Need help finding right bike

Message

HomerSimpson · Fri Oct 06, 2006 10:31 am

Hey everyone, I just signed onto this motorcycle forum and was hoping you guys could help. I am 19, 6'2", and 220lbs. After i am good enough i know i will have a passenger. I needed help finding the right bike for me. I have ridden bikes that were no more then 200cc for a period of two months, but by all means i still consider myself a beginner. I am planning to take the motorcycle safety course as soon as i find one open thats not full. Until that time I have been researching what bikes i am considering. So far my favorites are the Katana600, YZF600R, Ninja650r, and GSX600(good beginner?). I am sorry but i find the SV650 to be the ugliest thing ever. I want a sportbike and I plan to use it in a small city like area and with very few trips that will take two hours max. On average the trip may take 10 minutes. I don't plan on doing anything stupid like racing, weelies, stopies, or anything like that. Please let me know what bike i should get or any bikes that are not in my list but are at the same level in looks, userfriendly, and everything. Also other than the classifieds where can look to get trustworthy source for dealers or people selling bikes. My limit is 5000 and I know about 1000 is going towards good gear.

Thanks in advance for all your help

deedee1 · #2 Unread post by **deedee1** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 10:39 am

Welcome to the forum. Have you looked at the kawasaki ninjas. Like a 250 0r 500. My hubby is 6'2 and he rides my 250. He doesn't seem to have any problems with it. I got mine for like $1400.00 and bought all my gear too. Its a good starter bike from everything I have seen and read. Just an opinion of course. Others may know of a better bike for you than I.

Deedee

Shiv · #3 Unread post by **Shiv** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 11:24 am

So far my favorites are the Katana600, YZF600R, Ninja650r, and GSX600(good beginner?).

The GSX600 and the Katana600 are the same bike. YZF600, no. Ninja650, yes. Kat600, grey-area. So maybe.

Out of the list, I'd go for the Ninja650.

But you should take the MSF first, then worry about the bike. And I'll go ahead and recommend the GS500/EX500. The GS500 has the more sportier look to it according to popular consensus but if you're like me (which you're probably not since you think the SV650 is ugly) the EX500 beats the GS500 (or the F, at least) hands down.

Now the pro blem with the GSX600, you ask? It's top heavy. Heavy for a beginner's bike. My cousin has this bike and I tend to agree. So in slow maneuvars you may find it difficult to learn on.

MotoF150 · #4 Unread post by **MotoF150** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 12:25 pm

I may suggest that you get an insurance quote on the type of bike you want before you buy it, the crotch rocket bikes the insurance rates will be higher than you expect, the cruiser bikes insurance rates are much lower.

taximoto · #5 Unread post by **taximoto** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 12:26 pm

Go & sit on all the bikes & ask as many questions
you'll realize info that you might not of considered.
Just don't go by looks only

MotoF150 · #6 Unread post by **MotoF150** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 12:40 pm

Mr taximoto made a great point! DO NOT buy a bike just because it looks good, I made that mistake when I bought my POS Suzuki M50, what a POS that bike has been! I HATE IT!

ninja79 · #7 Unread post by **ninja79** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 1:48 pm

Ninja 650 and SV650S are good choices (btw, you can get lower fairings for SV650 to make it look like this: viewtopic.php?t=17436).

I'm assuming by GSX600 you actually mean GSX-R 600. Neither that nor YZF-600R are meant for beginners. Katana is just not a good bike, period.

VermilionX · Fri Oct 06, 2006 2:50 pm

the katana 600 is the GSX-600F. it is heavy but should be manaegable w/ your body. greay area newbie bike.

the YZF600R is different from the YZF-R6. the YZF600R is lighter and more powerful than the katana600. not really newbie friendly.

the ninja650R is an ok newbie bike. it appeals to people bec of it's sporty look.

but yeah, like they said... go sit on those bikes.

good luck whatever you decide.

currently, we don't really have sub 600cc sportbikes here in the US aside from the hyosung GT250R.

there's also the honda NSF100 trackbike but it is track only.

HomerSimpson · Sat Oct 07, 2006 11:38 am

Hey everyone, thanks for the info, I love reading opinions so the more you got the better.
Looks like I am down to either the Katana600 or the Ninja 650r. Both of these bike are nice. Both are sporty. But how come people say that the Katana600 is not a good bike?

VermilionX · Sat Oct 07, 2006 11:56 am

HomerSimpson wrote:Hey everyone, thanks for the info, I love reading opinions so the more you got the better.
Looks like I am down to either the Katana600 or the Ninja 650r. Both of these bike are nice. Both are sporty. But how come people say that the Katana600 is not a good bike?

the katana is what it is. suzuki's entry level sport tourer.

it's a heavy bike and it's top heavy too. hard to learn slow speed stuff on it.

also... i wonder why it's using a 150 tire. for it's size... im surprised it's not using a 190 or even a 200. there's probably a reason. i just dunno.