Questions out the kazoo!

[kosmic klown]

I have been trolling the forum since I signed up, even posted a couple of times, but once law school started up again had no time to post…however over winter break I got the cash for a bike, gear, and even checked with my insurance agent on prices. Now I am all signed up for the MSF course and can’t wait, but I have a couple questions.

First: I looked on Craigslist, cycletrader, local shops and ebay but have found either beginner bikes priced out of my range or none at all (for my purposes beginner bike is either a ninja 500 or gs500, preferably the naked/standard.) Does anyone know any where else to look?

Second: When I went to a local private seller the guy told me that a bandit 600 would be an OK beginner bike, is he just trying to make a sale or is it really an ok starter bike?

Third: How do you all get your stuff back and forth on the bike, especially a laptop and books? (I saw the post about the clothing situation for commuters or else I would be asking that too)

To head off the questions I am looking to spend ~2-3k for my bike. That leaves ~800 for insurance and ~500 for gear…and I live in Northern NJ.

[Scoutmedic]

Third: How do you all get your stuff back and forth on the bike, especially a laptop and books? (I saw the post about the clothing situation for commuters or else I would be asking that too)

Luggage; backpacks, tank bags, saddlebags.... I've even seen laptop bags made for motorcycles. Look on eBay, newenough.com, etc or search engine ... erm... searches.

Here are some places to get you started;
http://www.motopakluggage.com/
http://www.newenoughhp.com/product_depa ... uggage.htm
http://www.tourmaster.com/

Stay Safe Out There!

[2will]

Your inclination towards the gs or ex 500 is a good one to follow. The unfaired gs will be a little harder to find as they stopped selling those in the states a few years ago, but you're in the used market, and at your price range you'll probably be looking at bikes from around that period, so you may catch one. Keep in mind that the faired gs is the same bike, just styled differently. So if you see one of those in good shape at your price, you'd be well-advised to move on it. When shopping for a used first bike, you basically want something that fits your ability and runs well for a price you can stomach. Appearance are secondary.

Enjoy the MSF and welcome.

[Wrider]

Might want to try out mattstoys.com... They are pretty decent to find bikes on. Also, agree with the gs500, good first bike!
Wrider

[safety-boy]

[...] How do you all get your stuff back and forth on the bike, especially a laptop and books? [...]

On a sportbike/standard, I have a bike trunk - basically a small duffle with bungees and hooks - from Chase Harper (http://www.chaseharper.com/TailTrunks/TailTrunks.htm)

When I had a cruiser, it had a sissybar, and I could strap a regular backpack or laptop bag to it easily.

--Dave

[Philo]

Third: How do you all get your stuff back and forth on the bike, especially a laptop and books? (I saw the post about the clothing situation for commuters or else I would be asking that too)
J.

Welcome KK, from another Newbie. I have a cruiser with a luggage rack, so I just bungee my laptop case to the rack. Some of the guys here at work carry their gear in throwover saddlebags. And I've seen a lot of sport bike riders wearing backpacks, though I'm not sure how safe/comfortable that would be. I think it will depend on which bike you end up with as to what method will suit it best.

[safety-boy]

[...] sport bike riders wearing backpacks, though I'm not sure how safe/comfortable that would be [...]

I have ridden with a backpack. I don't think it is unsafe, but it is not terribly comfortable - granted, it was a $5 Wal-Mart job.

--Dave

[Dragonhawk]

First: I looked on Craigslist, cycletrader, local shops and ebay but have found either beginner bikes priced out of my range or none at all (for my purposes beginner bike is either a ninja 500 or gs500, preferably the naked/standard.) Does anyone know any where else to look?
quote]
Those are good places to check. Just keep looking.

Second: When I went to a local private seller the guy told me that a bandit 600 would be an OK beginner bike, is he just trying to make a sale or is it really an ok starter bike?

I think it is too much for a beginner. Others would say it's fine.

Third: How do you all get your stuff back and forth on the bike, especially a laptop and books? (I saw the post about the clothing situation for commuters or else I would be asking that too)

Others have given good answers to this already. Saddlebags. Tankbags. Tailbags. Backpacks. There are many options.

To head off the questions I am looking to spend ~2-3k for my bike. That leaves ~800 for insurance and ~500 for gear…and I live in Northern NJ.

You can get a brand-new Ninja 250 for $3000. Great beginner bike. I started on one. Put 16,000 miles on it before I got something bigger.

[Wrider]

Sorry, forgot to answer your gear questions... I personally ride a cruiser to and from school when there's no snow on the ground. I do have a sissybar, but the bags that strap to it are really expensive, so I just wear my regular backpack. Make sure to strap it up tight to you so that it doesn't throw off your balance, but other than that it's fine. It's also nice because it sits perfectly on my pillion seat.
Wrider

[kosmic klown]

first thanks for all the responses, and as for a backpack while riding, it seems kinda scary, at least when it has 9-12 books in it. I usually need to carry both a laptop bag with a couple books and my lappy and a backpack with rest of my books, this is really where my question stems from...how do you fit alot of stuff onto your bike. I looked at the bags other people posted, but almost none give you picture of it opened up or any sort of size refrence but it looks like the chaseharper one might be big enough, and if not maybe i will get a trunk bag and saddle bags...but again from the pics it is hard to tell how big they really are

i still cant find a gs500 (what i really wanted) or ninja 500 but i figure as spring rolls round maybe i will have better luck...