Want My First Bike

[GTBrandon]

Well, it started with an obsession for crotch rockets. Seeing the videos of stunts on the street, outrunning any car, and rev bombing every stoplight. Then I rode one, Alex's R6 at this years car show, and I was less than in love. While the thing looks and sounds sweet, I don't think it's what I want. He had it sprocketed to have more power lower in the band, but feeling like I was going to flip myself backward with every twist of the throttle was not an enjoyable experience. On top of that, being hunched over just doesn't seem comfortable for me, especially with lower spine issues and riding back from the gym would be a nightmare (that part is still up in the air but for consideration none the less)

So that brings me to what I have been looking at, which is cruisers. I want the old look of a Harley, without the price of a Harley since this is my first bike. I have been looking at Yamaha V-Stars, Viragos, and Honda Rebels. I am asking your advice on other brands/models I should maybe consider, or what I should know about the ones I just listed.

I also like the idea of a bobber style, like a Triumph Bonneville, so I'm curious of the differences between bobbers and cruisers, and which I might want without quite knowing yet.

I want something that will be pretty reliable, and if something breaks will be easy to work on myself (I bring this up because I am not sure how shaft-drive would be if something was to break or if I should even worry about one of those breaking).

I would like it to be sub $2,000 and preferably lower than that as it's my first bike so under $1,500 would be especially ideal.

Lastly, I am thinking the power range of 500-600cc will be best as 250 will be too low for me to be satisfied for more than a few months, and I think a 15-20 year old 600 will be enough power to keep a smile on my face without my smile ending up on a guardrail somewhere. 

Side note, how old is too old for a bike?

Thanks in advance, and INB4 someone says this thread exists somewhere else 6 years ago and I should go find that for advice

[rherold9]

Busa/ZX14 or bust

[WRXtranceformed]

I personally don't know much about bikes but I seem to remember a lot of the old timers here recommending SV650s as a first bike that doesn't suck. I don't know if those exist in that price range, but I think they're supposed to be a nice mix of sporty and cruiser

[rherold9]

Honestly go buy it and be done: https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2007...5003009550

[GTBrandon]

I personally don't know much about bikes but I seem to remember a lot of the old timers here recommending SV650s as a first bike that doesn't suck.  I don't know if those exist in that price range, but I think they're supposed to be a nice mix of sporty and cruiser

Yeah, I thought about those for a minute, but I don't like the in-the-middle design of those bikes. I would either want a full R6 or full Harley look, not something in between (and in this case, I want the full Harley look)

[BLINGMW]

I don't think you can go too wrong or be very picky in that price range, just get the least clapped out thing you can find on craigslist and ride it for the season. Worst case scenario you sell it for what you bought it for and learn a lot more about riding and what suits you.

[Apoc]

SV650/S or any 500 that isn't wrecked

[.RJ]

what he said.

at that price point you're going to find a lot of bikes with multiple owners, undocumented history, ridden hard/put away wet. see if you can sniff out the BS and buy the nicest thing you can find for the money.... and be patient, dont buy the first shiny thing you see.

older 600cc sportbikes are pretty user friendly and more comfy than an R6, but at this point they are getting pretty old. a cbr F4i would be a nice bike to own but they are fast.

[V1GiLaNtE]

You picked peak times to buy a bike. With that being said:

SV650 - 2nd gen if you want FI (05+) otherwise the carb ones are just fine too
GS500 - Joey had one. Cheap all day
Honda VFR - Good sports touring and dead nuts reliable
CB600f - 4 banger SV
Ninja 650r
Dr650
KLR650

Lastly, I am thinking the power range of 500-600cc will be best as 250 will be too low for me to be satisfied for more than a few months, and I think a 15-20 year old 600 will be enough power to keep a smile on my face without my smile ending up on a guardrail somewhere. 

250 is plenty of power to get into trouble with. Yea you're not gonna be stunnin' em on the straights, but hang off the bike and throw it hard into the twisties and you'll be pulling back on the power. Unless your goal is to simply cruise and look cool. If you're interested in actually learning how to ride, I'd say just buy a 250 for the summer months and then dump it in the fall. Save that and money over the winter and pick up something around February. Your first bike you have to be completely comfortable knowing that you may have to write it off completely.


Edit:
You should also be factoring the cost of gear into your bike purchase.

[Sijray21]

as a first bike i'd avoid any of the sport-oriented bikes. i'd go for a more neutral position and one without a lot of top-end power.

I also had a GS500e as a first bike. Great bike. It really helped to build my confidence riding.

One thing to consider is the dry weight of the bike and how it's distributed. a lot of sport bikes tend to be a bit top heavy and like to lean (which is great for the track), but a more weighted bike will be more forgiving when you make mistakes. Plan to spend about $500-$700 in gear as well. I almost never rode without hard-shelled knee guards, a back protector, leather jacket, gloves, boots, and obviously a decent helmet.


FYI - there is an entire motorcycle Forum Topic. Lots of good info there.

[GTBrandon]

I’m looking down the avenue right now of buying a cruiser and slowly converting it to a bobber and that is my desire look. I don’t want to buy a 250 just because i’d rather buy once and learn than buy a 250, get a 500 three months later, then drop the bike I actually care about. Every rider I’ve talked to said 250 is do-able but you’ll grow out of it quickly and I’m trying to avoid that.

Right now I’m planning to go see a GS500, Virago, and Vulcan this weekend to see the differences and which one I like the best.

Has anyone here done a bobber conversion? (I know the Gs500 won’t be good for that but at the price I might scoop it up and do the bobber with a bike down the road)

[.RJ]

who cares if you outgrow it quickly? You'll sell it for what you paid for it and you'll gain a lot of confidence in those first few months.

Just sell it before winter.

And buy something that wont eject its fairings on the highway...

[Sijray21]

hell, i made money off my first bike. bought for $1500 used for 8 months and sold for $1800.

[GTBrandon]

I’ll have a busy upcoming semester and can use some “free time” in the summer to search for a bike that I want to keep and modify longer term instead of buying a pile, getting bored, then not having the time to sell it and buy one that I really want. I prefer do it once, and do it right.

Have a few bikes lined up for this weekend so if all goes right, hopefully one will be coming home with my name on it. None being 250’s

[.RJ]

I’ll have a busy upcoming semester and can use some “free time” in the summer to search for a bike that I want to keep and modify longer term instead of buying a pile, getting bored, then not having the time to sell it and buy one that I really want. I prefer do it once, and do it right.

Then dont buy a pile..... No one's advocating buying a 20 year old 250.  Its very easy to get in over your head with your first motorbike, the sensory overload is... overwhelming.

[Apoc]

Asks for recommendations.
Ignores all recommendations.

Sounds about right.

[JPolen01]

Asks for recommendations.
Ignores all recommendations.

Sounds about right.

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