Im looking for my first bike, any opinions?

Question

I would be a new rider, if that means anything.. I recently saw the suzuki hayabusa and loved it, but i think it is out of my league.. I'm interested in something can looks really good, impressive, sporty, fast... you know the gist... also, i wanna be able to take my girl on rides.. So, what do you all suggest?

Answer 1

Stay 500cc or below for the first year or so.  Trust me man, you don't need a Saturn 5 rocket your first time out of the shoot.  Go a little old school for starters.  You have a lot of learning to do, so do it right and play it safe.

Sporty and fast should NOT be in your vocabulary at this time because, no offense, you don't know shiit about riding.  I'm just being brutally honest.  There is more to this than going "balls to the wall" down the highway.  You need to learn how to throw that weight around and tame those horses.

Forget about giving chicky-babe a ride (she's supposed to ride you - remember?).  Most beginner's licenses don't allow passengers anyway, and being a "know-nothing deusch-bag" novice rider (once again, no offense intended) why would you put her life in jeopardy?

Seriously man, this isn't like driving a car.  You're now in the kindergarten of the bike world, and just like a great B.J., take it slow and enjoy the ride.

Answer 2

Yamaha FZ6

Suzuki SV650

Kawasaki 650 Ninja

Kawasaki Versys

Answer 3

1. 2008 Suzuki GS500F ($5,199)

Photo © SuzukiThe GS500F's sporty appearance should appeal to performance-oriented riders, but its air-cooled, twin-cylinder 487cc engine is tame enough for beginners.

For more check out our photo gallery of the 2008 Suzuki lineup

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2. 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 500R ($5,499)

Photo © KawasakiOne of the tamest members of the notorious Ninja family, the 500R is like a Ninja 250R on steroids-- while remaining manageable enough for beginners.3. 2009 Kawasaki Vulcan 500 LTD ($5,499)

Photo © KawasakiBuilt around the compact parallel-twin found in Kawasaki's Ninja 500R, the Vulcan 500 LTD is a well-balanced mid-sized cruiser that's well-suited for beginners.4. 2009 Yamaha V-Star 650 Custom ($6,099)

Photo © YamahaWith a wet weight of 513 lbs, Yamaha's V-Star 650 Custom cruiser might be heavier than most bikes here, but its low 27.4 seat height and mild manners make it an approachable beginner bike.

Click here to view the entire 2008 Yamaha lineup.5. 2009 Suzuki DR-Z400SM ($6,299)

Photo © SuzukiIf supermoto style is what you're after, the Suzuki DR-Z400SM offers that unique combination of a dirtbike body and street-biased suspension.

For more take a look at our photo gallery of the 2008 Suzuki lineup.6. 2008 Honda Shadow Aero/Spirit 750 ($6,799)

Photo © HondaThe Honda Shadow Aero and Spirit 750's liquid-cooled 745cc V-twin might be more powerful than most bikes in this category, but low seat height and predictable handling make either bike a solid choice for beginners.7. 2009 Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 XL Low ($6,999)

Photo © Harley-DavidsonThe cheapest member of the Harley-Davidson family, the Sportster offers back-to-basics style, a low center of gravity, and one of the greatest exhaust notes of any beginner motorcycle.

For more, read our 2007 Harley-Davidson Sportster Nightster Full Review.

Also, check out our 2007 Harley-Davidson Sportster Nightster Photo Gallery.

And finally, take a look at our 2009 Harley-Davidson Buyer's Guide, which covers all 33 bikes in the Harley lineup.8. 2008 Suzuki GSX650F ($6,999)

Photo © SuzukiDon't let its Gixxer-like looks fool you; the Suzuki GSX650F's upright posture and tractable powerplant make it a great beginner bike.

Click here for a photo gallery of the 2008 Suzuki lineup9. 2008 Triumph Bonneville ($7,299)

Photo © TriumphIf you like the look of classic British bikes, you'll love the Triumph Bonneville. Its torquey air-cooled 865cc parallel twin doesn't need to rev to produce decent power, and its iconic design combines retro styling and modern functionality. 10. 2009 BMW G650 Xcountry ($7,500)

Photo © BMWThough it's generally considered a premium product, beginners craving a versatile dual purpose bike might want to consider a BMW G650 Xcountry. Its 53 horsepower single-cylinder powerplant should offer years of reliable operation, and its oddball styling cuts a unique silhouette on the road.

