Inexpensive Bike Choices

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ganador01 · #1 Unread post by **ganador01** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:55 am

Its getting closer and closer to spring, so I am going to try and start riding again. For those of you who like opening stories, read the next couple paragraphs. If not, you'll be better off skipping down a bit.

About 3 years back, my friend has a gsxr 600 and a nina 250 and he let me ride his ninja 250. I had been wanting to buy a bike and get a license for a long time and this seemed like the opportunity for me to find out if a bike was really up my ally.

I had absolutely zero experience riding and no license, but I did have the safety equipment I needed. We rode around town and it was fun in all until we got to a mall parking lot and I made a newbie mistake.

I saw a potholl and i was making a 90* right term and managed to lay the bike down at about 3-5 mph. Not too much damage, but I hurt my ankle pretty good as I tried to stick my foot down and keep the bike from falling.

Long story short, that shook me up about bikes so i decided to stay away.
I'm back now and I am ready to start riding again.

But, I definately want to start out on a beginners bike so I can learn the tricks of the trade. I am trying to stayin the 1500-2500 dollar price range and stay away from a brand new bike (im afraid im going drop it, I don't wanna drop my baby) Razz.

I plan to ride a sport bike as a main bike in the future, so is it best to start off with something like a ninja250? Or are there other bikes that are even better for teaching essential skills. I have been reading about countersteering and I am just dumbfounded. I don't recall doing that during my first trip on a bike, but who knows. I also plan to take a motorcyle safety course here in the near future (as soon as i find one).

All suggestions for inexpensive beginner bikes would be greatly appreciated! All bikes that get really good gas mileage are a plus.

Ive been looking at a lifan l200b, kawasaki ninja250r.

ganador01 · #2 Unread post by **ganador01** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:02 am

On a separate note, where is the best place to buy safety gear? At a retail store, bike retailer, ebay? Ive seen that you can easily spend 1000 dollars on safety equipment so saving here is important to me as well.

jonnythan · #3 Unread post by **jonnythan** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:08 am

Like I said in the other thread, definitely get some training. You don't mention training in your post at all.

(edit: Yes you did. I totally missed that sentence. Sorry.)

The Ninja 250 is "the" inexpensive sport-ish beginner bike to get.

oxbow1 · #4 Unread post by **oxbow1** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:10 am

take a saftey course

ganador01 · #5 Unread post by **ganador01** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:15 am

woot. 2 responses. Both telling me to take safety courses which i already said i was planning to take!

I am more interested in my bike choices in the 1500-2500 range. I am having trouble finding used ninjas in that range. They all seem to be near their brand new MSRP on cycle trader.com (in the dfw area)

oxbow1 · #6 Unread post by **oxbow1** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:18 am

sorry dude, missed that too.
mabey you should just find any bike that fits you and your budget,your first bike is like your first girlfriend, for practice and you will eventually get another one.
I bought my first bike last year and thought it was all I would ever want
93 nighthawk 750
now I can't wait to get a different one
VTX 1300

jonnythan · #7 Unread post by **jonnythan** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:24 am

ganador01 wrote:woot. 2 responses. Both telling me to take safety courses which i already said i was planning to take!

I am more interested in my bike choices in the 1500-2500 range. I am having trouble finding used ninjas in that range. They all seem to be near their brand new MSRP on cycle trader.com (in the dfw area)

Well you're looking at buying a bike at the worst possible time. Everyone is looking to buy a bike right now.

There's a Virago 250 up for $2000. It's a small cruiser style bike. I see a Ninja 500 up for $2400, which is also an entirely decent beginner bike.

I'm currently riding a Yamaha XV535 I got off CL for about $800 (which was a steal). Just gotta keep your eyes open.

As for gear on the internet, that's tough. Gloves, helmets, and boots should be bought locally to ensure fit. Jackets and pants can be found at NewEnough.com, RideGear.com, and a few others.

oxbow1 · #8 Unread post by **oxbow1** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:28 am

good point johnny,also if you don't support your local gear stores they might not be there when you need them.
you can't run out to the internet and grab a pair of gloves if you lose them.

ganador01 · #9 Unread post by **ganador01** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:36 am

jonnythan wrote:
ganador01 wrote:woot. 2 responses. Both telling me to take safety courses which i already said i was planning to take!

I am more interested in my bike choices in the 1500-2500 range. I am having trouble finding used ninjas in that range. They all seem to be near their brand new MSRP on cycle trader.com (in the dfw area)
Well you're looking at buying a bike at the worst possible time. Everyone is looking to buy a bike right now.

There's a Virago 250 up for $2000. It's a small cruiser style bike. I see a Ninja 500 up for $2400, which is also an entirely decent beginner bike.

I'm currently riding a Yamaha XV535 I got off CL for about $800 (which was a steal). Just gotta keep your eyes open.

As for gear on the internet, that's tough. Gloves, helmets, and boots should be bought locally to ensure fit. Jackets and pants can be found at NewEnough.com, RideGear.com, and a few others.

what about that lifan i listed? its only 1500 brand new? is that just a big piece of crap or what?

Johnj · #10 Unread post by **Johnj** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:54 am

There have been a couple of guys here that had Lifan (intotherain) bikes. I don't think they held up well at all.