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New Rider ForumsJust joining the motorcyclist hobbie? Looking to get some information about a first bike? Or have some newbie questions. Are you new to the website?
I just wanted to start by introducing myself. I am a 28 yr. old teacher/coach who has always had in the back of my mind an interest in sportbikes. I will admit that I know next to nothing about it but am interested in getting started. I am taking a motorcycle class in a month or so and will get my license through it.
I am not interested in spending a small fortune on this or anything but gas prices have gotten me more interested in getting started. My 15 mpg's in my truck aren't getting it right now. I was wondering if you guys can get me started in choosing a bike and gear. If it helps I am looking solely for something to ride around town and to work and back. As far as my commute goes it is primarily 55 mph with a couple of slower zones. The whole trip is 30 miles. I want to buy used to save money but still get a quality bike. I do not forsee myself putting the bike on the interstate so I don't need a rediculous amount of power or anything. Any one that can help get me started in the right direction would be greatly appreciated. Also I don't know if it makes any difference I am 6'2" and 180 lbs.
You should check your local craigslist for a 500cc bike...specifically a GS500F or a Ninja 500r. A lot of people suggest 250's but I think a 500 should be fine for you.
As for gear you should check out newenough.com and motorcycle-superstore.com for the closeout sections. You can get some great deals on gear.
It would also help if you posted your price range for a bike and your price range for gear.
Assuming you feel the same way after MSF, either a Ninja 500 or a Suzuki GS500. Both are bullet-proof, have been around for years, and will hold their value (used) well.
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Never out-ride your ability to react (even stop) within the distance you can see (at least on the street).
Thanks guys for the replies. As far as price range goes I was looking to stay around the $2,000-$2,500 range. I have no idea what gear runs and exactly what I would need, helmet obviously but other than that I just don't know what I would need to get started and be relatively comfortable. Being that I have never done this before, and I mean NEVER, no dirt bike or anything, I was wondering if a 250 wouldn't be better for me than a 500. Just a rookie question.........
Well if you stay in that 2,000-2,500 range you will almost have to get a 250 since 500's usually will run you more than that. A 250 is a great starter bike.
For gear you will need a minimum of helmet, jacket, gloves, and boots. Everyone doesn't wear pants but they are almost as important as all the other gear. You can get a good helmet for around $100-$200, a good jacket for $100-$130, gloves for anywhere from $20-$100. I personally wear a pair of goretex steel toe boots for riding but actual motorcycle boots may be more useful.
Start with the MSF course and see how you feel about a bike after that. They provide the bike and even helmets usually. Don't go buy anything until then. You will need gloves of some sort (leather gardening or work type), a long sleeve shirt, pants, and shoes that cover your ankles.
__________________ Moderator - Help me fix it and riders' gear. Send me a PM with questions, suggestions, or issues.
Never out-ride your ability to react (even stop) within the distance you can see (at least on the street).
As Cop J said, Helmet ($100-$200), Jacket (I'm thinking more like $100-$350), gloves ($20-$100), and boots ($50-$150) are the recommended minimum that motorcyclists wear.
Also, when getting boots, steel toe boots are not what you need to look for. Look for actual motorcycle boots that cover your ankle, as ankle injuries are the most common injuries in a motorcycle crash.
If you are getting a motorcycle to save money on gas, though, be sure to remember that you will only make back any sort of money if you ride your motorcycle more than once a week. If you only ride when it is 75 and shining outside, then any cost savings are not going to happen for quite a while.
You seem very interested, and you also seem like a very responsible person. The 2k-2.5k range seems rather low for many sport bikes, but if you're willing to look outside of the sport bike style, there are some great older bikes available in excellent condition for your price range. A 1970's Honda cb500 would be dirt cheap, and would probably get mpg in the high 30's, low 40's, which isn't great for newer bikes, but you would be able to get a much nicer bike for a lot less.
Anyone on the forums agree with me though? I'm not really well versed in sport bikes in this price range.
EDIT:
MSF is a must, which I assume is the class you're talking about.
