Motorcycle experts?. Need some advice.?

Question

I'm a 21 year old female and have decided to explore the world of riding. My fiance, brother in law, and father in law all ride crotch rockets and I am determined to not let them talk me into a scooter. I want to ride with the big boys after I get ALOT of practice. I don't have any experience on bikes, except for four wheelers, which do not count. But I was wondering what you experts would recomend. my choices are the Kawasaki Ninja 250, Buell blast, a Suzuki GS500 E, Kawasaki EX500 Or anything else with a 500cc or less. I DO NOT WANT A CRUISER. I am not a frail little girl (actually just the opposite) and i know how dangerous bikes are. Please please give me some ideas and advice of what would be best for me. I am a determined, and strong girl who doesn't want to be left at home any more.

ALSO.. not that it really makes a huge deal but I live in a one horse town. In fact I don't even have a stop light for about 60 miles from my house, so I have plenty of space for practice.

Answer 1

I am not much of a small bike fan so if push comes to shove, go with a 600cc class.

Answer 2

The EX500 is a *great* bike (this coming from someone who's been riding for over 25 years on a great many bikes both big and small). The throttle response is good and the power comes in with quite a kick when you give it lots of throttle and revs. However, if you treat the throttle sensibly, you're rewarded with a bike that's very easy to control. The handling is very sweet as well, once you've learnt to handle the bike properly, on all but the straightest of roads it'll take a very commited rider to leave you behind. Cornering (on good rubber) they're as good as bikes much larger / faster. Even on the straights, they'll run up to 125 mph if you've got the early model. Do test-sit on one though, if you've got long legs you may find the riding position a little cramped.

The GS500 is also very good, but is less exciting when the throttle is wound fully open. The engine response is very linear which makes for a predictable (some may say boring) ride. Once you've learnt, you;ll be wanting to change this bike whereas you'd want to keep the EX.

The Ninja 250 - good although it is - won't give you the buzz that either of the 500s will, and are actually more difficult to ride because of the need to keep the engine on the boil to make progress.

A Buell? Cool looking bike, but not exactly trouble free. Carry a rucksack to collect all the bits that fall off when you're riding it and buy shares in Loctite.

Answer 3

For some practical knowledge, check out this book "A Twist of the Wrist". You can find it on Amazon/Border's/(book shop of choice). It is an excellent resource for street riders. Much of the info in this book is geared toward road-racing, but the priciples are the same no matter what speed you ride at.

As far as the bike, I'd recommend the Blast, for a couple of reasons. First, the Blast's handling is very intuitive, that is, when you think you're leaning as far into a turn as you should, you're probably right. Second, the engine delivers power in a predictable manner, as opposed to many 250cc machines which seem to have no power below a certain rpm range. The Blast puts out 30 lb-ft of torque at 3200 rpm, versus the Ninja 250's 18 ft-lb at 10000rpm. Third, the Blast is fairly inexpensive, and can usually be traded-in at a favorable price when you want to move up to a full-sized Buell (e.g., XB-9 or XB-12). Fourth, with gas prices being what they are, it's hard to argue with 73 mpg on the highway.

Answer 4

If there are no MSF courses available to you within a reasonable distance, go with finding someone with a small dirt bike (XR100 is perfect) to learn how to ride two wheels. IMHO, you ought to be required to have dirt experience before being able to get a street bike, you WILL be a much better rider.
I would recommend the GS or EX500. The Kawi does have more power but is pretty mellow off the bottom, the GS are very linear powerwise. The Blast I have heard is a great learning bike but you may outgrow it skillwise sooner than the GS or EX.
If I may suggest another option...a Suzuki DR400 dual sport bike, if you get the SuperMoto version it is better in the twisties than either the GS or EX.
Also Yamaha is coming out with a 250 supermoto based on the WR enduro bike for 08 which will be a very sweet beginner bike with alot of room for skill growth.
If you want to stick with street bikes and have ridden bigger quads (400-650cc, and yes that experience does count!) a SV650 twin is an awesome bike that can take you from beginner to expert.
Good Luck and keep focused.

Answer 5

First, if you don't have a license take an MSF BRC. I suggest you not get the 250 for a first bike. You said you were not a frail little girl, I think the 250 would be just too small for you, and you will want something bigger to keep up with big boys without having to find another bike right off. The 500 cc range would be just right for that. Try to find an older bike in that range that fits your body style. Sit on them for a while, see how you feel if you are cramped or stretched out you will get tired of the bike quickly. Go for an older bike first, because they are cheaper to start with, It is much better to drop a $1000.00 bike then the $10- 15 K state of the art sport bike that will cost an arm and a leg to replace the body work that gets damaged in a crash, (no matter how minor).
Don't forget the boys may have been riding a while and you should not try to keep up with them right off. Good luck and have fun.

