Thoughts about buying a new motorcycle, some advice needed.

Jeff, you're a fucking idiot..go kill yourself slowly. I hope you fall off your piece of shit bike, and at the scene..all the cops make fun of you for driving a bike built for a pussy. The cc of a bike doesn't really make that much of a damn difference, my golfcart is a fucking 450cc..it still only does 40kmph. I guarantee you will hate this bike and this decision I just don't know why you refuse to listen to anyone about this, WE ACTUALLY RIDE BIKES..seems like all you do is talk about what a bitch you are. It's not about some super macho tough guy shit, riding a bike on the street is pretty scary shit..and it's nice to know you do have a bit of power to get out of a bad situation.. not some ZOMG MY BIKE DOES LIK 340MPH!!!!..A 250cc bike will be shitty, and you'll look really, really faggy on it. I learned how to drive on the street on a 250cc Yamaha..it was the worst, not because I couldn't wait to go super fast and act like a dick..it's because I couldn't even really attempt to pass, and because I looked like a fucking tool on it. But do what you want, I don't care...but it really doesn't have a whole lot to do with speed, it's about capability. I know for sure whoever sells you this bike will laugh so damn hard at you as you leave, Unless you're like 5'4 and 90lbs...then it will suit you fine.

Part of your original question was about dealership practices... many markets have OTD shops that will tell you up front what the "out the door" price is. That makes it easier to compare shops. As for first bikes, you can't go wrong with the Suzuki SV650, or Kawasaki "ninja" 650, comfy egros, upright seating, light, reasonably powered, silky smooth. I don't recommend the 250cc MSF bikes, not in traffic, they just can help you get out the way like you need too sometimes.

don't get one

Quote:

Originally posted by LeonRedbone

don't get one

Good advice, three of my mates died to young


...Unless you know what your playing with(you don't sound very experienced jeff), maybe join a bike club or something, it's good to be around knowledgable riders.

Quote:

Originally posted by crymurder

...
Good advice, three of my mates died to young


...Unless you know what your playing with(you don't sound very experienced jeff), maybe join a bike club or something, it's good to be around knowledgable riders.

well, of course he isn't experienced. he's just starting out!

when i started out on a 250 i thought 40km/h was fast and wouldn't dream of going beyond 2nd gear. now i'm on a 900cc with a lot of kms behind me, some close calls, and a lot of fun times you can't experience on four wheels or sitting behind a computer screen whacking off. and NO i haven't fallen...yet:P

who gives a shit if the 250 is "gutless!" learn to crawl before you walk and run. it's about progression and being comfortable and understanding the nuisances on two wheels. having a lot of power on tap when your learning is just a recipe for disaster, imho. say you freak out, ring the throttle, dump the clutch on a bigger bike that's less forgiving and you'll be fucked! fuck it! why not just go buy a 50cc scooter? a lot of people enjoy riding them...

ask yourself this, when one goes to learn how to ski, do they go straight up to the top of the steepest hill or do they start out on the baby hill?

here's a site for the nay sayers: http://home1.gte.net/res0ak9f/bike.htm

oh, yeah: 2nd hand for the 1st bike is the way to go. though, do some research and take somebody who knows about bikes so you don't end up buying a heap o' shit!

As a person who was 18 when they bought their first 1999 Katana 750 , which I thought was gonna be TOO much for me , I didnt even know how to ride it home from the dealership!!!..About a year later I traded in , got raped upside down , paid waayyy too much for a 2000 ZX9R and was pulling 1:27 lap times at Willow springs..Pros turn about 1:20-1:24 during races..I always recommend to someone new , whether they want to get the biggest bike there is or the smallest bike there is , to buy a used bike first..Unless you got money spilling outta your pockets??...Its gonna feel pretty shitty when you drop your new baby..BTW..My old boss and his wife went to one of the motorcycle courses and he was confident that they learned EVERYTHING about riding in that course and wanted to buy his wife a new bike...I gave him the same recommendation , he didnt listen , bought his wife some 650 yamaha cruiser I think...Less then a week or two later , she dumps the clutch and takes off like Pee-Wee across the street and crashes into the curb , light something else...My boss was in the hole 5-6K in a week or two , because the bike wasnt totaled , it had some damage but she didnt wanna ride anymore!!..From a motorcyclists POV I felt bad , from a personal POV I was happy because I was right and plus his wife is a real CUNT and thinks her shit doesnt stink!!...

Oh yeah I forgot one of my points!!...I thought that I would just be using my bike for commuting and saving gas , I had no idea I would be racing a year later...Maybe it was just be 19 and stupid , but I still love it!!..So dont assume that this 250cc is gonna be your last bike ever , because once you start and begin to love it youll know why crack addicts have such a hard time quitting!!..Buy whatever you feel comfortable with , but buy with the thought in your head that you just might want another bike afterwards and is this gonna make it hard to buy my next one?...EX. my dumbass being upside down and paying waaayyy too much!!

Quote:

Originally posted by Jeff613

I could afford a 600cc new bike, I just don't think it would be right to start out on one that size, plus it would be way more than I am going to need for the surface street riding I am going to do. In this age of excess, I happen to believe in keeping it simple and not buying or owning more than I need. If my life has one dictate it can be summed up as this: simplify.

While a 250cc bike is not the most powerful out there, it's still a capable, legit bike, and yes there are lots of guys who ride just smaller bikes because they are fun and unintimidating.

My chances of getting injured are low because I am starting out late in life at age 38. NO hot dogging for me, and I am way past the age where one realizes that yes, you can die. I'm also going to take an MC rider safety course before I even get the bike, and if I have to ride it around my apartment parking lot at 10 mph before I am commfy getting it up to, say, 15, then I'll ride it around in the parking lot doing ten until I feel perfectly comfortable at that speed and so on. I have nothing to prove as a rider, which is probably what really gets most guys killed.

my first bike was a cbr 900 rr... you controll the power not the bike... if you buy a 600 and outgrow it, the resail sucks and you'll loose your ass... the bigger bikes you can gradually grow into... i now have a restored 1986 gsxr 1100, and a 1983 gs 1100... i sold my cbr, because after 3 years i outgrew it and i wanted to step up...dealers will rape you, save, or get a personal loan and buy from a person...