Wow, awesome suggestions Terry and Sly! I got a lotta looking to do!

 

last weekend little shoot.

 

Beautiful bikes!

 

Sweet.

 

Also throwing the Kawasaki W650 into the mix for a potential first bike, if I can find one used...

 

Stogie, what you are looking for is called a UJM - Universal Japanese Motorcycle

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Univers...ese_motorcycle

 

I had seen "UJM" but had no idea what it meant...

Thanks.

 

How about a TL motorcycle?









http://www.thoroughbred-motorsports.com/tm2Gallery.aspx

 

Wow. Just terrible...

So Anachostic, you are saying that perhaps the UJM style bike in a 650 is going to have too sensitive or powerful a throttle for a first bike as opposed to a street bike like a Ninja 250 or a bike like what Terry posted?

 

I can't say that with authority, I can only offer it as a consideration for you in selecting a bike. I hoped someone would come along to confirm or debunk my statements, but otherwise, you're relying on me and how I've interpreted the things I've read. Sounds convincing, huh?

It's tough buying a first bike because unlike cars, you usually don't have the opportunity to test-ride, so you're kind of going in blind. In fact, you may or may not feel comfortable riding the bike home from the purchase, so you may need a trailer or someone you feel can ride or trailer or otherwise deliver the bike to your home where you can practice in relative safety.

 

Id recommend an older bike, something like a first gen or early second gen SV650. Decent power, excellent beginner bike, and if you want to mod it, theres plenty of aftermarket support.

Its available in two forms, the SV650 and the SV650S which has a front fairing. The former is naked.

 

+2, bought a 1st gen SV650s as my starter bike and it's been great. Definitely enough power and very forgiving as a bike. There's a lot of mods out there for the SV, especially the 2nd gen. The 2nd gen is fuel injected and has a bit more power than the 1st gen.

They're reasonably priced and you'll find a lot off CL. I'd suggest svrider.com for more research. Great forum with a lot of helpful people and information.

Good luck!

 

Thanks guys, I wish I liked the style, but it just doesn't do it for me...

 

So are you looking for more a retro/standard looking bike then?

 

Stogie,

http://www.triumph.co.uk/usa/2010_Bo...onneville.aspx

http://www.triumph.co.uk/usa/2010_Sc...Scrambler.aspx

http://www.triumph.co.uk/usa/2010_Th...0Thruxton.aspx

All three of these bikes look awesome. Can't speak for their quality or ride though since I have no experience with them, but just wanted to throw them out there.

 

UJM/Bonneville style.

 

haha, just saw this after my last post! LOVE the Bonneville. Love it.

My only concern with a brand new 8k Triumph is that I am a new rider, and I am afraid I may put the bike down at some point... A 2k old Honda or so I would care less about but still like the styling enough that if I didn't lay it down, it would be a cool bike to have.

I know, I am difficult.

 

How about an older Honda CB750? Its not nearly as badass as the Bonneville, but theyre cheap and easily fixed if you drop it. The early 80s models were more cafe-ish while the later models were more of a standard bike (also called the Nighthawk 750).

Sidenote - I really want a Thruxton.

 

I have my eyes on a 750 right now for $2200.

I just am concerned it may be too much power for a first bike. The TU250 is also a good option, but I think I might grow out of it fast and it costs 2x as much as a CB750.

 

Hi Jefford

Let me give you some advice if I may. From someone who's been riding one form of motorcycle or another for thirty-five years. Any bike has too much power, and smaller displacement bikes offer some of the best riding enjoyment.

Any bike can have too much power if not handled correctly. Don't worry about a medium displacement bike if you're comfortable with it. If you're responsible (and you undoubtedly are), then you'll use it's power and torque responsibly. As you know, I've owned numerous motorcycles, and for the most part all had more power than I needed and offered performance greater than my riding ability. The majority of riders, regardless of what they claim, do not have the skills to manage all the power most bikes offer. There is nothing wrong with power, but the trick is to use it wisely and responsibly.

Alternatively, small displacement bikes can be a lot of fun. And can still be enjoyed while a rider becomes more experienced. Some of my riding friends, a few who I consider to be outstanding riders, prefer the lightness and eagerness of a smaller machine. And they can often out ride those on bikes with twice or three times the displacement.

Spend some time finding the right bike. You'll know it immediately when you sit on it.

BTW:
I may ship one of my bikes when I'm down in Arizona this winter. Let's catch up and do some riding.


Terry

 

Terry, thanks for the advise, it's always welcome!

I do need to actually sit on these bikes, instead of just looking at pictures on the internet. I guess I should look at this like shoes, you just have to try the damn things on to know if they are right...

 

Awesome advice.

 

Very well said Terry

 

Terry's advice is spot on!
With that being said, get the mid-70s CB750, LOL!

Hell, it's only like 68hp and weighs nearly 500lbs. Shouldn't be too bad to handle. Plus, you can keep it when you decide to upgrade 'cause you'll love it forever. I know I'm gonna get one one day!