About what RayOSV said,though. Be sure to inquire into what you would have to bring. My MSF course did not supply a helmet, so I had to bring mine.
Last edited by TwoColorShoe : 05-17-2008 at 01:09 AM.
Start with the MSF course and see how you feel about a bike after that.
+1
I would add that for the money you have to budget the 250 is more realistic. Make sure you have the money set aside because its hard to get one now. You and thousands of others are trying to do the same thing. if you decide thats the bike for you then be ready to jump on one as soon as it hits the market. Few people would get rid of one.
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Great replies folks and very appreciated. I am not planning on buying anything until I take this the MSF, just trying to talk to some experienced folks and get my foot in the door a little so as to not go into this thing completely blind. I don't need a lot of bike and was definately thinking of looking in the used department since I just basically need a daily commuter and something to have a little fun with around town.
Anyone know of a good place to look for used bikes or would new be better and for what reasons?
Good point about looking into what you need to bring to the MSF class.
Craigs list, cycle trader, local classifieds on SBN, and local newspapers/web sites are all good places to look for a used bike. Also a good point about being ready to move once you start looking. Good deals on used 250's and 500's go very fast.
__________________ Moderator - Help me fix it and riders' gear. Send me a PM with questions, suggestions, or issues.
Never out-ride your ability to react (even stop) within the distance you can see (at least on the street).
And I completely understand the theory about spending more money but by my math, it will make a considerable difference on a 60 mile round trip commute 5 days a week. Even if I get three days out of the 5 with the bike I still feel that I will come out ahead. Anyone with some experience on this please feel free to correct me, just some very crude numbers that I crunched basing them on the 15 mpg's that I am currently getting at $3.73/gallon.
Well, let's just assume that gas is $4 a gallon for simple math. $2,500 bike + $100msf + $550/yr insurance (it varies a lot, so I just went on the lower end) + $500 gear (this is very much on the low end too...). Bike costs about 4100 bucks the first year assuming you rack up 5,000 miles per year at 45 mpg.
Car gets 15mpg. In order to start making money on the bike, you would have to ride 12.4 years to make back any money.
Here's my math. I did a lot of rounding just to make it easier. It's an approximation, but it still should be fairly accurate.
--
Bike: 444 for gas, 550 for insurance, so 1000 a year.
car: 15mpg, 5000 miles = 1333 dollars a year, so you save 330 dollars every year.
3100/330 = 9.4 years
This also assumes that you don't buy anything else for the bike, there is no upkeep, you don't crash, and you don't buy any extra gear.
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But this is under the assumption that you'll only ride 5000 miles per year. If you ride 10000 miles a year, then the time you will need to start saving money will be cut down to 4.7 years, etc.
No matter what, it's going to be a while.
Last edited by TwoColorShoe : 05-17-2008 at 05:17 PM.
TwoColorShoe, you are also assuming a static cost/gallon. I anticipate continuing increases (say on average about 50 cents a year since that is close to even a little conservative to what we have experienced the last 3-4 years) so that makes it even faster to recoup.
Quickest way is to sell whatever you have now, buy bike, buy beater Escort Wagon for bad weather/don't want to ride, but gets 30mpg and you might come out ahead a little faster. Get a hitch on said escort wagon and you can tow a small 1000lbs. trailer when you need plywood/dirt/whatever.
Oh yeah...I know it doesn't apply to the OP but here in Austin I would be able to ride pretty much everyday if the stipulation was over 60F and Sunny :-)
Finally. One of my elementary school teachers when I lived up in Detroit rode his Motorcycle year round back in the 70s and 80s.
Last edited by thr_wedge : 05-17-2008 at 05:17 PM.
That is true; rising gas prices will make the eventual return much quicker. If the OP really wanted to save money, though, he should sell his car and get another one for around the same price that gets better gas mileage. He would be saving/making money immediately. Getting a bike because of rising gas prices is still just an excuse to get a bike. In a couple years that may change, but I'm pretty sure that once the OP has a good beginner bike for a year or two and begins to really enjoy riding, he'll want a better/faster one, and will end up spending even more money.
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