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Alright, I plan on purchasing a bike in the near future for transportation to college and work. Through all the research I've done it seems that I will looking at 600s. (Yes, I know you all swear by the 500s, but I'm just a crazy squid) Now obviously I'm not going to purchase something brand new. I'll probably screw my bike up more than once but I'd like something that's decent all around for a fair price. I'm looking to spend hopefully 3-4k, something hopefully 2001+ fuel injected, blah blah. Been looking at current model bikes for styles that are interesting, Katana and Ninja's are what I'm aiming for. Now, anyone have any suggestions for bikes that I can find within my price range that are good for beginners? (I have heard Katana's can be difficult to control for beginner bikes etc)

I don't plan on purchasing a bike for another month, maybe even 2, so I'm just doing all the research I can so I know what I'm looking for. I have a friend who was a sponsored motocross rider and has his own bike, he'll be able to come with me and make sure the engines on the bikes are fine and I'm not getting ripped off. My other friend has a new Ninja 650 and his family owns the "Ride Like a Pro" company, so he'll be able to personally teach me the do's and don'ts even after I'm out of the MSF course. I'm just wondering if anyone has any personal experience or advice on good 2001+ models for 4kish. Also, is there any kinda of rule of the thumb besides the "Sit on the bike boy, if it makes your Jimmy feel good, then you're set." Thanks for your time.

As for the sitting on the bike thing, no, you pretty much nailed it. Same thing for helmets (except sitting on them doesn't help out much).

As long as it fits and is DOT approved then it's fine.



As per the question, I don't think there is a Ninja 600 model. There's a ZZR 600, I know that, and there's a Ninja 650, but 600? Not sure about. So you might have to go to a 500 if you want the Ninja.

The Ninja 650 is out of your price range but I've heard good things about them. Some people are hesitant to try them since they're such new bikes but eh, they sound fine to me (and look good and fit good as well). But it's out of your $3-4k price range as tehy're new and you'll be hard pressed to find a used one.


Maybe the SV650 would interest you? You can generally find a used one in your price range. And they're great bikes. Plus they're not as touchy as a 600 race bike.

They're good looking, powerful, and grey area beginner bikes.

Bike prices vary to much from city to city let alone across countries for us to be able to suggest something specifically in your price range. What I can tell you, is I do not believe a 600cc supersport is a good idea for a first bike. But I'll only say that once.

Having said that, I think you need to check the want adds, look at bikes, then ask your friends (the guy with the 650cc inline TWO bike) for advice on whether or not it'd be a good bike.

Remember to look for all the signs it's been abused, road rash, scrapes, funky running sounds, in ability to tell you about maintenance records, chain slack, broken fork seals, repaints, excessive engine noise, thrown in helmets and other gear. And on and on.

Momo wrote:Alright, I plan on purchasing a bike in the near future for transportation to college and work. Through all the research I've done it seems that I will looking at 600s. (Yes, I know you all swear by the 500s, but I'm just a crazy squid) Now obviously I'm not going to purchase something brand new. I'll probably screw my bike up more than once but I'd like something that's decent all around for a fair price. I'm looking to spend hopefully 3-4k, something hopefully 2001+ fuel injected, blah blah. Been looking at current model bikes for styles that are interesting, Katana and Ninja's are what I'm aiming for. Now, anyone have any suggestions for bikes that I can find within my price range that are good for beginners? (I have heard Katana's can be difficult to control for beginner bikes etc)

I don't plan on purchasing a bike for another month, maybe even 2, so I'm just doing all the research I can so I know what I'm looking for. I have a friend who was a sponsored motocross rider and has his own bike, he'll be able to come with me and make sure the engines on the bikes are fine and I'm not getting ripped off. My other friend has a new Ninja 650 and his family owns the "Ride Like a Pro" company, so he'll be able to personally teach me the do's and don'ts even after I'm out of the MSF course. I'm just wondering if anyone has any personal experience or advice on good 2001+ models for 4kish. Also, is there any kinda of rule of the thumb besides the "Sit on the bike boy, if it makes your Jimmy feel good, then you're set." Thanks for your time.

Dude, you are simply setting yourself up to learn the hard way. You are looking to spend $3-4k on a 'first bike' that you admittedly will probably drop/trash. You say you want advice on a bike that's good for 'beginners' but then say you're set on some sort of '600'. What's wrong with this picture? You don't have to look too hard or too far on this site to realize general concensus regarding "600s" is that they're not for beginners. What kind of advice do you really expect to get? You want advice? Get a 500 for under 2k, get good gear, learn to 'ride like a pro'...then you can buy a 'brand new' bike next season or two without fear of 'trashing it' for lack of skill.

And Shiv, the Kawa ZX-6R is a 600...definitely not a beg. bike IMO

go for the suzuki sv650s

You can probably find a half faired SV650s that is well used in your price range. Throw on some frame sliders and your set against most newbie drops. Getting a fully faired bike to learn on isnt the best choice.

Momo wrote:....I'm just a crazy squid....I'll probably screw my bike up more than once....it makes your Jimmy feel good....

Thats the spirit!

The only one i can comment on is the katana, they're big n heavy. and while still lower on the zoom zoom bracket than the supersports, I'd say they might be a little too much to start on comfortably.

Pros of a kat
1. Reasonably priced all in all
2. Replacement parts should be easy to find.
3. Pretty danged reliable
4. should be some decent aftermarket parts around.

Cons
1. Large. Heavy. (trying to duck walk one up a small hill backwards plain sucks)
2. A little too generous in the grunt dept. (just a little, id say its right on the edge)
3. Covered in plastic. Looks weird without the plastic. Of course you could cover yours in 3" leopard fur like my neighbor.
4. Fairly involved process when you do have to tinker with it. Trying to get those boots on all 4 carbs at once is a nightmare that will leave you cursing, sweaty, and in a very unfriendly mood. Course maybe all I-4's are like that. i just dont know.


All in all, great bike. a little performance, a little touring. decent gas mileage. Should last you for a good long long time.

my .02

Id look at maybe a 250 or 500 ninja, the 250 comet, etc... What are dubbed "starter bikes" dont seem to depreciate nearly as much as the bigger bikes.

SuperRookie wrote:Dude, you are simply setting yourself up to learn the hard way. You are looking to spend $3-4k on a 'first bike' that you admittedly will probably drop/trash. You say you want advice on a bike that's good for 'beginners' but then say you're set on some sort of '600'. What's wrong with this picture? You don't have to look too hard or too far on this site to realize general concensus regarding "600s" is that they're not for beginners. What kind of advice do you really expect to get? You want advice? Get a 500 for under 2k, get good gear, learn to 'ride like a pro'...then you can buy a 'brand new' bike next season or two without fear of 'trashing it' for lack of skill.

And Shiv, the Kawa ZX-6R is a 600...definitely not a beg. bike IMO

Hey man, I understand you have a differing opinion, but I have my own. I'm not worried about it all too much, and my friends who'll be teaching me to ride acknowledge it'll be a little more difficult, but not impossible. I don't mind you voicing your opinion, please just respect mine.

As for saying 600 Ninja, yes, my bad, I meant the 650. Pretty much a Suzuki SV650? Anything else? Just keeping my mind open.

do what I am going to do.

I am going to the ducati dealership and will sit on a bunch of bikes and see which one feels the best for me. may not be a ducati and it just might be a ducati .