School me on good starter bikes!

[WRXtranceformed]

I KNOW I KNOW!! My friends keep nagging away at me to get a bike because pretty much everyone down here rides bikes, and honestly they're starting to convince me that it would be a good idea. The garage in my townhouse also has like another half space that's pretty much the ideal size for a bike to be parked there.

Any advice at all in this thread would be good btw, but you don't need to reiterate taking the motorcycle safety course, quality safety gear, etc.... if I decide to pull the trigger I'm definitely taking that course and definitely investing in some decent safety gear.

What I'd need is a bike.

What I'm looking for:
600cc or greater
A bike that is sporty with great handling. I'm not looking for a road cruiser, but I'd like it to not be terribly uncomfortable. Something like a YZF600 would be a good compromise.
Cheap. I don't really have the money to spend right now with the adjustment into the th, but someday soon I'd like to pick one up. I'm thinking in the $1500-$3000 max range as a first bike. Cheap to insure would be a big bonus too.
I don't really care *that* much about appearances, nor if its been dropped before as long as it's still mechanically sound. I don't mind having a little project work on it, as long as most of it is just cosmetic.

Thoughts? I know a bunch of you guys have been through a lot of bikes. What would you recommend for me if I decided to take the plunge? :twisted:

[Apoc]

F3

[/thread]

[Sijray21]

Great starter bike - if you're willing to drop 100cc's - is the Suzuki GS500e/f. The gs500e is naked, older, great on gas, and CHEAP to insure/own. It's not the fasted bike in town, but it'll be great for a few months as your learning and you'll probably be able to sell it for how much you bought it for or more. They shouldn't be more than $1800 for a nice one. Highly recommended for a first bike.

The Honda 600 F4i i would also consider as it's similar to the RR. The RR isn't actually that bad of a first bike, but if you do get one they're not that cheap to insure and as a learner i wouldn't take it past 8k or 9k until you feel more comfortable and/or gain some experience. I speak in terms of the RR b/c i've never owned/ridden an F4i, but i know they're very similar. The 600RR has great handling though.

The SV650s is also pretty nice and fairly easy to operate although i don't have much experience on it yet. I can see the low-end torque being a little difficult for beginners, but it's a pretty manageable bike that's also fairly cheap to own (initial purchase price and insurance - 60% less expensive insurance than the RR).

Edit: i forgot about your price cap of $3k...damnit

ps - this is awesome, i hope you enjoy it and ride safe! :-D

[WRXtranceformed]

I like the way even the older F3 looks!

[CaptainHenreh]

SV650 done and done.

I don't even ride motorbikes and I know this is the answer.

[WRXtranceformed]

I looked at several pics of SV650s and I'm not a huge fan of that style of bike unless it's the "S" version. Even then it's a little less sporty than what I'm looking for. I've heard the V-twin is good for beginners though.

[Apoc]

You can get OEM or aftermarket fairings.



SVs are great starter bikes but I think the tube frame ones, which are the only in your price range, are ugly.

[WRXtranceformed]

Agreed. They look like Hydralisks from Starcraft :lol:

[Ginger]

Yeah, well the tube framers handle better

I'm not sure what you mean about the SVS not being sporty enough... they practically own several race classes, have one built around them, and make excellent trackbikes. Unless you mean it's not "racer rep" to satisfy onlookers, in which case, I understand.

And Rex, that was easily your best post ever.

[DavidM]

As Sijray said the GS500 is a great starter bike. I picked up an 04 GS500f last spring for $3K and absolutely love it. Plenty of power, for me anyway, insurance isn't bad either. The thing i like about the f over the e is that its not a naked bike, its styled more like a sport bike (but with a much more reasonable riding position.) I'd deffinately look into either of the GS500s, especially if you think your going to want to upgrade sooner rather than later.

[Feersty]

Although down on power from what you want. The 500R suited my purposes just fine.

[Sijray21]

The 500R suited my purposes just fine.

fyi - that's a kawasaki ninja

i actually think the 500r is nicely powered for the price and displacement.

[WRXtranceformed]

Rofl how about this one??

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://charlotte.craigslist.org/mcy/578218688.html">http://charlotte.craigslist.org/mcy/578218688.html</a><!-- m -->

Aside from being out of my price range, think this bike might be a little much for my first bike?? :lol:

[mrbaggio]

The only line you need to read is "Almost all of my friends ride 1000s and I have no problem keeping up." to know the guy is a total retard.

[Sijray21]

i was wondering what that odd looking can was doing on the left side of the bike then i read "wet nitrous oxide system"....hock:

should be interesting if you were to low-side!

[navin]

Splurge a little extra and go for the new Ninja 250R?

Although I thought I read somewhere that prices out the door are getting somewhat redic. and dont even know if anyone even has them out yet.

I've kept myself out of the bike forums

[Ginger]

Although I thought I read somewhere that prices out the door are getting somewhat redic. and dont even know if anyone even has them out yet.

People are whining because they want everything for nothing. For all the updates that the new 250 got, and it's practically a brand new motorcycle, the price didn't even go up a whole grand.

[WRXtranceformed]

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://charlotte.craigslist.org/mcy/658455623.html">http://charlotte.craigslist.org/mcy/658455623.html</a><!-- m -->

Thoughts?!?!??!?!?!

[.RJ]

Great starter, but the price is a little high

[WRXtranceformed]

Yeah after some more searching I can find other examples of that bike for roughly the same price without a salvage title.