| Topic Review (Newest First) |
| 07-23-2018 06:49 AM | |||
| Raffaele |
I post my question here as well, since it is a bit related. Well, I'm looking for a sort of beginner-non-beginner bike, a first sportbike for a non-sportbike rider. I am a currently riding a Honda NX650 Dominator, a bike I'm very fond of and that I intend to keep. But I'm also in the market for a second bike, and I'd like a sportbike for canyons, twisty roads and possibly some track days. For the time being I'm looking at sportbikes with 60-80 hp output. I don't care about the type of engine. Being used to a big, nervous mono, I do not fear a twin. And having taken my licence on a Kawa ZR-7, a fairly heavy bike with a grunty I4, I don't panic when I see a four-cylinder. What I know is that I don't need more than I can handle, I do not need a newer racing replica. But I'd like something that handles well, and has a tight feeling on the road. Something fun, and not too costly. As much as I can love my Honda, it's still a bit too bouncy on tarmac - and I wouldn't definitely take it to a track. Cost needs to be low as well, not exceeding 2500-3000$, so nothing really new. And I kind of like the funky look of old bikes from the nineties and the early '00s. I've seen a Yamaha TRX850 (half faired, TDM engine, 80hp), and I liked it. It's quite cheap (2000$) and has only 20k. Its problem is that it is as rare as it gets, and that could be a setback if I need parts. I am also fond of the Yamaha SRX600 and SZR660 (classic looks, XT engine, 45hp), but I don't think I should get a second mono. My friends are split. Two say "go get an SV650", but I'm a bit cold on it. I saw a 2.gen (didn’t try it though, it was not insured) and I found it lacking personality, and it has the opposite problem of the TRiXi: it’s just very common and average. And there are not many 2. and 3. generation for sale currently, just funky 1.generation bikes. I reckon it is an amazing ride, but it just didn’t click on me. Another friend says "go get a VFR750", but I fear it'd be too heavy and bulky for my use. In the next days I’ll go check on a 1993 CBR 600 f2, an all-stock bike with a big advantage: it ticks all the boxes, it’s cheap (1800$), has only 20K on the odometer and is registered as a historic vehicle, meaning that insurance costs are about 200$ /year, whereas the others fare well above 600. Finally, I live in Italy, the reign of Ducatis. I could easily pick up a 748 (still THE most charming bike around, imho) in good condition for 3000€ (3500$), but I'm afraid of running and insurance costs and its pointy power delivery. A Monster? I wouldn't recognize mine in the parking lot, as many as there are here in town. Any good idea on a cheap, fun, not too powerful first sportbike with personality, one that can be thrown into twisty roads and track days? TRX? SV? CBR f2? Thank you a lot for your advice! Raffaele |
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| 07-17-2014 08:32 PM | |||
| mangosmoothie16 | It's ok. It's a little expensive for a first bike in my opinion. A Ninja 500 will perform better and will be cheaper. But the CBR500F itself is a great first bike. | ||
| 07-17-2014 08:29 PM | |||
| wiremanjon | I'm taking the MSF BRC next weekend, I wanted to buy a cheap, good bike like a Ninja 500R or a GS500 BEFORE I take the class(I have a learner's permit). I've already bought all my protective gear, but I think I'll wait until after the class to buy my first bike. I have a friend who works in a Honda/Yamaha dealership and his boss told me he has a used 2013 Honda CB500F coming in (4500 miles)when a customer picks up his ordered Yamaha FZ-07 at the end of the month. My course ends on the last weekend of the month as well. Anyway he'll sell me the CB500F for $4500. Does this sound like a wise first bike deal? I haven't read here what people think of the Honda CB500F as a first bike. | ||
| 03-28-2014 11:55 AM | |||
| njskum201 | Well again it looks like I'm looking at the ninja 500r for my first bike. | ||
| 12-22-2013 05:02 PM | |||
| Half-fast Rider |
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Try simply changing out the fork oil and seals. That alone might give you a decent improvement. I put 32k miles on my 2006 before it was stolen back in July. Truly an outstanding starter bike. Fast enough that it's a true sport bike, but you have to rev it to make it go. It's quite docile at low revs. That makes it easy for beginners to ride, but still fun for experienced riders. It's light, well balanced, and very flickable. I thoroughly enjoyed that bike. Limitations came from my own capabilities, not the bike's. |
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| 12-21-2013 09:53 PM | |||
| mangosmoothie16 |
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| 12-20-2013 09:16 PM | |||
| Half-fast Rider |
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It even handles well enough for that on the right tires. Get rid of the OEM Bridgerocks and put on a set of Pirelli Sport Demons. Go one size wider in the rear. Pay attention to tire pressure (cold 36F 35R worked best for me; YMMV). The bike is perfectly capable of scraping the pegs in a fast corner. Also ditch the stock brake pads. They fade under aggressive riding. Put in a decent set of sintered pads and life gets much sweeter. The Ninja 500 is an outstanding bike and an exceptional training tool. |
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| 12-19-2013 10:52 PM | |||
| mangosmoothie16 |
My testament to the EX500/Ninja 500/GPZ500 I love the 500. It's such an old design that pretty much anything developed in the 90's or later feels better. But it's still a great bike and will teach you how to ride. Enough power to scare you at first (probably) but its not like you crack it wfo on accident and hit 100 mph out of nowhere. It has the perfect balance of cheapness, ease to work on, forgiveness of mistakes, speed, and handling for a beginner to learn. It's not super reliable (it's pretty reliable though), but it's easy enough to fix and stuff that breaks or goes wrong is usually trivial. Like the speedo cable WILL fall out, the carbs WILL become clogged, you'll NEED to change the clutch springs, etc. It's not super forgiving, but enough so that you definitely realize when you goof'd and you know how to prevent it or correct it better next time. It handles surprisingly well but you aren't going to be dragging knees. It's fast enough to bring into realization what it means on the street to go from 0 to 100+ mph in a quarter mile. (if you've never driven/ridden anything with a power/weight ratio close to single digits) |
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| 01-09-2013 06:56 AM | |||
| fletcher9230 |
well done bro.    
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| 12-20-2012 04:27 AM | |||
| Vaishali |
I would like to prefer you Suzuki sV650sF. It is a good bike for beginner riders. Suzuki bikes are good in balancing. As you are a begineer thats by a tip for you that use your bike's power and maneuverability to ride in open zones in traffic. Best of luck...!!! |
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| 12-03-2012 03:51 PM | |||
| Stunt_101 | I dont know how i missed that sorry and thanks | ||
| 12-03-2012 11:46 AM | |||
| Jamie01 |
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| 12-02-2012 08:43 PM | |||
| Stunt_101 | As I was Reading through this thread, I didn't see if anyone asked about the Honda F4i ( I may have missed it though) What is your input on that as a starter? | ||
| 08-08-2012 03:53 PM | |||
| rxsmith | Probably looking at something lije this for the wife | ||
| 07-19-2012 03:00 AM | |||
| ThatGuyWithTheBike | I drove a friends 07 GSXR1000 for my first time on a bike, that thing was one of the most powerful and fastest things Ive ever been on, I do like the mode selection on them so you can tune it down, I really would like one just to have that feature and still be able to have the power on demand when you want it. | ||
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