what to do?

winkx01 · 10-07-2005, 05:48 PM

I've decided I want a sportbike. I've always kind of wanted one, and with gas prices going up, it will save me gas driving around town and stuff. I have found a few bikes on cycle trader that interest me. All of them are about 2.5 hours away, and I might go test drive some of them tomorrow, if things work out.

[edit] removed the bikes because 2 of them are no longer for sale (from what I can tell) and I have basically decided what I want to do. [end of edit]

My main concern with a bike is comfort. I don't really plan to get into full-blown sportbikes, so performance isn't that big of a deal... it doesn't have to be top-of-the-line in acceleration, top speed, etc. I will mainly use the bike for going to and from work and school. I will probably go cruising with a few friends also (none of them have sportbikes). I don't plan to take it on many long trips, but I'm sure I will sometime. I will eventually take a passenger, after I have been riding for a while. My original choice for a starter bike was a ninja 250, but I kind of want to get a slightly larger bike so I will be able to take a passenger, when I am ready/comfortable with riding alone. I have seen many posts saying to start small (ie. ninja 250, 500, or similar bikes), but would a 600 be that different from a 500? and would it be too big for a starter bike? I am also thinking of buying the bike now (rather than waiting 'til next spring), even though the riding season is close to over in Wisconsin. I figure that I will get a better deal on a bike at the end of the season than at the beginning.

I don't really have any riding background. I have only ridden a motorcycle twice before (once was a dirtbike and the other was my friend's yamaha virago 750). My dad used to have a motorcycle, but that was like 15 years ago (long before I could even think of buying one), so he can probably give me tips and such. I also plan to take the MSF course next spring, since I didn't get time to take it during the fall. Anyways, what does everyone think? Would any of those bikes suit my needs? Any advice would be greatly appreciated... thanks!

-Mark

Fast Glass · 10-07-2005, 06:12 PM

Take the MSF first, then you'll have a better understanding of what you can handle. There will always be bikes for sale at decent prices. In the spring, people are looking to buy new and will want to unload there old bike quick so prices will still be good.

Hams51 · 10-07-2005, 06:13 PM

Hey Mark. It's always nice to see someone interested in the sport/recreation of motorcycling.

My recommendation for you is to read your post from ending to beginning. It's more practical to take the MSF course. Not only will you get familiar with the basics, but it will be a much more smoother transition when you actually do hit the streets. After you complete the course and get your m/c endorsement on your license, should you think of purchasing a bike. It's really all up to you though. Don't forget your gear.

Now for the good stuff. My choice from your list of bikes would be the Kawasaki ZX-6E. It has low miles and some extra bonuses. Money you won't have to spend when you plan on accessorising. Save the bucks for when you upgrade to a bigger bike. I'm biased towards Honda at the moment since I own one so my second choice would be the F3. The two sportbikes I mentioned have a lot of power for a beginner, but as long as you keep an even temper, you should progress nicely. For a commuter, I would recommend an SV650 or something with a more upright riding position. Hopefully, you'll find out where your skill level is after you graduate from the MSF and buy a bike commensurate with your skills. Be honest with youself here.

When it does come time to shop around for a bike. Take a friend that knows his stuff on m/c's. Check all the oils, oil level, chain, clutch, brakes..etc. Sit on the bike and make sure it fits you. You don't want to force yourself to start off riding a bike too large for you, unless you think a motorcycle is meant to be dropped.

Happy shopping and learning about motorcycling. Learn as much as you can about the mechanics, theory, and operations of riding a bike. Cheers!

steeltoe · 10-07-2005, 06:17 PM

I know a guy with a 250 that rides with his girl quite often. Never ridden one personally but it seems to do fine. I like the F3's. I had a '97 I paid 3k for. They are not far off modern 600's in the power department. You seem to know the deal so get something you won't mind scratching.

vaulter721 · 10-07-2005, 06:34 PM

The zx6e would be a good choice for a starter bike. After I took the msf class that is the bike that I started on (89 zx6). It is comfortable to ride on. It is slightly more upright than other bikes and it is pretty comfortable for the passenger as well. It will have enough power for you to like it for years to come.

It is bigger and heavier than the 250, but it also has a lower seat position than other bikes which makes it easier to handle when you are not moving. My roommate just sold his 94 zx6e for $3500 with 12,000 miles. And it was without any aftermarkets or helmet. It sounds like you're getting a good deal for the bike.

Just make sure you sit on it and get a feel for it before you buy.

Good Luck!

oober · 10-07-2005, 10:11 PM

Welcome to SBN -

There is lot's of great information on this board. Take the time to ask the questions you want answers to, and don't forget about the search feature on this site. ALMOST everything you could prolly ask, has been covered.

Oh, and Read the stickys at the top of this forum. Very helpful.

paulb · 10-07-2005, 11:11 PM

From what i can see the "94 Kawasaki ZX-6e" is the better deal and looks very clean but the "96 Honda CBR600F3" would be a seconde choice

MRBoss429x · 10-09-2005, 07:35 PM

You're lucky you have choices! I just finished MSF and am looking for a bike. There isnt squat on cycle trader for massachusetts.

