Let's say you had about 5K or so to spend on your first motorcycle...

[PhlypSide]

Bike thread alert!

Paging codymac, moto44, and andykeck.... where are you guys?

[evomind]

Originally Posted by PhlypSide

Bike thread alert!

Paging codymac, moto44, and andykeck.... where are you guys?

they probably figure you have it covered.

[RichS]

Finished up my motorcycle safety course. I was the rider with the least experience by far (everyone else had many years of bike experience). I supposed this is bragging, but I'm kind of proud that I was the only person in the class to get zero points in the driving portion of the test (also got 100% on the written portion too, but that was pretty easy).

I will say that it is important to take the class, but in no way do I feel comfortable enough on a bike to consider myself a good rider. By the end of the class we'd put less than 24 miles on the bikes.

I'm really beginning to think that a $1000 or less bike to build skills with is the right way to go. I also like the comment about 'going fast on a slow bike is more fun than going slow on a fast bike' as that's the exact same way I feel about the Lotus.

[PhlypSide]

Originally Posted by evomind

they probably figure you have it covered.

hey did you end up with the 'busa?

[evomind]

Originally Posted by PhlypSide

hey did you end up with the 'busa?

yes. i love the busa for its tq, power, and comfort. i thought i would be taking longer drives on it than i do. i probably could have bought a liter bike and been happy though.
i ride for a couple hours at a time so comfort hasnt turned out to be a huge factor.
i put abt 1600 miles on it this summer.
i seem to reach for the gt40 keys more than the bike key.
go figure

among the liter bikes i prefer the suzuki.

[PhlypSide]

^^^^ Saweet. The 'busa is awesome for comfort and performance rolled into one! What color did you get?

[serpent]

oh man, i dont know how i missed this thread....


Since you are beginner you should buy a cheapo bike for around 2k and practice/get used to riding. Every beginner ride will drop the bike, it doesnt matter how careful you are. If you buy a nice bike and drop it you will feel like **** (i know because i've dropped nice bikes before..mostly because of stupidity).

my advice. Get a cheapo bike and get used to riding and buy a nice bike in the spring.

[turbophil]

The KTM Duke is a mighty cool bike with a bit more versatility than a typical crotch rocket... It also is head turner, which is fun... In fact, about all the KTMs are... Same with Aprillia. They have some excellent bikes to look at... Both off the beaten path compared to the jap bikes and ducs and available used for the price range you're talking about. Check 'em out.

Good luck,

Phil

[Moto44]

Originally Posted by RichS

I'm really beginning to think that a $1000 or less bike to build skills with is the right way to go.

It is almost a given that no matter what your first bike is, you will eventually move on to something else. That said, I think it is best to learn on something lightweight. Of course, a dirt bike is a great bike to learn on...very forgiving.

When teaching people to ride, I start them on my Honda 100 to build confidence and skills. Then I put them on my dual purpose (street legal dirt bike).

In general, I recommend getting a dual purpose or a Kawasaki Ninja 250 as a learner bike. The next step up in good learning bikes would be the Suzuki SV650. These are all very fun bikes and there is constant availability and demand in the used market.

However, you are the exception, not the rule. Your driving skills are SO advanced that you are fully capable and conscientious enough to go out and buy the bike you "think" you would be happy with forever.

Have fun!

[Simba]

SV650. Period, full stop. Buy one for 2k that's been used for someone else's first bike, and after your first year, sell it for about what you paid for it to someone else for the same reason.

It's possible you won't dump your first, but chances are you will, so buy something you don't care about which is pennies to fix.

Also, before you buy a bike, buy your gear, and wear it every single time.

[Simba]

Originally Posted by PhlypSide

^^^ W3RD up. Most Ducatis I see on the street have huge H-U-G-E chicken strips....

The "chicken strip" nonsense is about the stupidest squid-tastic mentality I've ever heard. If you ride it to the edge of the tire on the street, chances are extremely good that you'll be dead before your shiney new yamakawsuki 1000RRRRR is out of warranty.

[erics75218]

Originally Posted by Alphonse

Hey Eric, what's up? Been busy since the last Monster Challenge in Birmingham? Wifes Monster was in with you for the finals. Alumin alloy tank with red accents.
Al B, Houston.
713-880-1242

Are you talking to me? That pic' isn't me actually, I just typed in m900 chromo, because that's the Monster I saw that made me fall in love with the Ducati Monster. I went with a friend to pick up his 748, and I saw a Chromo and almost passed out...I thought Mad Max had forgotten his keys.

Cool that you were in the monster challenge....interestingly enough I did the logo for that event. I was a long time Ducatimonster.org (no longer the real board...) member and did the logo as a favor to the guy there who worked with Ducati to setup the event.

