Bike Suggestions

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Joey D

Joey D

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So here is the deal, I want a bike but I don't want anything fast, new, or something that is classified as a cruiser (like a Harley style). I want something sporty and something I can just have fun with. Anyone have suggestions? And I'm looking to spend around 3 grand and this will be my first road bike (I've riden dirt bikes for years).

I know quite a bit about bikes, but its all in the ways of those new 600cc and up crotch rockets, which I don't want because that might be a little much for a first bike since I'm only used to riding 125cc.
 
I'm no biker but a kid that went to my high school bought a Suzuki SV650 and seemed to enjoy it. It was his first bike and I know that bike has gotten good reviews.

Might be more displacement than you want though.
 
Please stick with dirtbikes!

Car drivers in America are morons! 👎 My mom's boyfriend has crashed no less than THREE times(and never on his own) because of idiots in cars/idiots walking on the street(and most recently he was rear-ended on his Ducati 999 on the freeway).

Drivers are getting worse and worse. 👎
 
Joey - knowing a little bit about your tastes and style - I think you should go for a Honda C50.
 
One of my mates used to have a Honda CBR250RR, absouletly amazing piece of machinery, you can pick them up relativly cheap nowadays and the little 250 engine has a bit of kick in it, plus its redline of 20,000rpm sounds incredible 👍
 
Depends if you want a full fairing or naked bike I guess....

For the nakeds, a good starting bike is probably a vtr250 or hornet. Good little run around bikes, comfortable riding positions for city riding as well... unlike the racers.

For something a little sportier looking but with out the silly power output figures, the GS500 is a good choice. Even though it's a 500 it's very underpowered and will run at approximately the speed of a 250. The plus side to the GS500 is that although it has racer sitting position and full fairings, it's large enough to be quite comfortable.

The cbr250rr's are okay, but they sound like a fart in a tin can. The 19K rev limit doesn’t equate to anywhere near the power you would expect... but that said, it's a fun little bike to through around a corner.

My personal choice would be either the VTR or the GS500 for a starter road bike and have ridden all the above models bar the hornet.

You got to remember though that you need to try which bike you feel most comfortable with, cause that will sway your ultimate decision not withstanding what anyone says here.
 
Hmmm, a fart in a tin can..... Well this particular bike had a full carbon exhaust system and it didnt fart, it screamed.

That same guy now has a GS500F and he says it aint anywhere near as fun as his old CBR...
 
my buddy has a gsx-r 500 and loves it. just enough power for him and more than enough fun. great starter too. i can ride it with ease and am not experienced at all
 
I'm not sure what I want, but the CBR250RR does look pretty sweet I must say.
 
Mclaren_Man
Hmmm, a fart in a tin can..... Well this particular bike had a full carbon exhaust system and it didnt fart, it screamed.

That same guy now has a GS500F and he says it aint anywhere near as fun as his old CBR...
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I did only ride a stocker, and it sounded atrocious... well being a v-twin lover myself, I didn't find the sound appealing at all... maybe it does sound better with an exhaust.

You are right, the GS is no where near as fun as the CBR was, but BlazinXtreme did say he was looking for a good first road bike, and the GS is a solid unit... can't deny that.

Judging by his description (if his not an abnormally large guy), the VTR would fit the budget and fun factor whilst limiting the power but not restricting you from having some fun around the corner or in the city for that matter.
 
I'm a little guy, 5'9" and 140 some odd pounds.
 
I'm more of a BMW Motorcycle guy, if it be sport, touring, whatever. Although I prefer four wheels in most situations, two is acceptable in most situations.

If youre looking to go cheaply, the F650 CS would be a good place to start. Brand new they start right around $7K, but I have no clue what a used one would go for.
 
Were you still planning on getting a new car too? You had a thread not to long ago that you were looking for a new car. How are things? Did you end up getting a new house, get married, get your new job? Do you still have the Blazer? Mabey I missed the latest information. You change your mind a lot so its hard to keep up. :lol:
 
Honda doesn't sell a CBR250 in the US. We do get the Ninja 250R, which is a really old design, but also quite cheap at $3000 brand new.

I started out on a 79 Honda CX500, which I still have... mostly because it was cheap at $300, and I have no money.

If I had $3k to spend, I'd be looking at a Ninja 250 or 500. I really like the feel of the 250, although I've only sat on it, never ridden it. I think it'd be sweet for riding around in the hills, not so good if you are planning on doing freeway riding.

Going the old Honda route isn't too bad either, and it can be pretty cheap. Some of the other bikes people have mentioned here are good too, the SV660, monster and gs500 would all be good bikes to start on.

Don't forget to factor in the price of riding gear, I've got more money spent on gear than I spent buying the bike.
 
All I need is a helmet ($200?) and some gloves($50?), I have a leather riding jacket I got from somewhere.

But I've been looking at the Ninja 250.
 
what's the purpose of the motorcycle?

Will it be to get home from work at GM? If so, I'd suggest you get a GM car. Of course, now that you're getting the Golf it'll probably not look good in the GM parking lot either.

So perhaps you should better keep the blazer.
 
The purpose is not to pay 50 bucks to fill up my truck and to get around town cheaper.
 
BlazinXtreme
The purpose is not to pay 50 bucks to fill up my truck and to get around town cheaper.
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I guess I'll jump along on this thread. Being that I'll start college in September and a parking space for my car ('79 beetle convertible) is questionable. Ideally I don't want to spend more than $2000, ok well that's a stretch, $1300 would be nice because then I could get a nicer 2nd car. So any ideas on older bikes that don't look like a toilet seat and will be reliable enough to get me around campus?
 
BlazinXtreme
The purpose is not to pay 50 bucks to fill up my truck and to get around town cheaper.
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Not for fun?

Then maybe a big scoot may do the job...and be comfortable, with storage and some protection from weather as well.
 
I'd go the scooter route, too. an older japanese bike might not be a bad idea either.
 
I'm not getting a scooter, I want to be able to go down the freeway, so I need something that'll do 80 or 90 at the most and 75 at the least.
 
Either a dirtbike or a R6 or R1. Wouldnt reccommend riding on the road though. So many bike riders die each year its not funny. Bikes are super ways of getting loads of cheap fun for track days.
 
I like dirtbikes but they aren't road legal unles you get an enduro or a dual purpose. An R6 would be nice, but they cost quite a bit of cash used and I don't thinkg they are a good starter street bike.
 
Don't get anything 2 stroke. Don't get anything 250'ish. Don't get anything 2 stroked 250'ish....

Get something like a Suki Katana 600... It enough of a handfull to keep you alert, but not enought to kill you without proper advise...

I started on one of those, and while it certainly wasn't the bike of my dreams, it is indeed close to the perfect starter.. It doesn't look like sex, doesn't feel like sex, but it IS predicatable, it doesn't scare you because of power, All in all, it's a very friendly and easy bike...(Which will, should you so desire, also let you get your knee down - Best feeling ever !......)
 
The Katana isn't bad at all, I've read a review or two on them. Also they are here in the USA, it seems like a lot of low powered bikes never make it to the US for whatefer reason.
 
honda has made a standard for about ten years that has remained virtually unchanged. forgot the name.

i love the BMW R1200GS (not sure you want a $15000 bike) and the triumph hooligan bike (trident 900 i think!) but mostly favor standards.

i like the 919 (pricey) and its 600 little brother though.
 
BlazinXtreme
I'm not getting a scooter, I want to be able to go down the freeway, so I need something that'll do 80 or 90 at the most and 75 at the least.
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big scoots can easily reach 75.
But with your budget, a used normal bike would be a better choice.


BTW, cool honda scoot there boom...
 

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