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getting a bike in a year

2.4K views 39 replies 16 participants last post by  Stick N Move  
#1 ·
i just turned 17, and surprise surprise, i want a super sport bike :p. ive been working a lot since i turned 15 saving up for a bike. yes, ive dreamed of having one since i was 15. also, ill be an eagle scout in a few months and my rents are giving me money for that, plus im a senior this year and my parents are giving me money when i graduate. however my parents are very strict and wont let me get one until im 18 and in college.

ive ridden dirtbikes for years, no tickets, never been in trouble, no accidents, eagle scout, 4.5 gpa, sat/act scores that could get me into harvard, so yes, i think of myself as a snowflake.

even so, many of your points are still valid and i am highly considering NOT getting an ss now. after reading all of your "your dumb, i hate everything you say, dont get an ss bike" ive decided i might get an sv650 or something like that...i dont know. you make VERY good arguments in this forum as to why not to get one

however many of the people posting in these noob forums have a "high and mighty im better than you" attitude that turns me off... i wish you all would just supply information rather than be jackasses just because MOST people wanting super sport bikes are immature and would be better off getting a smaller bike...i understand you ARE "better" than me when it comes to this subject, but you dont have to be an ass because of it

and im sure you will have tons of comebacks to my post like "dirt bikes arnt street bikes!" which i realize is very true but someone who has years of dirt bike experience will be better off than someone with no dirt bike experience...and yes, i want an ss for some of the dumb reasons, but honestly im scared shitless of getting one because i dont want to get hurt, which is why im thinking of a smaller bike...but no matter what i get im gonna go about as fast as a grandma until i develop my skills. i just dont want to "waste" my money on a bike ill want to upgrade from in a year. and i know there are arguments shooting that theory down but there are arguments backing it up as well...

really i just wanted to let you know that you have a great forum but some people should take a step back and chill out and stop assuming all people who want 600ss's as a first bike are mentally retarded... we really just need you all to convince us we are wrong :) so thanks for the info. comment away
 
#2 ·
We're not asses just because the fact that we think people who want an Super Sport bike off the bat are retarded.
It's the way they argue their reasons for wanting an Super Sport bike.
Of the classics,one happens to be what you said; Don't want to 'waste money on a bike you're going to replace'
You're not wasting money,Not in my opinion anyway.
You'll learn tons more on a smaller displacement bike then you will a super sport;Hell I started on an sv650,I hopped on my friends ninja 250 about a week ago and discovered a hell of alot more flickability.
In the end. It's your money; Get what you want.
We only argue against it because it makes our community look bad when people that haven't learned the ability of a lower displacement bike hop on a Super Sport and go barreling into something or another.
Also the whole insurance thing ;p
 
#4 ·
drummer92 you have some very valid points I'm not gonna flame you because you already seem to understand the risks associated with starting out on a 600ss (if that is what you end up doing) and that is all that is really important. Do you. There are plenty of experienced riders who have started out on a 600ss or even a 1k. and there are still riders withing that group who would still recommend something other than a 600ss as a starter bike. Just don't become a statistic.
 
#5 ·
Experienced riders here become bitter because newcomers don't want to hear that a sport bike is not a good first bike. Advising them not to go out and get one is met with hostility and argumentative reasoning, such as "I'm smart, I'm level headed, I'll respect the bike."


What most new riders don't understand is that when you hop on a super sport as your first bike, you're missing out on a HUGE learning curve. It doesn't matter how respectful you are to race replica bike, the things you learn on a 250 are not going to happen on a 600.
 
#6 ·
"We're not asses just because the fact that we think people who want an Super Sport bike off the bat are retarded."

i never said thats why you were asses, dont assume thats why i said it. and im not saying all of you are. i just think some people in other threads were being jerks for no reason. example, iwakunidiver saying "1.6 60 ft and in a Civic with a $3k turbo kit and no slicks?" and then going on to say "You win today's prize if you can tell me what kind of car I'm driving in the first pic. If you can guess what my car (gray one on the left) is, you don't know your imports at all." Was that all necessary? he was just being a dick IMO and trying to put someone down for no reason.

and ive considered the whole insurance thing and how it would even out in the end which is another big reason im considering an sv650. which bring up a question, is there a thread with how much people are paying for insurance for certain bikes and their age and such? that would be helpful for sure.
 
#8 ·
Yes...The learning curve will be much steeper...
Bikes are not the easiest things to control...
26 hp vs 115 hp
One of these would be harder to learn on then the other :p
Lurk around a bit more...you'll find that a lot of the questions you might have have already been answered in other posts.
 
