Little background info for me: I always wanted to ride, now I am finally make up my mind and enrolled in "class" which will be sometime next month. Been thru, turbo'ed honda, Hpde, canyon run and currently driving a s2k.

I know this topic been debated to death, i searched and read for many hours about starter bikes but what was your first bike and how much it influnce you down the line?

second question would be what is a good starter bike? I have a very limited budget(close to 2 K give or take) for it, i know i am a cheap skate.

My buddy is selling his gsx 95-96ish, 600cc, is that a good starter bike? or it's too heavy/large/fast/jebus?

again, sorry for the OT, and THANKS IN ADVANCE

 

most people will tell you to start small (ie. ninja 250, kawi 500).

personally, its all about the person. 90% of new riders dont know what to do with a 600cc machine. but there is that other 10% that will respect the limits, keep a level head, and have no problems at all starting on a 600.

.02

 

ehh. this has been talked about over and over and over.

but my first bike was a 1992 Honda CBR600

a mid/late 90's 600 is a fine bike to start with (depending on the person though). Just have common sense
Get right gear
Take the courses
Listen to what people have to say
Be smart and you should be alright.


Modified by mike5809 at 4:08 AM 8/10/2006

 

thats a decent starter bike, but with 2k, your budget is perfect for a ninja 250. which everyone will tell you to buy. if youve never really ridden a bike, just buy a 250, its plenty fast (still hits 110mph), its light, and it doesnt have too much power so you wont get into trouble fast. you can buy a ninja 250 for 1800 and sell it 3 months later for around 2000. They are always in demand so you dont have to worry about finding a selling. good luck.

take the msf course and get some good gear

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EGlovr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">most people will tell you to start small (ie. ninja 250, kawi 500).

personally, its all about the person. 90% of new riders dont know what to do with a 600cc machine. but there is that other 10% that will respect the limits, keep a level head, and have no problems at all starting on a 600.

.02</TD></TR></TABLE>

Did you know that 95% of all statistics are made up. With that being said, I agree with you.

 

How is this "OT?"

The bike your friend is selling you can be a good starter bike. The most important thing to remember when riding is to respect the throttle. It can get you out of hairy situations, but it can also place you in them.

As it has already been said, don't skimp out on gear and don't forget to take the MSF.

As for buying a friend's bike, that can be one way to ruin a friendship if the bike is a lemon.

And holy crap you have a lot of posts.

EDIT - I forgot to add in, my first bike was an '88 Yamaha FZ600.


Modified by marmaladeboy at 10:09 PM 8/9/2006

 

Im with marm, this isn't really OT in a motorcycle forum

First bike was first bike in my signature.

For a first bike, Id recommend whats been said already, a little ninja 500 or someting, cheap is defenantly the way to go, get something thats not going to break your heart when you get some scratches and dings in it (ie brand new 600)

gear up, cause my application as a gear **** has officially been accepted and if you post pics without full gear your gonna get your ***** flammed off.

 

1981 Yamaha Exciter SR250... back in 1994. It was used & abused as a streetbike, dirtbike, cattle herder, deer chaser, etc. I actually think I saw the thing in the yard of the Yamaha dealership a few weeks ago, lol.

 

My first bike was a 2001 Ninja 250 which I got for $1,800.

That being said, I recommend a used Ninja 250 as a first bike because: even if you want to do something stupid (like going really fast) you can't, if you wreck/drop it you wont care because its not pretty, and resale value is GREAT. I sold mine 4 months after I got it for $400 more than I bought it for.

Like everyone else has said, make sure to budget for gear because that can add up quick.

 

I'm a newbie to streetbikes and bought a Ninja 500 as my learner bike. Paid 1400 for it and on fuel savings alone it's paid for itself (55mpg). So when I am ready to step up to a larger cc bike, I will feel I will get my money right back out of it, with profit I am sure of. You have a good deal on a 600cc, buy it, respect that throttle and buy good gear, but more imprtantly, wear the gear every time. That one time "just running to the store or buddies house" will be the time you lay it down. Murphy's Law is proven time and time again.