Answer 4

   First, I would recommend enrolling in the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's beginner's riding course.  It will teach you the basics of riding as well as many techniques that can ultimately save your life.  

   Secondly, yes, the Hyabusa is probably a bit much.  There are many sporty, fast bikes that are more in your "league."  Check local dealers or even cycletrader.com to see what deals you can find in your area.  

   If you are wanting to do two-up riding and aren't completely hung up on getting a sports bike, maybe look at a cruiser.  It will be more comfortable for her unless you want to fork out some serious cash for a sport/touring bike.  

Answer 5

this is a question that's asked every day,,

& the answer is..

buy a cheap 250cc bike.. cos your going to throw it down the road.

Its what learners do..    I did & still do on occasion..  ( hate loosing the front going into corners)

learn to ride any cheap bike...  250cc honda/suzuki/.kawasaki/yamaha

up to 600cc (not the 4 cylinder sports bikes, Not for learners)

in 6 months to a years time you will have an idea of how to ride & what sort of bike you want..(unless you change your mind & don't want to ride)..

that's the time to go out & buy the nice new bike..

Its not the advice you wanted..  but it is the right way to go..  lots of people have gone out & bought the 600cc R6, CBR,Ninja..& its been in the crash repairer with in 2 months..

learn by there mistakes & go  get the cheap 250..

Answer 6

to star out i would find a used or new kawasaki ninja 250r depending on your spending limits.

they are easy to learn on can hold two people and look great.

they are only 250cc so theyre not the fastest but they top out at about 105 and 0-60 time is better than any basic car. no matter what others say there is no reason you need something faster than that. you can make them faster through modifications.

there great learning bikes and teach better then bigger bikes. the weight and seat height is a good confidence booster

id suggest researching them and seeing what you think

they are hard to get a hold of so you might have trouble finding one

Answer 7

Can I get your girlfriend's email address so I can tell her not to get on the back of a bike with an inexperienced rider.  New rider + new bike + passenger= potential disaster.

Yes a busa would be too much for you to handle.  You should first take a motorcycle training course.  Afterwards, go to a dealership and find a bike that feels comfortable, and is within your limits.  You then need to practice your butt off, learn your bike, get used to riding.  Then maybe after you get some miles on your bike, take your girl for a ride.  

Acturally, she should consider taking the course herself and get her own bike.  She'll have more fun that way.

Answer 8

you are the people who die riding but look at the r6 that is the biggest bike you should get

Answer 9

Jim has many good and valid points.  I would like to add that your own size and weight has a big bearing on what you should ride.  A 50kg 5'0" person would not be able to hold a hyabusa, and a 6'10" 130kg person would be oversized on an AG100.  I am 6'0", and my first bike was an 82 yammy XJ550 - it was slow, heavy, clunky and hand poor brakes.  I learned how to read traffic, found out what a bike felt like at it's limits (while still going quite slow), and invariably dropped it on the deck while riding.  Stepped up from that onto an 89 Kwaka GPX600R, that had some reasonable torque, brakes that worked reasonably, and it gripped the road.  Was heavy and bulky, but my size allowed me to still be able to ride it.  I got it to 180kph, and it still had more, but was comfortable.

Next bike was a 96 YZF600R (R6) - super fast, and it could out handle, brake and accellerate me.  I learned my limits on that bike, and never learned it's limits.  One thing I did learn about it was that it gave you confidence in riding that you shouldn't have.  So a super sports bike (even the 250s) will give you a confidence that could easily get you killed... this isn't a good thing.  Learn your limits, and learn the limits of bikes before you buy a sports bike.  I have just bought a new DR-Z400E, but that is because the roads here are more of goat tracks, so now I need to learn my limits on dirt... lots of fun ahead.

In summary - don't buy a bike to be 'fast', and don't think about putting the gf's life in danger when your a learner - it's something you don't want to live with.  Buy a slow bike (look at the mid 90's when brakes were good - the older bikes I had were a little lacking in that department), and learn to ride - you don't have to go fast on a bike to enjoy it.  Oh, and whatever you buy, buy it with cash, paying off a bike you have destroyed is less fun than buying one with money you don't have.