I got a free t-shirt and a dinner with some Ducati people for it....looking back..I was probably underpaid considering that they used that logo for a couple of years on shirts, trophies, print media and the like.

BOO!

[erics75218]

Originally Posted by Simba

The "chicken strip" nonsense is about the stupidest squid-tastic mentality I've ever heard. If you ride it to the edge of the tire on the street, chances are extremely good that you'll be dead before your shiney new yamakawsuki 1000RRRRR is out of warranty.

yeah I was going to say...I proudly have chicken strips on my monster...always have..always will. I'm not willing to commit to the lean angle necessary to remove them on some blind corner in the canyons. Maybe there is a midget in the road..a boulder...or worse yet..an idiot on HIS wrecked kawazukiaha Rx-4 RR crashed in the road :-D

But IMO you can't beat riding bikes for pure enjoyment of speed, there is just something about being out in the air...on top of your horse......it's very wild west!! Can't beat it!

[evomind]

Originally Posted by Simba

The "chicken strip" nonsense is about the stupidest squid-tastic mentality I've ever heard. If you ride it to the edge of the tire on the street, chances are extremely good that you'll be dead before your shiney new yamakawsuki 1000RRRRR is out of warranty.

thats not true.
most accidents are caused by other factors rather than lean angle.
granted, you dont have to go down to the very edge on the street, but i believe what phlyp is referring to is a much bigger "chicken strip" than aggressive street riding would tend to show.

[evomind]

Originally Posted by erics75218

yeah I was going to say...I proudly have chicken strips on my monster...always have..always will. I'm not willing to commit to the lean angle necessary to remove them on some blind corner in the canyons. Maybe there is a midget in the road..a boulder...or worse yet..an idiot on HIS wrecked kawazukiaha Rx-4 RR crashed in the road :-D

But IMO you can't beat riding bikes for pure enjoyment of speed, there is just something about being out in the air...on top of your horse......it's very wild west!! Can't beat it!

im sure not all corners are blind.
that said, i think everyone should ride within their comfort zones. only ride how you feel comfortable riding. at the same time, dont knock the guy who can lean his bike over in faster turns.
i dont get the animosity.

[PhlypSide]

Originally Posted by Simba

The "chicken strip" nonsense is about the stupidest squid-tastic mentality I've ever heard. If you ride it to the edge of the tire on the street, chances are extremely good that you'll be dead before your shiney new yamakawsuki 1000RRRRR is out of warranty.

^^^^ So you've got a dedicated track bike with no strips then right?

Seriously, no chicken strips on the street is probably not a good idea, but as I mentioned my 1098 buddy tracks his bike and streets it as well. He killed his front strips at the track, not street.



9/10 Ducs I see around here (Chicagoland) have huge fcuking strips and if they're owned by younger guys, those guys tend to have absolutely no gear on, save a "cool" Ducati/Desmo teeshirt or some sh*t.

[the1sen]

Originally Posted by RichS

I'm really beginning to think that a $1000 or less bike to build skills with is the right way to go. I also like the comment about 'going fast on a slow bike is more fun than going slow on a fast bike' as that's the exact same way I feel about the Lotus.

I think you just answered the question of which bike then.

SV650 - with it's extremely light steering, easy to use power, and wonderful feedback, it's probably the most forgiving and fun bike on the planet.

The gear you choose will inevitably make your riding experience either more or less enjoyable. Don't be skimpy with the safety gear and enjoy your riding adventure.

Good luck to you.

[erics75218]

Originally Posted by Moto44

However, you are the exception, not the rule. Your driving skills are SO advanced that you are fully capable and conscientious enough to go out and buy the bike you "think" you would be happy with forever.

Have fun!

Yeah man, get something you can grow with, that's my ONLY problem with the otherwise great SV650 suggestion. My first bike EVER was a ZX-6r..to fast but I'm respectful or it's ability to kill me.

It wasn't till a few years in on my 2nd bike that I threw it and myself up against the canyon hill side.

I will say, that when it comes to downshifting, a modern I-4 will be MUCH more forgiving because they all have slipper clutches at this point. My Monster didn't, and those twins have a SH*T TON of engine braking that I wasn't prepared for when going downhill.....needless to say...downshift...let out clutch...rear wheel starts hopping around...lost a bit of control..bamo..up aginst the hill.

That is something to consider when thinking about what you want to get...

[Moto44]

Originally Posted by evomind

most accidents are caused by other factors rather than lean angle.

Last I heard, inexperience and alcohol were the two leading factors.

[evomind]

Originally Posted by PhlypSide

^^^^ Saweet. The 'busa is awesome for comfort and performance rolled into one! What color did you get?

this one....