Have fun, ride safe

 

i started off on my 929rr. all about respect

 

alternatively, a honda vtr 250 would be a good starter too. that technically was the first bike i learned to ride on. but the first bike I bought was in fact a ninja 250.

if you get a early '80s or bike from the '70s, you could get a kz400, cb350, gpz500, etc. they might have more or less the same power as a ninja or vtr 250.

 

'02 ninja but I didmt emd up riding much, so I conider my f3 my first bike. Never had a problem, but I did everything by the book. I the oerder I went was full leathers, Msf, bike and I think I have done well

 

I've got a Yamaha XS400 from '82. Me no likey the drum brakeys all around.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vietbiker &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've got a Yamaha XS400 from '82. Me no likey the drum brakeys all around.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have drum in the rear. I use it less than I should , for those front discs are easier to service.

 

1986 ninja zx-600r, but i road my girlfriends maxim 550 and her dads virago 1100 more than i did my own bike back then....

 

94 cbr F2 is my first bike. it was cheap, it's reliable (mostly), and it's exciting enough yet not a newb killer.

then again, for me starting to ride later in life means you understand that you are not invincible and all those idiot people on the road can and just might kill you, so u manage the risk and try not to make riding any more dangerous than it already is.

 

Katana 1100, big and heavy. Starting off by taking the class is probably the best thing you can do for your riding.

 

'95 GS500e i got for $1500 :D

i really miss this bike actually. 50-55 mpg, easy to ride, and next to nothing to insure. It wasn't the fastest bike in the world, but with what i was doing i really didn't need something as quick as my RR (i still don't, i just like it).

now i have:


when i started riding i got the GS500 almost exactly a year ago, put about 1.6k miles from August to Feb and then bought the RR and have put about 3.5k miles on it since Feb.

my anniversary of M licensure is approaching.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by marmaladeboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">How is this "OT?"</TD></TR></TABLE>

that's what i was thinking, lol

 

im in the same situation...I grew up riding dirt bikes, and I hear it is a night and day difference going from dirt to street....


Im looking for something I can lay down and not be so mad that i never want to ride again...

something not too big, but not too small...

EDIT: my first bike was a Kawasaki KX80 2 stroke...

then a Honda XR 100, to an XR250, then a suzuki LT230 Quad Sprot 4 wheeler, none were streeet legal

 

I just got my first bike 2 weeks ago, 01 R6. Payed $4500

I had the owner drive it to my garage since i didnt have a permit & have never ridden before.

I went out & got mt permit, insurance & tags. hopped on and started riding.
Not a really smart idea but thats just me.

Put 300+miles on it in 2 weeks & never had a accedent yet "knock on wood"
Just have common sence that the bike controls you, not the other way around.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RUBZERK &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I just got my first bike 2 weeks ago, 01 R6. Payed $4500

I had the owner drive it to my garage since i didnt have a permit & have never ridden before.

I went out & got mt permit, insurance & tags. hopped on and started riding.
Not a really smart idea but thats just me.

Put 300+miles on it in 2 weeks & never had a accedent yet "knock on wood"
Just have common sence that the bike controls you, not the other way around.</TD></TR></TABLE>

and look out for other drivers, b/c u know they are not looking out for you

 

Today i was almost rear ended by some punk *** kid not paying attention..

I was stopping to make a left hand tund so i had my turn signal on 200' before the turn. so as i was stopping i noticed the car behind me wasnt stopping so i had to quick put it back in gear & hall *** missing my turn.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RUBZERK &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Today i was almost rear ended by some punk *** kid not paying attention..

I was stopping to make a left hand tund so i had my turn signal on 200' before the turn. so as i was stopping i noticed the car behind me wasnt stopping so i had to quick put it back in gear & hall *** missing my turn.</TD></TR></TABLE>

dumabass people not paying attention

 

My first bike was a 2004 Honda CBR600RR now I have a 2006 Yamaha R6.