psbjames1970

I am planning to start lessons next week at the local CC. I am looking to eventually purchase a used one. Heres the scoop.

1. I have a 25 mile (one way) commute to work. At the current gas rate, I am spending 400+ a month just on commute and errands.

2. My commute can be done on back roads as opposed to the interstate.

3. Why not, it may be real fun on the open road...

Weather is usally not too bad here (rains sometimes, snow others) but most of the time I don't see any reason (unless you don't like 40 degree weather) to ride to work on a motorcycle (other than the idiots in SUVs that are driving up the gas prices for the rest of us - no offense to any SUVs on this site, hey if they can appreicate an RX8, they probably are good drivers).

So guys, I am totally "born yesterday" when it comes to this. I do ride bicycles a lot and have ridden a scooter, but this is a much more serious piece of machinery.

I just want the basics (no need to carry stuff other than me) and decent comfort and easy to handle for a beginner...

HELP...

Thanks

playdoh43

start with a 600cc bike, yamaha R6 is the best rated one. 4.5 gallon tank, around 50 miles per gallon. insurance is about 300 a year

Boxcar

My main suggestion is don't get to power hungry on your first bike unless you like accidently going out of control. I have a 91' Sukzuki GSX600 and I love it. You can pick them up cheap and they are fairly easy to work on. Hell if I can do it anyone can.

Boxcar

I would say that depends on the year. Suzuki has been kicking as for the last couple of them and that's nothing new.

Baller

Ducati 999 of course

Boxcar

Doens't that bike run $30,000! If it's the bike I'm thinking of I just watched a special on it this weekend and how it was blowing away the rest of the superbikes in it's class. That bike definately looked sic. Definately not a good first bike unless you have tons of money to cover repairs caused by spills and hospitals bills.


Edit- I just read your sig. Don't supose you can get me a job like yours

Baller

Life is short, ride hard!!!!

Boxcar

I'll take that as a no

Fanman

Are you looking at the rice rockets, or a Touring bike ? If you are a beginner I would think even a 600 might be a bit extreme. Superbikes are great but realize the seating position can be back breaking. Also, what might be very sporty on the ride, might be like our RX8's...peaky. The BMW's are pretty nice bikes, or look at a V Twin.

BlueFrenzy

I personally like the Yamaha R6 and the GSX600 isn't bad either. The BMWs are nice but may be a bit pricey for a first bike. Again, depends on whether you want a cruiser or a sport bike. I have no clue when it comes to cruisers (Honda's are supposedly good and some unknown brand called Harley is supposedly good as well). The key is to learn properly and to not get something beyond your capability (ie giving me an F1 car to drive). You have to remember that there are tons of bad drivers that believe it or not ... can't see rx8's (even if they are bright yellow, blue, red, etc) ... so with a bike, you're even less visible to them.

Fanman

Yeah, a bunch of my friends have been jacked up on bikes, and none of the accidents were their faults. They got hit when cars were making lefts in front of them, or got shoved under a car when a car swerved into their lanes. I wouldn;t recommend a bike in a heavy population area. it's not that you might be a bad driver, but there are a lot of bad drivers out there.

Another bike that might be good for you is a VFR 800. Quality Honda bike, good power, and better driving position.

Krankor

D00d, let me give you the advice I was given, because it was the best damn advice anyone ever gave me:

Get yourself a cheap, small, used bike to begin with, something you can beat up on while you learn. Get the smallest bike/engine you fit comfortably on. I'm a short guy, and I started off with a Honda Rebel 250; if you're not too big for that, then I strongly recommend it. Sit on it, and see how it fits. The point is, you wanna get a beginner bike to start with, odds are you are GOING to put it down while learning, just on stupid beginner things, so you want something you don't have to worry about scratching up fancy paint or chrome.
You wanna spend like $1-2K or so.

Then, when you've mastered the thing, you can move up to something more substantial, and sell your used learner bike for most of what you put into it (since it will have already done most of its depreciating before you bought it). And at that point, you'll be more knowledgeable, you'll know better what you want in a "real" motorcycle.

Finally: for a used bike of this nature, I strongly recommend Honda. They are the Toyotas of the motorcycle world, you can beat on them and they just keep running. My Rebel was 8 years old when I bought it, never had any trouble with it at all; heard the same thing from many other Honda owners.

Krankor
05 Shinka 6MT

MadRonin

My first bike was a Kawasaki EX-500. It's a great "starter" bike. If you must go with a 600cc bike, look at something like the Suzuki SV650 or the Suzuki Bandit 600.

Also, I've said this dozens of times to people who have asked the same question on this board: Get yourself some good riding gear. Don't be stupid and ride without a helmet and a decent set of riding leathers (or Condora), boots and gloves. I see people riding around in nothing but a t-shirt, shorts and flip flops, and it make me cringe. Even riding with just a helmet is pretty dumb. Sure you may save your head in a crash, but a t-shirt (or even jeans) won't protect you from having half the meat on your legs, arms, or torso ripped off from the asphalt. Oh and crashing on a bike isn't a question of will, it's a matter of when. The likelihood that you will be involved in a crash on a bike is almost a certainty. Why not take every precaution?

Good luck and be safe.

Kawi

Go with Krankor's advice. He's got the right idea.

Check out Cycle Trader to get an idea of prices for used bikes.
cycletrader.com

psbjames1970

Funny how some people are recommending 30K bikes to me. What my goal is simply to commute on a high mileage, fun to drive motorcycle.

I know that I am looking at only USED bikes, and under 5K (pref only 1K if I can). Thinking that with the coming winter, there will be a few out there to get dirt cheap.

If I get addicted to motorcylces, then I will consider upgrading.

