Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Congrats on the bike! I was thinking of going for one like that but ended up going for the Ninja 500. I did hear that the suzuki's are cold blooded - meaning it takes them a while to warm up. When I warm up my Ninja from an overnight break, I start with the choke fully open. The morning weather here...

Good very good reviews from the dual purpose crowd. Also, the finally redesigned 2008 model is much nicer. Since it is a dual purpose 650 it should be fine for a beginner bike. As previously mentioned, you need to be on the tall side to be comfortable on it (not 5'8" - I am that height and it i...

Very different bikes and riding position. The Ninja 650 is very comfortable and upright. The ninja has a much more hunched over riding position. The latter is much sportier. The former is probably better for commuting and touring. If you are fairly new to bikes, I think the Ninja 650 is a much bette...

The bike will be out in Dec in the US. I don't see the YZF anymore on Yamaha's site - I wonder if it was replaced by the R-6S even though the latter has a much more aggressive stance. The GSXF looks to have a more upright riding position, closer to the FZ6, but with a full fairing. For the price, th...

Update: Got the Ninja. Love it. Pros: Great fuel economy (52-63mpg) and excellent range with a large tank, excellent power for my needs. Light enough. Good riding position. So far very reliable - ridden it 650 miles or so. Like the lime green classic kawa color. Cons: a little buzzy at higher speed....

The only thing I know about the VTR's is that they are notoriously gas guzzlers (for bikes) and even though they have a twin engine, they eat more gas then their equivalent 4 cyl counterparts. Have you considered the fule injected SV650S? More nimble for the city, FI, and much better on gas.
Dani

Your feelings are normal. All it takes is practice. Don't give it up and you will enjoy it more and more. Keep a safe distance and a margin for error. Brake earlier and softer, in case you pull the wrong lever...Just take your time and keep your distance and remember that generally speaking the fast...

Excellent choice for a well priced and fun bike. The other one to consider is the Ninja 650 (SV naked riding position but with fairing). I would caution against a new bike for a new rider. I picked up a slightly used Ninja 500 for half of what the SV or Ninja 650 go for and I still have my hands ful...

Congrats! It is one looking bike. My first bike was an '83 Honda CX650C V Twin and it was fun and good looking. Yours looks even better. Make sure to save up and get proper gear (i.e. not used helmet) and MSF course. There are plenty of great deals online for gear (check this helmet out! http://www....

A v Star is a cruiser and its power delivery is milder than the 600 SS...I think it should be fine. It is geared for low end torue rather than high end power. It's an OK deal. Make sure it is in good shape.
Dani