Wanna get a bike....

[badfish227]

Hey im new to this forum stuff... so here goes....
I used to ride dirtbikes when i was younger, my father has always had bikes, and now im getting interested, wondering what people would recommend for a first bike (street bike). I want something kinda sporty mostly cuz i like the look, but whatever, also ive noticed alot of yamaha YZF 600s for sale, wondering if its a bad bike or why so many people are selling it. anyway, any opinions or advice would be sweet...
thanks

ps... i cant spell for "poo poo"

[VermilionX]

people here will say that the YZF 600 is not good for beginners. it's not an R6 but it's still pretty powerful for a 1st bike.

anyway... if you really want that bike and won't change your mind. then enroll in an MSF class.

then you should take it easy w/ that bike while practicing the stuff they made you do on the MSF. it's not beginner friendly so if you mess up, it can hurt you and maybe others pretty bad.

practice a lot of throttle control and self restraint.

[DivideOverflow]

Ninja 250, Ninja 500, GS500F, Hyosung Comet 250, read the stickies, don't get a 600cc I-4 for your first bike.

[bok]

lots of good info in the stickies and in the "Learn To Ride" link in my signature line which links to a great page by Dragonhawk (another forum member).

Do yourself a favor and take whatever MSF courses are in your area and then go sit on a bunch of bikes to see what fits you best. Your previous dirtbike experience will help with things like shifting and balance, but it's a whole new game out on the streets and this is where a good course will make you a better rider.

as to why there are so many for sale...my guess would only be that they scared the crap out of their previous owners or they bought more bike than they could afford. They seem like capable bikes that you probably wouldn't outgrow quickly (if at all) so if there are a lot of 03's and up with low milage that's likely what happened.

[badfish227]

this is cool, i posted that last night late, and already 3 replies.
just wanted to say thanks, i had read a couple different articles on beggining riding like in your signature (bok) honestly im not really thinking about buying anything much bigger than a 250 till i get comfortable on streets, my dads advice has made me catious about street bikes. I was just curious as to why so many people were selling that particualr bike. I think i like the ninja 250 so im going to go check out a few bikes today. Also if anyone knows if you have to do a course test to get a motorcycle permit in Az please let me know, cuz then i spose i would have to buy a bike first. any more advice, tips, or articles i should read? lemme know. thanks again guys
Matt
ps how do i put a picture up for my profile?

[dieziege]

The 250 is a great choice. The 500 is another very good choice. The ex250 is probably the best all-around starter bike sold in the US. The used prices often reflect that difference (between great and good). I've seen quite a few one or two year old EX500s for less than $4000 (which is over $1000 less than MSRP), and I've seen one or two year old EX250s for within a few hundred of MSRP.

There are other good choices depending on what you like. I'm on the other side of the Mojave desert and really like the KLR650 because there are a lot of dirt trails and off road options available to it but it is still a good beginner street bike and capable of handling highways, twisties, and city traffic...if you are tall enough. They are 650s but the HP is actually about half way between the EX250 and EX500. I've seen them used for not much money either. I wish I had one.

..but I've now got 55 days and 3300 miles on my 250 and I don't regret a minute (or mile) of it.

Taking the MSF Basic Rider course will exempt you from the skills and knowledge test in AZ... so that's a pretty good reason to take it. Also (and I'm not totally sure about this)

Picture for the profile... click on the Profile button up near "log out" (near the top of the page) and upload an avatar. It's got to be a really small picture though.

[badfish227]

Well,
I just spent some time at a local dealer, an as far as feel i have it narrowed down to, the 500 ninja, and the suzuki Gs500 F. After talking to the dealer, two different people there told me that the ninja 250 is good as a starter bike but you'll be running at 8k rpm to go 65. not sure if thats true, but either way the 2006 models of the bikes i was looking at are marked down to make room for the 07 models.
Funny you mention the KLR 650, my dad has two of them and ive spent a little time riding them, i really like them, but since he has two, i figure, when he wants to do off road riding, im covered, so i might as well get the look i like the best. either way klr 650's rock in my book. im gonna keep reading on the bikes i was looking at and go feel out a few more i think. then look for financing with NO credit!!! fun....
plus i have a friend who recently bought his first bike, got some super sport friggin crazy bike, he'll be dead in a year i think... either way im gonna see if he wants to go to the MSF training class....
thanks again guys
Matt

[dieziege]

Not to put too fine a point on the 8500RPM to go 65, but... so what?

I just rode home from work on one... 60 miles of interstate and 80 miles total (I had a detour, it is usually 60 total) and I don't think I dropped below 10,500 on the interstate... I did hit 12,000 a few times. That's 82 to 94MPH... the engine redlines at 14,000. I was not going as fast as I could. The 12,000 RPM part was accidental... I was cruising along in a bubble of traffic, keeping pace with vehicles ahead of me... and didn't realize they were going faster and faster... I didn't realize it because the engine is perfectly happy to hum along at 12,000RPM all day.

They are trying to upsell you because they make more money on the bigger bike.

But all of those bikes are good. Get whichever is most comfortable and fits your budget, and don't get scared away from the one that best fits your needs/budget by silly arguments like the 8500RPM thing.

[badfish227]

good call man, i figured they were trying to sell a bigger bike, the only thing he said that actually stuck in my head that i forgot to mention was that the engine could wear out faster... i dunno. Keep in mind ive been driving and integra for a couple years and redlining to me is 7, so that kinda rpm seems high. i just dont really know what an average cruising rpm would be. heh wasnt trying to dog on your bike or anything
anyway, with the markdowns i think i might go for the ninja 500, still not 100% though
Matt

[VermilionX]

good call man, i figured they were trying to sell a bigger bike, the only thing he said that actually stuck in my head that i forgot to mention was that the engine could wear out faster... i dunno. Keep in mind ive been driving and integra for a couple years and redlining to me is 7, so that kinda rpm seems high. i just dont really know what an average cruising rpm would be. heh wasnt trying to dog on your bike or anything
anyway, with the markdowns i think i might go for the ninja 500, still not 100% though
Matt

bike rpms are way higher than cars. mine goes up to 16,500 rpm. redlines at 15,000 rpm.

also, bike engines are made to run at higher rpms so don't worry about it.

avg rpms vary from different bikes class and different riding styles.