Answer 6

Ok, like you don't have enough already :-) I think the best advice is the one about the dirt bilke!!!!! Learn to wipe out, pick up and do it again. Purposly find a bike any bike to crash. go into a turn on light dirt and pull the front brake. Down you go, but you will now know what the feeling is and why. Next, on light dirt first, do the same thing but tap the rear brake to feel it skid, practice that over and over again on both sides!!! This has saved my life more times!!! Then, practice going in tighter and tighter circles till it finally wips out. Now you know the limits of the bike. Practice spinning the back tire on dirt, sand ( i lay down a thin layer on asphalt) to see what it feels like when that bad *** powerful bike gets away from you and you'll know not to panic but handel it well and stay in the saddle. Once you have gotten good at all that then start all over again on the bigger bikes but now without wipping out!! Practice skidding sideways whenever possible!! It is the quickest way to feel the bike for what it is, a hunk of heavy steal that you guide around untill you have no traction. Always practice weaving back and forth zig zag.
Then you will ride with real respect and confidence able to handle most of what comes your way. Remember!!!!! People (as the other guy said) are after you and just looking for an opportunity to run you off the road, run you over or just make you jerk and loose control. DO NOT DRIVE DEFENSIVLY!! Drive Offensively!!!! Never let yourself get boxed in, always have an escape route or two and never get comfortable with the cars around you. It is better to have them a bit mad at you and see you then not see you as they run you over!!!!!!! All the best... Oh, and never let on that you can ride as well as you can untill the guys make a really big bet and even then just say "I was so lucky" :-)

Answer 7

You go for it!
I think the best bike to learn on would be a GS 500 or something similar!
If you can change gears on a quad that has a shifter and clutch set up then most of the hard work initially has been done.
You can concentrate on learning low your bike handles in different situations.
If I were you or anyone learning I would seek some sort of formal rider training and find a local racetrack where you can learn how to corner correctly and ride to your limits. If thats the direction you want to go!
Don't forget the appropriate riding gear as well! If you get really into this look for some decent leathers to wear and the rest of the safety gear to go with it!
Interaction with other riders is a good way of learning a few things but I would suggest the rider training first and foremost!

You can also learn how to set up the suspension on your bike along with the effects of tyre pressures etc on the net and also certain rider schools.

Good luck and good on you for giving it a go!

Troy

Answer 8

Its actually better to LEARN on a smaller bike.
The GS 500 doesn't have the power of the EX500 but you could probably pick up a used one a lot cheaper. The torque of a twin cylinder will make it much easier to ride as it doesn't have to be doing 6,000rpm or more to get anywhere, plus the more upright riding position is better for low speed maneuvering (GSX-R 600 is a fun bike, but it totally sucks around town or below 80mph)
Lower power bikes force you to learn to read road ahead and keep your cornering speeds higher as you don't have to power to 'point and squirt'
Harley's are heavy and underpowered until you spend another $5,000 for engine work (and they are still too heavy, 883 about 43bhp and 620lbs)
There are a lot of squids on 600's who can do amazing wheelies and stoppies, but don't have a clue how to go round corners

Answer 9

why does it have to be a crotch rocket? is it personal preference or thats all you have to choose from? I ask cause I had aNinja 250 and hated it two weeks after I bought it, I went to Harleys from then on. I had no experience when I first rode. My ole man stood by the bike, told me what to do and moved out of the way. The hardest thing was willing myself to pick up my feet. Once I did that, IT WAS ON!!!! Ive been riding ever since. So get what you think your gonna wanta keep for awhile.And those Ninjas are hell on your back!!

Answer 10

Bikes aren't dangerous.

Cars pulling out in front of you, whipping across three lanes, or slamming on their brakes on the other hand... (not to mention reducing radius curves)

If you are bound and determined to get a sport bike I would go for the Suzuki GSX600R. It is bad-azz for a smaller bike - and has plenty of power.

If you start riding any distance though you are going to wish you were on a cruiser. The riding position on a sport bike will wear out your wrists and your back.

Take this advice though - pretend you are invisible when you ride. Or better yet, pretend that other cars are actively TRYING to hit you. That'll keep you from being surprised when someone changes lanes and tries to run you into oncoming traffic.

Answer 11

Ninja 250 if you're going to learn on your own.
It's lighter than the others which will make it easier to control while learning.
The EX500 if you take a riding course.
It has more power and speed than the 250 and you won't have any problems keeping up with the "boys".
Don't let any one talk you into getting a bike bigger than a 500 for your first bike.