Deciding on a first bike

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AlaricXI · #1 Unread post by **AlaricXI** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 7:29 am

Well, I'm looking to buy a bike and I've been kind of set on a CB750 Nighthawk. Lately I've been having doubts as to whether or not I'd be able to handle the power that the Nighthawk has to offer. I saw this advertisment the other day and it is very tempting. It's only two hours away from me too!

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/mcy/141329032.html

Do you guys think this would be a better bike to start on? I have a 20 min commute into town every day. The speed limit for a good majority of the drive is 55 mph. Would that work fine on this bike? I also have absolutly no experience with automotive maintenance. Would it be bad to start on an older bike? I'd actually like to learn, I'd just be diving in head first with no experience...

And what are your guys' opinions on these bikes in general?

VermilionX · Wed Mar 15, 2006 7:44 am

that's a 400cc bike on your craigslist link. of course people here are gonna say it's a great beginner bike.

check this site out maybe it will help you.

http://www.clarity.net/~adam/buying-bike.html

basshole · #3 Unread post by **basshole** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 9:06 am

welcome to the board. We would need more detailed information on you first to make any type of suggestion or reccomendation but I do know that taking an MSF course will be number 1 on the list. Tell us more about you. Age, height, weight, inseam, and what your general perception is on motorcylces would probably help too.

AlaricXI · #4 Unread post by **AlaricXI** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 10:30 am

Alright, I am 18 years old, 5'8" tall, 145 lbs, and I have no idea what my inseam is. I have already taken and passed the MSF BRC and I have my motorcycle license.

My perception... uh... I'm not exactly sure what you are asking here. I want bike with a standard riding position, and I will mainly use it to ride to school and work.

VermilionX · Wed Mar 15, 2006 10:37 am

AlaricXI wrote:Alright, I am 18 years old, 5'8" tall, 145 lbs, and I have no idea what my inseam is. I have already taken and passed the MSF BRC and I have my motorcycle license.

My perception... uh... I'm not exactly sure what you are asking here. I want bike with a standard riding position, and I will mainly use it to ride to school and work.

i don't see anything wrong w/ that 400cc bike you like for your 1st bike and it is a standard bike, the ones you like. but like i said, make sure it's in good mechanical condition before you buy it.

flynrider · Wed Mar 15, 2006 11:05 am

If the bike is everything the seller says it is, then I think it would not only be a good dea, but also an excellent starter bike. It'll easily do freeway speeds, but it's light and manueverable enough to be comfortable in town.

AlaricXI · #7 Unread post by **AlaricXI** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 12:33 pm

A quick question here. Lots of ads (like the one I linked to) say how many "original" miles there are. What exactly do they mean by saying "original" miles?

Thanks for the replies guys.

Loonette · #8 Unread post by **Loonette** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 3:01 am

Original miles typically means that the odometer has not turned over - meaning if the odometer looks like this (07000) it's at 7,000 miles and NOT 107,000 miles (on a 10-thousanths-placement odometer the 1 of the 100,000 would not even be visible). Man - in reading this I realize that I have a hard time explaining things, but I hope it makes sense.

By the way - I think that bike is pretty sweet! Take along someone who is more mechanically inclined to check it out with you. Good luck!

Cheers,
Loonette

earwig · #9 Unread post by **earwig** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 5:26 am

The NightHawk 750 would be perfect for learning on... I wish Honda didn't stop making them

They look sporty, has a nice standard seating position but don't take off and torque the hell out of you like a sport bike.

Dragonhawk · Thu Mar 16, 2006 7:47 pm

AlaricXI wrote:Alright, I am 18 years old, 5'8" tall, 145 lbs, and I have no idea what my inseam is. I have already taken and passed the MSF BRC and I have my motorcycle license.

My perception... uh... I'm not exactly sure what you are asking here. I want bike with a standard riding position, and I will mainly use it to ride to school and work.

The common-myth that I am constantly attempting to dispell for motorcyclists is simply this:
Do NOT worry about how many CCs the engine has; be concerned about horsepower instead.

Engine size is irrelevant. You want to make sure you get a bike with manageable horsepower. (For example, a Suzuki Bandit 1200 has a 1200cc engine and about 98HP. A Suzuki GXR-1000 has a 1000cc engine and about 175HP.)

As a beginner, stick to about 60HP and below.

Others will tell you that is too conservative. Listen to them. Listen to me. Then make up your own mind.

Want a list of bikes that qualify? Look here:
www.CaliforniaBikeNights.com/learn.php

Best wishes and have fun.