Whats a good street bike for a 17 year old?

Question

On my 16th/17th birthday I want to buy a streetbike, so I can ride on the road with my dad. What would be good for me?

(So far I've riden a yamaha 250 bear tracker atv, and a honda 125 bike. My budget is $2000-$3000, so far anyway)

Answer 1

Have you thought about going retro? There was just a guy asking about oil for his '74 Honda and it made me think of all the cool old 2 cylinder Hondas from the late '60s to the mid '70s. I used to have a '71 CL350 that was fun to ride and easy to work on. I paid $400.00 for it and sold it for the same price 5 years later. I had a bigger bike to ride most of the time, but that old 350 was tons of fun. I sold it to my neighbor kid for a first bike and now his brother is riding it as his first bike. The older one fell in love with wrenching on old bikes and is now in the MMI school in Arizona.

It's just another choice for you.

I love all types of bikes.

Answer 2

Get a clean used 2008 Kawasaki ninja 250, $3500, new, or a used Buell Blast, $4800 new.

I have seen used Ninja 500s going for less than that, too. A GSXR-750 too.

Answer 3

get 3500 and buy a brand new Kawasaki ninja 250r

Answer 4

Get yourself an old Honda Rebel 250 or something similar to it. They make great beginner bikes for inexperienced riders.

Answer 5

street bikes are super dangerous.

But, i guess a kawasaki ninja, pretty sporty, good handling, and you can find them for pretty cheap.

Answer 6

It just depends, no one can tell you what kind of bike to get.  You first need to know what you want to do with it. Do you want to cruise or go fast? What do you like as far as looks? Do you want a disposable bike or something that will last. How big are you? What can you handle? Most of all, what feels good? This question is like asking "What should I have for breakfast?"

Answer 7

A used Honda Shadow 750, or Yamaha V-Star 650 are both decent cruisers without being too big or heavy. If you want something sportier, the Kawasaki Ninja 500 (or is it 600 now?) is a fun bike without being to aggressively sporty. Read up on current models and talk to bikers, then you'll have a better idea of what fits you and your riding style the best!

Answer 8

Honestly, with a budget of 2000-3000 your choices on new are going to be VERY limited. Even used is going to be VERY Limited on late models.

You say you like them fast, but have never ridden a street bike?

My opinion is, try to find a decent used YZF600R, not an R6...get a YZF600R. Its a little less peppy than the R6...but it is a VERY nice looking bike.. and a pretty good entry level sport bike. That is, if you are stuck on buying something a few years old or so.

But honestly...

I ride a 1997 YZF1000R, its not an R1, its the year before the R1 came out, and what makes my bike so sweet is, you never see them. I have personally never seen another one since I have owned mine..and thats like 10 years. They only imported them in 1997.. so I just never see another one. ITS MY BIKE.. I see a ton of R1s regardless of year and color..Blue and white GSXR's are a dime a dozen...Honda CBRs unless its a limited edition like the camel joe..you see a ton of. But not mine.. I dont wave at 10 people a day riding a bike just like mine.

I polished my frame, painted the bike black pearl with a HEAVY mix of blue and silver flake. K & N filter, Dynojet jet kit, D & D exhaust, modified air box with custom ram air from a GSXR... its MY BIKE.

I say, you go out and find you a late 90's model FZR600.. I am a Yamaha type guy, and the FZR has always had a place in my heart...and more and more, as the years go by you see less and less of them. You can find them for 2000 to 2500 in great shape. If I had 3000 to spend, I would find me a late 90's FZR600, and use the other 1000 or so dollars to make it my own.

The bike was basically the same bike for so many years..parts are pretty easy to find for them..there are still companies making all kinds of aftermarkets for them..pipes, bodies... AIRTECH makes an R1 kit for the FZR600...doesn't look just like an R1..but it is SHARP with that body on it!!!

The only draw back to my bike is, if I buy parts they come from over seas..they actually made the Ace from 96 to 2000 I think..but only imported them in 97...so to find a US based aftermarket parts maker is hard to do, everything I order comes from Germany, or England.

But with the FZR, you can get into a bike fairly cheap...find parts pretty easy to make it your own..and it really does have a look that is all its own...and you wont wave to 15 people a day riding the exact same bike. And yeah... its quick enough that you wont get tired of it in a couple of months.