What Kind of a sportbike/superbike should I buy?

Question

O.K. so tax return is coming in and I want a sport bike. I have never owned or driven a motorcycle before so I need something beginner worthy but when I learn I don't want to go and have to buy another one. I would like one that is a sturdy bike that is around the $5,000 range. A couple of my buddies have Suzuki GSXR's and they say the are good but I want some diffrent opinons. P.S. if anyone around the St. Louis MO area has one that matches my wants let me know.

Answer 1

heres an incredibly informative beginning bike thread from a bunch of experianced riders.

http://www.supercars.net/PitLane?viewThread=y&gID=1&fID=4&tID=87668

do not start on a 600cc or literbike. A 600cc gixxer hits 100 mph about as fast as the 615 hp, 415,000 dollar porsche carrera GT. thats not even the literbike. Now try strapping that between your legs and trying to learn. A car cant flip you over sideways or backwards with a blip of the throttle. a bike can. Be smart and dont end up as an organ donor.

i hear the best (from the thread) is the Kawi ninja 250. its not brutally fast, the resale is amazing on them (you essentially can ride the bike for about 2-300 bucks a year, for depreciation), theyre cheap, if you drop it, its OK, and its a great learner bike. Dont think youll "grow out of it" too fast. theyre about as fast as a porsche 911 to 60.

have fun, and be safe.

Answer 2

Rule #1: DO NOT BUY A BIKE WITH AN "R" IN THE NAME AS A FIRST BIKE! This means GSX-R's, R6's, ZX_-R's, CBR's, etc. Yes, the ARE great bikes, but they handle like a military fighter jet and you will get in over your head in an instant.

Rule #2: Take an MSF course FIRST. You do not know how to ride, and it is NOTHING like a car. Only experience makes a good rider, and there are more newbies that DIDN'T have good luck starting on a Gixxer. Why don't you hear from them, do you suppose?

Rule #3: You want your first bike, not your last. You WILL drop it, and a used SV650 or GS500 will let you learn how to ride quicker without the nigh-impossible learning curve of a superbike.

It's your LIFE at stake here, not just your ego. It will take the rest of your life learning how to ride, and it's up to you just how long that is.

Answer 3

You might consider a "dual-sport" motorcycle. Kawasaki makes the KLR-650 which sells for around $ 5,000. new. Learning to ride in dirt is much more forgiving than pavement, and you don't have to worry about vehicles running over you when you make a mistake. This bike is also fairly comfortable on the high-way and resale value is good. Sport bikes are fun and very fast because of their power to weight ratio. But they are a lot of motorcycle and it takes time and experience on two wheels to gain confidence and the ability to get the bike to do what you need it to do in various situations. Learning to properly use the brakes in "panic" situations is really hard to achieve. On pavement, most of the stopping power is in the front wheel and it takes practice to know how hard to pull on that lever. Too hard and the wheel locks up and you are on your side. Not hard enough, coupled with too much brake on the back wheel and your sliding sideways with almost zero stopping power except to just lay-it-down. Then the bike looses everything and slides for long distances and hopefully you are not on it. The main thing is to be safe and always, always, always be ready to stop when drivers just don't notice you and pull out in front. They will do this and even though its their fault....you lose!!!!

Answer 4

Save your money and just steal a Hayabusa. The cops will never be able to run you down without you either escaping or dying an awesome death, which will probably happen eventually anyway if you buy a street bike.

Answer 5

Read and heed Bikernoj. Some good advice.

Answer 6

SV 650...

Answer 7

buy a Honda.

Answer 8

the fastest one you can get

Answer 9

you will either kill yourself or lose your license