Is this a good first bike???

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stryped · #1 Unread post by **stryped** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 1:48 am

I was wondering if this was a good deal. It is still for sale: http://nashville.craigslist.org/mcy/770320738.html

I am looking for my first bike to ride 20 miles one way to work to save gas. (20 miles to and 20 miles from = 40 miles/day).

It is most dual lane 55mph road. I will admitt it is not the prettiest thing.

Are these things reliable? SHould I go look at it? It is about an hour or more away from me. The guy said he traded for it but knows the guy who had it and it had no problems.

Just wonderign what you experts thought.

dean owens · Tue Jul 29, 2008 2:46 am

first - posting in one forum is good enough.

now on to your question.... i took the riders edge course and we used buell blasts. they had quirks - but it sounds like any bike that is ridden exclusively but people who don't know what they are doing will get like that

because people who have taken the BRC have come on here complaining about their bikes.

having said that... i liked the blast, especially for a first bike. it's nice and light. it has a standard seating position. and it has amazing gas milage. i don't know how well they hold up over time though. so i'm not much help there. but if i had the money for an extra "play toy" i would think about getting one.

stryped · #3 Unread post by **stryped** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:00 am

dean owens wrote:first - posting in one forum is good enough.

now on to your question.... i took the riders edge course and we used buell blasts. they had quirks - but it sounds like any bike that is ridden exclusively but people who don't know what they are doing will get like that because people who have taken the BRC have come on here complaining about their bikes.

having said that... i liked the blast, especially for a first bike. it's nice and light. it has a standard seating position. and it has amazing gas milage. i don't know how well they hold up over time though. so i'm not much help there. but if i had the money for an extra "play toy" i would think about getting one.

What kind of quiks and what kind of mileage does it get?

#4 Unread post by **Wrider** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 12:08 pm

First let me say I've never ridden one personally and haven't talked to any owners of them myself.

That said, I've heard lots of bad reviews about them. Vibrations, weird powerbands, etc.
As for the ride I'm sure it can handle it without a problem.
I suggest you take the msf or rider's edge class first to learn to ride first.
Wrider

stryped · #5 Unread post by **stryped** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 1:57 am

Wrider wrote:First let me say I've never ridden one personally and haven't talked to any owners of them myself.

That said, I've heard lots of bad reviews about them. Vibrations, weird powerbands, etc.
As for the ride I'm sure it can handle it without a problem.
I suggest you take the msf or rider's edge class first to learn to ride first.
Wrider

I have also found a Ninja 500. IS this a better bike? Is the insurance more on a Ninja 500 than a Buell?

Gunslinger · Wed Jul 30, 2008 6:19 pm

stryped wrote: I have also found a Ninja 500. IS this a better bike? Is the insurance more on a Ninja 500 than a Buell?

Depends on lots of things: the condition of the bike, mileage, does it have a salvage title, the price, how the bike feels when you're sitting on it, how old is it. You haven't provided enough information to even begin to answer your question. As far as insurance goes pick up the phone and call an agent for a quote.

matthew5656 · Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:37 pm

I've heard positives and negatives about the little blast. The bike is single cylinder, so I'm sure it gets outstanding mileage. Great handler, very light. But the blast isn't as powerful as the suzi GS500s and far less than the Ninja EX500s. I bet the Buell would have some trouble at faster, highway speeds being so light and single cylindered.

Overall I'd recommend a well conditioned kawi EX500 over a Blast any day. I've heard nothing but great things about the EX500, and I still regret not buying one.

gsJack · #8 Unread post by **gsJack** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 1:57 am

Here's a ten bike comparo of inexpensive bikes from the 03 Cycle World Buyer's Guide that includes the Blast, EX500, and GS500 and others any one of which could be a good first bike depending on the size of the rider.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v443/ ... sOnWheels/

jstark47 · #9 Unread post by **jstark47** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 2:08 am

There was a forum member here, used the handle CNF2002, who commuted on a Blast. He had good things to say about it. He’s not riding any more (the Blast didn’t have anything to do with that), but his blog is still up on TMW, you can read about his practical experiences: viewtopic.php?t=11790.

There’s another forum member, handle- DustyJacket, who started on a Blast, his wife still has it, and has posted many positive things, sample: viewtopic.php?p=203708&highlight=#203708

stryped · #10 Unread post by **stryped** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 4:37 am

Gunslinger wrote:
stryped wrote: I have also found a Ninja 500. IS this a better bike? Is the insurance more on a Ninja 500 than a Buell?
Depends on lots of things: the condition of the bike, mileage, does it have a salvage title, the price, how the bike feels when you're sitting on it, how old is it. You haven't provided enough information to even begin to answer your question. As far as insurance goes pick up the phone and call an agent for a quote.

Bike is a 93. Has 23,000 miles. Clear title. 1800 dollars. It has a crak on the lower fairing 1/4 inch wide about 5-6 inches long. Bottom is a little scruffed up he says.