Toying with the idea of getting a bike

[Dallas4u]

Hey Heraclid
I, too am looking into bikes. I have only riden once in my life on a 250 cc. It was scary., I am taking an MSF class and then buying a bike. I have been looking at the "hayabusa" . Everyone has been agaisnt it as not a good 1st bike . So now I am leaning towards the SV, at least for a year.
If I feel comfortable I may just go for the busa.
Like you, I am not one to take speeds lightly, I respect the power, its just I love the look and meanness of the Busa.
I believe I am a very careful, scared driver

Dood... seriously, I don't know if there is a much WORSE choice for a first bike! Any GSXR is going to be WAY beyond possibly even a second or third bike... it just depends how much time, respect, patience you have behind you. Some people can get away with a fast machine right off the bat... but I have seem many posts about people or their friends that couldn't handle the 650 as their first bike, or all the squids that have to wheelie or show off on the highway with no helmet, or just a helmet and now armor... totally biting it. It isn't really what you ride but how you go about doing it... and with a powerful machine, or one that just isn't very beignner friendly, it just makes it THAT much harder to learn to ride.

If you had scary moments on a 250cc at one time, the 'busa is something to stay WAY clear of!!!

Also... for those of you thinking of getting the absolute largest bike that you would think of riding because you don't want to outgrow it, let me say this... your first bike will be just that, your first bike. I will guarantee you, if it fits you, you can sit on it and ride it comfortably, and you can get to where you need to on it, you won't outgrow it... at least you won't get rid of it before it is time. In fact, beginner to intermediate bikes can almost be sold for what you bought them for these days! It's true. My wife bought a 2003 Honda Rebel 250 for $1950... this is a STEAL! We were seeing '98 Rebel's selling for $2200. In fact, the Ninja 500 is one of the MOST saught after bikes right now. I tell you, buy a used one, ride it for a year or so... and you will get your money's worth. If you think you can ride a bike for $200 a year, and sell it... is it worth it? Of course!

[Dallas4u]

I taught my neighbor to ride and we started her on an SV650S and she did awsome. She is a big girl <200lbs and now she is doing track days and group rides with less than two yrs of riding under her belt. The 650 is a very good beginner bike, not too pricy and there is all kinds of stuff for it, and depending on your insurance since it does not have a lowed faring they do not consider it a sport bike so you dont get raped for the sportbike surcharge.

The SV650 is a gray area... I definitely wouldn't call it a very good beginners bike. If you can track it, I wouldn't say it is for an absolute beginner. That bike has some serious power. You have to think that, everyone is different... as are bikes. Some bikes are powerful AND touchy... steering, braking, handling all come in to play. Beginner bikers (ANY bikers for that matter) can make some twitchy decisions/reactions and, on a bike that will react to any little movement, that can be a bad thing. Again, I'm not saying any specific person cannot handle an SV650, or any bike for that matter... in fact I remember someone that started on a GSXR600 and rode for a couple years with no problems... but I honestly wouldn't say that was even CLOSE to a good beginners bike.

Oh, and I wouldn't recommend a new bike as a beginner bike... you know, in case it gets laid down and all!

[t2p]

You may also want to consider a Ninja 250. A used 250 Ninja is relatively inexpensive and will sell easily if/when you sell it to purchase another bike.
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They are relatively lightweight, handle well, and stop well. Fairly comfortable also.
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They run fairly well also - probably accelerate in the same neighborhood as a HD Sportster (for example) and are MUCH faster than most any other 'beginner' bike. The motor really needs to be revved to move in a respectable fashion, but it is smooth and content to run at any speed all day long. Just don't get on a 600 sport bike - and you will be content.
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I prefer the 250 Ninja over the 500. If I WAS leaning toward a 500 cc bike or similar, there are many other bikes I would (instead) consider.
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[transio]

I've been looking at this possibility too. In fact, I begin my rider training tonight. I've been told the Suzuki SV650 is a great trainer bike, because it's not too big and has no fairings to scratch up.

[morgan-tec]

There are a few things to look at when choosing the bike, first is the rider. Sure someone who wants to go do wheelies and stopies all day will probibly ride beyond their skill level to fast and crash. But if you have someone who is responsible, mature, level headed with some quick thinking skills and the correct training they have a good chance of keeping the rubber down. Next is the bike. We choose the SV650 because it is a very easy bike to ride. has good feedback to the rider without being twitchy or uncontroable the brakes are great and it is not a throw away bike. By that i mean that most people i know that have started on a 250 regret going that small. And then they are ready for a larger bike in one summer. I am not saying that this bike is the perfest starter bike for everyone, no bike is but for a larger guy or girl it seems to work out well. Also it has been pointed out that it does not have lower fairings to destroy so if it is dropped it will be a lot cheaper to repair.

[shoota77]

I'll just let you know what I did and let you sort out what you want to do...
I did a lot of research and heard everything from start out on a 250 to get a bike you can ride for a couple years to "You're 6'5 so you're going to probably want a litre bike...but nothing less than a 600." Anyway, I bought a used Ninja 250 and learned some skills on that. After a year, I sold it for the exact same amount I bought it for and bought a bigger bike. The little Ninja was plenty fast (will beat almost all common cars off the line) and gave me an inexpensive opportunity to see if I even liked motorcycling and start learning motorcycle skills. If I laid it down or anything else parts are plentiful and cheap. Good luck with your decision whatever it may be.