Really, I'm just kidding, definitely follow Terry's advice...

 

Well, here is the one I am looking at:



The problem with Terry's advice (and all good advice for that matter) is that it does not answer the question, only raises more... I do understand the "feel" is the most important issue, though... I am going to sit on this bike this week hopefully.

Small new 250 at twice the cost (TU250) or larger used (CB750)...

 

Id go with the larger used bike. Use your brain when riding. Dont push too hard.

And when things get out of your control, you're only dropping an old inexpensive bike and not a brand new one.

Plus CBs are friggin awesome.

 

^ thanks for the advice. This is all new to me...

 

If you were looking at a sportsbike in the 750cc range, I'd tell you that you were nuts. However, for they type of bike you are looking into, you'll be good with a 750cc.

One thing to keep in mind when buying your first bike is resale. For me, I liked the streetbike type of bikes, so my first bike was a Ninja 250. It was the perfect beginner bike, not too expensive, powered and geared for a noob, and best of all, was very high in demand. I was able to ride it for almost a full year and a half and when I sold it, I got what I paid for it. And all of that went towards upgrading.

I'll be honest, I do not know that much about the CBs, but if they are in demand (which they seem to be), then it should be a win/win for you b/c it will hold its value should you decide to sell it and upgrade once you become a more experienced rider...

 

Great point, JB.

 

CBs have a bit of a cult following. Even non-runners are easily sold.

My favorite of the CBs-



They were no faster then the I4s of the time, but theyre unique, and I look at that more-so in a bike then straight line acceleration. And this one is my favorite custom CBX:

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/20...-uhing-update/

 

^^ I wants...

 

Just a teaser... sold the SV last Friday, picked up this beauty today. I'll take another pic once the parts/mods come in.

 

Nice pick-up. 600? Change your signature!

 

Another newb question for you experienced riders...

HELMETS.

I need one.

I want a full face. I see some for $100. I see some for $800. What's the difference and what are good brands (more importantly, what are brands to avoid)?

 

Oh boy.................

This is always an interesting debate. There are those that feel that a basic DOT is sufficient and those that feel a Snell rating is always best. Conversely, there are those that feel that a Snell is unsafe and a basic DOT actually safer (there are some studies that confirm this).

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/ge...iew/index.html

Whichever you decide, do your homework first. And once you decide on a particular brand or style, make sure it fits properly. It should be snug, but not uncomfortable. Personally, I prefer my flip-up type helmets. It's basically a full face, but the chin piece flips up and over the top of the helmet. It's great for putting on glasses or getting a drink of water.

Whatever you decide, I'm glad you're getting a full face. I have two brands of helmets: Arai, and HJC. The Arai is a full face fixed, while the HJC is a Sy-Max, which is their flip up style. Which is best? I don't know. But I can tell you that six years ago yesterday I suffered a horrific motorcycle crash which resulted in smashing my head against the pavement at 65 mph. I suffered a five inch skull fracture and had a severe brain injury resulting in therapy to learn to walk, talk, and write again. I'm told by professionals that it was my helmet that allowed for my continued existence. That helmet was actually returned to the manufacturer to be studied because it did exactly what it was supposed to do. That helmet was an HJC Sy-Max.



Terry

 

Wow. What a testament to the helmet! I have seen the flip up and actually appreciated that some of them have the drop down "battle visor" built in negating the need for sunglasses.



Symax II has the snap down visor:



As long as it feels right, it's a done deal. Thanks, once again, Terry!

 

No problem Jefford. If I was in the market for another helmet, the Sy-Max II would be my only choice.



Terry

 

Good call, yes sir 600

 

I prefer Shoei and Arai. I dont think Id trust my noggin in something like a Walmart Bell helmet. And I love my Shoei RF1000. Heres a pic of it sans tinted sheild. My jacket has a shield pocket that I put the clear shield in for when it gets dark out.





If you have a local bike shop that has helmets on site, go try some on to see what you like. And remember, the sizes run differently between companies. Sadly, none of my local bike shops have helmets on site because they say people just use them to try on and then buy them online. Thats true because most of the shops sell the helmets for MSRP.

I got mine from a retailer on eBay last year for around $320 IIRC. Shoei released the new RF1100 though. They say its quieter.

Check NewEnough.com for helmets, jackets and gloves.

 

I have an HJC helmet and love it. Fits great, was not overly expensive, and is (of course) DOT approved.

Personally I do not like the flip-up helmets. Something like 37% of impacts occur in the jaw region and my fear has always been that the flip-up will flip-up on a hard enough impact, protecting me less. Again, this is a personal fear and maybe unfounded, but it's always in my mind. This is why I will always wear a traditional full face helmet. I also do not like messing around with helmets, so I prefer to try them on. At that point I then buy it from the retailer. Being a businessman myself I do not feel right going into a shop, trying things on, then leaving to buy that item off of the internet... so I buy it at the shop. Also, I firmly believe personal relationships with the managers and staff going a long way.