new rider options for bikes

[ninja_nate]

Hello everyone...

I've wanted a bike for quite a few years, but am now just getting serious about getting one. Gas prices are too much for my truck, and I do quite a bit of driving to work and grad school. So I'm thinking this is my perfect opportunity to get a good bike to serve that purpose. Of course, I'm also wanting a fun bike that will give me some options should I want to go, let's say, off-road.

I've been looking at a few bikes (mostly sport-type or standard sporty looking), and would like some extra advice on what to pursue. Let me throw in a few stipulations, though.

1. I'm in my mid-20's, so having something that impresses the young sport crowd is not a necessity. I would like a sporty-looking bike though (not really into the cruiser look).

2. My insurance company will not insure (or I'll pay out the _.d93&&) what they call a "superbike." This includes, for them, almost all the sport bikes, crotch rockets, etc.

3. I'm limited on finances (a reason for getting a bike in the first place). So I'm looking for a good bike that's under 6000 if at all possible. From what I've read on this forum, I already know to try and buy used. But if I can't find a good used one that I like, I want to know what options are good for a new bike.

4. Good driving is what I need most, especially for distances longer than 50 miles at a time. Speed is not a necessity, but I do need to be able to get to 70-75 on the highway to cruise with traffic.

5. Riding a bike to get the feel for it is not a likely option. I'm just now studying for my permit, then I'll be looking at buying a bike. With no experience, I don't trust myself to ride it. So I'll need to know what I can do to get the feel for it without actually test-riding.

Okay, now for the bikes. I've been looking at the...

1. Kawasaki KLR650. I've heard lots of good things about this one. I like the dual purpose.

2. Buell Blast. It's neat looking, but I've heard it's kind of small. (I'm right at 6' with an inseam of 32.")

3. Suzuki DR650E. Don't know much about it. Haven't checked insurance, either. I think it's another standard-sport type or dual sport?

4. Suzuki DR-Z400S or SM. Any thoughts?

5. Any other similar type bike that I've overlooked for a newbie?

THANKS EVERYONE! This forum seems really great, and I've already learned a lot about bikes from previous posts. I really appreciate any help.

[Thumper]

32" inseam opens up most bikes to you. Have you considered the Ninja 250 or 500? Both are good first bikes, sporty, not expensive, and cheap to insure...the 500 might be better on the Interstate. The 250 is entirely doable, though, and lots of riders hang onto theirs forever.

Suzuki GS500...good starter, good all purpose, and you could potentially hang onto it for years to come.

Before you buy, though...take the basic rider's class. You'll learn to ride a bike there, and get a better idea what you might want--and whether or not you really do want to ride. Some people are very enthusiastic at first, but take the class and realize it's not for them. Others take it and realize that big V* they had their eye on is too big, or the Rebel they just plunked down cash for is too small for their body.

Shop regardless...sitting on bikes in dealerships is a weird kind of fun, and it's free

[ninja_nate]

32" inseam opens up most bikes to you. Have you considered the Ninja 250 or 500? Both are good first bikes, sporty, not expensive, and cheap to insure...the 500 might be better on the Interstate. The 250 is entirely doable, though, and lots of riders hang onto theirs forever.

Suzuki GS500...good starter, good all purpose, and you could potentially hang onto it for years to come.

First, thanks for the advice. I'll definitely shop around and check out all the cool bikes. I also plan to take the rider's course soon.

The Ninja and GS500 are sweet looking bikes, and I've heard lots of good things about them. But I've already checked with my insurance company, and those bikes are considered "superbikes." My company won't insure them, so they have to outsource to another company, and it would be too expensive. If you say they're cheap to insure, then maybe I'm with the wrong insurance company? Could you let me know who would insure those bikes for a reasonable price?

Again, thanks so much!

[mgdavis]

Call around for insurance quotes. A Ninja 250 is far from a "Superbike". You might find another company that is more accommodating.

[NWTrtle]

The Ninja 500 and the GS550 are both pretty far from being super bikes. You might want to shop around for a better insurance company.

[roncg41677]

If you're looking at dual-sports (which do look like a lot of fun) you may want to sit on a Yamaha XT225 (I think). Smaller engine, but I am your size, and it seemed perfect. Some of the Kawasakis and Suzukis are really high.

The Suzuki DRZ400SM is a VERY sweet bike too. It's customized for Super Motard, basically making it more suitable for street riding. It's a dual sport that rides the lines of a sport bike a little more than the rest.

For the sake of full disclosure, I've only looked at these and sat on them, I haven't actually ridden one .

[MZ33]

Who do you insure with? Or, to please Mrs. Thompson, my fifth grade grammar teacher: with whom do you carry insurance?

According to my agent, State Farm only cared about the year of manufacture, and the size of the engine, when setting prices.

[Thumper]

The Ninja and GS500 are sweet looking bikes, and I've heard lots of good things about them. But I've already checked with my insurance company, and those bikes are considered "superbikes."

Then honestly, you need a different insurance company; both baby Ninjas are usually cheap to insure, and I wouldn't think the GS500 would cost any more than the Ninja 500. Heck, my SV 650 only runs me $28/month for full coverage.

This might be one instance where you're better off not insuring the bike along with other vehicles. I insure through USAA, but you might want to try Progressive, Geico, Allstate, Bikeline...there are others that insure bikes, hopefully people will chime in with their experiences.

[Captain Pete]

I'm not a huge fan of Harleys, mainly because I own one, but a slightly used Sportster of a newer vintage with the fuel injection, or a new one, might do okay for you. They don't look like a cruiser, unless you dress it up to do so, and they're not considered "superbikes" (not by a looong shot). Size-wise, it should be perfect. And, as long as you get the 883, you'll get good gas mileage, and it won't run away on you going down the highway. But, the only place you'll get a good trade on it in a few years when you want to swap up, is a HD dealership, and probably only for another Harley.

[JIBTEXHNKA]

Who do you insure with? Or, to please Mrs. Thompson, my fifth grade grammar teacher: with whom do you carry insurance?

you should inform Mr. Thompson that the rule against ending a sentence with a preposition was improperly carried over from latin by over-zealous intellectual types who thought that latin was superior to english and therefore imposing latin grammar on it might make it somehow more sophisticated. :]