looking for bike advice (new to motorcycles...)

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Dash Riproc · Thu Jun 15, 2006 12:08 am

I like your revised list a little better than your first...
I'm certainly partial to the Nighthawk 750...I bought a '93 as my first bike.
When I bought it, it had 14700 miles; this morning I turned 16500, and I've had it for less than 9 weeks.
I commute everyday on the interstate for about 24 miles each way. I push 70-80 mph and still have the power to pass without straining.

This is MY perfect bike; plenty of power delivered thru a consistant powerband...very forgiving.

I found this, after much searching, on Craigslist.com. Had to travel from Atlanta to Albany, Ga and gave up $1700 cash...the good deals are out there if you're patient.

ElektraSpitfire · Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:43 am

+1 to the ninja 250. If you're looking for a sportbike you will fit perfectly on this baby. I'm 5'6''ish and can almost perfectly flat foot the bike with my boots on. And I've done 2 hr freeway rides at 65-75 mph and its just fine. It's also a great beginner friendly bike, very forgiving for someone like me who never drove stick/manual before and had to learn how the clutch worked (and probably would have faceplanted myself in the cement on any other bike).

snwbrdr · #13 Unread post by **snwbrdr** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 2:19 pm

the ninja 250 is THE beginner bike. it is small enough to be forgiving enough of your mistakes, but it is fast enough too. i dont know who posted its top speed at 105, but i have seen 125 on it. it will easily hold 90 on the highway for an hour and 15 minutes, did it last night, and it will also easily pull 70-80 for 3 hours, much longer than that though and you run out of gas. anyway, the ninja 250 is an amazing begginer bike, it is perfect for everything.

dieziege · #14 Unread post by **dieziege** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 5:04 pm

Oh, and the stock spedometer is horribly inaccurate too.

I hate to say it, but I've got to... the speedo on my 250 shows 90 when my GPS reads 83.2. Guess which I believe.

Oddly enough, I quote the lower figure too. I'm used to driving a particular stretch of road in my car and averaging 65MPH to match traffic. I drove that road 700 times (more than that really) and had a good feel for it... 65 was the usual speed... and then I get my 250 and I'm going 70 just to match traffic and I'm thinking "are people really that much more agressive when they see a bike on the road?" No... the speedo is wrong.

I am guilty of calculating MPG based on the built-in odometer... actual mileage is probably worse by 6% or so.... but it is still over 50 even though most of my riding is at 70+ real (GPS) MPH and through mountains and hills.

But it is still a great bike!

For what you described it'll do great, be a lot of fun, and save money too.

DivideOverflow · Thu Jun 15, 2006 5:27 pm

If you are doing a lot of highway... if you can find a Nighthawk 750, that would be the perfect bike. It is really a shame they stopped making them, they are basically the perfect commuter. (They can be really fun too!)

I don't think it is too much for a beginner (better than the SV650), as long as you take the time to get used to it.

torxim · #16 Unread post by **torxim** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 2:20 pm

i think i've decided on a gs500e.

my next question is how many inches do you think i can drop the seat hight to compensate for my size? it is 31.1" stock and i'm a mere 5'6'' with a 29" inseam, so no way will i be close to flat footed

VermilionX · Sun Jun 18, 2006 2:26 pm

torxim wrote:i think i've decided on a gs500e.

my next question is how many inches do you think i can drop the seat hight to compensate for my size? it is 31.1" stock and i'm a mere 5'6'' with a 29" inseam, so no way will i be close to flat footed

sit on it 1st.

personally, i don't wanna lower a bike bec it will affect handling. best you can do is shave the seat if it's still too high for you.

Nalian · #18 Unread post by **Nalian** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 4:27 pm

Definitely make sure to go sit on a bunch of bikes. I was (and still am in some ways) very hung up on one bike, but after sitting on it I know that it's a 2nd or 3rd bike. The bike I bought today isn't one I intended on looking at, but after sitting on it, doing a bunch of research, etc..it ended up being the right one for me to start on.

Tappy · #19 Unread post by **Tappy** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 7:25 pm

torxim wrote:i think i've decided on a gs500e.

my next question is how many inches do you think i can drop the seat hight to compensate for my size? it is 31.1" stock and i'm a mere 5'6'' with a 29" inseam, so no way will i be close to flat footed

I have a 99 GS500e, at 5'7 with boots on I can flatfoot it perfectly.

Awesome bike so far

Loving every moment of it.

torxim · #20 Unread post by **torxim** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 6:45 am

Tappy wrote:
torxim wrote:i think i've decided on a gs500e.

my next question is how many inches do you think i can drop the seat hight to compensate for my size? it is 31.1" stock and i'm a mere 5'6'' with a 29" inseam, so no way will i be close to flat footed
I have a 99 GS500e, at 5'7 with boots on I can flatfoot it perfectly.

Awesome bike so far Loving every moment of it.

good to hear, need to find one to go sit on for a while now, sounds promising though!