New Rider, possible bike, any suggestions would be grand.

Message

DRDcustoms · Tue Mar 21, 2006 5:50 pm

Ok, well I'm moving into the Boston area this summer and I don't want to bring a car so I'm selling it. My family are all bikers so I figure it's a decent alternative for transportation. I have ridden before on Harleys. I will be taking a class in April.

I've gotten an offer on my car in trade for a Suzuki GSXR-750 with 3000 miles on it and cash.

Now before you say anything that is NOT the bike I'm going to be learning on. I will be riding my friends Kawasaki Ninja-500 until I'm aquainted.

Do you think it's a smart move? Input and suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

VermilionX · Tue Mar 21, 2006 6:09 pm

just take it easy once you move up to your bike from riding your friends ninja 500. there will be a big difference in power.

good luck!

Shiv · #3 Unread post by **Shiv** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 6:37 pm

Take the offer (what kind of car anyways?).

Sell the GSXR.

Buy a cheap EX500/GS500.

Pocket the left overs.

TechTMW · #4 Unread post by **TechTMW** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 6:58 pm

You are going to be using the bike for commuting = buy something comfortable to ride on. If you like being squinched up into the fetal position while riding to work/school/play/BK for a Whopper w/ Cheese .... etc ... then stick with the GSX-R.

Seriously. Sportbikes are fun, but for every day use they are a pain in the butt (and back, and wrists... ) Visit some dealerships and plant your rear on a few bikes and see what feels good to you. If it feels weird in the showroom, you are going to hate it day after day.

#5 Unread post by **Sev** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 7:35 pm

I actually think it's a bad idea to buy/trade for a bike like that having never ridden. I mean, how do you know you'll like it? Or even that you'll like being on that style of bike.

Personally if the car was good and still worked well, I wouldn't be trading it for a bike if I didn't know for a fact that I loved riding. And even knowing that I do... it'd be a tough choice.

#6 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 1:48 am

It snows in Boston. How long 'til you buy another car?

sapaul · #7 Unread post by **sapaul** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 3:18 am

ZooTech wrote:It snows in Boston. How long 'til you buy another car?

I rode in the snow in the UK, it was not fun and that was on what amounted to a street legal 250 dirt bike. But then I was wet all the time there no matter what I did.

DRDcustoms · Wed Mar 22, 2006 8:49 am

I have a beater car I'll take for the winter when it snows.

I've ridden a lot of different Sport bikes and I like them a lot. It was a tough choice between a CBR and a GSX, was not interested in the Yamaha. But the Suzuki seems more solid to me. The Ninja is great, a little small for me though. The Gixxer was a lot more comfortable.

CNF2002 · #9 Unread post by **CNF2002** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 9:22 am

I dont see the point of buying a bike if you're not going to ride it. I think you should buy your own bike to 'learn' on, not your buddy's.

I wouldnt agree if one of my friends came up and said "I'm going to buy this bike, but I don't know how to ride so I want to ride yours in case I crash so I damage your bike instead of mine."

They hold their value enough to buy your own and sell it later without losing much. Then you can buy a gixxer. It takes many many miles to learn to ride properly, not just a few months. Just food for thought.

In any case, why do you want a sportbike as 'good transportation?'. Its not a commuter DD bike, its a fast toy, and you'll be hard pressed to get any good cargo equipment on it. And gas mileage on those things is probably worse than what your car gets now, unless its an SUV or a V8 sportscar or something.

VermilionX · Wed Mar 22, 2006 9:38 am

CNF2002 wrote: In any case, why do you want a sportbike as 'good transportation?'. Its not a commuter DD bike, its a fast toy, and you'll be hard pressed to get any good cargo equipment on it. And gas mileage on those things is probably worse than what your car gets now, unless its an SUV or a V8 sportscar or something.

im getting good gas mileage on mine. filled up earlier after 146 miles and the fuel pump stopped at 3.8 gallons. so that's 38 mpg! way more than my car.

but yeah, it sucks having a bike as the only means of tranpo... i better win the case im trying to file against the other driver's insurance for getting my car totalled so i can buy me an old but still reliable truck that can haul my bike when i get trackdays.