Thinking of getting a motorcycle NEED HELP!

[Blitzkrieg989]

Hey Guys, Im thinking of getting a motorcycle. Ive been looking around and there seem to be some nice Ninjas from Kawasaki for decent prices. Im gonna be looking for a used one seeing as this is my first bike but idk exactly what to look at/for? Any suggestions or pointers would be greatly appreciated!

[Jung]

get a hayabusa, turbo it.

whats your price range? you want a crotch rocket i take it?
Suzuki, honda, and kawasaki pretty much make up the majority of that category. But if you're willing to splurge a little, dish out a little more dough and pickup a Ducati.. god damn those look so nice and sound like V8s..

[Blitzkrieg989]

idk about a hayabusa as a 1st timers bike hahaha

[bigbro]

how about a ninja 636


or



cbr 600

[NYCS4Avant]

Yamaha R6- great looking/riding bikes. Like others have said, Ducati's are the "hot fire". Have a look at the S4 monster (no its not an audi) or the new 848.

[AElucky83]

get a hayabusa, turbo it.

whats your price range? you want a crotch rocket i take it?
Suzuki, honda, and kawasaki pretty much make up the majority of that category. But if you're willing to splurge a little, dish out a little more dough and pickup a Ducati.. god damn those look so nice and sound like V8s..

Thats possibly the worse advice ive heard lol.

Please..for the love of christ..do not buy a busa for ur first bike and turbo it.

Also, as far as Ducati goes..you do not want a ducati as ur first bike..they are pricey, to maintain them is way more expensive then ur jap bikes and god forbit u lay it down. parts arent cheap.

Pick up a used 600 anything. GSXR600, Ninja zx6r, F4I even..just something a bit older that u can learn on and get good enough to step up to something larger.

Also, decide on what kind of riding ur gonna be doing before u buy a bike. Are you into twists or 1/4 mile runs. Do you want something to ride on longer trips or just around town..take things into consideration before buying it.

I currently ride a fairly modified ZX14...take a wild guess what kind of riding I like.

[TDI]

buy a R1 and you will experience a whole new world of riding bikes!

Best bike ever build
hands down

[AElucky83]

I agree that R1's are extremely good bikes..the 2 guys i ride with ride R1's and love them..however the new 1000RR by Honda is the best bike on the market right now.. Its light, makes more power then most and hits corners like rails...if i didnt love the ZX..I would def. be getting a 09 Honda

[lawnferie]

if you got the money and don't want a bike that will break down get a BMW.
My dad has 3 and loves 'em all. Still has a 1985 K bike, to show you how long they last...

[Blitzkrieg989]

alright guys thanks alot for all your input!!!

[bob12312357]

Half these momos are outta their minds, unless your a finacially well off person and money is no concern. Your first bike shouldn't cost more then 2-3 grand. Preferably doesn't have 172WHP with a set of pipes and a tune.The shittier the better as far as scratches,nicks and dings long as its mechanically sound and preferably wasn't crashed. Look for an F3,F4, or F4I or mid-late 90's Zx-6E or R. They are very reliable, carbed so they have a bit smoother throttle. A mid 90's 600 is the ideal starter bike, not because it has slightly less power then a newer 600, but because it is less twitchy, the power comes on in a more linear fashion, and most importantly it has WEAKER brakes. Sure crackin open the throttle will get you in trouble, but look at 0-100 times and distances and then 100-0 times and distances. The brakes can dissipate far more energy and inertia faster then the engine can create. Especially the newer bikes, someone pulls out and you make that panic tug on the brake lever you have a lot more of a chance of lockin it up then the older slightly spongier system, and even if you do somehow crash the older one, its 7k less in things that can break. Let me just say the stopping distances aren't off by more then a couple of feet, but the initial bite of the brakes is much less powerful on older bikes. MY .02.
P.S. A ducati is an insane idea for a 1st bike. Between maintence,parts,and god forbid if u crash its gonna be expensive.

[lawnferie]

^^^ +1. obviously don't spend a great deal on a brand new bike that you're going to learn on. When I stated that you should get a BMW I meant once you already knew how to ride. Sure you'll look great zooming by on your 1st Ducati, but it won't be pretty if you drop it....

[bob12312357]

^^^ +1. obviously don't spend a great deal on a brand new bike that you're going to learn on. When I stated that you should get a BMW I meant once you already knew how to ride. Sure you'll look great zooming by on your 1st Ducati, but it won't be pretty if you drop it....