In regards to driving. I will initially avoid higher speed situations or lots of traffic (i.e. Interstate 95 between Baltimore and Aberdeen). Pretty bad anytime day or night now. I can take Route 1 (better but still somewhat crowded) or even Route 7/Harford Road (these are back roads) and probably be the only one for a 1/4 mile on that road in my direction (I go the oppisote of the usual commute each day).

Seems that Honda Rebel might be what I am looking for. I am only 5'5 and weigh less than 150.

I will rather spend some more serious money in protective equiment (another area for input please). Are there motorcylce suits that better protect from scuffing on the road if you do slide that can go over business casual attire? Helmets, I would like to spend good money on a high quality helmet that will both be stylish and protect my noodle better than anything else out there.

Boy I am a virgin when it comes to this... but I think I am asking the right questions????

Kawi

I just rode in today. For commuting I wear jeans and a mesh jacket for warm weather riding. I'm not sure you'd want a whole suit just for commuting. They're not only cumbersome, but will obviously be hot. Two-piece gear is more flexible. You can get cordura pants,often large enough to fit over other clothes, and swap jackets depending on the weather.

Helmet wise, Arai and Shoei make great products but are the most expensive. But other companies like HJC, Z1R, and AGV make good stuff and you can probably get good deals on them.

psbjames1970

Can't wear jeans. So for summer, I will either need to pack a change of pants (easy enough) or find a lightweight cover pants that will still protect me from scuffing (more concerned about that).

I have a several leather jackets already (need to look cool in my 8) that will work both in summer and winter. So just pants or a kewl coverall suit (like in Kill Bill... love that yellow Uma is wearing... yum)

gh0st

used 600 that is newer then 2001.

new enouph to not want to upgrade, but old enouph not to break the piggy bank.

or brand new bike financed. they have start rates that are like 50 bucks a month. youll see more then that in just gas savings over the 8. id recomend hondas if your going new... even the 1000rr is user friendly.


denward

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

Prepair for the fact that you can go down with the bike. Think about what points, of your body, can slide along the ground. Head, hands, shoulders, back, butt, knees, etc. and protect those parts. Helmets are required in most of the US, but also think about a leather jacket, gloves and chaps. The chaps are cheaper & cooler than full pants and provide protection to the necessary parts of the body.
Over the years, I've gone down twice and practice what I preach (except for the chaps, I haven't got around to getting those yet).

cleoent

WTF IS GOING ON IN HERE!!!

Did anyone read his post? He's new to bikes! YOu guys want to slap him on the latest and greatest supersports? Are you freakin kidding me?

PSB, dont listen to the kiddies out here, the best absolute best thing you can do is start off on the Ninja 250. It gets about 50+ mpg, is super cheap to insure and you can get it used for less then 2k... It's a fantastic beginner bike, had mine for years until i sold it to get into dirt, it's also extremely comfortable. Since it's going to be a commuter bike I would highly recommend going with that. It's very light, very fun in the twisties and it will never come out and bite you. It's very forgiving.

For commuting the SS bikes are not good, plain and honest. I have an 04 636 that I love to death but it's downright painful to commute on. Dont waste your money, your insurance premium and your gas (newer 600's realistically get high 30's low 40's), + tires on a supersport.

Something people dont factor in when deciding that commuting on a supersport bike is cheaper then a car....

Tires, SS tires last MAYBE 4k, to replace they're about oh 320 bucks or so if you can find a good deal, compared to a car 20k EASY and about 700 bucks.

The 250's tires can last forever and are cheap to boot. If you want more power (which you dont need the ninja is still faster then the rx8 to 60) you can opt for the ex500, the gs500 (suzuki) or maybe something a bit bigger like a Suzuki Sv650 (not great gas mileage low 30's) or a yamaha FZ6. All of those will be more comfortable then a supersport 6. If you have any more questions fire away.

The worse choice you could possibly make would be to buy a gixxer or a r6 for your first bike. You'll drop it, you'll probably crash it, and you'll regret it. Plus you'll drive my insurance premiums up.

MadRonin

What kind of leather are the jackets made from? Are they made for motorcycle riding (i.e. Joe Rocket, Vansom, Alpinestars, etc.) or are something you bought at a leather shop in the mall? I have three leather jackets that I wear in cooler weather, but I would never trust them in a fall on a bike. Leather made for cycle riding is usually thick cowhide and it's either got armor built in, or it's large enough to wear armor underneath.

Here's an example of a good leather jacket for riding:

http://www.joerocket.com/jrf/product...roducts_id=232

BTW - I don't recommend jeans for riding unless they are made FOR riding. Denim will shred in a crash just like tissue paper. They're certainly better than khakis or shorts, but not much.

MadRonin

Apparently you didn't read everyone's response or would have seen that several people including myself recommended the EX500 and SV650 along with a few other reasonably priced, used bikes.

cleoent

I apologize, i did actually read through the tread, and you weren't one of the people i was referring to. I was mad at the kiddies suggesting SS not the ones suggesting the ex500 and sv650 (which is still not as good of a choice as the 250 for commuting and a n00b)

MadRonin

It's all good.

I like the EX-250, but I think it's too small for a full-sized adult male. They're fun to zip around on, but I would not want to go anywhere near a major highway at rush hour on one. I realize he said that he's going to take back roads, but there will always be a temptation to see what it can do, and unfortunately it isn't much.

cleoent

^^^------ full sized adult male (pointing at my SN)

I commuted with that on the freeway and never had a problem, it's so narrow that lane splitting (if legal in your state) is a breeze. It's the perfect bike as far as sport bikes go for commuting. It's also an absolute blast in the twisties.