ok, i am really getting sick of the "ricer car" scene so i am thinking of selling my hatch and getting a bike. i have no idea where to start researching what to get or what to look for. i'll probably have about 4k total for everything, possibly 5k. as i said, i really know nothing about bikes, but i want something different and i don't need to travel very far. plus parking in san francisco sucks.

anyhow, i'm 5'9" 160lbs if that matters. and so i want to know where to start, or what to look for. thanks for your input.

 

you will still have a car as primary transportation, right?

 

actually i'll be getting rid of my one and only car, but my roommate has a car so it should be fine.

 

It sucks having the bike as your only mean of transportation. Think about it, you don't want to ride it in the rain, and when you'r sick or tired you will not want to ride it. I say you do a research on MSF (motorcycle safty foundation) course in your local area. You can decide once you've completed the course. Oh remember to start small and dress for the crash, not the ride.

 

i fully understand all the drawbacks that come with not having a car. i will have acess to a car so i dont' think it will be a problem. actually what' im asking is for people to tell me what bikes to look at. i will be taking a MSF class this summer so i can get my M1 license. where should i go from there? thanks.

 

Since you're a rookie, you should consider a 600cc bike or less because you don't want to be in a wheelchair the rest of your life.
The Honda's CBR 600 F3 or F4i are very good bike's for rookie's. Very stable and good reliability. You don't want a new bike. You sould consider insurance. It cost around 2000 $ in the 21 to 30 years old group of age.

Ride safe dude and have fun