Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Ok, I plan on soon getting into sport bikes, Im gonna finish up on getting my drivers license then go take the MSF course,and then take care of insurance and finally get the bike. I just have a few questions about the MSF course and the bike to get.

1.Do I go to the place, spend the day there, then go home and back the next day? or is it kind of like camp, for a weekend?

2.Is getting my motorcycle license at the dmv any worse ( insurance,general teachings ) than taking MSF?

3. Im deciding between 2 bikes:


Kawasaki ninja 500r
Suzuki gs500e

I know they are all suitable first bikes and its pretty much personal preference. But I know the gs500e is air cooled ( and I will probably be doing a lot of highway riding ) and I live in colorado where the summer days can get hot!!! for the highway matter, I figure out of the ninjas the 500 would be better for me. but I personally think the ninjas are ugly ( which wouldnt matter to me if I didnt think the gs500 was sexy ).

So what does everyone think the best bike would be for my situation: a lot of highway riding : high tempratures ect ect.

thanks. darek.

Dude I wouldn't worry too much about air-cooled motors overheating, they are designed to shed a lot of heat. Just don't block the fins.

I also here that the ninjas have a little more power. But I like the gs500 better,aesthetically that is. But the MSF question still stands.

my MSF was 2 day, all day saturday, go home, come back sunday for half a day.

have no idea where you are or what it's like there. doubt it's a camp though.

and, you're just gonna jump right on the highway huh?

Oh ok, thanks. As for the highway, no, I wont be ''jumping'' on it or anything. But when I am ready for highway speeds, I will be usi the highway a lot. Most of my family is about an hour away from me and we visit them quite frequently,and the fastest route is the highway. savvy?

Before you purchace a crotch rocket I highly suggest that you get an insurance quote cause I know some younger guys that are paying above $2000 a year on insurance. Insurance rates are thru the roof on crotch rockets and are cheap and inexpensive on all other bikes.

MotoF150 wrote:Before you purchace a crotch rocket I highly suggest that you get an insurance quote cause I know some younger guys that are paying above $2000 a year on insurance. Insurance rates are thru the roof on crotch rockets and are cheap and inexpensive on all other bikes.

Um, it depends. There are more variables than just the bike itself.

For example, I have a '06 ninja 500r, im 23, two tickets, fiananced, one accident in my car (other persons fault), full coverage, theft, 1,000 deductable, uninsured motorists insurace, bla bla bla bla etc etc etc

And Its like $235USD for a year under Progressive online.

But to give some advice to the OP, don't worry about the air-cooling. The engineers made sure that the engine was built to specs where the air-cooling effect was plentiful to maintain functional operating tempertures. If the engine dosn't need liquid coolant, it just dosn't need liquid coolant.

Ive heard the ninja 500r may be better in some aspects, but personally ive never ridding a gs500 so I can't say for sure. But both are great bikes... pick the one you like the most. If looks are more important then thats ok. At first I didn't like the looks of my bike, but its grown on me considerably... plus all bikes look WAY better in person anyways.

The gs500 is a great bike in its own right, so you can't go wrong with it. You did good in choosing a 500cc class bike to start with, they are great all around motorcycles.

Edit:

P.S. I forgot to add, but have you sat on either bike yet at a dealership? It would be a good idea. I think how you feel on the bike is more important than cold hard statistics, looks, or anything else you could think of. Make sure to sit on one for half an hour. Even if you are gonna buy a used bike, which isn't a bad idea. I didn't buy used because in my area Ive looked in all sorts of sources for used gs500's and ninja500's for a year and a half... no luck. Then again I live in Harley Davidson country, we have Barnett Harley Davidson here... so its always nothing but cruisers.

MotoF150 wrote:Before you purchace a crotch rocket I highly suggest that you get an insurance quote cause I know some younger guys that are paying above $2000 a year on insurance. Insurance rates are thru the roof on crotch rockets and are cheap and inexpensive on all other bikes.

For someone who claims to ride, you don't know much about anything to do with bikes.

Oh I also forgot to add, at 65 mph in 6th gear, my bike is cruising at 5000-5200 rpms depending on the wind and stuff. The bike red lines at 10,500 I believe... and bounces off the rev limiter at 11,500 rpms. So im sure the gs500 is very similar and you shouldn't have any problems at highway speeds.

From what I hear, the ninja 250 is kinda wound up at highway speeds, but still has a top speed of 105 mph.

I wouldn't worry to much about what bike you choose, you can't go wrong with any of the beginner bikes in the sporting catagory. Have you ever considered Hyosungs offerings? THey have the Gt250r and GT650R motorcycles that look awesome. Full fairings, aggressive riding position but fully adjustible to fit you better. Adjustible suspension too I believe. They also have unfaired, naked versions of the bikes. And some cruiser models with the same engines in them that look nice also.

In my original post I stated that I would look into insurance before purchasing the bike.