New Biker with Bike Questions

[zefi]

Hi ya, new here and just have a couple of questions on bikes and planning ahead around 6-10 months down the road when I purchase the first bike.

The type of motorcycle I pretty much am looking for is a quiet engine. I know it cant be silent but as silent as possible.
I forgot where I read which says that 4 cylinders is more quiet than a 2 cylinder engine. Not sure if that can carry over between brands.
Please tell me if it is true or not.

Secondly is price and the selection, where I live even a 500cc can cost as much as a 800cc used. Basically I had to come up with a big list of the bikes that I "want" by CC's tho prob not recommended for newbies so I can have a list of choices to choose from when I buy.
The basic question is will you recommend a 650cc over a 500cc if it is cheaper by 1k-1.5k?


Either way here is my "wants" (by no means I have to get them, but please recommend which one is best as a starter, as a grey area starter and a second bike). Other bikes are possible but unlikely I kinda went through pratically all bikes and only fell in love with these styles.

Yes I am looking only at Standard Bikes cause I like the upright position (also option to kill some due to comfort either through recommendation or my testing the bike)
2 cylinder
Suzuki GS500E
Suzuki SV650 Standard
Suzuki FV650 Gladius
Kawasaki Ninja 650RN (ER-6n) Standard
Kawasaki Ninja ER-5 - Naked Standard 498cc
Suzuki V-Strom DL650
Kawasaki Versys 649cc

4 cylinder
Suzuki Bandit GSF650
Suzuki GSR600
Yamaha FZ6/FZ6R - 600cc
Honda CB600F ( 599 )


all i know is that 650 is prob the max ill go even in the future.

[Wrider]

Quite honestly, the quietest (and coincidentally best learning bike out of all of them) is the GS500. Doesn't matter if you get the E or the F version, they're both quiet and both very capable of being good learning and good everyday bikes.
Two friends of mine learned to ride on them, one small to average size, and one a big guy like me. Plus I've done over 100 on it, and I'm a fairly big guy.

[zefi]

It was my first choice until i saw the price tag of 3.5k.

Havent checked else where yet but it is good to have multiple choices to choose from if the other one looks unattractive both in cost and maybe damage when physical part comes.

[Johnj]

I'm not sure who you got your information from but the Suzuki V-Strom DL650, Kawasaki Versys 649cc, and Kawasaki KLR 650 are not 4 cylinder machines. The V-Strom is a v-twin, the Versys is a parallel twin, and the KLR is a single. IMO you be best served with the Kawasaki ER-5 or the Susuki GS500. It really doesn't matter whether you get the fared model or not.

[zefi]

oh, sorry i was half asleep when i was looking at the cylinders..... i was thinking just finish the list so i dont have to do it tomorrow.

list edited

[zefi]

the sad thing is I can find a Suzuki SV650 for 2k maybe less if i look hard enough or bargain (and that was a 07 model the older ones were more expensive....) while many other "true beginner" bikes that is listed on the fourms runs at about the 3k+ range.
If I want to get it cheap I will have to rent a truck and go to another city or state to buy then come back with it....

so basically go for the more expensive and less cc stuff.
(here i was thinking the money saved can be put toward the more expensive protective gear)

[Wrider]

Whereabouts do you live? I've seen GS500s and such go for about 1500 here in Colorado and down in Arizona.

[Superfly3176]

Don't forget, when wearing a full face helmet which you should be wearing, the sound your bike makes will most likely be cut in half. Not sure why it matters, not like you're looking at any harley's with loud pipes.

[Lion_Lady]

Have you taken a motorcycle safety course? Or are you planning to have a friend teach you, or worse, figure it out on your own?

I strongly suggest you take care of completing that first... Some folks discover that motorcycling is NOT what they thought/hoped it would be. It really sucks to discover this after you've got a motorcycle in your garage/driveway.

P

[zefi]

I plan to take it in a couple of months being me and my friends plan to take it together (they cant till then due to $ issues atm so im stuck waiting for them).
So according to them the earliest is summer soooo earliest I can buy is summer or fall so im not really in a hurry.

I do plan to get a full helmet, any other will look weird on my head anyway. Even if I have a full helmet, I got really good hearing. Picking up noise is no problem for me, being my left ear dumb is half pierced it kinda hurts with loud noises (loud noise to me is like low-mid for my friends)

I live in San Diego, CA.
Rain is rare (about 2 weeks in the entire year) and where the drivers are crazy.
Im kinda scared of the older bikes due to hidden costs like carbs which is noted in the guides.

