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Hello everyone, my name is Jacob. I am a 20 year old who is trying to figure out the ballpark costs of beginning to ride. Any answers to my questions that you all might have would be greatly appreciated.

I have been planning out starting to ride a motorcycle for a while by saving up money for the past three years. I've wanted to make sure that I have the money available to get the best that I can in terms of gear and everything and I am also preparing for a better bike down the road after using my beginner bike to its appreciation.

So, in knowing this, I am now trying to work out a budget for what I'll need. Something I really haven't seen too much of on beginner guides is specific suggestions for protective gear. To be specific, for helmets, I am looking for an open faced helmet which allows audible information in (horns honking, etc.); also, I am looking for jackets that are really breathable (I live in El Paso, TX... in the middle of the desert. In the summer it gets up to 110) but still have protection.

Additionally, I am wondering if the bike I want to get is a good starter bike. I am looking at getting a Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Nomad because I will be traveling an hour and a half each day and I am in school so the saddlebags and comfort are important to me along with the comfort for my fiance. What I'm wondering is if you all think the price-range and bike type is right for a beginner and if not, what other bikes you would suggest.

Slightly connected to the previous question, I'm 5'11. What is the best way to know the proper bike height for me in order to narrow down options (I'm not specifically set on the Nomad just yet, it is just the default unless something more suitable comes along). I am namely looking for something 1) comfortable 2) with good gas mileage and 3) relatively safe and inexpensive

That really sums up the questions I have, other than another that I was wondering:

What is available in terms of technology for helmets? I tend to receive a few phone calls during my commute which are generally short but important and I am wondering what is available out there in terms of bluetooth communication from cell phone to helmet. In the same line of thought, I am wondering what is out there in terms of communication between driver and passenger.


Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I'm really interested to hear what you all think.

$3500 is about the minimum for a decent startup cost. But not for what you are looking at.

First things first: Take the MSF BRC course. It will help you understand what is required of riding and it will help you know what type of bike you want to get.

Protective gear. At the minimum: helmet, jacket, gloves and some type of leather over the ankle boots. If you want to be the safest possible, throw in some riding overpants as well.

For breathable jackets, there are textile mesh jackets that should do you well. Just make sure it has CE armor in the shoulders and elbows and a decent backpad. For helmets, I would HIGHLY HIGHLY suggest a full face helmet. a 3/4 helmet leaves your face and chin open to the road in a crash. Full face helmets do not block your peripheral vision, nor do they block out all noise. Most motorcyclists who wear full face also use earplugs and they still are able to hear everything perfectly clear. The road noise is so loud, open ears for long periods is bad.

I would say the Nomad 1600 is a bit too big for a first bike. For longer touring or commuting, a cruiser may indeed be more comfortable. I would suggest looking at a Yamaha V-star 650. It will have plenty of power and wont be quite as heavy. But to be sure, go to a dealer and sit on a lot of bikes. You need to find one that is comfortable to you and feels right. This can and very well may be completely different than what you think you want. There are many people who ride Ninja 250s (a small sportbike) on long commutes without issue. So it doesnt necessarily have to be a big cruiser to let you ride for longer periods.

For proper bike height, you must sit on them. Ideally you want both feet flat on the ground if possible, and to be comfortable with both feet on the pegs as well.

As far as helmet technology, all DOT and especially Snell approved helmets will be more than crash worthy. But I cant stress full face enough since it offers unparalleled protection. But we all accept our own levels of risk.

As far as talking on the phone, bluetooth or any such communication on the bike, I would say forget it until you have at least a year or two of riding experience under your belt. There are some solutions for this, and helmets made for this, but it is complicated, non-ideal and can be pricey. That and when just starting riding, you don't want any more distractions, especially if you are commuting.

If you must be on the phone while commuting, take the car. Also, if you are only thinking of riding to work as a way to save money on gas, then you are better off just using your car. Bikes take a bit more maintenance than cars do and almost never end up saving you money on gas. But then, thats not why most bikers ride anyways.

