Looking for a bike
 

Well im looking for a motorcycle, wanting more along the lines of a sportbike. I've been looking into the Suzuki GSX-R1000 or a Yamaha YZF-R6, i know these are pretty high-end bikes and i've actually never even owned a motorcycle before. So anyone have any suggestions of lower-end sportbikes etc.

Thanks in advance



P.S. if you suggest me getting an "Intruder" I will fly to your house and kill you!

If it is your first bike i definitly wouldnt jump onto a 1000. Id get like a 600. Id go with the R6 they are nice bikes.

These are not high-end bikes. These are honest-to-god racebikes with turn signals. New GSXR1000s, R1s, and CBR1000RRs are faster than any street car that a non-billionare would be able to afford, faster than most race cars, and faster than any other production bike ever made.

If you get a 1000, don't leave 1st gear, as you can still break the speed limit in 1st. In fact, you can still flip the damn thing over by goosing the throttle on some high end sports bikes. Or wheelie out of a turn into a car in the other lane. But you are likely to say "But, I know not to hit the throttle that hard!". Do you realize that a quarter turn in the throttle is all the difference between full and none on these bikes? That isn't much room for error... especially if you haven't ridden a bike before. Hit a bump, too much gas, fall over.

Any of the supersports are ignorant ideas for a first bike. Maybe, just maybe, if you are perfect and never make a mistake with traffic around will you be ok by choosing one. A british motojournalist ( someone who has ridden more bikes than you'll ever even see ) died from ramming a CBR954 into the tailgate of a truck. And that is 5 year old literbike. The new ones are leapyears beyond and even faster.

My advice : Go ride a dirtbike. Borrow one, or rent one, or something. Not a 125, or an 80 , a real dirtbike. Ride the piss out of it. If your heart isn't beating fast after riding a real 250 2-stroke , 450 4-stroke or 500 2-stroke, then you are an absolute moron who shouldn't be riding cycles, as it raises the insurance rates for everyone else. If you feel in the least bit uncomfortable with one, especially sliding around and feeling "out of control", then how are you going to feel on a street bike with FIVE TIMES THE POWER AND TWICE THE WEIGHT? You won't slide around on the street, that's for sure... you'll end up on the pavement unless you've got good skills.

If you don't believe me, try the forums at esportbike.com or forums.cycleworld.com or beginnerbikes.com

Is this message meant to scare you? You decide. It's your skin.

PS: sportbikes also are uncomfortable as hell if you are over 6'1" or 6'2".

Well boo said alot of good stuff. If it is your first bike a sportbike maynot be the best choice. I have ridden an 03 R1 and R6 and they are lights out fast. The GSX1000 were the bike to beat in the liter class we will see this year. None of the true sportbike are good starters there is just too little room for error and the learning curve is off the charts.<p>That being said I started out on a ZRX 1100 Sport Tourer. Big engine but ther handling and gearing were alot more forgiving than an true sport bike.<p>Attend a motorcycle safety foundation learning course. They can teach you the in and outs of riding a bike and the instructors could steer in you in a direction of a good starting bike for you.<p>Oh and I want a new 04 R1 so bad I can taste it. But I have just enough sense to know what I am in for and old enough to no do anything too off the wall (nearly 30).<p>Be safe and always wear a helmet.

Don't want to hijack the post, but I'm looking for something along the lines that zxello is, but I have a bit more riding experience. My biggest problem is that I have very short legs, so a lot of the higher end bikes are too tall for me. Any suggestions?

Boo man.... thanks a bunch, your post doesnt scare me but it did make me think. I went in and talked to a buddy at work who is actually paralyzed now due to a MotoX accident in a pro league event. He told me that I should ABSOLOUTELY stay away from the R1 but that i would be ok with an R6 if I took it slow to start.

I really appreciate the feedback, more is wanted tho. Any suggestions as what I should be looking at instead of the R1 and that type?

What about cruisers (Honda Shadow, Valkyrie etc etc)?

Little extra information about me so you know my size and stuff.

5'10'' 240lb. Im a big guy but not 'fat'.

Life's too short for sensible choices, just get the R1 and be done with it.

