Who rides motorcycles, and what do you have?

[RoidedRanger]

i hav a 06 CBR600RR

with the new HID projector lights

my brothers bike (he jus wrecked it a few weeks ago) 02 GSXR750

my pop has a 02 VTX1800 also but i dont hav any pics of it.

 

[badmts]

2006 zx14 power commander and two bros. pipes- 177 RWHP (my ranger only has 90)

 

[snoopjonnyjon]

I completely restored my 1998 KX500, and bought a 2002 Gasgas EC400FSE this spring.

 

[dp88]

Anyone have any recommendations for a starter bike? Nothing to powerful and that I may be able to pick up on the cheap?

 

[fastpakr]

What are you hoping to do with it, i.e. commute around town, take long interstate trips, put it on the track, etc.? Once you determine that, you can make a better decision on what to get. Look for something relatively small, as a lighter bike is far more forgiving in low speed maneuvers. Don't worry about power. Even the lowly Rebel 250 can cruise on the interstate if needed to. I've personally done 3+ hour trips on the highway with one and it never gave me a moment's trouble. Fantastic commuter bikes (as are the other small engine bikes like the GZ and TU250, EX250, Suzuki S40, etc).

If you want a cruiser with a bit more power, something like the Suzuki S50, Kawasaki Vulcan 500, Honda Shadow VLX 600, etc are great options.

On the sport side, you can get an extremely practical bike in the Yamaha FZ6, Kawasaki EX500 and EX650, and the Suzuki SV650. All are lightweight, cheaper to buy than their pure bred sports brethren, and much easier to ride long distances.

Consider your options and see what's available locally. Find something that's already been dinged up a bit on craigslist. You can find plenty of wonderful first bikes for less than $2000 that are easy to maintain and ride until you get several thousand miles under your belt and know exactly what you want long term.

 

[dp88]

Oh sorry should have said just something to go back and forth to work and the occasional 3 hour trips. Thank you for all your info.

 

[fastpakr]

Any preference on sportbike vs cruiser? My first thought is to suggest a Ninja 500 as they're very easy to maintain and usually are cheap to buy. Fun bike with a pretty 'standard' seating position. Second (probably better) thought is to see what's available locally in your price range and decide if any of them make sense for your needs and abilities.

 

[fastpakr]

Here are a couple that jumped out at me in Knoxville:
1996 Honda VLX 600 - $2000 (Maryville)
96 Suzuki gs 500 e - $1300 (HARROGATE)
2000 Suzuki Katana 600 - $2000 (Morristown)
1994 katana 600 - $800 (powell)
Kawasaki Ninja 600R - $1000

 

[dp88]

Dang you are a huge help! thank you so much.

 

[badmts]

i would say suzi gs550 /700/650/750 kawi zephyr 550/750 600/750 katana 500ninja-try to stay with 120/70-17 frt tire and triple disc brakes and stay away from ultra performance 600's owned by joe kidd racerX. this may sound bad but find desparate sellers that need to sell GOOD RUNNING bikes NOT failed projects or guys who flip bikes they fixed over the winter-current tabs/plates and fresh fuel and signs of current usage are all good -SALVAGE titles,new ignition parts on a nonrunning bike rust or fresh gastank rust treatment make me RUN AWAY!! Your 3rd bike should be a 9 sec/177hp monster bought from an old guy that bought too much bike

 

[fastpakr]

Agreed on most of that. Triple discs really aren't necessary. The Vulcan 500 I'm using now has more than adequate brakes with a single front disc and drum rear combination. The GS Suzuki's are excellent motorcycles, but I'm not sure I'd recommend them as first bikes just because they're fairly heavy and the mass is up high. My first actually was a Suzuki GS750E, and a lighter bike would have made things much easier. Depending on how mechanically inclined one is, a non-runner can be worth a look if the price is right and you understand what you're getting into. Of the four bikes I've owned, only one was currently inspected and running properly at the time of purchase.

 

[bigdan002001]

I currently ride a 2007 HD Sportster 883 Custom. Vivid Black with stage 1 HD SE download tune, SE A/C stage 1, and Vance & Hines Short Shots. I waited til 07 to get it because it was the first year for fuel injection on the sporty's. Love my bike and the way it sounds/runs now that I have added the upgrades. Plus the Custom has the longer rake, two up riding, and larger front wheel. I started on a 98 Ninja 250...that little guy was fun, but wind will blow ya all over the place...very hard to ride on 4 lanes cause just wasn't fast enough or powerful enough. Top speed flat out was like 85 mph. Currently trying to talk the wife into getting a CBR 600RR...really wanting one of those badly...

BigDan

 

[fastpakr]

Eh? Ninja 250 (running properly) will do 100mph. As to the wind, that's something you as the rider have to adapt to. A breeze will not blow a smaller bike any harder than a larger bike, although it can cause more rapid changes in the bike's attitude.

Show your wife an FZ and see what she thinks. Similar power and handling, but better fuel mileage, larger fuel tank, more comfortable to ride, comes with a centerstand, and sometimes cheaper to insure.

 

[mad hatter]

have a Honda Rebel cmx250, perfect beginers bike in my opinion

 

[hoosier1104]

Any preference on sportbike vs cruiser? My first thought is to suggest a Ninja 500 as they're very easy to maintain and usually are cheap to buy. Fun bike with a pretty 'standard' seating position. Second (probably better) thought is to see what's available locally in your price range and decide if any of them make sense for your needs and abilities.

Sportbike of the Honda class. 94 CBR 600 F2.