Looking at purchasing my first bike,..who can give insight to my choice selections?

Question

I have a few models I am giving serious thought to. The bike will be used more for getting to and from work, as well as, just getting to from point A to point B. I've considered gas mileage, price, and power -by power I mean a bike having capable power for use on the highway and not making me worried about being blown off the highway. I've considered Suzuki 2008 models GS500 and SV650S, 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 500R, and a friend is willing to sell his 2001 Honda CBR600F4 for a great price ($4300). My gut is telling me to go with the friend, because an older bike would be better for my first entry into the motorcycle world.

Answer 1

yeah i would go witht eh 600, buc the other smaller bike maybe good when you first start but u will find them lacking power when you become mroe experienced rider.  

Remeber your can always drive a fast bike slow, but u can make a slow bike go fast.

Answer 2

Be sure you check insurance on any bike you are looking at. With zero experience, the cost of insuring a fully faired sport bike is insane. You absolutely will drop it at least once, and they are quite fragile. It's best to start with something used without allot of plastic. Many people say a 250 is too small, but consider this. 250's are always in demand on the used market, so even if you only ride it 6 months you will be able to get almost all your money out of it when you move up to something larger.

If you're going to commute on it, make sure you invest in full riding gear. I prefer bright colored synthetics for the increased visibility, and performance in light rain. I also recommend you invest in a headlight modulator, it helps you be seen from the front. Remember, the most common accident is a car turning left in front of a motorcycle that the driver of the car does not see.

Answer 3

i say go with the cbr. be carefull though that he didnt abuse it (excessive speeding) and that the engine is still good. its better to ride a used one cuz when u fall i bet you'd much rather wreck a used one and not a shiny brand new one :) its a very reliable company, honda, and for 4300 its cheaper then the others. have fun and good luck. id take the msf course, gets you the equivalent of 2 years riding supposedly.

Answer 4

Buy something used and inexpensive for a starter bike.

Look for something old but not too old.  You don't want something so old that it is a junker, but not something so new that you'll feel bad if you lay it down.

Look for something in the 500 - 800 CC engine size.  This will be powerful enough so you don't get bored too soon, but not so fast that you will be afraid of it.

Look for a standard or cruiser bike for your first bike.  They are more forgiving.  Stay away from the sport bikes for your first bike as they require more skill.  Also used sport bikes tend to be more abused.

Watch the classified section of your local news paper.  Some locations have shopper magazines with used motorcycles in your area.  Reasonable used bikes are out there.  Be patient.  Don't buy too quickly, but if you find one you like, buy it right away.  Unfortunately, with the price of gas, the price of used bikes has also risen.  If you find a good starter bike, don't hesitate as they can sell quickly.

Don't get hung up on any particular brand.  They are all about the same.  Pay more attention to the bike's condition.  If any one brand were really superior to all other brands, this would be the only brand bike on the road.  In addition, if any brand bike was really inferior to the other brands, nobody would buy them and the company would be out of business.

Learn on this bike.  Make your mistakes on it.  You will make mistakes.  Would you rather make your mistakes on an older bike or your nice shiny expensive new bike?

The most important thing you should do when getting your first bike is to take a motorcycle safety course.

After you have been riding a while and gain some experience, you can sell your starter bike and get the one you want.  If maintained properly and not abused, you won't lose too much money on your starter bike.  Put the money from the sale towards the bike you really want.  By this time, you will have figured out what style bike best suits your riding style and needs.

If you settle on a sport bike for your next bike, avoid the used ones.  As I said before, these bikes tend to be more abused.  So if considering a sport bike, consider something new.

I know I used this answer before.  However I feel this is good advice.

Have fun - Ride safe