this is very important. Always ride your own ride and don't try to keep up with faster riders. I found myself riding with a group of friends recently, I was second in line behind the fastest guy in our group and at one point I realized I was pushing it to keep with his pace and just had to mentally take a step back and remember that. I didn't cross into oncoming lanes or lock up but I did notice a few times where I just felt like I was pushing too hard. It's not a race out there, just relax and have fun.

Don't get me wrong, I like to push it sometimes but this was a road I had only been down once before and it was very tight and twisty with no runoff.

Another friend of mine was riding with a group of people from the San Diego Sport Bike meetup group about a year ago, she is a member and organizes and participates in a lot of the events, anyway, they had a couple new riders with them and she had warned this one guy that he should slow down. N00b on a GSXR750, passes her after she warned him and was riding with the faster riders when he misjudged a turn (he was going too fast) went off the road and into the ditch. She was first on the scene. He had to be airlifted to the local hospital where he spent the next few months recovering from his injuries...and they were life threatening.

I made a thread about it here somewhere...I'll see if I can find it.

Found it.

 

[kamikazekyle]

Aaah, that explains the whole 'busa thing. I was wondering why someone would recommend a bike at that displacement for a newbie

I think I'm still set somewhere around the 500-600cc range, mostly because of the interstate. I can dodge the interstate if I really want to, but then it's a bunch of stop and go driving that winds up taking five times longer than if I could just hop on the interstate. Plus if I wanted to visit relatives I have to hit up 64 anyway as that's the only way in or out of the area.

If I do go new, the 2012 Ninja 650R is kinda on the upper end of things preference wise, but I love the looks (also like the 250's looks). I would still be kinda worried about "outgrowing" a 250cc, but then again the people I used to know that were into sports bikes "outgrew" their 250cc's right into accidents, a pile of tickets, or worse. So I know what riding stupid can do, which is also why I'm glad I didn't get one when I was younger. I never really did anything reckless, but still. Anyway, I'll have a month or so to sit on it anyway while I wait for the MSF course to see if I wanna go with a 250 or maybe get something a bit bigger. The trainers at the local course are in the 250ish range, so I can see if they seem satisfactory before I buy.

My friend was looking as well and found the VStar 250 which actually looks kinda interesting to me. I'm a fan of sports bikes not necessarily for the performance aspects, but for the looks -- I never was into cruiser, chopper, or designs of that like (though the Supersport cruisers from Kawasaki are nice). He also pointed me at the GZ250, mostly because he was getting a cycle for commuting and it gets redonkulous gas mileage. As a side benefit he found one locally for just over $1k. For a thousand bucks out the door, I'd ignore my styling preference

Welp, back to beating on VCCS to see if I can register for a course. It took over an hour of searching to get the right contact info (three different websites, including the MSF, have different contact info for the class), only to find out that I can register online. But even though my account is registered, the VCCS course system isn't recognizing my password. Bleh.

Oh, and I have NO idea why I didn't find that bestbeginnersmotorcycles website before. Good info.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[hanoverphist]

you could also get an older 500-600cc bike in a cruiser style, your first bike doesnt have to be a sport bike. look at the older vulcans, shadows and v45 styles. lots of choices out there for good older bikes.

i gave my brother his first bike, a cb350 honda. once he mastered that and wanted a bigger one, he went to a vulcan. he is about 5'8" and 140, so it was easy for him to handle, and more than enough power for highway. he has since reverted to a classic vespa 250, but hes a bit hipster. my best friend started with a 600vlx shadow, now he has a full size harley.

 

[*kjm]

No problem just stay safe and remember the MSF will not get you up to speed for the freeway. I took the class again because I have been off a bike for a long time and top speed in the class was about 25/30MPH. Now go from that to 65-75MPH and toss in cars/semi's around you and it can get scary for a new rider. My point is get what you like but I would do city/hwy roads for a little while before jumping on the freeway because it's a new game out there. You get 20+MPH winds and have a semi go by you the first time and it can get intimidateing till you get used to it.

By the way the Ninja 250 with your build should do about 95 to 110MPH, the insurance is cheap and resale is very good. You can google Ninja 250R on the freeway and get some good video on it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7Pno4ZOjas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNgQJ9o91xo

 

[hanoverphist]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7Pno4ZOjas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNgQJ9o91xo

DASH. CAM. holy crap i want to smack those guys.