i recently decided i want to own a motorcylcle (ive never ridden one before) and i want it for the purpose of going on crosscountry roadtrips.
i dont really know wear to begin. does anyone have any suggestions for what i should look for as far as a reliable bike, not too difficult to ride for a beginner, a bike that can go on longer roadtrips but also get me around the city, and in somewhat of a lower price range?
any suggestions would be much appreciated.
thanks
i dont really know wear to begin. does anyone have any suggestions for what i should look for as far as a reliable bike, not too difficult to ride for a beginner, a bike that can go on longer roadtrips but also get me around the city, and in somewhat of a lower price range?
any suggestions would be much appreciated.
thanks
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Re: advice for a first bike?
Sat, March 15, 2008 - 4:49 PMmy suggestion is to do it in at least two steps.
get a bike that is low cost, and easy to handle, something you can pick up when you drop it. while riding that around, you'll figure out what you want in your next bike.
honda shadow's make great starter bikes.... i've ridden hundreds of miles with another guy who rode an 800 shadow
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Re: advice for a first bike?
Sun, March 16, 2008 - 12:54 AMWhat Rick said ... unless you want a "sportier" bike ... then it's Kawasaki's 500 Ninja IMO. -
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Re: advice for a first bike?
Sun, March 16, 2008 - 8:56 AMYou should take a motorcycle safety course to get your license. This will at least let you feel how a bike handles. I would recommend not riding a sport bike for long distances. Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki all make cruiser in 600- 900 cc range. I actually have a whole page on my website on how to pick the right ride, www.thedynamiccycles.com. If you need any more help I have spent hours researching the right ride for the right body type and experience level. Contact me on my forum or dynamiccycles@cox.net if you would like detailed help. -
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Re: advice for a first bike?
Sun, March 16, 2008 - 1:30 PMI agree: First take an MSF class to see if you really are suited for riding. Not everybody is. Riding seems easy but it involves using a lot of multi-tasking. Plus you have to stay focused and alert, not be easily distracted or put into panic mode, all the while balancing yourself and the bike. Anyway at least one state (Illinois, I think) offers free MSF to its residents; most other states charge a fee of about $200 or more. And some insurance companies give discounts for completing MSF.
Once you get your M1, get a cheap and small first bike and ride ride ride it for at least six months to a year. Then upgrade to a bigger and better bike. Here's a good guide with which to evaluate bikes: www.clarity.net/~adam/buying-bike.html. And keep taking moto skills-enhancing classes, like an MSF dirt or ERC class, American SuperCamp, etc. Also find somebody who's willing to teach you some basic moto maintenance. And join online moto forums. I'm on BARF, ThumperTalk, SVRider, some Yahoo moto groups, as well as a few others. -
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Re: advice for a first bike?
Sun, March 16, 2008 - 1:33 PMAgreed, riding is a skill to be taken seriously. It is great that you are looking for advice before jumping in! Hopefully you find the right ride for you and enjoy riding as much as most of do! -
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Re: advice for a first bike?
Sun, March 16, 2008 - 4:51 PMMSF FIRST!! It's a great training course. As far as bikes.....sometimes you have to take what's handed to you. My first bike was a 1983 BMW 650... my inseam height is less than 28".. do you have an inseam problem? BMWs are tall, but are wonderful bikes to grow with. I've been a rider of BMWs for over 20 years.. IMHO...They're great bikes that come with great people [euro riders encourage the(ir) women to ride their own] with lots of support. Starting with a low cc bike is a good start. More power to you, Chickie. And you WILL feel the power... it's awesome.
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Re: advice for a first bike?
Thu, March 20, 2008 - 5:41 PM<<I agree: First take an MSF class to see if you really are suited for riding.>>
Well said. And the cool thing is, you get to see on THEIR bikes in the MSF class.
After that, if you're suited for it, something used and moderate in power from maybe 250-500 cc. Drop it a few times. Learn. Move up to something new after you get the learning pains out of the way.
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Re: advice for a first bike?
Thu, March 20, 2008 - 6:41 PMNo matter how fast a learner you are, there is no substitute for practicing and refining your skills, and that takes time. Cross country road trips, done in the proper gypsy tour fashion, take months. If you don't take the time to learn to ride and understand the myriad variables of weather, road conditions, and your own demons, it will take a LOT less.
Spend a year or so on your first bike, then get a bigger one, learn how to ride all over again, and then hit the backroads and the wide open spaces.
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Re: advice for a first bike?
Mon, March 24, 2008 - 10:13 AMI did my test on a Honda CBF500 - a great learner bike and first bike. Although my first bike was a Kawasaki GPZ 500S but had to sell it when moved back to Australia.
All depends on your level of confidence on the road and with handling a big bike. My friend decided to get a 250cc as he hadn't had much road experience, driving or on the bike. Whereas, I'd been driving over 20 yrs before I got my bike licence and was really comfortable handling a 500cc.
I'm going to borrow a friends Yamaha 600 for a few months to get used to Melbourne roads before buying my first brand new bike - a Ducati Monster 695.
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Re: advice for a first bike?
Mon, March 24, 2008 - 2:43 PMsize is also quite relative: your own height and weight / engine size, bike weight. My first bike was a 1979 Honda CB450, 2nd was a BMW R60/5, 3rd an R75/5, 4th an H-D FXR.
That's 450cc, 600cc, 750cc, 1340cc. I'm 5'7" with a 34" inseam, so I've been really happy on the BMWs, which have pretty tall saddles.
I've kept the last 2 on the road for 20 and 10 years, respectively. And I'm itching to buy another bike...I want lots of power, but as much as I love the Harley, I don't want another pig. But the Buells. . . under 500 lbs, and it ain't nobody's starter bike, except the Blast.
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