i'm looking to buy a sportbike.. i've never rode a bike before, and of course i'm going to take all the classes and stuff.. but i would like to have some advice on which bike to buy as my first.. i'm looking right now a the Suzuki GSX-R600 ...
2007-08-31 10:41:34 · 10 answers · asked by dolfanchris153 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Motorcycles
Modern sport bikes are really deadly serious, very single-purpose, very 'twitchy' and high-strung, like a thoroughbred race horse. The GSX-R 600 is a WONDERFUL machine, a true marvel of engineering. The Honda CBR line and Yamaha R-bikes are also very wonderful but if it was me I think I'd go for the Suzukis, I think they have the edge.
However if you're just starting out it might be better to buy an old beater for a first bike. Something not quite so specialized, and something a little older that's already been scuffed up a bit. You are going to be hard on your first bike. You're going to abuse the clutch. You might drop it a few times before you get the hang of it.
I'd say something 5-10 years old, just about anything Japanese is good. After you've been riding for 6 months or a year and have some serious experience then you can get that GSX-R. You can sell the old bike for just about what you paid for it, to another newbie. Also after a bit of riding you'll have a better idea of what you want.
It -is- a good idea to take the safety course. Remember more than half of all motorcycle accidents (and fatalities) happen to people who've been riding less than a year! So be careful! Be extra safety-conscious at first.
And congrats! I hope you enjoy motorcycling as much as I do!
2007-08-31 10:57:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would recommend getting a used bike several years old.
As some of the other guys pointed out, an older CBR600 would be a good choice. They made the CBR600F2 from 91-94. The CBR600F3 was made from 95-98.
You can pick these up all day long for relatively little money. CBR's have always been fairly forgiving bikes that you can use for general transportation AND have a lot of fun in the twisties.
Something to think about...you wont go any faster on a brand new bad *** sport bike then you will on an older bike in you first several months of riding. You have to learn the general control of the machine, how to react in emergencies, how to properly go around corners, etc. Also, how to park it without droping it (I think we have all leaned the bike over to put it on the sidestand only to realize that it wasnt actually down at least once), how to do slow parking lot manouvers without droping it and so on. Also, learning how to do all the proper maintanece. An old CBR will serve you very well in this.
GSXR's are good bike, but they can be fairly uncomfortable. If you plan on doing any longer rides a CBR would be the better choice.
Other good older starter bikes are...
Yamaha FZR600
Suzuki Bandit 600 (not really a sport bike but a good machine)
Yamaha FZ6
Kawasaki EX500
Kawasaki Ninja 250 (mega cheap and 72 mpg!)
Anyway, hope this helps. Good luck and stay safe.
2007-08-31 19:24:07 · answer #2 · answered by motokarma 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Try the CBR 600, there's a very good reason that they have been very popular of so many years. The Suzuki is very good too.
If you keep the revs down both are quiet, calm, sensible, good handling bikes with excellent brakes, if you wind up the revs then it's into warp drive.
Both of these are very fast bikes, not quite as insane as the 1 liter bikes but less than 10% slower than the top bikes in the Isle of Man TT (worlds longest race track).
2007-08-31 17:53:09 · answer #3 · answered by Chris H 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
listen to Mrknowitall and motrokarma. If you have never ridden at all, you will drop it, seize up the rear brakes, strip the clutch, and do all kinds of other rookie things. An older bike will take the abuse for a while, and you won't feel bad if you kill the thing.
Never buy a new bike as a starter bike, and a 600cc sport bike is deadly serious.
Don't just get an old beater, get a SLOW old beater and get good with that first. Then get a newer 600cc model and get good with that (it will still be nice when you trade it in).
2007-08-31 21:57:42 · answer #4 · answered by jumping_in_101 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Start out with a older Susuki 600cc Katana or a 600cc Kawasaki Ninja.Ckeck them out for the hell of it on ebay,but as a beginner i would not go over 600 or650cc.But atleast you'll see some prices and stuff off ebay happy biking and be CAREFULL!!!
2007-08-31 19:48:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
new 2006 Honda CBR 600 f41, one of the sweetest sport bikes ever, and great for a beginner, the seating position is much more comfortable that a lot of others.
southernhonda.com in chatanooga Tn is a discount dealer and we saved a bundle by driving there to get ours.
2007-08-31 17:47:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
take a motorcycle safety course, then make a truly informed decision.
http://www.msf-usa.og
2007-09-03 02:17:03 · answer #7 · answered by godz68impala 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
how tall are you ? GSX IS TO MUCH TO START ON , LOOK AT THE KAWASAKI NINJA 500 , IT IS MORE UPRIGHT AND EASIER TO GET STARTED ON
2007-08-31 17:54:25 · answer #8 · answered by jon_wayne89 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
honda ruckus
2007-08-31 17:45:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
a SPORT bike, please, get a harley!
2007-08-31 18:48:25 · answer #10 · answered by Arthur M 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