Ask any other questions that you have here. Whatever you choose to do, goodluck and be safe.

As far as a budget, I just started riding myself and can share with you what I spent.

I spent $150 for the MSF BRC and then $650 or so for my gear. The gear breakdown is: $130 for helmet, $35 for gloves, $135 for textile overpants, $180 for textile jacket, and $175 for boots. But, I did not price compare, so you could probably get this stuff for waaaay less than I did. And, I didn't buy it all at once; I bought it piece by piece while I was looking for a bike.

I ended up buying a used 2005 Virago 250 for $2,500. The guy had already had it safety inspected and he delivered it for me, so I saved a little money there. I paid another $300 for tax, title, personal property tax, and insurance.

Hope this helps!

Glad you are so into calculating what gear and equipment you need to ride, but when I started to ride, I went out bought a good starter bike, GS 550, a leather Jacket and gloves for the cool times and a good pair of work boots.

Now this was close to 40 years ago and we weren't so analytical back then, but I've managed to survive this long. As time passed, I got what I needed but back then I didn't have the bucks to go out and buy everything I wanted or needed up front.

Good luck with your adventure and keep safe.

unloud wrote:To be specific, for helmets, I am looking for an open faced helmet which allows audible information in (horns honking, etc.)

+1000 to what everyone else has said about open faced helmets. If I recall correctly, something close to 20% of all head impacts in a motorcycle accident involve the chin. Like you, I was initially concerned about being able to hear, but you can hear higher frequency sounds like horns pretty well with a full-face helmet, even with earplugs. Of course, we all decide on an acceptable level of risk (including the decision to ride at all).

Note: You also mentioned that you wanted your fiance to ride pillion with you. I'd be a bit wary of it at this point. I'd love to let my fiance ride with me, but have done so only for really short trips. I've been riding for over a year, and still don't have the skill (or more importantly, the confidence) for it. YMMV of course.

Your jaw is a very important part of your anatomy, allowing you to bite and chew food. A full face helmet is required to protect it. Ingesting nourishment through a straw while recovering isn't very appealing to me. A FF helmet is also quieter, though I also advocate riding with earplugs: the wind noise over about 40mph/60kph can make you deaf over the long term.

As Bubba has said, you can start with simple gear and buy what you need when you have spare cash. Steel toe workboots (Walmart $50) that cover the ankle are sufficient. A mesh jacket with armour ($125). Leather gloves. FF helmet ($100). It doesn't have to be motorcycle specific gear, but comfort will increase if it is. You'll also need luggage, such as pannier bags, if you are commuting, but you can start with a backpack. You should also enrol in an MSF course. Take it slow, there's no rush. Biking need not and should not be expensive (unless you become a rabid rider/gear mean).

I'd recommend you get a used 250-500cc/650cc cruiser type bike as your first bike. They are much cheaper to purchase, less plastic parts to destroy in the event of a tipover, lighter, easier to learn how to ride, better on gas, and cheaper to insure. Check out this article by Chuck Hawkson beginner bikes. You should be able to get a used bike for under $2,000, gear for $400, add gas and go. A smaller bike means riding sooner or going into debt less or not at all. I strongly recommend not financing a motorcycle. Save up and pay cash.

There was a time when life was minimal and simple. Motorcycles fit right into that life philosophy with riders chopping unnecessary stuff off their rides, creating choppers. You could be that type of rider. Now you can get a Goldwing with a microwave oven so when your latte gets cool you can reheat it.