Not if, when. You wouldn't believe how the easy the kickstand is 2 forget about, and most bikes can't balance on 2 wheels at a standstill once u get off em, speaking from personal expierence.

[Blitzkrieg989]

hahaha alright sounds good! Im not finacially off and have more money than i no what to do with although i wish i was hahaa. Yeah just looking for something nice to cruise around prolly gonna look into the 600's. im deff only spending around 2k. Besides local newspapers and such is there any websites i should try?

[minira]

wow some of these recommendations are a little bit off, an r1 for a beginner? at least you'll be looking into some used 600's. if anything learn on a 250 for a few months. they're always in demand, so you can sell it for almost what you bought it for. once you get good on that then move up. but you can look at kawiforums.com, gixxer.com, cbr.forum.com, i'm sure there's others just google. good luck and don't be a squid!!

[bob12312357]

Craigslist has always been good 2 me, buying or selling bikes. Schedule your road test now. Also when you go to look at bikes, take someone with you who has been riding for a few years on diffrent bikes, and can tell if something is off. CHECK THE SELLERS NAME ON HIS LISCENCE AGAINST THE TITLE, THEN CHECK THE VIN#'S ON THE TITLE AGAINST THE ONES ON THE FRAME OR ENGINE CASE. If you need help and its near Staten Island in Jersey i can help ya take a peek at what bikes you may be intrested in. If its in South Jersey, I am good Sundays, because I fly outta lakewook airport so anything on the way down or near there I don't mind.
http://cnj.craigslist.org/mcy/787904658.html
Awesome first bike,light,nimble, and very fun, just not all that fast with a top speed of like 95mph

http://cnj.craigslist.org/mcy/787823417.html
Not sexy of anything,but 5 years old and capable of 120+. You would have 2 replace the rear shock and revalve the forks for decent handling, so I would personally pass, but you should be able to show up with 2500 or 2600 cash and take it home

http://newyork.craigslist.org/jsy/mcy/787554393.html
Awesoem first bike a lil over priced, go for 3500 cash if you want 2 look. Good handling,power,modern looks.

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/mcy/791884429.html
Best bet, if it runs well as there are no pics. The bike is a tank and will survive crashing, the engine is bulletproof, tranny doesn't have the typical sportsbike 2nd gear problem. Just not the prettiest,or fastest. Handles competently though.

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/mcy/791816416.html
A lil up there in price for a bike for you, but priced right for what it is. A tad slow compared to I4 600's, handles well, bullet proof motor. Good bike. Very popular as a track bike 2.

[AElucky83]

Not if, when. You wouldn't believe how the easy the kickstand is 2 forget about, and most bikes can't balance on 2 wheels at a standstill once u get off em, speaking from personal expierence.

hahaha I experience a similar occurance..luckaly i cought it half way down and lifted the bike before it hit the ground..and dont follow my lead..start on a 600 as i said above and dont listen to people telling you to start on a ducati or something fast..PLEASE...

[Blitzkrieg989]

hahaha I experience a similar occurance..luckaly i cought it half way down and lifted the bike before it hit the ground..and dont follow my lead..start on a 600 as i said above and dont listen to people telling you to start on a ducati or something fast..PLEASE...

trust me i wont be lol no way in hell ill be able to support a Ducati, Audi, and College hahaha

[Jung]

haha i was sarcastic with the busa and ducati ideas, that'd be a bad idea. a bike in the 600cc range would be a great starter bike. not too much power, but enough to teach you to respect it, they are light and agile for the most part... i love the looks of the r6, kind of like a stealth jet. dont get a shitter bike, nothing would be worse than having it fall apart on you/break down going 50mph in traffic.

[bob12312357]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Thats where the take a friend who knows bikes along part I mentioned comes in. Bikes don't just break down, a coolant hose bursts,or a fuel line cracks, but for the most part thats all that will break suddenly. Carbs,brakes,engine,yadda,yadda,yadda problems usually develop over time. An expierenced rider will feel a problem developing with a bike in its minor stages. BIkes just don't go kaboom,unless u hit a car.

[AElucky83]

hey i have no room to talk since my first bike was a ZX14 lol

[manhertm]

Check Hyosung's out, veteran riders will shit on these bikes, but they are proven. I, too am a new rider and I'm waiting until September when Hyosung releases their GT650X. It's a pretty sweet street fighter. A little background on the company, they're the 3rd largest motorcylce manufacturer in the world. The assemble motorcycle for Suzuki for over 20 years an some of your favorite Suzukis share an engine and other compenents with Hyosung. For the price you can't beat it. I check out my local Hyosung dealership here in San Antonio and the bikes look like quality and are well assembled. All they're bikes come with 2 year unlimited mile warranties. For reviews and more history of the company check out Korider.com. It's a Hyosung forum.
Here some pics of they're bikes. The first pic is what I'm getting.

