Newbie Wants to Buy a Bike

[VermilionX]

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!

i don't have have a problem w/ that. bec i'll get bored of city riding no matter what bike i use.

also, i plan to get into having trackdays. so w/ my bike, i don't have to buy a track bike. of course, i also don't care that riders will be passing me on lower performance bikes than mine. i'll just stick to trying to improve myself.

i already found a school that will provide bikes so i don't have to bring my bike for the basics.

i was very shallow when i bought my bike, i only cared for the looks and coincidentally, the gixxer1000K6 was the most beautiful bike i saw on the showroom floor. i probably would have bought a gixxer600 K6 if there was one in the showroom and if it was the red/black.

[Keaton421]

I know the GS500F looks great, but you're also saying it's a really good bike for my money? Because I've made the mistake too before of buying something just for looks.

I understand that you'll look better on a normal bike then acting like a fool when you can't drive a 1000 cc.

By the way, what does cc stand for. I know (think) it stands for the size of the engine in some way, and therefore the output, right? But what does cc actually mean?

Also, with only 486cc, will I grow out of this bike too fast?

[Shiv]

cc = cubic centimeter. It's the diameter of the engine's piston's (or, something like that. It's the diameter of the hole that does the intake, compression, combustion, exhaust steps that make the crankshaft - and thus your wheels - turn, what it's called collectively I don't know. A piston I think).

So yah it's a measure of how large your engine is. The larger the cc the more fuel can fit into that area and the greater your combustion will be and thus the more powerful the bike will be.


Edit: Probably won't grow out of it too soon. Maybe in several months or a year or so.


Edit2: I guess I should add a disclaimer that I, obviously, am not 100% on the top portion about the CC but if I remember correctly - and understand the workings of the internal combustion engine correctly - then that's how it works.

[Sev]

erm cc means the volume of the compression chambers.

[Shiv]

erm cc means the volume of the compression chambers.

Thank you.

I more or less got it right. Just didn't know the proper term for it.

And that's still not the right 'term' but a lot closer than mine.

[Lion_Lady]

I know the GS500F looks great, but you're also saying it's a really good bike for my money? Because I've made the mistake too before of buying something just for looks.
I understand that you'll look better on a normal bike then acting like a fool when you can't drive a 1000 cc.

By the way, what does cc stand for. I know (think) it stands for the size of the engine in some way, and therefore the output, right? But what does cc actually mean?

Also, with only 486cc, will I grow out of this bike too fast?

You definitely want to buy USED for your first bike. Watch craigslist.org, etc. A used bike has already taken the initial off the lot $$ hit on depreciation, so you won't be out that extra money.

Find a shop that does safety inspections (even if they aren't required in your state for registration) and get the bike inspected - some sellers will split the cost if you ask.

The other good thing is about used 'beginner friendly' motorcycles, is they are in VERY high demand. If you take decent care of your first bike, you ought to be able to get back whatever you pay for it when you're ready to sell and move up.

I got MORE than I paid for my learner bike - and it was OLD to begin with.

P

[Keaton421]

By the way, I'm writing all of this down

The thing I'm most worried about is growing out of my bike really fast and then not knowing what to do...

[Sev]

Even a small bike will outperform the best cars up to the speed limit. How can you outgrow that?

[Keaton421]

That's how I felt! But some people say you grow out of it (get bored with it I guess) the same way you grow out of your first bike in a year.

[Shiv]

the same way you grow out of your first bike in a year.

Wha? I rode my first bicycle (if that's what you mean) for quite some time.

A 500 should last you a while. Only reason to move up is if you wanna get to the speedlimit faster or, uhm...get through long, deserted roads faster

Or for track days.


But getting a 1000cc sportsbike to commute on is kind of like a dead atheist, all dressed up and no place to go.


Edit: On a side note I just put together that 1000cc = 1000cm^3 = 1000ml = 1 liter.

I now know what people mean by a 'liter bike'.