I was in Maryland over the weekend visiting my friends, and one of them just happen to have bought this thing


Honda CBR1000RR, . I dont have any experience with bikes what so ever, specially sports bikes, i do have a license though which i got a while back. Long story short, after riding this thing for 2 days, i think i am in love . I want one, but the thing is i am looking to get my hands onto something smaller, such as an R6. What do you guys think, any other suggestions?

 

A Yamaha R6 or a Honda CBR600 F4 would be a good bike for you. Enough power to be enjoyable, but not quite as much as the 1000CC bikes. Slightly smaller and plenty of fun. I can't wait till I have money to buy a bike...

 

even a 600CC sport bike may be too much to handle for a beginner, let a lone the 1000CC. take a MSF course, and then think about getting a Kawasaki EX250, EX500, or a Suzuki GS500. if you really feel adventurous, go with a SV650. buy used, learn, and you'll be on your way to your 2nd bike real soon. don't jump the gun on an expensive sport bike that you have a good chance of dropping while you learn.

 

I second the CBR600 F4 suggestion. Really, you can't go wrong with any of the 600cc class bikes. There are plenty of used F4s at a good price.

 

i'm gonna get ninja 500r and taking my MSF course on Friday.

 

What about the Suzuki GSX-R 600?

 

^^^ Very well put... and great advice...

As a beginner you should keep any of your choices to 500cc or below... I know that's not cool... but trust me when you drop your new $10,000 motorcycle in your driveway or god forbid on the freeway you will not be feeling very cool...

The saying goes as follows:
If you ride a bike and have not gone down... you will go down... it's inevitable...
[/preach]

Here are a few questions you should answer before you purchase.

- Where will I ride? (off-road/on-road, freeway/street, light traffic/heavy traffic...)
- When will I ride? (night/day, snow/rain/sun...)
- How often will I ride? (main mode of transportation/weekend fun thing...)
- What kind of bike? (full fairing/naked, cruiser/standard/sport, Japanese/Euro/American, new/used)
- What kind of money are you will to spend?

That being said good luck with your decision and enjoy the riding...

But most importantly remember to keep the rubber side down... hehe

Regards
Ciao

p.s. should you need or want to discuss this further you are most welcome to PM me... I have been riding some kind of two wheeled motorized vehicle since about the age of 6 or 7...

 

CBR F4 is a great bike, decently priced too

 

BTW...
This is my current ride...




Ciao

 

ya my friend just bought a suzuki sv650s and its his first bike.

 

Thanks for all the input guys. Salut, i do agree with you and others suggesting that i should get something smaller. I rode that thing and decided that it was too big of a bike for me, even though i loved the rush. As far as falling from the bike, well i have done that as well, but that was back when i was 18 and i was in England, got hurt pretty bad then, thats why said no to riding a bike, but now the temptation to get a bike is back again . I decided to look for something used in the 600cc range, but as many of you put even that would be a little too much to start with. For now I am considering a Suzuki GSX-R 650 or a Yamaha R6. Personally i think anything below that would be too small, since i am 220 lbs 6'2'' :-D. Btw nice bike salut

 

Just wondering why noone's mentioned the CBR600RR ? Why all the F4 suggestions but not the RR ?

 

^^ Not a bad bike but i like the looks of the other two better For now i am looking for a good deal on any of these, used ofcourse.

 

What about this one a Ducati 999S . I am like a kid in a candy store, so many choices and i want um all, lol.



Or this one on ebay, Link

 

Ducatti only if money no object. Those things are like their automotive counterparts. Stunning to look at, amazing to control, but more expensive to own and maintain.

 

Yeah thats what i heard as well. I am looking at a local sellers 05 R6 with 1500 miles on it, lets see what happens.

 

My younger bro just came by with a Suzuki GSX-R 740?? yesterday. I too am in love and looking for a bike esp with these gas prices.

 

Ah man, I would love to be able to get a CBR600 F4i. My ex coworker is looking for a new bike and I went along with him to check them out as well. Too bad I just purchased a new car and I have no money for one...so sad...

 

599 Nice bike!

 

how much does one of those used 500cc or below bikes for beginners run?

 

hey, i am like 5'4, and my first ever bike was an 02 cbr600 f4i. this thing was awesome. had nice power, and looked sweet. i would suggest to get your hands on an 02 f4i, or an 03 600rr....you cant beat honda reliability...and they look real nice too.you should be able to get either of those with aprrox 2-3000 miles for anywhere from 5K to 6K. good luck, PM if you have any q'd

 

im savin up for a kawasaki ex250 to use as a beginner bike and get a r1 later on.
can't forget the msf courses. I said fuck the supercharger and get a bike. Help out on the gas and insurance cost and still fun.

