:werd

If you are just want to buy bike cuz of gas, the don't do it.

 

I'm still waiting for pics....

 

i sent them.

 

I was like Whiskey Tango Foxtrot - this has 40+ replies? Then I see who's been posting....

Jatt - keep on topic, pls

Water-S - go away, you're just stirring the pot (even if I put the pot on the floor for you to stir)

To all others - I plan on doing all the training possible before serious riding. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a little smarter than just hoping on a 1000cc bike and going to play Frogger in traffic...

The biggest thing is that if I get a bike I can use the carpool lane, saving me 30 min each way EASY. Also, I'm spending almost $100/wk on gas for a 25mi commute. I just can't do it anymore.

I'm figuring I'll get a cheap, used bike, so the initial cost for the bike should be low. Any idea where a good place to look for a used bike would be?

Another thing, I've been wanting to learn to ride for a while now. My wife's Uncle offered to teach me on his Harley (BIG ASS), but I politely said I'd like to live while I learned

Thanks for the advice guys, and keep it coming.

 

where do you live jared?

 

I don't think that a saving money on gas is a good motive to get a bike...

 

Sacramento Area

 

Reading my posts > joo

 

atleast use the money you save on gas for a bigger life insurance policy for you wife a daugher

 

Meh, I was thinking of using the money to candy up my nose before I ride...

 

link in my first post is to your local msf

http://www.safetycenter.org/

 

Not bad for only $235...I'll def do that prior to getting a bike

 

First off, completely ignore the "advice" of Water-s, and take the advice of Teh Jatt. Before you start anything you should first take an approved motorcycle course. The course will teach you the basic fundamentals and emergency maneuvers. The course should also go into limited detail of the types of motorcycle available. Then buy the gear BEFORE the bike. And all of it. Helmet, jacket, pants, gloves and boots.

As far as the bike is concerned there are may excellent options. It looks as if you would be most happy with a "standard". Typically these have an upright seating position and are excellent for commuting. Many smaller displacement bikes can be a tremendous amount of fun. I'm currently riding 650 cc adventure tourers. You may find these to be a good option. Its best to have a bike that you feel most comfortable with. Don't be concerned with what others feel you should have. I've been riding for about thirty years and find that people are often "over biked". Too much motorcycle and not enough skill. Visit a few dealers and see what suits you best. Once you complete the course and have a motorcycle license see if you can go on a few demo rides. Manufacturers put these on at dealerships and it lets you try numerous different types of motorcycles.

Good luck and ride safe.

Terry

 

yes and then decide if you want 250 or 500.

 

Lol.

 

I think I may HAVE to go with a 500 to push my fat ass around

 

My mom got sideswiped by a hit and run 3 weeks ago. She was being a defensive driver but some asshat flew into the side of her. There was nothing she could do but force the guy back into this lane with the weight of her car or fly off the interstate.

It takes one idiot and youre dead. Dont do it to save gas. People are angrier drivers during the week on their commute. If youre going to ride, do it for fun on the weekends.

Check out on old Civic hatchback or something.

 

Like others have said...it's one thing riding for pleasure when traffic is light, and a whole other thing when commuting to work in heavy traffic. IMHO it is far more risky riding a bike to comute to work in heavy traffic. The mentality of daily comuters in cars in heavy morning and evening traffic is just nuts.

I have only ridden my bike to work a half dozen times. Don't care for it. It's apples and oranges from weekend riding.

If you are going to get a bike, get one for pleasure, and not for necessity to save gas $$.
You can come close to bike mileage with a corolla or something.

If you do get into bikes, take the MSF.

 

Ride for recreation and only on the weekend. You DO NOT save money owning a bike. Gear, maintenance, etc. will set you back. Riding is dangerous in itself...

Azine.... Long time.... Getting treated well over here...

 

+1

the bike is a money pit.

how you doing out there dustin? stay safe...

 

Don't forget insurance too.

Good to hear from you! Hope all is well...stay safe.

 

He (walter) left out the hybrid inbetween (naked) bikes and the dual purpose motorcycles (off-road and on-road). They are more upright, and do not have all of the areodynamic farings (plastic) on them.

As an example this bike is WAY more comfortable on a long ride than an R6, it's what I call a "hybrid"; it's like a crotch rocket but has way less plastic and you sit more upright.


http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/pr...0/gallery.aspx

And a dual purpose bike is like this: (offroad and onroad) you can even get ABS on this bike

http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/bikes/bike.jsp?b=r1200gsa

 

^^ Don't forget the naked bikes

 

I didn't, the blue yamaha above is a "naked" bike. I choose to call them hybrids since you sit different. It's sorta an inbetween cruiser & crotch rocket. Closer to being a crotch crocket though IMO.


That Ducati monster you posted a pic of is nice!

 

the yamaha has a small "faring".....It's sorta naked.
...and yes, the monster is very nice!!

 

Ya, damb yamaha has to be different. They try and copy the euro "naked" bikes and screw it up Even the suzuki "naked" bike has some plastic on it.

