I know a little bit, but I really am looking into a Motorcycle, just I don't know what comes with what options, how much it will cost, average insurance costs per age group, license costs, and overall comparison shopping. Like, gas mileage, stock top speed, maintenance scheduling, break-in time, used compared to new. That type of thing.

I was also thinking, since sport bikes rev very high, doesn't that mean they have shorter lifespans than Cars? Another thing I'm curious about is what type of aftermarket parts are availabe, where can you get them, and where can you find out the average costs.

Anyone have any tips?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sheissrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I know a little bit, but I really am looking into a Motorcycle, just I don't know what comes with what options, how much it will cost, average insurance costs per age group, license costs, and overall comparison shopping. Like, gas mileage, stock top speed, maintenance scheduling, break-in time, used compared to new. That type of thing.

I was also thinking, since sport bikes rev very high, doesn't that mean they have shorter lifespans than Cars? Another thing I'm curious about is what type of aftermarket parts are availabe, where can you get them, and where can you find out the average costs.

Anyone have any tips? </TD></TR></TABLE>

All of those questions take a little bit of research. I can tell you this...Your bike license will vary from state to state but here its 30 bux to take the dmv test but msf is 150 bux for 2 days. Yes bikes rev very high, but it doesnt have to be revved vary high...You dont have to go to 12k every time u ride. People think bikes cant last long, but with the right upkeep they can last a pretty long time. There is no special age group that insurances are the same, once u get to 25, it goes down, but depend on ur insurance company and all that prices vary. Bikes are diff in cost of course, in 2005 in Oklahoma..not everywhere, 05 cbr rr=$9k.....GSXR600=8100.....05 F4i=$7800 (sale right now) You just have to shop in your area to find out. Most sport bikes in the 600 class get from 34-40 mpg on average. Your break in time is just how you want to break it in...SOme people say ease it, some people say ride it like you stole it....whats best...i say ride it hard if your gonna ride it hard a lot. You want your bike to know what your gonna do with it, if you ride it soft then start redlining gears that would to me be abusing it. Aftermarket parts...well exhaust there is a lot of companies, yoshimura etc etc...tons of um, just search. I might not be 100% accurate on this stuff but its pretty close to where i live. Good luck!

 

Start used and don't expect riding to be cheaper than driving.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Snaps &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Start used and don't expect riding to be cheaper than driving.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Why is that? What type of gas mileage is typical redlining everywhere in the city and highway with a FI bike versus Carbureted?

 

redlining everywhere? probly 2-3mpg

just browse aroud, you should be able to find most of the answers you need to find

 

first off, welcome to the motorcycle board. if you haven't already, read the thread (yea yea i know its long) at the top of the board. it has a ton of great info, i still read it from time to time just to brush up.

now, im sure if you hang around here long enough you will find the answers to most of your questions. as for lifespan of a bike, its just like a car. if you beat the **** out of it and don't take care of it, it probobly won't last very long, but if you do take care of it, the possibilites are endless. heard of hondas doin over 200,000 miles? a buddy of mine saw a yzf600 with somethin nuts like 90,000 and still ran great. marmalade's cbrf2 had somewhere around 50k, and my first kaw had almost 30k, with no problems. just take care of maintenance and it'll take care of you.

i ride my bike for fun, not for gas mileage and i normally see around 40 or so. Im sure if i wanted to shift into neutral and coast to stops, and not wind the engine out, and downshift i would see more, but wheres the fun in that. if you want gas mileage buy a hybrid (or a 250). i think on the highway (if you run through a full tank) it's somewhere between 50-60 depending on your gearing.

stock top speed shouldn't be that important, you dont need to be goin 150+ ever. nobody does unless your on a track.

whichever bike you do purchase, get the manual for it. it will have a full section dedicated to maintenance, and if there's somethin you have a question about, ASK HERE! (search first of course... ) but typically, you're goin to want to change your oil every 2k, your rear tire will probobly last around 3-4k, and your front tire usually double that. always check air pressure in tires, clean your chain every 500 miles (or anytime it gets wet), and lube it every 1000 or so. keep an eye on your sprockets teeth, and the tension in your chain. most will recommend a MSF course, which also talks about pre-riding safety... they usually cover the basics and its a great course for usually a little bit of money.

