Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Well... I am ready to consider bikes as my primary means of transportation. A quick intro about me I am 17 (dont shrug me off already), around 5' 9" and am 150 lbs. My bike riding experience is limited to driving "scooters" through the streets of Europe, took that little machine on all kinds of terrain, regular streets and intersections, to rocky dirt roads uphill downhill (to the point I had to push it) and I even had one half assed crash when a Tractor pulled out right in front of me. Lets just call it fast reflex gone bad (lack of experience) and Id rather have fallen than Slammed into the tractor, nevertheless I just stood up, greeted the guy, and drove off with no real damage to the bike or me. A Good Little Beast it was . Anyway... Im seriously considering a bike for my primary means of transportation to school, work, and cruising. I don't consider myself to be all that of an "O Ring" and showoff just wanting to do wheelies and burning out every chance I get, but yeah... I do like good looks and performance.

I've read the stickies you guys have here about first bikes and going for the 600cc bike I really wanted at first not being a good idea makes perfect sense. I browsed around and the advice of getting the Kawasaki EX500 or Suzuki GS500F seems perfect to me. For the Future I was eying the R6 line, typical?, maybe. Once I get a solid grasp if there is a possibility of me getting one, factoring insurance in and all that I'll apply for the motorcycle safety course and all that. I do have a few questions though.

Do you guys recommend bikes for primary transportation? I live in California where the worst weather is Cold, Rainy, and Pretty Damn Windy. It will mainly be used for School, Work, and all that. I really want to upgrade to one of the 600cc bikes in the future, really interested in the Yamaha R6 line but Ill check out its competitors to see what fits best.

What about theft? Do the heavy duty locks do the trick?

Now insurance, anyone willing to take a guess for my range?

Thank You Very Much
Sorry for the long post but this is one hell of a decision for me , that I hope will go through.

i say go for it, i have almost no interest in getting a license to drive a car. so im gonna be usin a bike for primary transportation. right now im just practicing on empty roads untill i get the cash for the MSF course though. do it, and HAVE FUN!! and you aint young, since i was 12 i was considering bikes as my primary transportion, just recently got one though.

i dont know 'bout the insurance bit, i technically dont need it here.
the theft thing.... wire a tazer to the frame???

everyone has to start somewhere mate


sub 500 cc and no rr's is the way to go.

sure ya wont be going as hot as the guy who flies past you on his R1 or gixxer etc, but hey, hes prolly been riding since he was 17 and at 35 he has a good skill set.

one day in the not to distant future, guys will look at you on the road and think "i wanna do that"

learn the basics, stick to mid range machines and keep dreaming about the special bike you keep honing your skills to ride one day, you will get there.

take it easy

good luck

I have a question, have you sat on any of those 600cc sport bikes? I ask because most people I know that have them find them extremely uncomfortable for ranged distance. True, you can modify their ergos after you get the bike, but I personally haven't been able to ride one for more than 10 miles without it bothering my back... So if you are planning on using one for a primary means of transportation, I would definitely go sit on them for a long time and see how the comfort is for you (when you eventually do look to buy one).

If you are using a bike as primary transportation, I would actually recommend hanging onto an EX500 or a GS500. They have a much more comfortable seating position, they are a lot better on insurance, and they are good on gas (and have big gas tanks).

Im on the other side of the country, but I will give you some average insurance rates from over here.
I am 22, no accidents, tickets, etc, and I was quoted $140 per month on a 600cc bike (that is with a year of having motorcycle insurance on a 250, so it is cheaper). From what I hear, that is on the low side for someone my age... I have all the discounts possible.
On the other hand, the bike I currently have insured, my 1979 KZ650, only costs me $20/month. It is older, not worth much (so I didnt insure the value of the bike), and it isnt a sport bike. You will save a ton of money if it is considered a cruiser or a standard.

Your first bike won't be your last...I think you'd be plenty happy with an EX500. Plenty of uumph for your first street bike, if you like the ergo's.

I would suggest going used as your first purchase; become comfortable and proficient, and wring the hell out of it--performance wise, THEN hit the showroom floor.

DivideOverflow, yes Ive sat on various 600cc+ sportbikes before, I never rode one personally but Ive been on them as a passenger. Ive had that thought in mind for a while now and would really like to see how I endure at least a 10 mile ride on a decent bike. It seems the deeper get into this, the less realistic my dream becomes, but Ill try and let experience show me. I dont know if Id be able to take on 2 bikes, the smaller bike, or maybe even the bigger one.

If more people would share what they mainly use their bike for, Id appreciate that, and if taking on a sport bike as primary transportation is a good idea.
Like what do you guys do with your gear if you ride your bike to work and such.

But Thanks all, most other people I share this with are neutral or opposed against the idea of me getting a bike as primary transport. "Danger Factor" and all that. Im trying to talk a bit with some riders I know or can get in touch with, I even found out a friends brother who just got into riding a few months ago but he bought a Brand New Kawasaki 650r, ill take the safer route, heh.

DivideOverflow wrote:I am 22, no accidents, tickets, etc, and I was quoted $140 per month on a 600cc bike (that is with a year of having motorcycle insurance on a 250, so it is cheaper).

Where the heck gave you that quote? When I looked at insuring a new GSX-R600 they gave me a rate of over $4000 a year! And I'm 22, no accidents, no moving violations as well.

sapo916, it looks like you've got a good head on your shoulders. I'm in the same position as you are, I want to jump on an RR bike and ride to my heart's content. But I (and apparently you as well) understand that you need fundamental skills. They are beastly machines. The EX500 Ninja and the GS500 are both excellent starter bikes and you'll find them much easier to control for a beginner.

sapo916 wrote:I live in California where the worst weather is Cold, Rainy, and Pretty Damn Windy. It will mainly be used for School, Work, and all that. I really want to upgrade to one of the 600cc bikes in the future, really interested in the Yamaha R6 line but Ill check out its competitors to see what fits best.

What about theft? Do the heavy duty locks do the trick?

Now insurance, anyone willing to take a guess for my range?

All your questions are answered here:
www.CaliforniaBikeNights.com/learn.php

Enjoy.

"But Thanks all, most other people I share this with are neutral or opposed against the idea of me getting a bike as primary transport. "Danger Factor" and all that. Im trying to talk a bit with some riders I know or can get in touch with, I even found out a friends brother who just got into riding a few months ago but he bought a Brand New Kawasaki 650r, ill take the safer route, heh."

The Ninja 650R is a fine beginner bike. A bike's size is only part of the equation, not all bikes are created equal. Do a google search on a 650R.

As far as a bike being a main form of transportation, I would also say no. The weather can get very unpleasant for bikers, plus the freeways during rush hour is almost like playing roulette.