I also am a newcomer to cycles. I have two brothers who are experienced riders and they have told me many times over the years to learn to ride. I never really had an interest in it, until the last few months. I always considered riding on the road to be akin to playing in traffic. But my brother told me about his ride from Wisconsin to Colorado on his BMW, and how he plans to ride around the great lakes this summer...and I got to feeling restless and definatly envious of him. Now I think about it all the time. ALL THE TIME! Am I crazy? A 42 yr. old guy learning to ride? The only bikes Ive rode were a couple of dirt bikes maybe 20 yrs. ago...and riding behind a bike mechanic when he took it for a test ride after a repair....again about 20 yrs ago. He did 70mph on some moderate twisties....horror...and sheer exileration. I need to take the tests, buy equipment, and of course there's the motorcyle itself. I particularly like the new 2008 Ninja 250R. It's not too powerful, looks great, is light and agile, and, most important, inexpensive. After gaining experience, perhaps I'll move up to a Triumph 675 Daytona, or if I win the lotto, a Ducati 848. This of course is years in the future. But I am looking forward to joining the cycling community. Good luck on your quest for your cycle.

I personally don't think a 1600 is TOO big for a beginner. It all depends on you. My first bike was a V-Star 1100 and it was no problem at all. I just spent a few days riding around parking lots and back roads to get used to the weight. I have been riding it for almost two years with no problems. However, I think you will be spending quite a bit of money for that back. I definitely wouldn't buy it new, because it is just too easy for it to get scratched and dinged up. You don't even have to be moving for it to happen! The only time I ever dropped my bike, I was in a bank parking lot about 10 miles from the house and my bike wouldn't crank when I came out of the bank. In the frustration of trying to get it running, I simply forgot to put the sidestand down. It was then that I learned just how heavy my bike really was!

mellis95 wrote:I personally don't think a 1600 is TOO big for a beginner. It all depends on you. My first bike was a V-Star 1100 and it was no problem at all.

Sorry, just can't let that one lie. Your V-Star 1100 is 200 pounds lighter than a Vulcan Nomad. Nomad weighs 770 pounds. Dry. If that's acceptable as a beginner bike, then we might as well just toss the whole concept of "beginner bike" out the window. Might as well start on a Goldwing or an Ultra Classic - they're not very much heavier.

TorontoBoy wrote:Your jaw is a very important part of your anatomy, allowing you to bite and chew food. A full face helmet is required to protect it. Ingesting nourishment through a straw while recovering isn't very appealing to me. A FF helmet is also quieter, though I also advocate riding with earplugs: the wind noise over about 40mph/60kph can make you deaf over the long term.

As Bubba has said, you can start with simple gear and buy what you need when you have spare cash. Steel toe workboots (Walmart $50) that cover the ankle are sufficient. A mesh jacket with armour ($125). Leather gloves. FF helmet ($100). It doesn't have to be motorcycle specific gear, but comfort will increase if it is. You'll also need luggage, such as pannier bags, if you are commuting, but you can start with a backpack. You should also enrol in an MSF course. Take it slow, there's no rush. Biking need not and should not be expensive (unless you become a rabid rider/gear mean).

I'd recommend you get a used 250-500cc/650cc cruiser type bike as your first bike. They are much cheaper to purchase, less plastic parts to destroy in the event of a tipover, lighter, easier to learn how to ride, better on gas, and cheaper to insure. Check out this article by Chuck Hawkson beginner bikes. You should be able to get a used bike for under $2,000, gear for $400, add gas and go. A smaller bike means riding sooner or going into debt less or not at all. I strongly recommend not financing a motorcycle. Save up and pay cash.

There was a time when life was minimal and simple. Motorcycles fit right into that life philosophy with riders chopping unnecessary stuff off their rides, creating choppers. You could be that type of rider. Now you can get a Goldwing with a microwave oven so when your latte gets cool you can reheat it.

Steel toe IS NOT a boot you should consider EVER using to ride a motorcycle. Apparently you have never had something really really heavy fall on them. You have a greater chance of loosing your toes/feet with steal toe boots than you do with normal hiking boots. They are great for when you drop things like a 500lb motor on them but if you ever get run over by a 4 ton forklift you will find yourself without any toes.