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Noob sportbike suggestions? No highway or speed needs. And a learning question.

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Keep in mind whatever you buy that you are probably going to dump your first bike at some point. Might be a low speed washout. Might be just falling over at a stop light. Might be worse. I would stay away from fairings on a first bike. I would look for something used with a little rash already and a cheap price that you won't mind adding to the rash collection.
 
Fenixgoon said:
ninja250, CBR250, ninja500, cbr500, gs500...i'd say the yamaha FZ6R and Suzuki SV650 are on the very high end of "beginner bikes" they aren't as twitchy as supersports, but still fast as all hell (an FZ6R does 0-60 in 4s)
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When I used to ride with a club my sv650 kept up with the 600 sports almost to 100mph. Its a fast bike, but it tops out quicker. I'd say it'd be a handful for a newbie.
 
On the used helmet. If the Bluetooth is removable, you could move it to a new helmet. My experience is that they aren't loud enough above about 40 mph.
 
JulesMaximus said:
Ninja 250 is a perfect beginner bike.

Excellent choice.

Definitely take the MSF course first. That way you can avoid developing bad habits before you ever get on a motorcycle. The only prerequisite for the MSF is that you know how to ride a bicycle.
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Ditto. The MSF course is invaluable. It builds practical skill, confidence, and passing the course covers the driving portion of your endorsement (and makes the written portion a trivial affair).

The 250 you've found looks good, but you'll definitely need to do away with the license plate holder and tuck that thing under your seat--no sportbike should ever have that plastic protuberance hanging off the tail. 🙂
 
Yes take the msf. You will pass and have the license and a little card you can scan to the insurance company. In fact if you have time you can sign up for free every year to just make sure you are in check.

Or even take the advanced one after you pass the basic course
 
Hi, I'm BrunoPuntzJones and I'm a shit for brains who forgot you can't just pull $2800 out of the ATM. Didn't think that all the way through. Guy works the next two days so planning on Friday. Woops.
 
Pick up a manual for this bike. It will save you money cleaning carbs and doing small maintenance. I have the same bike but only 1300 miles and its a 2009, cleaned carbs and changed the spark plugs myself. I haven't had to do any other maintenance to it as tires are still good and so are the breaks.

For breaks I may need to take it in because I don't have stands to remove the wheels and change them. Unless they don't need removed. I forget but if you want pm me your email I can send you the digital copy of the service manual.
 
sze5003 said:
Pick up a manual for this bike. It will save you money cleaning carbs and doing small maintenance. I have the same bike but only 1300 miles and its a 2009, cleaned carbs and changed the spark plugs myself. I haven't had to do any other maintenance to it as tires are still good and so are the breaks.

For breaks I may need to take it in because I don't have stands to remove the wheels and change them. Unless they don't need removed. I forget but if you want pm me your email I can send you the digital copy of the service manual.
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I can do my brakes without removing the wheels.
 
Personally I'd hold off on using any kind of headphones, Bluetooth or music while riding until you've got at least a few hundred miles under your belt. It'll help you get a feel for the bike and surroundings. Plus a lot of shifting is sound.

Also want to avoid as many distractions as possible until you are absolutely comfortable on the bike riding with traffic. It'll come quickly but always better to learn with no distractions. My two cents anyways.

I started on an 09 250r. Great little bike. Put about 2000 miles on it before I sold it. Keeps up well on the highway and is peppy up to 60. I put a 150 rear tire on mine. Improved the handling and look immensely. With a 150 tire you get access to much better handling tires that you would normally find on sport bikes. And for longer lasting you also have some sport touring radials you can fit on there.

Not sure if you want to anything to it until you decide you like the bike but check out a fender eliminator. Improves the look.

And definitely buy a new helmet for yourself! Can't stress that enough. A local motorcycle shop should be able to fit you for a proper size. You can get a quality helmet for about $200. Scorpion or HJC should have some good options in that range.
 
Check out revzilla or motorcycle super store. They have sales on gear like helmets. I got my afx helmet on sale for $90 bucks.

I really wish I had more time to ride though. By the time I'm back from work I'm so beat. That and if I stray too far I fear of getting lost as my sense of direction is a little different for some reason when I'm on the bike. So many things to keep tabs on. It's much more fun riding with a buddy and if you have a destination to get to in mind.

At times I'll just go and drive for no reason with no where to go then I end up somewhere unfamiliar and have to figure out a way back. That's why it's easier with another person.
 
saratoga172 said:
Personally I'd hold off on using any kind of headphones, Bluetooth or music while riding until you've got at least a few hundred miles under your belt. It'll help you get a feel for the bike and surroundings. Plus a lot of shifting is sound.

Also want to avoid as many distractions as possible until you are absolutely comfortable on the bike riding with traffic. It'll come quickly but always better to learn with no distractions. My two cents anyways.

