new rider - first bike questions

kevb81 · 03-28-2007, 11:35 AM

OK so I decided this year I will finally start riding (ive been thinking about it for years now)

signed up for MSF in april

now I want to start to looking for bikes so I have one by the time i complete the MSF..the three bikes im thinking about are a ninja 250, 500r and SV650

i love the sv650 but ive read that it is not the greatest beginner bike..so im fine with not gettin that for now..my goal is to develop good riding skills and move up to a 600 (if i feel the need) in a year or two

in terms of the 250 vs the 500..will i outgrow/get bored of the 250 quickly.i want something that I can enjoy for a year (maybe 2)..is the 500 a much better performer? are they both just as good for developing skills or will the jump from the 250 to a 600 be harder than the jump from the 500 to the 600?

what gear will I need..helmet, jacket, gloves, boots? I assume this will cost about 500? is buying used stuff bad (specifically the helmet)??

also, what do I need to look for when buying a bike? (what parts should i look at and what should I look for??)

i know its alot of questions but im very excited and what to make the right choices

RayOSV · 03-28-2007, 11:49 AM

Good for you for signing up for MSF. Start there, then look at bikes.

A 250r has about 25 hp which is plenty to get your around and have lots of fun. Should keep you happy for a year or two easy. A 500r has about 50 hp which is enough to get you in some trouble if you're not careful. Either would be a decent first street bike.

The sv650 has about 70 hp and lots of low-end torque. Very fun bikes, but can be hard for a n00b to handle at low speeds.

Add pants to your list of gear, bump your estimate up to at least $800 and never buy a used helmet.

Used bike guide:

Used motorcycle evaluation guide

Don't forget to budget $$ for insurance as well. Ride safe, welcome to SBN, and have fun!!

jabberwoky · 03-28-2007, 02:00 PM

Ninja 250, 500 or a GS500f would be what i would suggest for a first bike. Lot of fun and forgiving for someone new. Sit on the bikes and get a feel for them. Performance is similar with all of them. Talk to riders that have these bike, especally the ones that kept them for awhile. I have a GS and love it, be happy to answer any questions about it.

As for gear, a helmet is a must. Buy one that fits good. I bought a Shoei because of all the helmets I tried on it fight like a glove. Gloves and a jacket are worth getting too. Get something that is well made and fights right, try everything one before you buy it if you can. Leather is best, buy textile is fine to start as long as it is good gear. Boots are nice to have, but can be pricey. This is something else that i has to try on first. A poor fitting boot makes for a bad day. Pants can be something that can wait a bit, but good to have in the long run.

Take your time and look around. I was like you last year when I got my license. I was impatient and bought some gear that I wish I hadn't.

kevb81 · 03-28-2007, 03:03 PM

thanks guys

what do you guys think of something like this

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/mcy/300350425.html

Jehos · 03-28-2007, 03:08 PM

I'd find a stock one if you can, that one has a *lot* of modification done to it. Maybe cool for you now, but it's going to make it harder to sell when you're ready to get something else.

RayOSV · 03-28-2007, 06:52 PM

^ agree, too many mods. Sellers always try to get their $$ back, but never can. Many put the bike back to stock and sell the extras separately.

Repainted flat black is also a red flag. May be an indication of being down and/or rattle can painted.

jeepcoma · 03-28-2007, 08:07 PM

The difference between a Ninja 500 and a modern 600 supersport is 100 cc displacement, 20 years of technology, and millions of dollars of research. It's like comparing a 1980 Camaro to an 07 Corvette Z06. Not much difference in displacement, but a lot of R&D happened between them, including engine, suspension, brakes, and everything else.

LowKeyedUp · 03-28-2007, 10:08 PM

I took the MSF and have really enjoyed my SV650s. I WILL NOT tell you that you should really consider it because I haven't crashed yet. The goal isn't to survive but to become a skilled rider. I can see how the SV would be tricky for a beginner as it has a punchy initial power delivery. It has really helped me with my clutch/throttle control though. I am just over 6 feet with most of it in my legs so I can flat foot it on both sides and then some so that fact has probably saved me dropping it twice now. Again, not trying to tell you to get one because I did and am fine so far, just willing to share my experiences as a new rider on an SV.

TS80 · 03-28-2007, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevb81

will i outgrow/get bored of the 250 quickly.

"get bored"? yea, probably.

"outgrow"? No, probably not.

Unfortunately, a lot of new riders confuse "bored" with "outgrow". Within 2 years it's very unlikely that you'll outgrow a 250. Most likely, it'll be your skill that holds back performance, not the bike.

But yea, straight line performance will get boring rather quickly.

phail · 03-29-2007, 06:07 AM

Alot of guys who started on 600's rave about how fun 250s are. Something to think about. There is more to riding than going 150mph on straights. I found hitting the top end of my bikes bored me after being up there a few times. Just like it wouldve on a 250.

Its much more fun going through twisties at 30-60mph IMO. I need to do a track day, I know Im going to be hooked like a hooker on meth.

Nostradumbass · 03-29-2007, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevb81

thanks guys

what do you guys think of something like this

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/mcy/300350425.html

Just a quick note to the seller, on the off chance he reads this forum... Krylon is not spelled C-U-S-T-O-M.

An unmolested, stock '03 wouldn't cost much more than this one, which as others have noted, has probably been down.

kevb81 · 03-29-2007, 06:30 PM

Is this better..only real mods look like the forks/shocks (ex500), brake lines and tires

http://www.rent-a-tech.org/wordpress/?page_id=73

VermillionX · 03-30-2007, 12:32 PM

I think the 250 would be fine. There is a thread in the general forums section (I cant remember which one it is now) that raves about the 250. Actually the poster was thinking about getting one because of the fun factor. I think you will not be bored of it for a while. Once you start riding that thing to its potential then you should think about trading up.