Choosing Bike and Gear

[ninja79]

1. Is a ducati monster 620 to much bike for a begginer. The guy at work says the 620 has a very predictable powerband and is light so it should be perfect. I read the begginging stickys and I only read stay away from 600+ sports bikes. The monster is a vtwin so does it fall in a different catagory?I just want to confurm this with a 3rd party source.

Correct on both counts. Monster 620 is a V-twin, so it is NOT in the same class as 600cc supersports (those are inline-4). The benchmark starter bike is Ninja 500. Monster 620 is a notch above that, but still reasonable. My first bike is sv650s, which is even bigger than Monster, but also a V-twin. So go for it if you can afford it.

2. What gear should I stay away from as far as brands. I dont know any of them. what brand makes a good full face helmet and jacket and so on.

Stay away for Shoei and Arai. There is no reason to spend $500 on a helmet. [puts on asbestos suit]

[Sev]

If the Shoei or Arai fits BETTER then the $100 helmet there is a good reason to get it. You only have one head, better take care of it.

[ninja79]

If the Shoei or Arai fits BETTER then the $100 helmet there is a good reason to get it. You only have one head, better take care of it.

I wouldn't go to the bargain bin for that, but there are perfectly good helmets you can get for $200. But yeah, ultimately it all comes down to fit.

[snwbrdr]

Like everyone else is saying i would say that the ducati 620 is probably at the very top of the starter rannge, my personal opinion is its a bit too high, i started on a ninja 250, dropped it twice at speed in the first week. the worst part of dropping it was i got dirt on my shirt. dropping a POS is no big deal and you will drop it, so drop something thats not worth anything. get 6-12 months under your belt then go get your ducati.
Carhartt's should be fine for a three mile ride as far a being comfortable goes, but protective gear might be a better idea. when i dropped my second time i was wearing a carhartt jacket and i didnt even put a hole in it.
HJC makes nice helmets that are cheap. I love Joe Rocket gear and newenough.com is the place to go for cheap gear thats good.

[sleepercivic88]

I just signed up for the mfs class. I think im going to get the 250 or 500 kawasaki because the value does not deprciate and its cheap. 36hp with a 300lb bike is still going to be fast enough to learn on.

Ill get the ducati next season. thanks I have herd good things about hjc.

[snwbrdr]

Im glad you are thinking more towards the 250. its definitely best to pick up a 2000ish ninja 250 for $1500 and sell it for the same amount in six months.

[bok]

it still amazes me when people become logical and you can almost see the lightbulb come on.

you are making a great decision to get a used 250 or 500 and also in getting into the MSF course.

the great part about the older ninjas is that they pretty much depreciate all they ever will in the first 5 years, so you can pick one up this year and sell it for pretty much what you paid. Even if you drop it once or twice while learning the next person who buys it will be buying a beginner's bike and the scuffs won't bug them much.

good luck with the MSF and in the hunt for the bike