 

^^^ No sir... 919... but thank you though... I do love it...


Hey Jack_n_Coke keep in mind that a bike like the R6 and F4 (full-fairing bikes) are more expensive to own overall... A mechanic will charge you more to do work on them because of the time to take off and risk of damage to the fairings...
The worst is, as a less advanced rider, when you drop your bike, and you most likely will, you will have at least a couple grand in just plastic to repace, before you get to any of the mechanical maladies...

Points to ponder...

Again best of luck with your decision... and get out there and ride...

P.S. my bike suggestions to beginning riders are as follows
In no particular order:
- Honda Nighthawk 250

- Honda 599 (great standard or naked bike - smaller version of mine)

- Honda Nighthawk 750 (I know I said under 500 - but this is a great all around bike)
- Suzuki GS500E (this one you would have to get used)
- Suzuki SV650 (Yeah I know another rule breaker - but again great bike)

- Suzuki GZ250

If you have to have a full-fairing bike then these are nice beginner bikes:
- Kawasaki Ninja 250

- Kawasaki Ninja 500

- Suzuki GS500F (replaces the GS500E)


Ultimately your best bet is a used dualsport type bike (also called enduro) like this one...

CUZ when you fall on this one nothing will break... if it does mininal to fix usually... and bottom line who gives a shit if you drop this one, especially a used one... a grand and you got a new "used" one...

Anyway I've taken enough of your time and comp. screens... Sorry for that... I love talking about bikes...

Cheers mate
Ciao

 

Awesome write up Salut. After all the suggestions it makes sense to get a bike without the fairing and extra body parts. I use to own a honda CG125, lol i know i know thats nothing compared to a 1000 cc bike, but it still got the job done. I am going to check with the local bike dealer and see if i can get my hands onto a 599, new or used. To tell you the truth the 599 looks amazing specially for a naked bike









P.S i think there are couple of pictures in the post that arent suppose to be there, everytime i load the page they change and they are

 

Do as Salut suggested and start off small, after a couple of months then maybe you can upgrade to a GSXR 750 or Ninja 750 (one of the newer ones). Both great bikes.

 

I'd go with a CBR f4i 600 as a "starter bike" then in 2-3 years once you got a little time in the saddle. then go for the CBR1100XX.
btw: I've ridden a CBR1100XX STRIGHT BADASS. The power on that beast is unreal. but i've ridden dirt bikes,4-wheelers, and other misc stuff since i was like 8. and I got my bike lisence when i was 16 so I've been riding for a little while. it's not my type of bike i'd buy(I got a 90 Goldwing show bike(with tons of chrome, and custom stuff on it) but the 1100 would be one of those bikes it's fun once in awhile to ride.the reason I like my Goldwing is I can ride it 400-500 miles a day and not feel like i got done with a boxing match with Mike Tyson afterwards. I know it can be done with a Ninja,Katana,CBR or like a R1 but damn are you hurting after a good haul(400-500 miles).

 

You are in the minority - most young folks just can't relate to a Goldwing at that age - they need the flash with the bike - damn the comforts.

Biker, who rides a comfortable ST1300.

 

When I got my 1500 used awhile ago(because I paid like 10 grand plus tax) I was looking at the ST1300. but I might be a weenie because I wanted the CB,radio plumbed into the helmet. I wanted adjustable air ride. plus I'm 6 ft 4 and 240 lbs plus occassionally I'll take one of my buddies for a ride on it. with the Goldwing it's easy to sit back and relax in the rear seat. plus the aftermarket parts(as far as chrome and crap like that) is insane. 2 things I don't like about the my GL is #1. mileage because it has 6 carbs(no shit) i get horrible gas mileage like 30 miles to the gallon(for a bike it's bad). #2. the weight. you come up to a stoplight and have a passenger on the back you better know what your doing because you get a little bit off center and it's hard to bring it back. same goes when it's windy out.
I think in 2-3 years when they "re-do" the 1800's i'm gonna call Honda of Van Wert(which does all my stuff on my bike) and ask them whats the best they can do on a 1800 with my 1500 trade in. they've been wanting to me to trade my 1500 because it's a Limited edition color. it's the last year from the factory of the "wineberry red" if you know anything about painting cars or bikes this color is a BITCH to paint. If you paint it too "light" with the gun it looks like sh!t. if you paint it too heavy it shadows like a hell. who ever bought my bike new paid an extra 1000 bucks to honda to have that wineberry painted on. but i like it because it's unique.
I test drove a 05 last August. it was the fire engine red.(about the color of the new CBRs) i liked those a lot. but i'm hopeing they'll bring back wineberry when i have some money.