in ohio, my temp packet was $10, msf course was 40, registration + new plates + new license was like $80 or so... it's been a while, but im pretty sure ohio is one of the cheapest msf courses around.

im 21, and my insurance is around 150 for minimum, and 450 for full coverage. add $120 or so for ?compreshensive? (theft, or if i hit a deer) and i have a decent record, not perfect, but nothin over the top.


as far as bikes, definately recommend getting a used bike. chances are, you will drop it. whether at a stop light, on some gravel, or if the garage, it will go down, and you WILL feel like **** if you drop a $7000 brand new bike. now, if you buy a 'beginners' bike and let it go down, you wont feel so bad. replacement parts are usually easier to find, and less expensive that the new stuff. which bike is right for you? well that depends on your discipline. most people will recommend a ninja 250 or 500. granted, they are slow, but still fun. if you are the type of person that's askin about top speed, maybe you need to start on one of these and learn the basics. a lot of people start on 600s and do great, then theres the other half of people that start on 600s and ...well lets not talk about them Point is, whatever bike you choose, you need to learn the basics, learn to respect it, and learn how to manuever in any situation before you think about wheeling and 150+ blasts down the dirt roads and getting tunnel vision.


SORRY FOR THE LONG POST, but hopefully this answered your ?'s

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Snaps &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Start used and don't expect riding to be cheaper than driving.</TD></TR></TABLE>

+1

 

do you find its more convenient than driving though?

 

MSF 3 Day class = $150
Actual getting license at DMV = $13.50
2001 Ninja EX250 w/helmet = $1800
Full coverage insurance monthly = $35
Gas fill-ups after 200 miles = $5-$7
Title and registering = ~$150-$200

I am 17 years old I just got my motorcycle like 3 weeks ago- and it being my first one I am very happy with it. It will get up and go when you need it to, but isn't the fastest bike on the street, which you don't need if it's your first.

Start small and start used, work your way up- it's worked well for me

oh and take the MSF class, %10 discount on insurance, good skills practice, and good info

 

^^Your msf is 3 day...dang, in oklahoma its 2 days...haha...anyways, how many hours yall take? We have 15. You dont have to start with a 250, you can start with a 600 just respect the bike and what it can do and take ur time and you will be fine! Good luck

 

dang man. my msf here was 3 days. but when i took it. they raised the price up to 250. and we only rode for maybe 6/7 hours before testing. it was like 125/150 but they raised it because of the increase of interest/pretty much a good amount of dumb soldiers(not all are dumb).

 

Go and take the MSF course. . . it should anwser a bunch of questions and let you know if you want to start riding or not.

 

I personally havent started riding yet, but if all you want to know about is how you can customize a bike you dont have yet, and how much it will cost, what are you really looking for? I'd rather read up on the physics of riding to give me a better idea of how a bike handles and why, rather than how much its going to cost for the flyest paint job for my 1200cc bike that I just bought that I'm going to crash and ruin anyways.

I guess you could always use the saying, "If you have to ask how much it costs, you cant afford it." Unless you are really good at saving/budgeting.

 

going on 30k miles on my carburated f2, runs like a champ. i get 35-40 mpg in stop and go south florida traffic. ooh and the bike is geared down quite a bit.

bikes are cheaper to maintain than sports cars, probably cheaper than trucks.

 

I guess I always took better care of my bike than my car, but tires alone gets kinda crazy sometimes. My only means of transport is the bike so they run down pretty fast.

 

Wow, thanks for all this awesome info guys. It's really helping me out, but I still have 2 questions left. What does MSF stand for and where do you take it? Do they have a bike for you to take the riding test on? because it's harder to turn slowly on a sport bike I've heard.

 

Motorcycle Safety Foundation. And they provide a small CC bike to use during your course.

 

Yea they do provide bike you can find one in the phone book under motorcycles or even schools, just depends. Lots of courses are held at the community colleges in your area. In CT there was one and tunxis community college and here in Oklahoma there is one at osu/okc college...So yea, colleges have them. If you cant find them in the phone book, call your dmv and ask them to direct you to one, im sure they will know. If you take the msf course, you usually will get a certificate and you can bypass the driving part of the test at the dmv. Some msf courses also may be able to test you and give you your bike license there. Good luck!