Good choice for a first bike?

[p4tz]

I've been reading the forums quite a bit, so I'm familiar with the typical recommendations seen for a first bike. I really like the EX250 and EX500, as well as the GS500E or F.

Anyway, I was looking today at a local dealership and came across a 1996 Suzuki Katana 750. The salesman told me it would make a good first bike, and my initial thought was "Are you nuts, that's a 750 and I've never ridden before!", but after reading about the bike online I don't think it's such a bad choice. He mentioned that the bike is not as quick as something like a new GSX-R 600 or a Honda 600RR. I read about the bike's heaviness and the high center of gravity, but I'm a fairly big guy, I don't think handling it would be too big of a problem.

My basic question to you guys is this. Do you think the bike is too powerful for a beginner? The reason I ask is because this bike is only $1,800, which makes a very attractive price for the poor college student. What do y'all think?

[ninja79]

The salesman is full of dodo. He is just trying to get rid of inventory. Katana is not as powerful as GSX-R, but it still has a 4 cylinder engine, which is not suitable for a newbie. Besides, it's just not a good bike in general, whether you are a newbie or not.

$1800 sounds good until you realize that it's a 10 year old bike of a model that is not particularly valuable anyway. When you're ready for another bike, how much do you think you'll be able to resell it for? On the other hand, well-known starter models like the ones you listed keep their value very well.

Bottom line: stick with your original plan.

[Koss]

The Katana has an almost cult like following, with more sporty looks to it. I dont think it would be hard to sell afterwards at all. What year is it? Is it in alright condition?

The engine is based on the 80's generations gsxr's... and I believe its power is viewed to be in the grey area for new beginning riders for their first bikes. Honestly, the number of cylinders don't matter... it would have different characteristics from a v-twin, parallel twin, single cylinder thumper, etc... but its not like it has two-stroke power delivery tendencies.

What worries me about the bike, and your understanding of it above all, is the weight of the motorcycle, and how it carries it. You already know it has a high center of gravity, tending to be top heavy. It dosn't matter what a motorcycle can weigh... when it passes that line where its gonna fall... no one is going to have the strength to get it back up. And if you are moving... you arn't going to have any leverage. The riders size simply dosn't matter in determining a first bike, unless you are looking at seat height and wanting to know if you can "flatfoot" the motorcycle at stops.

I would stick with the 250, 500, and 650cc beginner friendly bikes.

[CycleNewb]

.....What worries me about the bike, and your understanding of it above all, is the weight of the motorcycle, and how it carries it. You already know it has a high center of gravity, tending to be top heavy. It dosn't matter what a motorcycle can weigh... when it passes that line where its gonna fall... no one is going to have the strength to get it back up. And if you are moving... you arn't going to have any leverage. The riders size simply dosn't matter in determining a first bike, unless you are looking at seat height and wanting to know if you can "flatfoot" the motorcycle at stops.

I would stick with the 250, 500, and 650cc beginner friendly bikes.

+1.

All due respect, but if you've never ridden before, then you don't have true understanding of what those numbers mean. It's a feel thing.

I've had my "first bike" for only a couple of days and that first ride was F-in' scary. They say "cruisers have a low center of gravity making them easier to balance at a stop." That may be true, but it's still 550 lbs. that I've got to hold up at the stop light, on the hill, with a cager tailgaiting me.

I guess I'm trying to say don't be a statistic. Go with your original plan and keep the shiney side up!

[CycleNewb]

Oh, By the way, FWIW a new 06 Ninja 250 is 3 Gs with a warranty. That 10 year old Can-a-tuna is 2 G's with unknown maintenance history. That 1800 could turn to 3000 PDQ if there's hidden motor or tranny work required, and maybe more if you don't do your own wrenching.

Best of luck to ya, whatever you choose.

[Koss]

Oh, By the way, FWIW a new 06 Ninja 250 is 3 Gs with a warranty. That 10 year old Can-a-tuna is 2 G's with unknown maintenance history. That 1800 could turn to 3000 PDQ if there's hidden motor or tranny work required, and maybe more if you don't do your own wrenching.

Best of luck to ya, whatever you choose.

Very good point!

[Andrew]

I would tend to disagree with some of the sentiments above. If you take your time and are smart about how you progress on the bike, neither the weight nor the power of a katana should be too much.

The concern for me would be on the condition and value of the bike. Buying used is a crapshoot. It can save you a boatload of money, but it can come back to bite you.

[Koss]

I would tend to disagree with some of the sentiments above. If you take your time and are smart about how you progress on the bike, neither the weight nor the power of a katana should be too much.

The concern for me would be on the condition and value of the bike. Buying used is a crapshoot. It can save you a boatload of money, but it can come back to bite you.

I actually agree with you. I think all of those who made up the whole beginner friendly lists think of it in this way though.

Anyone can figure out the basics of riding on any mainstream manufactured motorcycle out there that is in acceptable condition if bought used.

But your chances and risk increases as weight and power avaliable increases. This all would just add another layer of things for a beginning rider to get use to, or adapt to, or control. Sometimes you don't know you are doing something wrong unless you were told about it, read advice on it, or taken a class and instructed not to do so. Everyone starts off inexperienced, why have a bike work against you when you can find easier bikes that will teach you.

Sometimes its hard not to pull the trigger and see what that engine can do, or try slow speed manuvers and u-turns... but inexperience plays havoc with judgement. Its something we have to figure out ourselves, since we don't have any previous experiences to base our decision on.

By the way, my first sporty bike I seriously considered was the Katana 750. The way it carried its weight just from sitting on it and feeling her out on the show room floor kinda made me nervous... I even turned down a test ride. Next i sat on a beautiful blue SV650... and wow did it feel oh so right. I think you get much more bang for your buck with the 650's from Kawasaki or Suzuki too. But I still have high regards for the Katanas.

[Dragonhawk]

I read about the bike's heaviness and the high center of gravity, but I'm a fairly big guy, I don't think handling it would be too big of a problem.

To quote the Borg, "Strength is irrelevant!"

Lots of "big guys" have the misconception that they can handle a "big bike" just because they are physically large or muscular or whatever. This is simply not true. Being a 250lb. bodybuilder (or a 300lb. guy with a beer gut) won't help you handle a large motorcycle.

Two things to keep in mind:

#1 - The average motorcycle weighs anywhere from about 300 to 600 pounds, depending upon the make and model. If you are sitting on it and that bike starts to fall over, it will reach a point-of-no-return where you WILL drop it. Sure, that point-of-no-return may be a lot farther for a stonger person, but eventually, even Arnold Schwartzenegger won't be able to stop 450 pounds of falling motorcycle once it goes past the tipping point.

#2 - When a motorcycle is moving, the size of the rider becomes meaningless. A 5'1" girl at 100lbs can race around a track just as fast as any 6'0" male bodybuilder. Chances are, she'll sustain lesser injuries if she crashes too, since she will have less weight behind her impact.

So, sure, a large guy may be able to walk a big heavy motorcycle out of a garage easier than the average person. But once you roll-on the throttle on the street, it's all about balance and finesse. Brute strength becomes meaningless.

[qwerty]

When a motorcycle is moving, the size of the rider becomes meaningless. A 5'1" girl at 100lbs can race around a track just as fast as any 6'0" male bodybuilder.

Now, that simply isn't true, unless the girl can't ride worth a hoot and the guy can. With equal abilities, the girl will roost the bodybuilder. It's all about power-to-weight ratio.