GT650X



GT650R

GT250R(best looking 250 in my opinion)



GV650 (CRUSIER)



TRENDKILLER (custom gv650, production possiblity)



FISCHER MRX (this company uses Hyosung engines $7999)




The awesome thing is even though all of Hyosung's bikes retail for under $6500, they still offer sweet discounts. When I was first lookin at a GT250r, the price tag was $3799, after Hyosung's "first time rider discount $300", "student discount $300, and "military discount $300" compounded the bike was under $3k out the door.

[audijack]

I agree, a Busa for the first bike is a bad idea. Ducati Monster is a great startup bike.

And you should remember to take the MSF course, it's great, or the refresher course if you already know how to ride. Motorcycle Safety Foundation that is. I think they should make those mandatory for anyone who wants to buy a bike!

[Charles]

I'd recommend a Ninja 500 or a Suzuki SV650. They're rather cheap and easy to ride/learn on and they tend to keep their value after the major depreciation hit.
After you get a feel for those, sell it for most of what you paid for it and step up to a 600. Honestly, the 600's of today are fast as balls. I had a 99 Ninja 600 and it's faster than almost every car on the road...unless you're hitting up against sub 3.8 0-60mph cars. So the newer models will be faster than that. I really don't see the point in buying a liter bike unless you're racing.

[bob12312357]

^^^^^^^
Liter bikes are for men, men who like torque. You can take ur little 600 and wring the hell outta it. I'll stay in 6th thank you.
Liter bikes are actaully harder to race then 600's and will turn slower lap times with a similiar average skilled rider. Unless u were talkin about strictly for noobs ur whole liter theory is severerly flawed. Liters are much better street bikes for the experenced.

[Charles]

Blah blah blah...only real men ride liter bikes. Whatevs..

I'm just saying, I don't really see the point. A 600-636 cc engine is plenty fast...and torque? Why would you need torque when you can turn in 3 second 0-60 times and 10 second 1/4 mile times?? With those speeds why would you need to wring it out?? In any gear (within reason) you can have enough hp/torque to pass with no problems.
I'm not arguing lap times. There are liter racing classes and therefore, you'd need a liter bike to race in them.

[bob12312357]

^^^^
YOu ever ride a liter? Bench racing doesn't work on your argument. Liter classes for racing are insane, and even then are the same lap times,sometimes slower and on a more open track a second or 2 faster. The motogp bikes are actaully turining faster lap times now that they've gone from 990cc to 800cc. 190cc's less and they are going seconds faster, because the bikes are easier to ride,get on the gas sooner, harder, more ham fistedly.
As for plenty of ooomph in any gear, stick ur 600 in 6th at 50 and i'll do the same on my liter at a much lower RPM and leave u like ur sittin still.

[Charles]

You don't seem to be getting my point.

[kodycobra]

To the Original poster, coming from someone who's had a long family line of motorcycle racing... Get what you feel comfortable on!!! I'm only 24, but most of the males in my family have raced motorcycles of some sort.

There's nothing wrong with any or the older 600's made by Kawi, Suzuki, Yamaha, or Honda. As one person stated... The Suzuki SV650 is a great starter bike. The balance on those bikes are unbelievable, so much so, that they like to scrape pegs around corners lol They don't make a whole lot of power, and you can pick them up cheap.

Whatever you decide, always wear your gear, and watch out for people who don't look before they run you over!!!

As for me though, I'll take my ZX14



Even I had a CBR600 at one point. As well as an 04 ZX10R(on a little spray)

[geoshu]

Old thread, I know, but to the OP, BUY GEAR BEFORE YOU RIDE, AND GET MEDICAL ON YOUR INSURANCE POLICY!

A bike wreck is different than a car wreck. When you wreck a car, its normally: "OH F***!!" BAM!!!. When you wreck a bike, its normally just BAM!!, and if you were lucky enough to get up like me, then you say "OH F***".

So wear your gear, it'll save your $$$ and skin.

[Alan]

http://www.pbnation.com/showthread.php?t=2824993

first post.

[MacDaddy]

suzuki parts are the most expensive.

My friend came over today with his Yamaha R1 and spanked my S4 like nobody's business. I'd kill myself on an R1, but i think i might get an R6 now...