Newbie Wants to Buy a Bike

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VermilionX · Mon Feb 06, 2006 5:44 pm

Sevulturus wrote:What do you mean a real sportsbike?

the ones 600cc and above race replicas.

as i understand, the GS500F is just a standard bike w/ sport style fairings. kinda like an SV w/ full fairings.

#12 Unread post by **Sev** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 5:59 pm

VermilionX wrote:
Sevulturus wrote:What do you mean a real sportsbike?
the ones 600cc and above race replicas.

as i understand, the GS500F is just a standard bike w/ sport style fairings. kinda like an SV w/ full fairings.

I've always thought of those as supersports as opposed to sports bikes.

VermilionX · Mon Feb 06, 2006 6:13 pm

i read that the seating position, handle bars, and foot pegs of the GS500F are positioned just like standards.

but i dunno for sure, i just read that. i haven't sat on a GS500F yet so i can't tell for sure if the position is really diff from my gixxer.

Keaton421 · Mon Feb 06, 2006 6:56 pm

I'm really liking this Suzuki GS500F

But what separates it from the original GS500?

Are 486 cc gonna be enough?

VermilionX · Mon Feb 06, 2006 7:04 pm

Keaton421 wrote:I'm really liking this Suzuki GS500F

But what separates it from the original GS500?

Are 486 cc gonna be enough?

they have 2 GS500s... the GS500F is the sporty looking, the GS500E is the standard naked bike. the only diff is that the 500F has sports style fairings.

and 486cc would be enough for the streets and highways.

WanTeD · #16 Unread post by **WanTeD** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 11:36 pm

It's weird... Every beginner, like me, tends to like the GS500F..

Tue Feb 07, 2006 3:06 am

Keaton421 wrote:
VermilionX wrote: - as for the color, i haven't seen a crappy red color on bikes yet.
you might have to crappify it on your own.[/img]
It is called "Breton Red"

The Suzuki was my first choice, but what's the difference between a beginner's bike and a more experienced bike?

The blue ninja is a nice model, too.

Are people gonna see me on my beginner bike, be able to see from how it looks that it's a newbie bike, and be able to make fun of me?

No. But if you buy something too big/powerful, that you aren't able to handle (the slow stuff, like stoplights, etc, is where it becomes obvious) everyone will KNOW you're a newbie and it won't matter how cool the bike is, cause they'll be laughing at YOU.

Read the stickies. There is a good list of learner bikes there. Don't worry how cool the first bike looks.

Take the MSF Basic Rider's Course. http://www.msf-usa.org/ to find out where its offered.

P

Keaton421 · Tue Feb 07, 2006 4:21 am

Looks like I'm going with the GS500(F)

Would you suggest buying online from the manufacturer, or looking around at dealers, or even a car site like carmax?

Also, I live in a place where it gets pretty snowy and icy in winter. I don't want my bike to sit there and waste money when it gets icy, and since I won't have a car, I'm not sure I'm comfortable driving in the ice with my bike. Any advice?

VermilionX · Tue Feb 07, 2006 4:39 am

Keaton421 wrote:Looks like I'm going with the GS500(F)

Would you suggest buying online from the manufacturer, or looking around at dealers, or even a car site like carmax?

Also, I live in a place where it gets pretty snowy and icy in winter. I don't want my bike to sit there and waste money when it gets icy, and since I won't have a car, I'm not sure I'm comfortable driving in the ice with my bike. Any advice?

don't get rid of your car. you'll need it. there just isn't enough space on a bike. plus like you said, you're not comfortable riding on ice.

besides you said you already got $5000 to spend, you can buy a new GS500F w/ that, but there's other charges of course like tax, registration etc.

ordering online? i dunno about that... it's a lot better to go to a dealer.

CNF2002 · #20 Unread post by **CNF2002** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 5:20 am

Take the course. If you do really well in it, I'd say get a 500 to start on. If you're stalling, having trouble balancing, etc...start even lower, like a 250. You can take a 250 ninja/rebel/virago on a freeway no problem. Its not a touring bike, but unless you're riding 500 miles the 'smaller' bike is just fine.

And unless you commute on a race track, a 1000cc bike is going to be just as useful in traffic as a 250cc.

If you're worried about looking 'silly' in a 'beginners bike' let me tell you that 99% of people who SEE you on that bike won't know the difference, let alone what a 'cc' even means. You'll look much better riding the 250 in style than you will fumbling around with a 500+. Cagers dont care that you're a new rider...my first day on the road I stalled while starting out at a stoplight...the cager behind me darn near ran me over even after I got it started and waved sorry and started up again, didnt even bother to get out of my lane before passing me up...they'll be perfectly happy killing you just for inconveniencing them for 5 seconds.

Unless you're 30+, dont finance a big bike. Get a small one, cheap, and pay cash or you'll be pay for the bike twice in a couple years in insurance.

I took the course, learned the basics, and got a good cheap used bike that was appropriate for my skill level. And when I bought it I was riding safely on the ROAD instead of it sitting pretty in my garage worried about banging it up.

I don't get the big deal about buying a big pretty sportbike as a first bike...any damage will be VERY noticable, and you spend MOST of your time in the city at 25-40mph. There are so many options in low-powered bike styles, you cant go wrong!