Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hello, let me start by saying that this is one of the most informative beginner's forum that I have found yet! And Id like to thank the experienced folk for spreading their knowledge and advice! This is my first post and the question I have is, is 2008 GSX 650F a good beginner bike for someone who has never rode before? My wife and I are looking at it very hard. We went to the dealership initially looking for the GS 500F. Once we got there and saw the 650s, we immediately fell in love with them! They fit us both, im 6'5 and shes 5'5, although my wife has to have hers lowered a lil. We have our permits and will be going through the BRC on June 6-8. THANK YOU in advance!!

Big Moe

Big Moe,

Read the stickies again.
Have your wif read them. Then read them a third time.
I'm not kidding.

It would be great to have you two new riders on the forum.....for more than a few weeks. Start small.

Flipper

It's not a GSX-R, but it still produces 85 horsepower.

Not a newbie bike.

Do NOT buy new. Do NOT buy until you've got your MSF certificate. Motorcycling is not for everyone. Though we'd all like to think it is.

Consider: It really sucks to have a brand new machine in the garage and realize during the class, that it is not what you thought it would be. Or worse, get injured in the class, and end up having to put off riding until you're healed. (Seen both situations happen. The first with some regularity. The second, only once.)

P

jonnythan, Flipper thanx for the advice! We went over everything again and saw your point. My wife actually felt more comfortable and confident when we decided to "down-size" to the GS 500. Thanx again!! Lion_Lady thanx also and I will take your advice as well. From what I have read on this forum you are an instructor, correct? So I will definitely hold off until after the BRC. I will let you all know how everything pans out and thanx again. I can only imagine how many hides you all have possibly saved. Including mine, LOL!! Keep doin what you do!

Buy new if you have the money, its fun to break your own toys. Buy used if you want. Buy something or wait it doesn't matter IMO. You know how much you want to ride.

I got my bike before I took my class. I knew I wanted to ride. I knew I would ride. I had waited years for it. I don't regret getting it new or buying before class. I also had to wait 9 months for my class from the time I registered which sucked.

If you can't deal with possibly breaking your shiny new bike don't buy new. I managed to drop mine the first ride and crack the plastic. Whoops. I had a good time fixing it.

Don't buy the 650F. To big, heavy, powerful.

Every professional review I've read of the 650F has listed it as an nice entry level sportbike. This thing has 10 more horsepower than the oft-recommended SV650, and folks have no problem recommending that for its ease of use (for someone looking for a standard). Unless everyone and their mother are lying about this being a perfect introduction to sportbike riding, I say go for it.

ANDS! wrote:Every professional review I've read of the 650F has listed it as an nice entry level sportbike. This thing has 10 more horsepower than the oft-recommended SV650, and folks have no problem recommending that for its ease of use (for someone looking for a standard). Unless everyone and their mother are lying about this being a perfect introduction to sportbike riding, I say go for it.

I see the SV650 listed most commonly as a very "gray area" bike.

And I believe the SV650 produces about 70 HP, making the 650F 15 HP over it. And almost twice the HP of the GS500.

ANDS! wrote:This thing has 10 more horsepower than the oft-recommended SV650, and folks have no problem recommending that for its ease of use (for someone looking for a standard).

I have a problem recommending the SV650 for a starter which I believe is what this guy is looking for.

ANDS! wrote: Unless everyone and their mother are lying about this being a perfect introduction to sportbike riding, I say go for it.

key word - sportbike

i have trouble recommending just about any sport bike to a new rider. however, a reasonably experienced rider, looking for their first sportbike, a 600-650 class bike is a great way to get into sportbiking