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Any motorcycle riders?
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| elektrikal |
Looking to get my first bike later this year, though that will hinge on how I feel after taking the Motorcycle Safety Foundation class. Lot of people tell me a 600 cc bike is beginner friendly but the insurance rates on it and extra cost concern me a bit.
I am currently looking at the Kawasaki Ninja 250 vs 650, the latter costing $1000 more new and the extra insurance rates. I will be mainly using the bike to commute and while I've heard the 250, though lacking the acceleration of its bigger siblings can handle the California freeways, working the smaller engine at higher rpms could create more of a need for maintenance.
Just hoping anyone here can help enlighten me on the topic. |
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| jonSun |
| Don't get a 250. You will get sick of it in a week. 600's are beginner friendly unless you decide to get crazy on it. My first bike was a Ninja 600 & I stayed with 600's since they were getting lighter & faster every year. |
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| gehzumteufel |
Get a Ninja 250R. The new ones are great bikes but you can get a used one for about $2000. Or an EX500 is another great beginner bike.
I am taking the class and getting a bike shortly after I get back from Japan. Probably getting a 250R just to ensure that I really understand everything about riding before I step up. A full on crotch rocket 600 is bad for 99% of new riders, because it is too tempting to go faster and do things that you just aren't prepared for the consequences. Get something smaller and start there.
Also, once you make your way to a larger bike, take a racing school session. They run about $400 or so, but they are invaluable. |
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| Pjotr G |
I ride a Honda Hornet (CB600).
You've got to find out what kind of rider you are, and what you're gonna use it for.
Do you want to be able to take it off-road? Are you planning to do a lot of highway driving, or is it gonna be slower speeds for most of the time? What kind of rider position do you prefer (upright, laid back, hunched forward...), what do you consider esthetically pleasing?
What main category do you think fits you:
(super)sport
chopper/cruiser
touring
naked
off/allroad
classics
streetfighter
scooter
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| Sushipunk |
| quote: | Originally posted by Pjotr G
What main category do you think fits you:
(super)sport
chopper/cruiser
touring
naked
off/allroad
classics
streetfighter
scooter
? |
Which one of those offers you the most protection from being mashed into the pavement by an SUV? Because I'd probably choose that one. |
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| Pjotr G |
touring (Honda goldwing)
it has airbags :D |
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| Sushipunk |
| quote: | Originally posted by Pjotr G
touring (Honda goldwing)
it has airbags :D |
:haha:
Perhaps I stand corrected :p
I dunno, they're all still pretty god damn dangerous, IMO. |
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| Pjotr G |
Well, they're also FUN :D
It's good to learn to ride very defensive, always assume some car driver is gonna mess up / not notice you. Goes a long way. |
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| Sushipunk |
| quote: | Originally posted by Pjotr G
Well, they're also FUN :D
It's good to learn to ride very defensive, always assume some car driver is gonna mess up / not notice you. Goes a long way. |
Same with defensive driving. Maybe people where you live are all good drivers, but around here, hell no. You just can't predict the idiot things people will do on the road.
You're riding around on a coffin with wheels :p |
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| Lunar Phase 7 |
Motorbikes are beyond .
Always driven by utter ****s, no wonder half of them end up smashed into a car/tree/road.
ing doss bags. |
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| igottaknow |
| quote: | Originally posted by elektrikal
Lot of people tell me a 600 cc bike is beginner friendly but the insurance rates on it and extra cost concern me a bit.
I am currently looking at the Kawasaki Ninja 250 vs 650, the latter costing $1000 more new and the extra insurance rates. I will be mainly using the bike to commute and while I've heard the 250, though lacking the acceleration of its bigger siblings can handle the California freeways, working the smaller engine at higher rpms could create more of a need for maintenance.
Just hoping anyone here can help enlighten me on the topic. |
The lower cc bikes are buzzy (vibration), are underpowered, and not as smooth. This becomes more of an issue when your commute time is longer than 10 minutes and involves highway travel. Get a bike 600cc + and you'll be ok. You also have to consider riding style. Sport bikes while they look cool, are fast, and handle great are uncomfortable to most, the suspension is stiff so you feel every bump, your stretched forward in the racing position that can bother your arms and back, the seat is hard, there isn't any real storage, you'll be tempted to go faster than your lack of experience can handle, and if you drop the bike like most beginners do you can damage the faring (an expensive repair). For all of those reasons I'd recommend a cruiser. Also make sure the bike isn't too high for you, otherwise you'll be on your tippy toes to touch the ground. |
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| tubularbills |
| i have never, EVER, been interested in motorcycles. |
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