Sports motorcycle

[Rogue]

Word of warning, look into insurance before you buy the bike. My friend bought a CBR 600RR and had to return it the same day when he found out that his insurance would be $1500/year on it. This guy is 27 years old with a clean driving record. At first I thought that it was because he's never owned a motorcycle before, so I called and priced it for myself. My insurance quoted me close to $1100/year and I've been riding since I was 19 with a spotless driving record, car and bike alike. Also, I highly, highly recommend NOT getting a sport bike as your first bike, especially coming from a scooter. Go with something that you sit up straight on like the Shadow or the V-Star. My friend ended up getting a V-Star 650 Custom and is very happy with it. More than enough bike for him. Fortunately, he's in Afghanistan right now so I'm watching his bike for him while he's gone. Every time I ride it though, even with his express permission, I feel like I just slept with his girlfriend or something. Hey, gotta keep the juices flowing in it I say, right?

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: Hayabusarider
A good rider on a 600 can take a squid on a gixxer 1000 any day.

So very true... But who the hell listens to that eh? It/s all about going fast on the freeway! hahaha... idiots. I have 3 friends who just bought liter bikes in the past 4 months... a Gixxer, an R1, and the previous R1... and two more want to buy bikes just because they're getting "sick" of their "slow" car. Seems like skin grafts are becoming a trend. I heard one of them dumped their R1 doing a wheelie... never saw it but i wouldn't doubt it.

Anyway... ive been occasionally riding for more than a year now and yet i still dont have a bike. If i were to get one now id get an old F4i for 4-5k and learn off that. I would spend the money leftover from not buying a spanking new liter bike here. Good luck!

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: Rogue
Word of warning, look into insurance before you buy the bike. My friend bought a CBR 600RR and had to return it the same day when he found out that his insurance would be $1500/year on it. This guy is 27 years old with a clean driving record. At first I thought that it was because he's never owned a motorcycle before, so I called and priced it for myself. My insurance quoted me close to $1100/year and I've been riding since I was 19 with a spotless driving record, car and bike alike. Also, I highly, highly recommend NOT getting a sport bike as your first bike, especially coming from a scooter. Go with something that you sit up straight on like the Shadow or the V-Star. My friend ended up getting a V-Star 650 Custom and is very happy with it. More than enough bike for him. Fortunately, he's in Afghanistan right now so I'm watching his bike for him while he's gone. Every time I ride it though, even with his express permission, I feel like I just slept with his girlfriend or something. Hey, gotta keep the juices flowing in it I say, right?

It's all because of people dumping their bikes from their little stunts and then claiming it so they'll get a new one.

Would it matter if you buy a $500 beater car that probably doesn't even run and claiming that's your primary vehicle? I'm like in the middle of LA and i could only imagine how much my insurance would be.

 

[Rogue]

Oh, I should add that this was insurance in Kansas with only one major highway nearby and no major traffic to speak of. As a comparison, I think he got a brand new 2002 V-Star 650, with no driver's license and no safety course for something like $500/year full coverage. I pay $58 a year on my Virago 750 for liability. Full coverage would cost me about $120/year.

To the fella who says a Shadow is too heavy, I say you're full of it. My wife can handle my Virago 750 and that's close to 500 lbs. wet weight. She has her own 2002 Kawasaki Eliminator because she wanted a smaller bike, but she can handle mine just fine.

 

[Vette73]

If you don't mind picking up your bike check out these dealers, very cheap compared to my locals....

www.epowersports.com
www.abernathyonline.com
www.lakehillmotors.com
www.crotchrocket.com



I have been looking for a bike since my bike accident and the 2 best jap makers are...

Crusiers = Honda

Sports Bikes = Suzuki

Honda's had some hiccups in the F/I area on their sports bikes that is one of the reasons I don't like their sports bikes. But their cruisers are very well made and solid. But the oppisate is true for Suzuki. They make the best sports bikes but their crusiers are not very good. One of their bikes has One down draft carb and the second one is a side draft, try and sync those together.
I do like Yamaha's Mean Streak, that is also a nice bike, but NOT for a starter.

But also make sure you get a good fitting and safe helmet. And start slow an work your way up in terms of riding. Bike riding can be fun, but can be very bad.
And of course don't let your first bike be one you like to much. You WILL lay it down, so don't get some brand new one, get a older used one until you are REALLY ready.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: Rogue
Oh, I should add that this was insurance in Kansas with only one major highway nearby and no major traffic to speak of. As a comparison, I think he got a brand new 2002 V-Star 650, with no driver's license and no safety course for something like $500/year full coverage. I pay $58 a year on my Virago 750 for liability. Full coverage would cost me about $120/year.

To the fella who says a Shadow is too heavy, I say you're full of it. My wife can handle my Virago 750 and that's close to 500 lbs. wet weight. She has her own 2002 Kawasaki Eliminator because she wanted a smaller bike, but she can handle mine just fine.

So she learned to ride on a Virago you say? I'm impressed. Not many can do that well.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Do yourself a favor and buy a used F4 and take a riding coruse. Going from a scooter to a sport bike is like going from a Pinto to a Mustang Cobra.

Excellent advice 2nd only to . . .

If by some chance you do listen to people here, the 500R and GS500 that TGG suggests are plenty of machine.

If you are a good rider, you will probably be up for the 600 in a year or two, and a few years after that MAYBE a liter class bike. There are not many who can ride them to anything like their full potential and live to tell about it. I am not exaggerating. Don't concentrate on moving up in machines, rather on improving your skills. A good rider on a 600 can take a squid on a gixxer 1000 any day.

Just don't emulate this
Duke grad. I believe he decided an R1 or an R6 would be a good starter bike despite the lack of a MSF course, motorcycle license, or a helmet.

 

[Tom]

This is a little off topic for a new rider..

Anyone got an opinion on the Triumph Speed Triple ? Or the Kawasaki V1000 ?

 

[emu10k2]

I bought a 15-year old Kawasaki ZX750R sport-touring bike.

I am a cautious rider, so is this bike too much power for a n00b?

 

[The Stigenator]

DPS: That's quite a powerful bike.. Its not for new riders...

EMU10K - 15 yr old bikes normally are said to be underpowered, but a 15 yr old bike is also heavy as hell. I would say be careful, its not a bad bike just you can still get into trouble if needed.