[Heraclid]

Thanks! Yeah, luckily we have a pretty good group of local guys I found out about who have pretty much all said to stay under 600cc, although one is recommending the Suzuki SV650 for my height/weight. One thing about living here is that there are only one or two good reputable shops. I was in the Honda dealership a while back and they were telling me the CBR600F4i is a good starter bike. Suzuki said the GSX-R600 would be okay. Most everyone else seems to disagree on both counts, particularly the Suzuki (the Honda is at least a more forgiving bike). Lots of people start that way and do alright, but I'd rather not. I've heard many bad stories since about the Honda shop and most of the others around here too. Definitely would want to work on it myself as much as possible and cut out the dealer service depts, as I've done with the VX. I don't think bikes should be too hard to work on. The SV650 is appealing for the riding position and lack of expensive fairings, but it's no joke and I'm not sure I'd go there first. I am leaning toward a Ninja at this point. The SV650 looks and performs better, but that's irrelevant at this point. Basically, there aren't but a couple of truly good learner bikes being made these days. They all want to go really fast and most are pretty sensitive to the throttle.

[Dallas4u]

There definitely aren't many bikes good for beginners being import into the US. Over in Europe, they LOVE anything below a 650... there are TONS of options. The thing is, begineer bikes sell like MAD over here. So, don't think about having a problem selling whatever you buy when you are ready for your next bike... it is almost guaranteed to sell, and at a decent price as well.

The Ninja 250 and 500 are also (one of, if not THE) best selling beginner bikes out there. They are kinda hard to come by, so if you find one, and decide you want it, jump on it! Also, if you like the look of the naken SV650, you may consider the Suzuki GS500. Power that won't get you into too much trouble, naked styling, and you can find them pretty cheap.

Good luck, and keep us updated!

[Heraclid]

Yeah, lots of guys have said turning around and selling your first bike for what you paid for it a year earlier is no sweat. I'm not a big fan of the naked bikes, but if it saves on insurance and repair costs, I'd be game. And the SV650S is decent-looking with the added sporty front end that the SV650 lacks. The GS500 has a little more dressing, too. Here's a little something I read that explains why I'm so much more into the Ninja than the GS500...

http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/model_eval...comparo07a.pdf

[xdfarrx]

I would get an R6 or cbr600.
The bottom line is with bikes if you have the dough to graduate into different bikes then cool. For me with my work I live feast of famine. I try to buy with vision for were I am progressing and evolving not only in taste but in ability.

I have 150 rwhp R1... I don't do wheelies unless power ones, never a stoppie, and take the *shame on you**shame on you**shame on you**shame on you* dead serious.

There isn't really a bike out there the avg rider can push to its limits. Look at AMA superstock times vs Superbike. Factory bone stock machines are very potent.

An 80 rwhp motorcycle is just as dangerous IMO as a 150, with the difference being that one will attach itself to your ego faster then the other; being you can get into trouble faster by virtue of the bigger hp.

Your throttle hand and clutch hand control the inputs, but it is you mind, awareness, and most importantly your ego that 'drives' a bike. It is failure to control the fore mentioned which often puts fools in the hospital and in the ground.

If you have yourself in check, you could buy a GSX-R 1k and ride it no worries... My first bike was a full liter bike. Ironically it was a 600 that I first went down on due to later discovered Glycol on the road.

It fundamentally doesn't matter, **** around and you will get landed on your SV or gixxer-

You sound clued in.... follow your bliss, and then as the saying goes, don't ride faster then you guardian angel can follow you-

good luck


PS
Any person that says they bought a new bike and even pre owned bike and flips it for the same is not common and I think they are full of *shame on you**shame on you**shame on you**shame on you*. I ride em, bought em, and sell em.... maybe out here in Cali the buyer is a little more savvy but be careful assuming youll recoup the same money out as put in I don't think is sensible.
To the defense of the Kawi 250's and 500's those are beginner bikes- They haven't had any updates to the bikes since almost being released and are frequently available...
I would go to the WERA forum if you want a SV... many on there as well as aftermarket parts, engines, wheels etc...

[shoota77]

It's actually fairly common for the Ninja 250/500 to get turned around for close to if not the same price one bought it for. Like Dallas said, they are kind of hard to come by because they are "the best" beginner bike out there. And like xdfarrx stated the design hasn't changed in 15 years, so it really doesn't make sense to buy one of these new...mine was a '95 with some sweet purple rims.

[Heraclid]

Hey Dallas, I PM'd ya back - sorry if you get duplicates.

[SPAZZ]

I have had motorcycles on and off my whole life, except when in the Maraine Corps for 8 years I only had a Ninja 500 for a short period, but being deployed all over the place and not being able to have a place to keep it I sold it.

Thinking of the feeling of jumping on my bike early on a day off and taking a drive through the mountains and getting away from virtually all city life and reading this forum and listening to bike talk, really makes me miss a bike.

So, I am starting to save and I will have a Hayabusa. I am a big guy and like the feeling I get when I ride a Hayabusa and am able to stretch out a little. It also is way more comfortable on long trips and doesn't vibrate your hands numb on the longer trips either. Plus, a few mods and you get the over 200MPH ability..unless you get the '99 model which were the ones that go over 200mph stock. The other years only go 186mph.