Wish I could help you with the cruiser question but the only experience I have witht hat is my Dad has a Harley Dyna Wide Glide other than that I got nothing.<p>I guess the R6 could wirk but definitely take a riders safety course it can teach you alot and also may give you a decrese on your insurance.<p>Was that directed at me? If I could buy it and actually KEEP it for longer than a month (Finances) I would be riding it as we speak, trust me.

While you are looking why not check out a Buell Blast. Great learning machine, quick, cool looking, not real heavy.

Unless you are just hooked on Oriental machinery, check out some of the new Triumphs.

You also need to decide why you want a bike and what you are really going to use it for. Fun, long distance, commuting, etc and then see what's available for that use.

Take the safety course first then get the R1.......

AHAHAHAHAH! great advice?

yeah im absoloutely gonna take the safety course, thats a must, insurance prices are to high on sportbikes anyway.




Buell? link to site? :)

Thanks for help here guys, its really helping.

Suzuki SV650S
http://www.harleynorth.com/suzuki/im..._04_sv650s.jpg

Not that expensive and a great ride.

No need to lose your cool Cycler. I meant no harm. Believe me, I'd be right beside you if I had the green.

Any reccomendations for someone who's looking for a first bike to buy in about a year or so, and is 6'8" and 295lbs? Or am I going to be stuck driving cars intended for the elderly for my whole life?

Some Buell links for ya.



Test ride report

Buell Home

A report from Motorcycle Online

No offense taken I just reallt miss my bike. When the ex-wife took off had to sell. I just really miss riding.

Ok i went to the local dealership today and checked out an GSXR600 and a honda CBR600RR, when i sat on the GSX even at 5'10'' i felt like i was standing up on the ends of my tip-toes, anyone know if the GSX series can be lowered to accomadate rider height?

i'll post more later, gotta be off to work in a little bit :D

Sure.
Mr. Self Destruct, I am 6'4" , so I understand the need for leg room. I can recommend two paths in motorcycling : Dual sport, and cruiser.

Sportbikes are ill fitting for tall people. They bend your legs up, and everyone knows us tall people hate being twisted into a ball in a vehicle :mad: .

Scooters... well, that's a whole different story, but you feel like a gorilla sitting on a football. And it's not only for aesthetic reasons, things just feel so much better when you are matched to your bike, weight & heightwise. A little riding and you'll see. I had to switch bikes in my safety course, because I kept sitting on the passenger seat on a bike and couldn't throw it around at low speed as well....

For dual sport, I'd say the Kawasaki KLR650. It was the tallest street motorcycle made, I think the honda XR650L is an inch or so taller now, but it is an inferior motorcycle in many other aspects.
If you want to sit upright, take corners at speed, and not worry about banging into a pothole, the dual sport route is the way to go.

However, many people believe dual-sports lead to hooliganism. This is true. Read some of their exploits, at advrider.net... the dual sporters generally are crazy ( riding 60 miles to a mountain and then trying to ford creeks that practically cover the bike ) and then wreck their $14,000 BMWs while trying to race a motocross bike in an enduro race.

The bikes have good (if not great) handling, great suspensions, and bullet-proof easy to maintain engines. The down side is, they don't have "Holy shit I'm on a rocket" speed. They have more than enough speed for average people, but can be blown away by even the weakest sportbikes in the straights ( like the ninja 500 ). There are some fast dual sports, the KTM Duke 2 being a notable example, but you are talking serious $$$.

For cruiser, you can get almost any one ( I'd go with the Kawasaki Vulcan Drifter or similar, as it has a LONG wheelbase and the controls are stretched out pretty far in stock form) and install forward pegs to accomodate your legs. I don't know much about cruisers.

I'm not here to advertise Kawasaki, it just turns out they have the best bikes for tall people.

Of course, you could go buy a $25,000 chopper and think you are cool, but I won't get into that.

Bikes to stay away from (poor fitting for big/tall people)
Suzuki GSX- ( any versions, either katana or GSXR or hayabusa... long legs = knees up too high for comfort )
Buells ( These are absolutely tiny, skinny bikes )
Ninja 250 ( No way in hell. Not only power wise, the bike is physically TINY )
Yamaha R1/R6, Kawasaki Ninja 6/7/9/10/11 series, same reasons as the GSX's