Fargin_Bastige · 10-09-2005, 08:18 PM

You might want to get insurance quotes before buying anything.

Also, test riding in Chicagoland at dealers will not happen.

winkx01 · 10-11-2005, 04:09 AM

well, I didn't end up going to look at (or test drive) those bikes... things just didn't work out. I have been thinking and I am kind of leaning toward getting a ninja 250 to ride for the rest of this riding season (to kind of get my feat wet with sport bikes). Then next spring, once I have some riding under my belt, I will sell the 250 and upgrade to a 600. I am hoping I can go to look at that 2002 ninja 250 I listed above on friday, if I can get a friend who knows a lot about bikes to go with. That's my latest plan. Thanks for the advice so far.

Now for one more question... what kind of gear should I get besides the obvious (helmet, gloves, and jacket) and are there any ones you would recommend? Thanks!

Mark

Jazzzzz · 10-11-2005, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winkx01

Now for one more question... what kind of gear should I get besides the obvious (helmet, gloves, and jacket) and are there any ones you would recommend?

Get it all - buy what you've got listed first, then keep your eye out for some riding boots and pants at good prices. Buy leathers (jacket/pants) if you can afford them, but textiles are decent and are usually less expensive. Leather usually gets the nod as being more protective than textile - luckily, I haven't had to test any of my textile gear and I hope I never do. I'm buying leathers this winter, though.

www.newenough.com is a great place to find gear at good prices (check their closeout section too) and they have very helpful staff and lenient return policies. Recommended brands for jackets, pants, and glovesusually tend to be Alpinestars (often abbreviated as A*s), Teknic, and Joe Rocket. The JR stuff tends to cost less than the others, but sometimes it's not made as well either. I have Joe Rocket gear and would say it's decent but nothing great -- I bought it because it had the features I was looking for at a price I could afford at the time. The big names in helmets are Shoei and Arai, both of them can be expensive depending on the model. Suomy is another high-end helmet manufacturer. HJC, KBC, and Scorpion are the big-name "budget" helmet guys that make good helmets that cost less, but they tend to have lower-end features as well (I like the Scorpion helmets, they're as nice as a low-end Shoei and cost less to boot, although they don't vent very well).

Make sure that you buy gauntlet-style gloves (long wrist) with a velcro enclosure, preferably two, so they're less likely to come off in case you go down. For helmets make sure you try on helmets before you buy one, and keep them on your head for a good 20-30 minutes to make sure they don't develop pressure points when you wear them for extended periods. All motorcycle dealers will let you try on the helmets they have in stock.

Everything else is a matter of deciding what you like and how much you want to spend. Check the Riders Gear section of the forums if you want to get opinions on a particular piece of gear - SBN has a reviews section but there aren't many reviews in it.

Fargin_Bastige · 10-11-2005, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winkx01

well, I didn't end up going to look at (or test drive) those bikes... things just didn't work out. I have been thinking and I am kind of leaning toward getting a ninja 250 to ride for the rest of this riding season (to kind of get my feat wet with sport bikes). Then next spring, once I have some riding under my belt, I will sell the 250 and upgrade to a 600. I am hoping I can go to look at that 2002 ninja 250 I listed above on friday, if I can get a friend who knows a lot about bikes to go with. That's my latest plan. Thanks for the advice so far.

Now for one more question... what kind of gear should I get besides the obvious (helmet, gloves, and jacket) and are there any ones you would recommend? Thanks!

Mark

If you're near Chicago, PM me and I'll help you get a good price on gear.

and I'm not a freak, I'm a mod here and work at a dealership. Just like giving my fellow riders a hand.

OldSchlPunk · 10-12-2005, 10:10 AM

The 250 Ninja would be a great place to start. Resale is great on them, and insurance is easier on the pocketbook.

dreesemonkey · 10-12-2005, 10:52 AM

If you're not going to take a class before next year, definitely start out on the 250r. The power of the inline 4 is a bit different and possibly intimidating for a n00b rider. My frist bike when a '96 katana 600 and it felt like a freaking rocket the first few times I saw 7k+RPMs, and they're considered 'slow' bikes. Getting up to speeds through 70-80mph was in a blink of an eye, I can only imagine what it's like on a supersport or literbike.

I'm not sure what the market is like there, but you should be able to pay less than $2300 for that 250r. I'm buying a 250r from a coworker over the winter and we've agreed on a price of $1700 for an '02 or '03 with 5k miles. He's even going to get a new rear tire and inspect it for me. You should be able to wrangle a near-$2k price, even if it has pipes (aftermarket parts really have no effect on market value).

You'd probably be fine on the zx6e, but the ninja would be a better start yet. I've also seen some 2up riding on 250s, but I wouldn't advise it for much more than town or country cruises. Freeway/highway could be a bit much, though I have no idea, I haven't ridden one yet ;)

TuxedoMask · 10-14-2005, 12:10 AM

that's a lot of nice bikes

wish i was experienced for them...