#10 ·
yes, the learning curve is a lot steeper on a 600SS. They handle so sharply that wrong inputs put you in danger quickly. On a 250 a wrong input will scare you a little and you'll (hopefully) learn from your error. On a 600 that same input may well put you in an ambulance. On a 250 or even a 650 twin the difference between not being in the powerband and hitting the powerband isn't all that radical, but on a 600 the HP difference between 4000 RPM and 8000 RPM is downright scary. As in double the HP. That's why noobs sometimes loop their bikes. Downshift one too many gears and you'll be in trouble.

Honestly, I had great grades and participated in extra-curricular activities at your age too, and I did things in my Dodge Omni that if I had done in a Corvette would have gotten me killed. Same thing applies here. You're better off getting a used 250, riding it a year or two then selling (for about the same price you paid for it, btw) and moving up from there.
 
#13 ·
"Honestly, I had great grades and participated in extra-curricular activities at your age too, and I did things in my Dodge Omni that if I had done in a Corvette would have gotten me killed. Same thing applies here."

ive heard ten other people say that nothing applys to motorcycles that applys to cars... but i see your point

"If you get a brand new 600ss you'll also be so afraid of dropping it that it'll mess with your head."

ill be buying used no matter what i buy. and im probably going to be afraid of dropping any bike i get at first ;p
 
#14 ·
@Drummer92:

This thread seems to already outline most of what I would normally say, but I would suggest you test ride a 250 - and rev it up to 12k in 1st then shift and keep the revs high - as a new rider it's often "scary" to rev the engine high for some reason but try it out in a straight, you'll find that the 250 provides a lot more acceleration & power than (personally) I expected it to because it's a "starter bike". The concept of "most people will never use a 600ss to its full potential" didn't really sink in until I drove my 250 for 2-3 weeks.

Point I'm trying to make here is a "starter bike" has equivalent acceleration characteristics to a supercar - and it's much harder to handle in turns than a car.
 
#16 ·
Though i dont agree with the 600SS first bike=instant death people that seem to be all around this board, a 250 for a first street bike is always a good idea. That being said, having dirt experience does make a big difference in my opinion. You already have good throttle control and smooth shifting. If you ride hard youre probably very comfortable with the back end breaking loose, and know what it feels like when you get on the front brake really hard. Youve probably had enough pucker moments that instincts just kinda kick in when something gnarly happens. Does that make you ready for a 160HP liter bike... nope, but you still have a lot more going for you then some dude that hasnt ever ridden a motorcycle

As far as people not exactly being nice about the starter bike thing on here, as somebody said before, theyre just bitter. Too many punk 19 year old kids come on here asking which can wheelie better, gixxah750 or gixxza1k, then think they know more than the people trying to give advice. People who sometimes have been riding for longer then said punk kid has been alive.

Listen to what the old timers on here say, they generally know what theyre talking about, but just get whatever bike you really want to get and enjoy riding it :)
 
#22 ·
ive heard ten other people say that nothing applys to motorcycles that applys to cars... but i see your point
It doesn't as far as if you're able to drive a car you'll be able to ride a motorcycle with ease. What I meant was at 17 years old we all have more testosterone than brains and at some point, probably before you have the skills for it, you're going to "see what this baby can do". It's what we men do and more often than not it turns out badly, especially with an inexperienced rider on the street.
 
#26 ·
Why wouldnt you want a 250? Easiest bike to actually learn on, cheapest insurance rates (especially for a teenager), reliable, and dependable. Not to mention that it will give you added satisfaction when you keep up with or even pass your friends on 600cc+ bikes in the twisties.

Just because you might think you are intelectually superior to others doesnt mean anything. High School at age 15 is a joke. But I question that you have SAT scores to get into Harvard, I knew people who almost got a perfect score with 4.5 GPA and plenty of 4's and 5's on AP exams and didnt get into harvard. But if you can really get in then great, but I still dont think your ready for an SS ;)

Do you intend to buy your bike at 18? or at 15...? Your insurance rates are going to be pretty high and I dont see how your going to be able to afford to ride on a 15 year olds salary unless you are on mommy and daddys payroll as well. Now If you decide to start riding the street on an sv650 at 15 or 16 then be careful.

Also, in case you havent figured it out yet...if you press "Quote" at the bottom of someones post you wont have to copy and paste what everyone said. :beer
 
#27 ·
If he was Harvard material he would have deduced that inflated insurance costs, statistically unfavorable odds, and the general consensus to start small is a sure sign that a 600 is a bad choice. Just another sub 100 IQ trying to impress his friends at school. Darwin Award incoming.
 
