What in your opinion is the best overall street bike? Serious answers only, please.?

Question

Please take into consideration power, comfort, safety, handling, and anything else that comes to mind. I'm leaning toward a Honda CBR600. I'm a novice when it comes to cycles, so keep that in mind too... What would your choice be and why? Thanks for the help.

Oh, and price should be a consideration too. I can't spend 13, 14 thousand or something like that.

Answer 1

Boy, this is rare. All the answers were really good except AK and Grendle. Both should be ignored. They only make two types of Ducati's expensive and unaffordable(A duck is considered one of the best handling bikes for racing) and Grendle's suggestion of a BMW-bad choice. A beemer is a truely excellent all around bike. It can haul stuff in it's saddle bags, handles well, comfortable on long hauls, BUT for a first time rider I'm afraid it would, probably, be a disaster. If it falls over, or you fall down(both realllly likely to happen then a REALLY expensive part gets broken(the jugs(pistons) stick straight out on either side of the motorcycle and are the first thing to make contact with the pavement-not good.
Now, from 50 years experience riding(belive it or not-my favorite ride is a crotch rocket-I love speed) I can tell you that WHATEVER you choose is, probably, not going to be what you want. It's just like anything else, starting with a zero knowledge base, you're going to change your mind. You will either want faster, style, road etc. as you acquire more knowledge, OR you may decide you don't like any of it.
If you go cheap and small you do two things. You learn on something that isn't so fast it will kill you(or injure you), if it falls down(so what) it hasn't destroyed the value of the bike. Give yourself 6 months to look things over(being an engineer I tend to be sorta nerdy about research), AND the biggie! You haven't spent all your money on something you really don't want!!!
NEXT important point. Insurance:
1. liability only on a Goldwing-for me(remember I'm old) $36. A YEAR.
if it's old and cheap the insurance needed is liability. If it's new and expensive you need the other stuff. Full coverage for me on a crotchrocket(size or brand isn't real important) $1602. per year,

Next: buy during the cold months, or only if you can steal it. Remember, scratches are really expensive. The cowling(all the plastic) on a crotchrocket costs around $3500. Beemers and Ducks are sorta like Mercedes, very costly to repair.
Finally, go to www.nada.com it has a section for motorcycles. average retail on a motorcycle means it looks like new. go down from there. Ducati is a serious road racer(only) BMW is a serious all around bike, but both Kawasaki and Yamaha both have bikes which are as dependable, faster, way cheaper and handle as well.
Sorry for running off at the mouth, but hope this helps. I've owned most types(and ridden the others) I spent a 20 year jag on Goldwings and only discovered crotchrockets in 1999.

Answer 2

If you are a novice, I would first suggest you get some training. One good source is the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, which offers a class called the Basic Rider Course that you can take over a weekend. They'll provide the bikes. There are a few other places that offer training for beginners, like the Harley Rider's Edge. Check with your local DMV or whatever branch of government in your state issues drivers' licenses; they will have a list of motorcycle instructors somewhere.

The CBR is a bit tricky for a beginner to handle, unless you have a lot of dirt bike experience or otherwise are a bit above being a beginner. 600 cc supersport bikes have enough power for a small car. There isn't very much difference in what you do between getting it moving and popping a wheelie, or between making a reasonably quick stop and sending the front wheel into a skid - or worse. When you're a novice, you will have an easier time learning on a more forgiving bike.

Comfort depends a lot on the rider. You will have to go and visit dealerships, sit on a few bikes, and find one that feels comfortable to you. Some good choices for the novice sportbike rider include the Kawasaki Ninja 250 and 500, the Suzuki GS500, the BMW F650 series, the Yamaha XJ600 Seca II, the Ducati Monster 600 or 620, and the Buell Blast. Any one of these will be safe, handle fairly well without being dangerously twitchy, and have enough power to more than keep up with freeway traffic.

Answer 3

As a novice, starting on a sport bike is not the easiest. The sport bikes have the rider lean forward on the handle bars and the legs back.

A cruiser does the opposite and puts your feet forward, I don't recommend this either.

The safest and easiest (and most comfortable) seating position is "standard" where your feet are straight down.

Some people suggest starting off with a smaller engine, because it's very easy to abuse the power of a large engine and unless you have lots of self discipline, you'll find yourself going too fast.

The bikes I prefer are classified as Sport Touring. It offers some of the excitement of the Sport bikes, but the comfort and duration of the Touring bikes. Honda ST1300, Yamaha FJR1300, and BMW RT1200 are the top of this class. A used ST1300 and FJR can be had for 8k-10k. They are very powerful and the ST comes with a very large gas tank (7.7 gallon). I road dirt bikes in my youth and went straight to an ST (after taking the ST course) and I've ridden nearly everyday (rain or shine) for 2 years and enjoyed every minute of it.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you take a Motorcycle Safety Course (MSF), which will decrease your insurance cost, in some places helps you earn the driving credit towards a license, but most importantly teaches you how to ride well. If it's a good course, you can really discover the limitations of the bike (and best of all, you usually use the bikes provided in the course).

Good luck and keep the rubber side down!

Answer 4

If you are truely a novice I dont think I would start with a crotch rocket like the CBR. Any 600 cc motorcycle or bigger is going to have more than enough power. (a CBR 600 will outrun a corvette from a dead stop). You should go to several dealers and test ride, to see what you like. Bikes are reasonable, for $6000 to $10000 you can have almost anything, except a harley. If you are planning on taking any long trips (anything over an hour is long on a motorcycle) a crusier would be more comfortable. As far as safety, it is up to you, cars always win in a crash with a motorcycle. You have to be very alert , cars will not look for you so you have to pay attention. Myself, I have had many bikes of all types. Now I have a custom chopper, only ride it around town and I get all kinds of attention. What ever you get enjoy!

Answer 5

I can sympathise with you, as far as the not being able to spend a fortune bit. The whole thing about the perfect bike, though, is what's the perfect bike for you......not me. God.....I have an '85 GSXR 750, and I love it to death. ( and by the way, yes that's 85, not 95......and yes, I can afford to go out, right now, and buy whatever I like.... I'm saving to buy a house, instead.) The perfect bike, is the one that you OWN, or the one that you can afford to own, and what you feel comfortable on. If you're on a budget, and still want a great ride, then i'd suggest that you have a look at an FZ 750, or an FZR 750. Like I said, though, it depends on what you're comfortable on. Try to think of the money you can save, but still be having the time of your life..... The only people who'll be disrespectful of your choice, are the poeple who don't really matter, anyway. You ride to be happy, not to impress anyone else, remember.

Answer 6

IT really depends on how you're gonna use it. The CBR is certainly one of the best. I personally do not like the riding position as much as a more upright bike, so I would advise also check out the HOnda 599. Over the years, many of the cycle magazines have chosen the Honda VFR800 Interceptor as the best overall bike. I had a 2000 Interceptor and it was amazing. Best balance of handling, ride,comfort, speed, and the V4 engine is wonderful, but it is heavier than the CBR by over 100 lbs.
Good Luck.

Answer 7

The Honda is a good bike, although you may find the 600 a bit under-powered after a while. I would suggest (in your price range) a used BMW R1150 ... maybe the RS or RT model. It will give you years of comfortable, dependable, slick riding, looks great, and has plenty of giddeyup when you want it.

Answer 8

Yamaha Virago 750

Answer 9

back in the day the jap companies made what were termed standards. these bikes were great all around machines. these days the bikes that are out there pretty much specialize in a certain area.There no longer is an all around bike.Find an old Honda c.b.750 and you got a great all around machine.Or K.Z. 900.[kawasaki]

Answer 10

Any Ducati.