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If I double post, please excuse me ...

Here's the deal. I'm taking my MSF course in Feb, and in the meantime I'm shopping around for what will be my first motorcycle. I've pretty much narrowed it down to these three ...

1) Suzuki GS500 E or F (I prefer the E personally)
2) Ninja 500
3) Buell Blast

I planned to buy second hand in anycase. Anyway here's a little about me and what I plan on doing with the bike. I'm 5'5" and 150 pounds. I plan to ride into work (about a 7 mile commute each way) maybe 2 or 3 times a week. Have no plans on taking long road trips or even venturing on the freeway. Just pretty much tooling around town on local streets.

Thanks
Thomas

From what I read, Buell bikes spend more time in the shop being fixed than on the road. There was uhhh.... "fan" website of Buell Blast owners somewhere. (can somebody link to it again?)

GS500E is not manufactured any more. You can still find it used, but this is a very popular model, so it will not be easy. Same with GS500F and Ninja 500. Excellent bikes, newbie-friendly, very hard to find them used.

Sounds like you are on the right track... you can't go wrong with any of those bikes... I really like the ninja 500... but I guess that pretty obvious... the buell blast would be the least powerful of the bunch. The newest gs500 is pretty darn close to what the ninja 500r feels like from what im told. I'd say choose based on whatever deal you can get. And the condition of the second hand bike.

Which ever bike feels the most comfortable.

tanitatt wrote:1) Suzuki GS500 E or F (I prefer the E personally)
2) Ninja 500
3) Buell Blast

My personal opinion?

1.) Good choice.

2.) Scratch the Ninja 500. The Ninja 250 is $2000 cheaper and only about 15HP less powerful.

3.) The thing vibrates like crazy. They don't call it a "thumper" for nothing. Personally, I can't stand that. But I think Buell makes cool bikes. If you dig the vibrations, go for it.

Check my site for a good list of other beginner bikes:
www.CaliforniaBikeNights.com/learn

Id go with the ninja or GS. Proven bikes with great reputations and good resale value.

The blast is cheaper to buy but is a pretty small bike once you see it in person. "Mixed" reviews as far as durability, although the newer years are supposedly solid bikes.

Have you looked at a Yamaha TW200? TWs are super easy to ride, counterbalanced for a smooth ride (up to 55mph, more with a sprocket change), dependable as a rock, and entirely adequate for your commute. I've been very pleased and pleasantly surprised with mine. I especially appreciate those monster tires in ice and rain. I rode 65 miles running errands this afternoon, in the rain, during rush hour. Everything from stop-and-go to 60-65mph on the interstate. I didn't see another motorcycle.

here's another thought... are anyone of these pretty easy to work on? I do my own small maintenance on my cars so would like to do the same with my new bike.

Thanks
Thomas

Well, my ninja 500r is actually really easy to work on. None of these bikes are very a dvanced, so Im sure the others would be about the same too.

Ride whatever bike feels best.