#28 ·
Try not to think of a b***** or faster bike as an "upgrade" like you mentioned before. You dont upgade the bike you upgrade your skills. A new rider on a powerful race bike is still a new rider.

The great advantage of a smaller bike (like the Kawi 250) is that it allows the new rider to focus on what they need to control the bike without fear that its looking for any tiny excuse to spit them off. SKILL is everything. The bike is just a tool like a socket set. Its there for the expert to do amazing things with and the beginner to figure out what its capable of.

This is a great time for you to start reading about what it takes to survive on the street. Get Proficient Motorcycling by David Hough and start soaking up all the info there. Focus less on the bike and more on the rider.
 
#29 ·
thats good that you can shoot straight for your eagle scout archery exam, and that you are a "4.5" GPA. That history exam you passed will help alot when you lose the rear end on your bike.

now some dirtbike experience is good. I think it is just cancelled by the fact that you are 17 tho LOL>

I suppose someone w/ DB experience cant make the transition to a 600ss, but then again I never rode dirtbikes but once.

Good luck with whatever you do, but dont get mad if ppl dont treat you as unique and special b/c youre the 1000th newb wanting a 600
 
#30 ·
"Do you intend to buy your bike at 18? or at 15...?"

If you read my first post it clearly stated i just turned 17 and will be getting a bike in a year. 17+1=18

"Just because you might think you are intelectually superior to others doesnt mean anything."

I don't think I'm intellectually superior, test scored told me. And I think being responsible has to play a part in getting good grades, such as studying and doing your homework. I figure responsibility has a part to play in riding a motorcycle as well....

"But I question that you have SAT scores to get into Harvard, I knew people who almost got a perfect score with 4.5 GPA and plenty of 4's and 5's on AP exams and didnt get into harvard."

I had a friend that just got a full ride to Stanford and i got better test scores than him. However, I'm going to WVU because in-state is cheap and both my older brothers will be living up there.


"Also, in case you havent figured it out yet...if you press "Quote" at the bottom of someones post you wont have to copy and paste what everyone said. "

But then it just copies your entire page and people will have to reread all of it if they want to see what I'm responding to. I'm not that lazy.

"If he was Harvard material he would have deduced that inflated insurance costs, statistically unfavorable odds, and the general consensus to start small is a sure sign that a 600 is a bad choice. Just another sub 100 IQ trying to impress his friends at school. Darwin Award incoming."

Maybe if you had read my whole thread you would have realized I had already "deduced" that and said I was getting a smaller bike. But i guess reading is a little to hard for you at this point, don't worry practice makes perfect. Maybe try hooked on phonics?
 
#31 ·
"Just because you might think you are intelectually superior to others doesnt mean anything."

I don't think I'm intellectually superior, test scored told me. And I think being responsible has to play a part in getting good grades, such as studying and doing your homework. I figure responsibility has a part to play in riding a motorcycle as well....
Right,Because your test score told you you're intellectually superior,You came here.To us inferior beings for advice.

"Also, in case you havent figured it out yet...if you press "Quote" at the bottom of someones post you wont have to copy and paste what everyone said. "

But then it just copies your entire page and people will have to reread all of it if they want to see what I'm responding to. I'm not that lazy.
You're not that lazy.But you're not smart enough to realize that you can remove the parts you are not referring to.


You're smarter then everyone here,Your 'test scores' told you so.
So how about you not ask advice from us?
 
#36 ·
i posted all that junk to show that im not a dumb kid who wants to do stoppies and burnouts in front of his friends. maybe i came off as having a sense of superiority, but i guess it comes with the territory of actually accomplishing something in your life. i stated facts, i didnt try to put other people down like you, implying that im stupid because i copy and paste. "OMG! this kid is soooo dumb because he copy and pasted and it may or may not have taken him 2 seconds longer!! HA!" dude, get a life. im peacing out because i got the info i needed, thanks to most of you that were very informative, great forum, the rest of you can fuck off :)
 
#37 ·
You did try to put other people down.
That's the reason you were met with a sense of hostility.
You might be a bit too ignorant to notice it.


Such as a statement you just made, Comes with the territory of actually accomplishing something in your life? Please,you're in highschool
A highschool dep. isn't shit.
Sure,Good grades is a good thing,But there are plenty of people with grades just as good as yours that are jobless.Right now.Right out of college.


You haven't accomplished shit.
But thanks for playing.