Alas Yamaha and Suzuki don't sell them as "naked" bikes though... the lack of matching the cafe stye euro racers probably explains why I don't see a lot of them.

Even suzuki does it better than Yamaha in terms of being "naked". You love that baby blue don't you?

http://www.suzukicycles.com/Products...6/Default.aspx

 

You kinda said it right here. If getting a bike for the sole purpose of saving gas, i wouldnt get a bike.
A: Look at the cost of the bike
B: Look at insurance on said bike
C: Look at cost of gear for said bike
D: Look at gas for said bike
E: What happens when rains with said bike

Add all that together.
Are you really saving any thing or are you strictly looking at the cost out of pocket at teh pump

As for the bikes i would look at the naked/hybrid styles above, all more comfortable to ride in traffic and for periods of time than crotch rockets, or something with a more upright style of riding, and far lighter than the big touring style IE... goldwings and such

 

Thats a great list.

The only thing I think I would change is adding one additional item.

F: Maintenance

I'm thinking... $400 a month will be easy to justify with an inexpensive motorcycle (less than $4000). It will start paying for itself immediately if your able to ride 10 out of 12 months. Figure /w motorcycle payments, gas, maintenace and insurance it'll be cheaper than $400 a month, easily. IMO it depends on how dedicated he is...

 

In California, 10 months is a given...and 12 months is a possibility. Maintenance should be relatively low depending on the bike. (Stay away from the euros)

 

I just dont see you getting 40-45 mpg in a Goldwing.....

 

Most bike reviews of the Goldwing claim 30-35 average mileage when riding aggressive...otherwise if you ride conservatively you should get 40 mpg.
45-50 is a pipe dream. 2up is another story...you will be south of 35 mpg.

 

SV650/S is a great bike, I loved it when I had it....

 

Take the MSF course and get good gear Jared.....this will allow you to skip the skills test and just have to take the written and test and voila, licensed. Of course, riding is a lifetime learning experience...so be careful, cautious, and always watch out for everybody else.

That being said....gear is not as expensive as some people make it out to be. Jackets - Leather is preferable, but a good ballistic nylon with lots of leather sewn at 'landing' points will be just as good (might not last like leather, but if it saves your ass once, its worth it).

Pants - Reality is...most people will ride with jeans (at the very minimum, especially if you commute....wear a good rugged pair). They also sell padded and reinforced jeans...called draggin jeans...or you can go with a ballistic nylon pants, also they sell leather...but its a lot harder to get into those then the jacket...

Gloves - A good pair of leather gloves will run you about $50-70, a lot more for the fancier ones.

Boots - Something that has padding over your ankle. Race boots are nice, but they take getting used to.

Helmet - There is a lot of controversy....some ppl are helmets snobs and say you pay for what you get...(I do believe that, so I got a Shoei). Some ppl swear by the tests that say the $100 helmets perform just as well as the $200-500 ones. The main difference between the $100 and $300 ones is venting and weight.

You're a big guy Jared...so I would say you probably want a 500 ninja...very easy to learn on....and has some fairings....and somewhat of a wind screen...all very critical for highway riding. There are a lot more standard bikes out there....the Yamaha Seca II 600 (650?) is a nice easy learner too.

Personally, I would go with someone that knows about bikes and pick up a used one...sometimes, they throw in their gear too.....

 

hmmm...interesting...that thing is huge....its like a car...and that motor doesnt seem like the most gas efficient motor in the world.

 

Honda tried very hard to keep the 1800 as fuel efficient as possible.
That being said for a bike and engine of its size...north of 35 mpg is considered great mileage.

Most reviews of the GL1800 show aprox.
Fuel mileage (low/high/average) 30/40/36

Water S is full of saying he gets 45 mpg.

 

especially with his size.

 

Everyone I've known who owns or has owned an SV650 has loved it. I've never ridden one, but have test ridden a 650 Vstrom which has essentially the same engine. I was very impressed with both its performance and tractability.

Terry

 

the vstorm is the biggest hunk of shit ever. i rode one. it was Suzuki's piss poor imitation of BMW bikes.
plus chain drive how gay. shaft drive> chain drive.

at least Honda's ST1300 was a good imitation of the BMW bikes. they're shaft drive.

Suzuki makes good crotch rockets but their cruisers suck. Honda Shadows and v-Yamaha V-Stars are 100 times better than a Boluvard bike.

 

 

psst St1300 is a v4...what does that have to do with BMW???
shaft drive is not > than chain drive.....you loose power with a shaft drive...not to mention lash from the shaft drive....chain drive little to no lash...and far less power loss. Shaft is just pretty much maintenance free...other than that, chain & belt have better performance.

Honda shadows are old and tired, on the other hand the VTX line is excellent.
Yahmaha's Star line of bikes are getting better, and not 100xs better than Suzuki.

I guess you think this bike sucks.

For a guy who owns a bike, you know little about them.