i plan to get a motorcycle in about a year. i have never ridden one before though, i have just always wanted one since i was little. i have seen people on here suggest a 250 to learn on but it just seems too small. i talked to my dad about it b/c he used to ride and he said i would be better off starting with a 600. which is what i really want. i would like to get a CBR 600 F3 to learn on. what do you guyst think about that. should i start smaller? and also how much do these used bikes usually go for?

 

250's are a good bike to learn on, they are cheap and easy on insurance. I'm planning to buy my first bike real soon, most likey a 250. The 600's cost more and insurance is higher, also they are more of a handful. A F3 is pretty new but it's really up to you and how much you can handle.

Have you taken any MSF class or have a motorcycle license? I suggest to enroll in the class and get the basics down, then go from there. The newspaper classified seems to be the best place for used prices but ask around too. For the pricing it really depends but http://www.kbb.com has a value of used bikes. The pricing can greatly change with the area, some bikes are more popular in different places.

Good luck finding the bike.
Rob

 

I think you should get a 600cc. If the new ones cost too much, the older ones are pretty cheap. Look into the FZR, SV650, old CBRs, etc. I personally woudln't get a 250.. that's like learning to ride a horse on a pony (no offense rob). But that's just IMHO.. Good Luck.

 

yeah thats basically what my dad told me. he said riding a 250 won't really help me ride a 600 any better b/c its so much slower.

 

the bigger you start on, the less forgiving the margin of error will be. i am learning on a 600 right now, and i realized right away that you need to be VERY gentle. i was planning on getting a 250, but i found a great deal on a 1999 Yamaha R6 that i just couldn't pass up. not the best starter bike, but i'm being very careful. it's a bit twitchy and very quick. if you have a good amount of self-control and such, the 600 will probably be fine. but one slip of the wrist, and that bike can get away from you real quick.

good luck and ride safe.

 

I'm not going to say you shouldn't start on an F3. It's not a bad starter bike, but your dad's wrong. In the case of an old convential 250, yeah, it's a dog. But in the case of an EX250, it isn't.

I'd actually take the F3 over an SV650 for starter purposes. I still think the EX500 is a hella good starter bike for a larger person.

 

i'm not very big at all i'm only 5' 8" and 170lb

 

in the top right there is a button called search...here is the link https://honda-tech.com/zerosearch... this topic has come up every week... use the button.


[Modified by cyrk007, 9:39 PM 2/3/2003]

 

I about the same size as you and just got my first bike last summer. Igot a gsxr 750. I also never had been on a street bike before. The first day i got it i took a litlle spill, wasn't that bad. After that i got pist off and was going to sell it, but i went and took the class to get my license and learned how to ride on 250's. It helped out alot

 

5'8" is a good height for bikes. I think 5'10" is probably perfect, assuming average proportions. I'm 6'4" and I really have to fold up on a lot of bikes. You should be able to fit fine on anything.

If you want a good mixture of a starter bike. I suggest an EX500, or FZR400. They have the added advantage of being good track bikes (for starters) when you "outgrow" them.

 

suzuki sv650 or gs500, both bikes are great first bikes and don't look gay (like ninja 250's or ex500's ). Cheap to insure and minimal to no plastic to break WHEN you lay it down.

My first was a Ninja 600R which I thought looked cool until you put it next to a real sport bike and it looks like a dog - actually, it was a dog. It was actually a good first bike though.

As far as height is concerned - I'm 5'8 and weight 135, I can flat foot and handle both my R6 and TL1000R fine.


[Modified by dennis, 12:40 PM 2/4/2003]

 

if you don't want to read it don't click on it.

to you other guys thanks alot for your help

 

I own a 250 b4 my F4i. Imagine carrying 2x the speed limit in corners with only 4 months of riding, that's the confidence that a small and light bike will give you. The 250 by no mean a slow bike, I brought it up to 115mph in 5th gear several times before and will probably top out at about 125mph (depends on how heavy you are ). That's probably all you need on your first bike. On my first group ride ever, I was tailing this R6 for hours until the guy let up and waved me to pass. I'm as low as a turtle on my F4i...




[Modified by Vtec44, 7:29 PM 2/5/2003]

 

in defense of cyrk007, it's true- this topic has been beaten to death several times. anyways, you decide on a bike yet? how's the weather in your area?

 

the weather here has been changing alot it was warm this past weekend and i saw alot of people had their bikes out. this guy i know came by on his f3 and it kind of made me want one after i sat on it. but i think i will be getting a 250 to learn on. that way i can learn all the basics with a little more margin for error.

one more question. how much can i find an EX250 for. i don't need one brand new. just something decent enough where i could buy it and then start riding. no fixing stuff.