Ultimate newbie wants advice on first bike.

[UberGoober]

Post relocated from Riders resumes. Please answer here -

wsimpson wrote: I am the ultimate newbie. Been around a few bikes, never rode anything but a mini bike and a couple ATVs. I am looking to learn. Guess reading "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" got my attention :-)
Besides, my wife likes the bikes.
We would really like a YZF-R1, I know a lot of bike for a newbie, and we would like a white one. Unfortunately it looks like the 2007s are only available in Europe. Any suggestions?

[Its Sparks]

Take the MSF first....and look for something a bit smaller, R1 as a first bike.....I smell roadkill.

[UberGoober]

I suggest you start your research with the stickies. This one first - Things you should think about in talking to a new rider, for the experienced folks

The bike you want really isn't a good bike for a beginner.

[Hound]

Plus if you are planning on putting your wife on the back as a passenger, you need to start with something you can make mistakes on. This is not just your life.

Then, take her OFF the back, take her to MSF with you and get her her own gdamn bike. Then you can have a matching pair and thats much cooler when you are both ready to move up.

[spicy]

buy the R1, have a friend with some experience ride it home, park it in your garage, and leave it there for a couple years.

take the MSF course first and then go buy a ninja 250 or 500 and learn how to ride, and eventually ride the wheels of it

[deftones156]

Originally Posted by spicy

buy the R1, have a friend with some experience ride it home, park it in your garage, and leave it there for a couple years.

take the MSF course first and then go buy a ninja 250 or 500 and learn how to ride, and eventually ride the wheels of it

If you are serious, then he'd have to plan on taking a big ass hit on depreciation while his R1 just sits around for a couple of years. There is no sense in buying something just to let it sit around. There will still be R1s available in 2009.

[Joe H]

That bike is for a real experienced rider. For a new rider, thats a tragedy waiting to happen.

[ithaca]

Originally Posted by deftones156

If you are serious, then he'd have to plan on taking a big ass hit on depreciation while his R1 just sits around for a couple of years. There is no sense in buying something just to let it sit around. There will still be R1s available in 2009.

yup, that's the point...

[gunther]

That's A Full-on Track Bike....with Lights.

Get A 250 Or 500 Ninja Or An Older (early-mid 90's) 600.
Not A Big Financial Hit To Buy One, Or To Fix One If And When You Drop It....
I Dropped My First Bike (250 Ninja) Washing It! And Broke The Plastics!!!

[mac 1]

You should get the R1, and soon you will be riding like this

[medic001918]

And here we go again...

First, read the stickies.

Second, take the MSF course.

Third, start smaller (for the reasons outlined in the stickies)

Fourth, wait a while til you get comfortable before you start riding with your wife on the back. It's not just you that you're responsible for when you have a passenger.

Fifth, after a couple years go buy your R1 (or whatever your dream bike happens to be at the time) and live happily ever after.

Shane

[Parabellum]

Cliffs:

for(i=0, i<Infinity, i++)
{
Experienced riders: "Start small, take the MSF, wear your gear."

Other riders: "Forget that sissy crap, get what you want and use your head, you will be fine just like me."
}

[Goin Ape Nutz]

starting smaller can reduce the risk of injury while learning to ride a motorcycle. parts to replace any damaged in any get offs or put downs are generally cheaper on smaller bikes.

there's my parrot.

[ptrein]

Originally Posted by Parabellum

Cliffs:

for(i=0, i<Infinity, i++)
{
Experienced riders:  "Start small, take the MSF, wear your gear."
^ error: expected ';'
Other riders:  "Forget that sissy crap, get what you want and use your head, you will be fine just like me."
^ error: expected ';'
}

^

On a more serious note, that's good advice above. One more thing that I would like to add... save up for the bike you really want while you build up your riding skills on the smaller, cheaper bike. By the time you get the bike of your dreams, you'll spend more time enjoying it versus being afraid of it. Isn't that the whole point of riding?

[TemplarForGod]

Originally Posted by mac 1

You should get the R1, and soon you will be riding like this

True story! dont forget the R1 means 'respect one'

haha