Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hey everyone. Just joined the forum today after reading through things for the past week.

I'm 23 year's old and have lived in Chicago for about 5 months. I need another way to commute around the city (besides public trans) and got bitten by the biking bug after talking with a friend who's in the same boat. Immediately after our discussion, I got my Illinois license, motorcycle permit, and took a MSF course last weekend. I passed, and then got my license on Friday. Wooo!

I've never ridden before, and it's always been one of the things that I'd never do in my life. My father was hit by a driver on a motorcycle when he was 19 and lost his leg, so growing up it was always a big deal to never ride a motorcycle. But now that my parents are not supporting me, I am making my own decisions and want to start biking. I hope and pray that I don't have the same kind of incident that my father had, or anyone else for that matter!

I've been shopping for bikes over the past few weeks and am starting to get a list together. I am a big guy, 6'4" and about 230lbs, so I am looking at 500 and 600 cc bikes. A few of the options are the Kawasaki Ninja 500, Kawasaki ZR7, and the Suzuki Bandit GSF 600. I really like the idea of the naked sport bikes, with their more upright seating position and good ability in traffic.

What other suggestions do people have? I have read many of the threads about getting a 250cc bike, and am taking that into consideration. I think I would like to test drive one before I make that decision, though.

Thanks for all the help so far, and I hope that I can get involved in the community and maybe meet some more riders from the Chicago area. Thanks!!!

Welcome to TMW...


As to what bike, the list seems almost endless...


Don't rule out any style of bike just because you like one particular style over the other, for looks. Go out and sit on every bike in every shop you can find. Don't sit there for a minute, sit there for a long time, get a feel for the "ERG's" of each bike. You may end up buying a cruiser because it was the best fit even though you're initially drawn to the sportier styles of bikes.

Welcome to the TMW community.

When you decide on your bike, please let us know what you got.
Oh...and congrats on passing...

I was born and raised for the most part in Chi town. I spent my teens in Des Plaines a sub just northwest of Chicago. It is a great place except in the winters (which is why I live now in Texas). If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

As for the bike, when I was a much younger man I rode a bunch and I just restarted after about 30 years. I was looking at scooters and low end CC bikes. My friends talked me into a deal we found with a 1500 CC and I was very reluctant to go that big on my first bike after not riding for so long. But man I love it, and I now tend to agree, get something that will get up and go and not scare yea much in the cruiser style. As for crotch rockets I know nothing. I have heard that if you go too low on the CC's you end up selling that bike quickly for a bigger one so get one with a good re-sale if you elect to go lower end CC. Everyone has an opinion on this subject so take mine just like you would anyone elses, do what you think is best for you. Here is a picture of mine.

@patrick : cool bike you have got

Yes, welcome to the site! Chicago, the windy city and that is all I know about Chicago!

Just reading your post and with your size, I would think you would also want to go bigger, but if you can test drive the 500 and 600 cc bikes, make sure you do before you buy.

I also have a cruiser style bike and don't know much about the crotch rockets either.

So,

(Nice bike, Patrick!)

hey man
i'm in Naperville.
send me an email and lets do some riding.
I'll also share some info on where many Chicagoans ride and such!

Hello from Wisconsin!!!!!!