 

I have a ZZR1200 (sport tourer based on the ZX12). I love it because the wife and I can double up for a trip, or I can have fun solo. Too big for a first bike, though - they did just re-do the styling for the 600cc version, ZZR600, and my 19year old is hot for one. Again, the looks are there, plenty of scoot, but not overly aggressive. Depending on maturity, not just age, it could be a good option. Any of them will get you killed if you don't have true respect, though. I've been blessed in never going down in 10 years of riding, but I know it can happen in an instant!!

 

how many miles are good to buy a bike at and what is too many miles?

 

On a bike 10,000 miles use to seem like a 100,000 for a car. Now that bikes are being built better I think 12,000 or less is acceptable. 15-20,000 would be pushing it for me, since you know that you are going to log another 10,000 on the bike yourself.

 

huh? 10,000=100,000 to a car.
I got 44,000 on my 90 Goldwing. when I bought I bought it had like 22,000 on it. I've had it probably 5 years now. I put 5,000 on it a year.
I have a friend who just got his 05 Goldwing he rides the shit out of it. and i'm not kidding he puts 15,000 miles a year on his. (but it seems like when I call him to ride one weekend) he's in Texas or Alabama or somewhere far away riding) to me if I get to the west side of Indiana or eastern Illinois I'm proud of myself.
I was gonna buy his old bike but I didn't have the money he had like 50,000 on it and it was a 01.(he got it in the winter of 02 as a deal) so as long as it doesn't have less than 70,000 I wouldn't worry about it. A lot depends on the make of the bike and how hard you ride. myself I don't ride like most kids my age. I don't do the wheelies and do like 110 on Interstate. if you're gonna do that you're gonna need a newer bike because older bikes won't take it.
things to check is matience logs. for example when i go to sell my bike Honda of Van Wert has all of my logs.(oil changes, when they re valved the front forks, stuff like that.) about every 2 years I gotta put 2 new tires on the Goldwing and it's not because I'm roasting them off. Just I ride a lot and plus the bike so heavy it chews them up.
It's hard to find a clean older bike for a decent price under 20,000 miles. most people around here atleast put 2000-3000 miles a year on them. so unless you wanna drop some serious cash for new or almost new. the oldest according to you go is 5 years old.
When I got my bike it was about 10 years old. it runs great. but I have it tuned up once a year and the dealership goes through it. (they check everything from lights to fluids,to tread on tires,switches,etc) change the oil it runs around 200 or 250 bucks. that was the last time that included they redid some side running lights. (which i think was an extra 50-60 bucks).

bottom line: I wouldn't be afraid of a bike over 20-30 k as long as it been keep up properly. as for matience reciepts or records. if they can't find them or can't prove matience been done then be concerned.

 

how bout a ex250 with about 2-6k miles on it and rangin from the years 98-05....

how much would be the most and the least you'd see one for sale?

and to stay on topic visit this site manfor good info on a starter bike:
http://www.houston-imports.com/forum...d.php?t=178189

 

Next year I'm going to get one of those new Ninja's. I want to go 600cc, because I know people that have never had a bike, or drove one have 600cc bikes and never fell.

 

First off you need to read this thread http://www.houston-imports.com/forum...d.php?t=178189...
That is all I'm going to say about that argument...

Very cool post... Great points... A must read for anybody thinking of getting into motorcycling... Great find... (Rep points + 1,000,000 -- if they still existed)

Yeah, like water-s I don't agree at all Gixxster... I have known people to put 10 - 20k miles a year on their bikes without a sweat... and still have a great bike... although it's all relative and directly contigent on the maintenance one does to those bikes...

I myself have put about 18,000 on my 919 in just about three years... and bike still runs like a dream... (dribble, dribble, man I love my fuel-injection on my bike...) Sorry I'm back now... hehe

continues...
How do you like you ST... man I love what Honda has done with that bike...

My next bike will be either:




Which one do you think I should get... I have been a Honda man for a while... But the BMW is calling my name... Although the FJR is solid...

??? So help me please...

Ciao...

 

Dont argue with me. You'll never get me to listen to you. Plus I already read that, long time ago.

 

that's cause you're 16 and you don't know wouldn't know shit if it pulled a 180 from your ass to your face.

 

What? Learn how to make sense in a sentence dude. It doesnt matter if I'm 16, or 20. I still will get a 600cc bike, next year, after I take class, learning how to drive one for one year. So dont talk to me like you know everything, because I know I dont know shit.

 

glad we're in agreement.

btw...it's ride, i've never heard of someone drive a motorcycle. go ahead and get a 600CC, might as well go for a full liter.

 

No thanks. I will get a 600cc bike. Why do you care? If I have one whole year to learn how to drive, I can get a 600cc bike next year. Its not like your going to buy me the bike, are you know?