I started on an 09 250r. Great little bike. Put about 2000 miles on it before I sold it. Keeps up well on the highway and is peppy up to 60. I put a 150 rear tire on mine. Improved the handling and look immensely. With a 150 tire you get access to much better handling tires that you would normally find on sport bikes. And for longer lasting you also have some sport touring radials you can fit on there.

Not sure if you want to anything to it until you decide you like the bike but check out a fender eliminator. Improves the look.

And definitely buy a new helmet for yourself! Can't stress that enough. A local motorcycle shop should be able to fit you for a proper size. You can get a quality helmet for about $200. Scorpion or HJC should have some good options in that range.
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Plus, it is illegal to wear ear buds in many states. But yes, I agree with you that the distraction is something a new rider should not have.

I have no idea why anyone would want to take a phone call while riding a motorcycle.
 
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JulesMaximus said:
Plus, it is illegal to wear ear buds in many states. But yes, I agree with you that the distraction is something a new rider should not have.

I have no idea why anyone would want to take a phone call while riding a motorcycle.
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Or listen to music
or listen to gps
 
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I was driving home yesterday. Some guy on a chopper, smoking a cig and a cell phone in his hand as he was coming to a stop. He stops, balances out and starts making a call on the phone.

No gear or anything but a light jacket why bother like this.
 
I rode with earbuds until an ambulance pulled up right behind me sirens blaring and I didn't notice it until they were riding my ass. That was the end of the earbuds.
 
saratoga172 said:
And definitely buy a new helmet for yourself! Can't stress that enough. A local motorcycle shop should be able to fit you for a proper size. You can get a quality helmet for about $200. Scorpion or HJC should have some good options in that range.
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Keep in mind that most people choose a helmet that is a size too large because it is more comfortable. It should move the skin when you try to rock it. Different brands and even models come in slightly different shapes and may fit your head better. HJC tends towards round heads. If you have hot spots front and back, scorpion tends to be a be more oval.
 
JulesMaximus said:
Plus, it is illegal to wear ear buds in many states. But yes, I agree with you that the distraction is something a new rider should not have.

I have no idea why anyone would want to take a phone call while riding a motorcycle.
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No kidding. Your constant attention is the only thing keeping you alive when that jackass pulls a left turn right in front of you. You have to be hyper-vigilant because cagers will do everything in their power to put you in the hospital..
 
I rode with ear buds a couple of times. I wasn't able to hear much of anything. Plus the ear bud normally jumped out of my ear.

I'm done with that phase for the most part. I wanna try ear plugs tho.
 
sze5003 said:
Check out revzilla or motorcycle super store. They have sales on gear like helmets. I got my afx helmet on sale for $90 bucks.
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PSA: You definitely get what you pay for in helmets. Though I should say Scorpion helmets a lot of bang for the buck. If cheap (inexpensive) is the name of the game, scorpion's tough to beat--great optical quality to their face shields and nice modern conveniences.

That said, a helmet is the most important piece of safety gear a rider is going to wear, so skimping really shouldn't be in the equation. I found my Arai RX-Q on sale due to some shop importing too many, but it was still $399. But it's a great helmet. The new Shoei GT Airs look great as well.

Proper sizing is crucial. Measure your head and trust the sizing from the manufacturer. Too small and the pressure is unbearable; too big and it can move around on your head when buffeted by wind, road and wind noise are not muffled at all, and it's not safe.
 
Midwayman said:
No kidding. Your constant attention is the only thing keeping you alive when that jackass pulls a left turn right in front of you. You have to be hyper-vigilant because cagers will do everything in their power to put you in the hospital..
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Yep. Can't afford to get complacent or become distracted on a bike. Plus, riding a bike offers plenty of fun without the music. My brother and I rode from Seattle to San Francisco, down the oregon and california coasts. No communicators, no earbuds. Each day was filled with the entertainment of windy roads, coastal views, and quiet, peaceful introspection.
 
Never planned on listening to music or anything, and don't really want someone else's nasty helmet.

Anyways, found a 250r for $2,3xx today. 2010 with just under 6,300 miles. Had a HMF exhaust and fender eliminator, stock otherwise. Tires and brakes were good. My dad drove it around and said everything functioned fine and was good to go.

Has a chunk of fairing missing about 5 inches long and a 1/2 wide by the windscreen. Owner said a neighborhood kid probably hit it with something. Clear title. I was worried about the exhaust being a ricer loudass thing, but it's not loud at all. So all in all happy with the purchase. Now to find a helmet and other gear and get to learning.

 
Nice man good price too right on the blue book value around where I live its about $2400 but with spring values it may go up. Nice exhaust too mine is stock I wish it was a bit louder.

Don't worry about the fairing I've got scratches on mine from when I dropped it. Enjoy it and be careful 🙂
 
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