[mgdavis]

Ear plugs are going to be your friend, no matter what you end up buying. My bike is relatively quiet, but it still gets uncomfortably loud once the wind noise kicks up.

All your 2 cylinder bikes should be more or less suitable for a new rider, though the DL650 in pretty tall and the SV makes just a bit more power than most recommend.

I would not recommend any of your 4 cylinder bikes to a new rider.l They all make significantly more power than an equivalent twin. The GSR600 makes over 86 hp!

[Wrider]

Yeah I feel your pain on the loud noises, when I work in clubs as a bouncer I always wear ear plugs or it hurts the whole night.
I'm still going with the GS500. It should be just fine for you and it should be relatively easy to find.

You're right though, they are expensive out there in California, might want to look into buying it elsewhere and shipping it or having a buddy with a truck pick it up for you.

[Grey Thumper]

Ear plugs are going to be your friend, no matter what you end up buying. My bike is relatively quiet, but it still gets uncomfortably loud once the wind noise kicks up.

+1

Beyond a certain speed (it's surprisingly low, like 40mph or something), the noise your engine makes will barely matter. It'll be completely drowned out by wind roar, which causes the most noise fatigue (and potential hearing damage). I highly recommend Howard Leight Max ear plugs. 33 dB of noise-reducing goodness.

[DavidL19]

Hey there,

I am new to riding myself and the Suzuki GS500E is my first and only bike. I got it used, it is a 2002. Though it was a gift so I am not sure how much it cost. I am a huge fan. It is easy to ride and very comfortable. Though I don't have much to compare it to I would recommend it.

If you do get a bike be safe especially if you haven't riden before. Take a class. Also know where you are going ahead of time and have a hell of time. Riding is so much fun. Try riding all day around a lake. I ride around Lake Michigan some weekends. I have my route that i tend to use on this site. Check it out.

Commercial advertising link removed by moderator.

My route is the one by Chicago

[zefi]

Anyone know of any good sites or people to look for bikes. Im in San Diego (SoCal area).
All i see now around the 3.5k prices for the GS500 (which i can buy the "nice" expensive protective gear with that extra price)

Basically im keeping my eye out so once i buy i can find it quick and not pay for something expensive.

[Wrider]

You can go to kijiji or craigslist. Also check your local thifty nickel/American classifieds. That's where I find some good deals.

[MZ33]

Mostly, buying the bike you want for the price you want is a question of time and diligence. You will have to keep checking all those sites, and ebay, until what you are looking for shows up.

What is the maximum you want to spend on a bike? I see the Ninja 250 isn't on your list, but with handlebar risers on it, it may get you in the riding position you want.

[zefi]

Im avoiding the Ninja250 cause it is abnormally expensive, prob going to avoid the ninja all together due to its price.
I originally wanted something in the 1.5-2k range... but in the end cause where I live (San Diego) the max im going for is 2500 (being used prices avg to 3-3.5k where I live.... maybe ill be lucky)
Likely im going with the GS500.

Being there are two general choices of the GS500 (air cooled or oil cooled, depending on what year you get)

What is the real difference between Air Cooled and Oil Cooled. (I know about it is air cooled, and the other is oil cooled)
Long term implications like maintenance, cost of one vs the other, how often is the oil cooled changed, how is one compared to the other when you do all maintenance yourself, and which to get depending on where you live? and maybe even more info and what you recommend.

[jaskc78]

basically any extra cooling system other than just air blowing over the engine fins will allow for more precise engineering in the engine. these tighter tolerances equate to better performance because the engineers can more accurately predict what temperature the engine will be operating at. it'll also help to keep the engine cooler which will add some longevity to it.

basically the air cooled relies on air blowing across the engine to carry away excess heat. the oil cooler has basically a radiator up front but instead of anti-freeze and water, it circulates oil through it to cool it down before cycling it back through the engine. it doesn't change how often you have to change the oil or anything like that, and it will only add a quart or two to the total capacity. not a huge deal at all.

[mgdavis]

Generally speaking, air cooled < oil cooled. If you ever get stuck in a traffic jam on a warm day you'll be thankful for the oil cooler and wishing you had a radiator as well.